Early before the school bell on Feb. 7, family, friends, coaches and teammates packed one of the gyms at Tualatin High School to cheer on 18 Timberwolves who were officially signing their Letters of Intent to play their sport in college.
The athletes come from a wide range of sports at Tualatin and are heading out to schools across the country.
Here’s a look at all the athletes who signed on Feb. 7, listed alphabetically:
• Jaylyn Arosemena, basketball, signed with Western Washington University
Arosemena’s senior season was cut a bit short thanks to an ankle injury, the senior was a massive factor in Tualatin’s Three Rivers League title a year ago. She was named to two straight All-Three Rivers League second teams during her sophomore and junior seasons.
• Lauren Ayers, track and field, signed with University of Utah
Ayers was a key member of the 2023 OSAA track and field state championship team, the first in Tualatin’s history. At the state championship, Ayers scored a first-place finish in the 3000 meter and second-place finishes in the 1500 meters and as part of the 4×400 relay team.
She said she didn’t think running track in college was a realistic possibility until her junior year, when she went and visited a lot of schools.
“Utah has an excellent team culture,” she said. “Both athletically and academically, it has everything there to help me succeed.”
Ayers said she grew up playing soccer and always thought if she played a sport in college, it would end up being soccer. However, she gave track a try in high school on a whim, took to it, and now it has helped her pick her college.
• Kyra Bakke, track and field, signed with Montana State University
Bakke was also part of that state title team, and last season set the school record in high jump in April when she cleared a jump of 5 feet, 8.5 inches. She held the previous school record at 5 feet, 8 inches. She took home first last season in the Three Rivers League high jump and placed third in the state meet.
She won the state title in high jump during her freshman season.
• Reid Dobash, football, signed with Western Oregon University
The senior lineman played a huge role up front for the Timberwolves, helping Tualatin reach the state semifinals two years ago and the state championship game this past season. Dobash was selected as an honorable mention for the all-league team each of the last two seasons at offensive guard.
• Ervin Dorsett III, baseball, signed with Sacramento State University Sacramento
Dorsett has shown off his quickness and agility with the glove so far in his high school career. He is most likely going to play third base or shortstop, and has also shown quite a bit of arm strength, which will help him make the throw from whichever spot on the field he’s playing.
• De’Quan Duncan, baseball, signed with Mt. Hood Community College
Duncan is one of a group of Timberwolves who will stay together to play in college, as he is committed to Mt. Hood Community College. The middle infielder showed off some smoothness in the field mixed in with some pop at the plate.
• Kenen Elder, football, signed with Portland State University
Elder had a big senior season for the Timberwolves on both sides of the ball. He was named to the all-league first team as a defensive back and the Three Rivers League second team at receiver. He also was named as an honorable mention at defensive back for the all-state team.
In his senior season, Elder finished top-10 in Three Rivers League in both receiving touchdowns and interceptions, and finished top-15 in receiving yards.
• Jayden Fortier, football, signed with Arizona State University
Fortier was seen by many as the top football prospect in the state this year, and was named Prep Football Player of the Year recently at the Oregon Sports Awards. He also had a big year on both sides of the ball for Tualatin, as he was named co-defensive player of the year for the Three Rivers League, and was a unanimous first-team selection at both wide receiver and linebacker. He was named all-state defensive player of the year, and to the all-state first team at linebacker and wide receiver.
• Elizabeth Graham, track and field, signed with Cornell University
Graham was all over the field for the state champ Timberwolves last season. She finished second as part of the 4×100 meter relay team, second in the long jump, and fourth in the triple jump. She’s also signed on to head the farthest from Tualatin for college when she heads out to upstate New York in the fall to attend Cornell.
“I wanted to experience something new and different,” she said. “I’m looking forward to getting out there and exploring.”
She said she has some family on the East Coast, which should help with the far move for college.
Graham said the idea of competing in college became a reality her junior year.
“I just started getting a lot more attention, so it seemed possible,” she said. “I just love the sport, so I’m very excited that I get to continuing competing.”
• Ethan Grimm, track and field, signed with University of Montana
Grimm had a big finish to his junior season, finishing first in the javelin throw at the Three Rivers League Championships, and then scored a third-place finish in the state championship event. Over the summer, he had a personal-best throw at the USATF Region 16 Junior Olympic Championships, where he also scored a first-place finish.
• Tyson Hunt, football, signed with Montana Tech
Like plenty of his fellow football standouts, Hunt shined in his senior season on both offense and defense. He was named to the all-Three Rivers League second team on the defensive line and was named an honorable mention for the all-league team at tight end.
Hunt tied for second on the team in receiving touchdowns. He was tied for the third most tackles for loss in Three Rivers League with eight, tied for the third-most sacks in the league last season with four.
• Nykori Lewis, baseball, signed with Mt. Hood Community College
Lewis moved to Oregon last year from the Virgin Islands, and it didn’t take long for the senior to gain some attention for his game. The power-hitting catcher can also pitch and play both corner infield positions.
• Glen Maduro, baseball, signed with Mt. Hood Community College
Maduro is a first baseman who has shown off his skills on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he is solid at first base, and offensively he has shown an ability to drive the ball to all parts of the field.
• Mabry Martin, softball and volleyball, signed with Mt. Hood Community College
Martin will be double-dipping at Mt. Hood, where she intends to play both softball and volleyball. The senior is off to a good start for her multi-sport senior season of high school, as she was named to the Three Rivers League all-league third team at outside hitter this fall for the volleyball season.
• AJ Noland, football, signed with Colorado State University
Coming into the season, Noland was expected to be part of Tualatin’s trio of star pass catchers along with Elder and Fortier. An injury to starting quarterback Nolan Keeney put Noland under center for the latter portion of the season, where he earned an honorable mention for the all-league team. Even while playing quarterback, Noland remained at safety, where he was named to the all-league first team.
He was also named to the all-state first team as a defensive back and the all-state second team at receiver.
• Carson Page, cross country and track and field, signed with Oregon Institute of Technology
Another multisport star at Tualatin, Page has had tons of success in his high school career both in cross country and track and field. In the spring track season, Page participates in numerous events, including the 800 meters, in which he placed fifth at last year’s Three Rivers League Championships.
• Madison Speer, track and field, signed with Air Force Academy
Speer heads to the Air Force after a high school career in which she gained national notoriety for her hammer throwing. As a freshman, Speer qualified for the 2021 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Nationals. Her throw qualified her for the 14-year-old age group, but was also the top score in the national 15-16-year-old girls age group.
• Jaden Steppe, basketball, signed with Colorado State University
Steppe was a big-time contributor on Tualatin’s two straight state championship teams. The road to a three-peat has gotten a bit more difficult, as Tualatin is down three expected starters due to injury, but Steppe hasn’t let that slow him down this season.
He is looking like one of the best players in the state as Tualatin cruises toward another playoff appearance. Steppe was named a second team all-league selection as a sophomore and a first team all-league pick last year as a junior.
