Easley High Celebrates National Signing Day

Easley High School celebrated the beginning of the next chapter of four of its athletic standouts Wednesday afternoon. 

Four Easley High School players signed letters of intent as part of National Signing Day.

Jordan Hennessee signed to play football for Wingate University.

Troy McGowens signed to play football for Charleston Southern University.

Jake Foster signed to play for Presbyterian College.

Sam Houston signed to play football for North Greenville University. 

“Today is one of the happiest days you can have as a coach, as a teacher, as a principal, as a parent, as a grandparent, as a friend, because this is a difference-maker,” said Easley High School Athletic Director Chris Carter. “This is a credit to our kids for doing two things: what they should in the classroom and what they should on the athletic field.”

He said recruiters, before they even met the player, want to see two things: their transcripts and their last report card.

“If these four guys didn’t do what we asked them to do in the classroom, their place at the table wouldn’t be here,” Carter said. “They’ve earned this right because of what they’ve done academically. They are the best example we have of student athletes.”

“The legacy that these guys leave Easley High School with is one that will probably never be surpassed,” Carter said. “These four guys that the best we’ve got. I told all four coaches today, ‘You’re getting the best we’ve got.’”

The four players earned over a half a million dollars in scholarships, he said.

“Over half a million dollars that these kids were able to obtain because we use athletics as a tool for academics,” Carter said. “That’s a half a million dollars.”

Wednesday had been a long day for the EHS Athletic Director. He’d attended a six-hour Athletic Directors meeting in Columbia, and had to rush back to the school for the signings.

But his morning started out right, Carter told the audience. He met with Troy McGowens and his father to sign the letter of intent and send it back to Charleston Southern University.

“To print that off and to see a kid’s life change right before your face makes it worth every second that we as coaches and we as teachers pour into our children,” Carter said.  “This never gets old.”

Carter asked EHS teachers present at the signings to come forward to get a good view of the event.

“Guys, this is as much about our kids as it’s about our teachers,” Carter said.  “I want to make sure we take the time to recognize our teachers today. The classroom will always open doors for our students, if we make sure we keep the focus at Easley High – academics first, athletics second. “