The six Tioga Bulldogs planning to continue their athletic career into their collegiate years were recognized at the National Signing Day ceremony on Feb. 5.
Slade Babbitt, Gage Anderson, Johnny “On-the-Spot” Dorpinghaus, Austin Norwood, Manuel Molina and Tucker McDonald faced the THS student body during the ceremony to celebrate their next step in life.
“We talk to our athletes about living in the 5%, accomplishing only what the elite accomplish,” Athletic Director Zach Birdwell said. “Five percent of high school athletes get to play at the next level, and today we have six athletes that are a part of that 5%. You guys have represented this community, this school, our Brand and your families in an unbelievable way.”
Babbitt, who stepped up first, had a separate signing ceremony in the fall to celebrate his decision to play baseball at Central Baptist College in Arkansas.
The other five fully participated in the group signing day.
Gage also signed to keep playing on the baseball diamond by signing at Dallas Christian College.
Becoming a college athlete has been the focus and goal Gage and his father, Troy Anderson, have worked on together for years.
“I feel like I’ve dreamed about this since I was first starting baseball,” Gage said.
His dad echoed that. “It’s the culmination of a dream,” Troy said. “We thought we had something when he was little. We took the bat out of his hands in the righthanded batting position, put it in lefthanded batting position and the rest is history.”
His entire family has helped fuel the dream, Gage added, and moving to Tioga from Pilot Point meant Gage got to reunite with his childhood friend and teammate, Johnny.
“I’m grateful that I’m able to finish off my high school career with him,” Gage said.
Troy is also excited that Gage’s school will be close so the family can watch his games.
Johnny was the first Bulldog of the day to extend his time on the gridiron, selecting Austin College in Sherman as his next school home.
“I can’t put into words how it feels to be able to go to the next level,” Johnny said. “It’s not very often that people can do that, and to be one of the ones that gets to do that, it means a lot to me.”
Johnny’s mother, Mandy, is proud of the dedication he showed in achieving this goal.
“Since he was in second grade and he started playing football, this has been his dream,” she said.
Johnny carefully considered the offers he received, Mandy said, selecting Austin College because it felt like the right place for him.
“It just felt like home every time we were there,” Johnny said. “I thought about it, so I just knew it was the place to go.”
He is also excited to work with the head coach, Tony Joe White.
“Football is not just about playing the game,” he said. “It’s about learning new goals that are going to better you in life.”
Tioga was also a place that felt welcoming and accepting from the start, Johnny said.
“I’m just going from one family to another family,” Johnny said.
Seeing Johnny handle all of the hurdles he has faced and to make his dream a reality means so much to Mandy and her husband, Gabe Dorpinghaus.
“From when I was little, my dad has always been my coach,” Johnny said. “He’s always pushed me. Over the summer, we knew we had to dig deep and get some offers, so the whole summer he was my trainer, and we worked out pretty much every day. And my mom, she handled my Twitter. She was posting stuff almost every day, making graphics for me to post and get noticed and get me to camps. I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Austin followed Johnny to celebrate his decision to Belton to join the football roster at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
“It means a lot to be able to play the sport I love for four more years in college,” Austin said.
He thanked not only his current coaching staff but also the previous coaching administration, especially Chance Rogers who came to the signing day celebration, for helping him reach this point.
“I wasn’t going to play my freshman year, and they convinced me to play, and Coach Chance was there for me the entire time, and then as I got older—a junior and senior— Coach Birdwell came and they took the whole recruiting in Tioga to a whole new level.”
His mom, Kelli Norwood, loved that Austin seemed to find his perfect fit.
“Even though that was not our last visit, when he was there, he was shining, they made him feel very, very important, … and then it didn’t stop once we left,” she said. “… We’re pretty excited that that’s his next place he gets to call home.”
Next up was soon-to-be first generation college student Manuel, who will be playing football at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas.
“Nobody in my family has ever gone to play a sport in college or even actually gone to college,” Manuel said. “… I’m super excited where this takes me.”
He said his coaches “have played a huge role, not just in the field, but in the classroom as well,” Manuel said.
Saint Mary’s health programs are what helped cement Manuel’s decision to attend school there.
“I’m super interested in the sports and exercise science, kinesiology, things about the body,” he said. “… It’s such a blessing to have that ability to play and have such a great program.”
Being far from home and his twin brother Jesus Molina will be strange, he said, but he feels it’s the right place for him.
Their older brother, Cesar Molina, said he is so proud to see Manuel sign to play in college.
“We finally got one in a university,” he said. “It feels amazing. … We came from another country; we came to this country and we fought for what we got. To see somebody from our family go further in education and being accomplished, it means a lot.”
The final Bulldog to put his pen to commitment papers was Tucker, who will go the furthest from home to Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota.
“Everybody’s got your back up there in the small town of Mitchell,” he said. “It’s real nice.”
He’s excited to keep playing football.
“This might sound bad, but it’s just an excuse to hit somebody,” Tucker said, which made his dad, Cliff McDonald, chuckle.
Being far from home will be a challenge, but it’s a challenge he’s excited to tackle.
“It helps with paying for college and it will help show me how to overcome obstacles in life,” he said.
Seeing Tucker succeed “means the world,” Cliff said.
“A lot of people have doubted him—seriously doubted him— and it’s good to show that he pulled through,” he said. “He’s got the confi dence that he can show what he can do, show people wrong.”
He also spoke highly of the Tioga coaching staff.
“These coaches here will do anything in the world for these kids,” Cliff said. “… That says a whole lot about them and the school district [and community].”
Superintendent Josh Ballinger spoke of Birdwell’s commitment to helping his student athletes commit to college programs and his excitement for the seniors.
“Any opportunity to go out and see the world is a great one,” Ballinger said. “There’s life beyond Tioga, and these kids are going to get the opportunity to see that. I hope they take advantage of it.”
