Fort Defiance Student-Athletes Announce College Choices

FORT DEFIANCE – Five Fort Defiance student-athletes revealed their college choices Friday afternoon in the high school gym.

Talyn Armentrout, one of the top wide receivers in the area the past two seasons, will continue his college football career at Bridgewater College. Armentrout was a first-team all-district performer this past season.

“I like the fact that Bridgewater is close to home. I really liked the coaching staff. You can tell that they care about their players," said Arementrout.

“I’ll have to get used to the speed of the game,” he continued. "I’ll need to keep working on my speed and weight and then start learning the playbook.”

Armentrout plans to major in either psychology or business.

Two Indians’ track teammates – Parker Blosser and Jeffrey McLaughlin – will be teammates at the next level as Roanoke College Maroons.

Blosser, one of the top distance runners in the area, will run track and cross country at Roanoke.

“I really liked the team and the culture of the program. The coach there is building a great team culture. Roanoke could become one of the best Division III programs in the nation,” Blosser said.

This spring, Blosser ranks No. 1 in the state in Class 2 in the 3200 with a time of 9:44.67. “The two-mile is my best event and it’s probably my favorite event in track. I like running cross country. There’s more of a team aspect to cross country and really like that part of it.”

Blosser has not decided on a major but is considering business, sports marketing or exercise science.

McLaughlin is a hurdler and also competes in the pole vault at Fort. He will continue competing in those events at Roanoke. McLaughlin ranks No. 1 in the state in the pole vault in Class 2, clearing 13 feet, 6 inches. He ranks No. 8 in the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.76 seconds.

“The coaches and staff at Roanoke were very welcoming. When I visited, I knew it would be a good place for me. I wanted to go to a program that is competitive. Roanoke has a good mix of athletics and academics,” said McLaughlin.

McLaughlin plans to major in business with a minor in political science or he could decide to become a political science major.

Two Fort football players will continue as teammates in college as John Whetzel and Aidan McCauley will attend Southern Virginia University to play football.

When Armentrout was injured this past season, Whetzel emerged as a go-to receiver for the Fort.

“It’s a pretty campus and it’s a small school. The class sizes are small and I think that’s better fit for me. I like the fact that it’s close to home. I like their football program. It’s got a lot going for it,” Whetzel said

Whetzel hopes to continue on the offensive side of the football. “Wide receiver is my primary position so I’d like to stay as a receiver,” said Whetzel. Cornerback could be another option for Whetzel at SVU.

Whetzel will work this summer in preparation for the fall season. “I’ll be doing a lot of individual work. I have a personal trainer I’m working with, and I may go down to Southern Virginia to work out as well. They have a really good training staff at Southern Virginia who can help you with your training and nutrition.”

Whetzel plans to major in psychology.

McCauley was a second-team defensive lineman for the Indians this past season.

“Southern Virginia was the first to offer me an opportunity. They believed in me and now I’m ready to go to work,” said McCauley. “I wanted to stay close to home for my family and I wanted to play football.”

McCauley may experience a big position change at SVU. “I’ve always played defense, but they are talking about using me at H-back on offense. Taking on a new position, I look at it as a great opportunity.”

McCauley plans to major in early childhood education with aspirations of becoming a kindergarten teacher. “You won’t find a lot of young black men in that job. A lot of young kids don’t have a father figure. I want to fill that role and give them a young man they can look up to.”

Two other Fort athletes who were not at Friday’s signing ceremony will also continue their athletic careers at the next level. Bradley Hebb, an all-district running back for Fort, and standout wrestler Landon Yoder will both attend The Apprentice School.