It was a day of celebration for nine student athletes at Bowling Green High School, with the group signing to compete at the collegiate level on Wednesday.

Five football players – Trevy Barber, Malik Coburn, Dru Jones, Zach Jordan and Montez Trussell – signed along with three baseball players – Jack Cowan, Landon Gilbert and Matt Mosley – and swimmer Riley Crowe.

Barber and Coburn are headed to the University of Indianapolis; Jones, Jordan and Trussell are headed to Georgetown. Cowan signed with Belmont, with Gilbert headed to Cleveland State Community College. Mosley signed with Rend Lake Community College and Crowe is headed to Southern Indiana.

Crowe said she fell in love with the pool during a swim camp at Southern Indiana in 2022.

“I am just so excited,” Crowe said. “There are times when I thought this day would never come, but I had this dream since I was a little girl and started swimming. I watched the older kids in high school sign and go on to swim at the collegiate level. I’m so blessed and so excited to be here.”

Crowe is still in the midst of her senior season in the pool, part of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that advanced to the finals of the KHSAA state swimming and diving meet on Feb. 21. She said it’s nice to be officially signed so she can focus on her final meet at Bowling Green.

“I made my decision back around Christmas, so it has definitely taken a weight off my shoulders during the season,” Crowe said. “I am just happy to have a couple of more days with my girls. I certainly love my team. It definitely took the weight off knowing I had my dream right in front of me. I’m so excited to go to Lexington with my girls, get to swim in a collegiate pool and get ready for the collegiate season.”

Cowan is coming off an injury, not pitching his junior season due Tommy John surgery. Despite the injury, Belmont remained interested – something that the left-hander is grateful for.

“It’s an absolute honor to be committed to them, signed with them and everything,” Cowan said. “It’s a great blessing.”

Cowan transferred to BG from Tennessee this year. While he hasn’t played yet for the Purples, he said he has felt right at home with everyone in that program.

“Bowling Green coaching staff has taken care of me,” Cowan said. “They’re making me a better player. I am going to play this year, hopefully the whole year with no injuries. Can’t promise anything because stuff happens. We are looking for a pretty healthy season this year. I am excited for it.”

Cowan added it was exciting to get to sign the same day as teammates Gilbert and Mosley.

“The other two baseball guys that I signed with are brothers to me,” Cowan said. “We’ve been practicing with each other since summer. Some of the guys I have been playing here with, we have been playing since Little League and further than that. Being around those guys a little longer sounds really amazing to me.”

One of the most successful classes in BG football history was well-represented on Wednesday as well.

Jones said his decision to attend Georgetown was easy with five former Purples currently on the roster.

“They are a good program,” Jones said. “The coaching staff is a good coaching staff, I would say. A lot of former teammates are up there, so that is good. When I went up there the team took me in as family. It felt really good.”

He added having Jordan and Trussell join him only makes it more special.

“I am so grateful for them,” Jones said. “I’m so proud of them. Those are my teammates. Those are my brothers. I love them so much.”

Barber suffered an injury in the first game of the season that limited his playing time and potential hopes of a run at Mr. Football. He said it only led to a hectic recruiting process that he’s happy to be completed now.

“It’s a big relief,” Barber said. “I have been ready to get the process over since it started. It’s so frustrating. Once I got the call from Indy and I knew I could commit, I knew that was the right fit for me.”

He added getting to continue to play football with Coburn makes it even more special.

“It’s a blessing,” Barber said. “We are both chasing a dream. We have the same dreams, the same goals. Plus we have teammates up there already, so it’s just a blessing.”