(L-R) Walker Moncus, Tori Wright, Emily Thompson and Madison Starr)

The Auditorium at Vidalia High School was the scene of another historic signing day for four Vidalia High School Student-Athletes on Wednesday. Tori Wright (Softball), Madison Starr (Softball), Emily Thompson (Softball), and Walker Moncus (Baseball) all signed National Letters of Intent to play at the next level.

Family, teammates, and friends gathered in the auditorium to witness the signings of the four who have led their teams to Region Titles and deep runs in the GHSA Playoffs and, in Moncus’ case, the 2022 AA State Baseball Championship. 

Moncus, who signed with Florida State College at Jacksonville, was joined by his family and said he chose the Blue Wave because of the chance to play at the Junior College level before going to a bigger school. “I had a couple of options, but I wanted to go to JUCO and felt that was the best fit for me. It was the best opportunity to play for one of the top JUCO schools. I also wanted to take my chance while I had it.” 

Moncus, who was a 2021 and 2022 All-Region selection, still has his senior season ahead of him. He will go into the 2023 season with a career .369 Batting Average, with 65 RBIs, 16 Triples, and 2 home runs, with his last being a game-winner against Lovett in the 2022 Semi-finals, “the State Championship helped out. I mean, I’m already signed, so I’m playing with no pressure this year, and go out there and have fun. 

Two-time All-State catcher Tori Wright Will be heading to North Georgia to play for the Nighthawks of the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. “I went up there to a camp, and everything just felt right, and I was like, this is the place I am supposed to be.”

Wright, who will leave Vidalia High School with a .418 batting average (4th All-Time) and 18 Homeruns (2nd All-Time), was the back-to-back Region Player of the Year and credited her parents and coaches for helping her reach her goals. “I am so thankful for my parents for putting in the money and effort to bring me into all the travel tournaments, games, and everything else. My high school coaches, I couldn’t have done it without them. And just constantly helping me put in the work and just keeping me focused. Also, my travel ball coaches have been such a pleasure to work with and helped me in my journey getting here, and I’m super thankful for them.” 

2019 and 2020 Region 2AA Pitcher of the Year Madison Starr will head to Mercer to further her playing career and education, “I chose Mercer because it was just the right atmosphere I wanted. It wasn’t like big, big, but there were just enough people to know and to be with and to celebrate with. I went on my official visit, and it made me happy because at the football game, everybody knew everybody, and it was just a good atmosphere that I wanted to be in.” 

Starr, the second-winningest pitcher of all-time at Vidalia (48 wins) and recorded the second most strikeouts in school history (363), said she is thankful to the many people who helped her get to this point in her life and career. “I am so thankful for my dad, my mom, my grandma, and my sister. I am also thankful for Coach Beck, coach Korn, Coach Ashley, Coach Joe, my travel ball coaches, and everybody that’s helped me get here.”

Emily Thompson, who was a 2nd team selection to the 2022 3AA All-Region Team, batted .311 with a .392 on-base percentage this season and will take her talents to Milledgeville, where she will be a Bulldog and wear the Red and Black of GMC. “I’m really excited about just the atmosphere in general. It’s a smaller school, and I feel like that really suits me as a person in general, and I really like Coach Ashley Bun. She has really spoken to me, and she really caught my eye, not only with her, but the also the program and the school itself.”

Thompson, who was the “ultimate teammate” according to VHS Ben Beck, said that her abilities came from one source, “I’m very thankful for everybody, but number one is obviously the Lord. He’s given me the ability to do this. Of course, my family and all the coaches who have given me the opportunities to play for them, especially Coach Ashley. (By John Koon- Courtesy of Vidalia Athletics)