Four Taft College Student Athletes Move on to 4-Year Level

TAFT, CA – Taft College Athletics is pleased to announce four student-athletes who made a commitment to continue their academic and athletic careers to the four-year level.

Siera Bradford, a 5-7 guard on the women's basketball team, has signed a letter of intent to play for NAIA Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Florida. This past season, Keiser University, under Head Coach Pam Oswald, went 18-11 overall and 10-4 in conference finishing in 2nd place. Unfortunately, they lost in the first round of the Sun Conference Tournament, after earning the No. 2 seed in the tournament. The program had a first of 4 Seahawks earning all-conference honors. Four Seahawks also were named academic all-conference, while three were named NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Coach Oswald stated, "We are excited to get a player of Siera's caliber that has a strong pull-up jumper game but can also handle the basketball & make plays for her teammates. Not only will she be an asset on the court, but also in the locker room for our team & culture that we have here at Keiser."

Ayla Keith is a member of the women's golf program, and Ayla will be signing with NCAA Division II Emmanuel University in Franklin Springs, Georgia. She will be playing for second year Head Coach and Emmanuel University golf alumni Preston Braswell. Emmanuel's women's golf team ended the season with a conference tournament win and multiple individual records.

Women's Soccer midfielder standout Celine Corona intends to play for USCAA Bryant and Stratton College-Syracuse in New York, who finished the past season 7-4-1, falling short of the national championship to Shaw University 0-3. TC Head Women's Soccer Coach Lyle Martin, Jr. commented on Celine's commitment, "Celine is joining an exceptional college and team poised for another shot at the national championship. I'm thrilled to see what she'll achieve at Bryant & Stratton College!"

Head Women's Volleyball Coach Mallori Rossi's top libero Kailee Wakatake will be joining the Tritons of University of California, San Diego. UC San Diego just completed their third season of NCAA Division I competition. They went 17-13 overall and 9-9 in the Big West Conference. It is the first time the Tritons have finished with a .500 or better record in the D-1 era. Kailee will be playing for newly hired Head Coach Melanie Greene.

Coach Rossi commented, "Kailee is a difference maker on and off the court and has the capability to help her team rise to an elite level. We are so excited for her to join the Tritons and help her team contend for a conference championship next fall. Coach Melanie has created a lot of excitement within her program and has made a huge impact in the short amount of time she's been at UCSD, and we know Kailee is in great hands."