TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Eight Bald Eagle Area athletes signed their college commitment letters. They were: Kahale Burns (baseball at Mansfield), Tayten Yoder (baseball at Lock Haven), Nick Wible (football at Juniata College), Kaden Burns (football, Lock Haven), Cam Watkins (VMI), Gavin Burns (football at Lycoming College), Eric Clark (football at Navy) and Alex Lefebre (football at Lock Haven).

WINGATE — Bald Eagle Area football and baseball began making its programs known over the past couple of years. Last spring the Eagles captured the District 6 Class AA baseball title and this past fall the Eagles took a 10-win regular season journey to the state quarterfinals in football where it lost to eventual champion Southern Columbia.

Bald Eagle held a football and baseball signing day for eight student-athletes on Tuesday who will take their talents to the next level. The signing day was an honor to the seniors competing at the next level but it was more so a recognition of the blue collar hard work and dedication of the baseball and football programs that have helped put the Eagles on the map thus far.

“It’s huge, I’ve been on the ball field with them since they were four-years-old and the whole way through,” coach Jesse Nagle explained. “It’s really a great bunch of kids who are going to be great husbands, great fathers. I’m so proud of them and the opportunities they are going after. The game has given them opportunities to get a free education or for very little money. We’re super proud of them.”

Kahale Burns signed to play baseball at Mansfield, Tayten Yoder signed to play baseball at Lock Haven University, Nick Wible signed to play football at Juniata College, Kaden Burns signed with LHU football, Cam Watkins signed at Virginia Military Institute (VMI), Gavin Burns football at Lycoming College, Eric Clark signed to play football at Navy and Alex Lefebvre LHU football. The signing day was a mark of what’s in store for these seniors at the next level, but the underclassmen that have trained and practiced with these guys.

Bald Eagle Area is filled with many athletes that thrive in various sports. Watkins was a star wide receiver who played basketball in the winter, Kahale and Kaden Burns both played basketball while Kahale also thrived in baseball. Clark used his size and strength on the wrestling mat in the winter. Having athletes like Kaden and Kahale help teams fill out rosters, but give players options to play either sport at the next level.

Two will become Division I student-athletes, four Division II and two at the Division III level.

“It’s great, it shows how much they want to be at the next level and how much they work and I’m really proud of them,” coach Nagle said.

Bald Eagle Area may be a smaller, 700-student school off the Milesburg exit but they have built athletes, and they continue to show growth in their programs. The eight who signed to play at the next level on Tuesday have been riding the football train for quite some time. In a combined junior and senior high school–and having a coach who’s known the kids since they were toddlers–the Eagles have stuck together through everything.

This class of 2024 is part of the team that began its first season 9-3 overall as sophomores that quickly turned into an 8-4 record the next season as juniors. These guys were a part of the team that went from nine wins, down to eight and back up to a solid 12-2 after its own Mountain League Conference moved to the Laurel Highlands. They all stayed together, through thick and thin, to see each other grow into young men and future collegiate athletes.

“It’s just belief, that’s the biggest thing. A lot of 2A football gets overlooked and these guys are a testament to if you believe in yourself and work hard then anything is possible,” coach Nagle said. “Those kids especially work extremely hard, ever since seventh grade. They believed in it, they didn’t stop and now the hard work is paying off.”

For a group of kids that grew up playing football together, the program is truly a family dynasty. When some players were in the mix between choosing to play at the next level or move on from sports, the players took it upon themselves to evaluate if they were ready to give up the game. What brought the seniors–and the team of underclassmen out there–together is a tight-knit family mentality that not only sustained them through college, but is something the Eagles can build on after they walk across the stage at graduation.

“Our program is a pretty good program. With our kids they want to remember our last football game together as a family,” coach Nagle said. “We preach family all the time and we’re super, super tight. They didn’t want the next step not to be that way when talking to a lot of them. I told them, ‘hey, at the end of the day go try it out, you’ll regret it if you don’t,’ and they decided to give it a shot and I’m really proud of them because it gives them opportunities in life.”

Bald Eagle Area football and baseball, among other sports, has a way of bringing a friendly community together for the overall success of various teams. The neat aspect of BEA’s two stellar programs is that the seniors helped to build what’s currently in Wingate–an unforgettable successful program on the map.

The football and volleyball teams making state quarterfinal trips, baseball bringing home a state championship and honorable Coach of the Year and softball a state runner-up will help develop a small school. But for football and baseball alone, this senior class can say they have put together something that helped to set a precedent for sports at Bald Eagle Area.

“Just the team and the guys, it was such an honor to play with these guys and what we did and were able to accomplish is something I’ll never forget,” the tackle Clark said about what he will remember most about playing at BEA. “Winning districts was awesome after getting so close for the past two years. To be able to finally pull it off this year and take in this moment is something I’ll always remember.”