JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin High School seniors Bodee Carlson and Kayla Talbot signed on Friday afternoon to continue their careers in college.

Carlson will play baseball at Mid-America Nazarene, while Talbot signs to play soccer at Crowder College in Neosho.

Crowder is close to home. I didn’t really want to go very far, and they have what I wanted to do academically. I thought it was a great opportunity to stay home and go to the school that I wanted to go to,” Talbot says, “When he reached out to me, I was very nervous and very excited at the same time. I tried not to cry when I got the opportunity and when he talked to me,” she adds of speaking to Crowder head coach Jason Bond, “I was very excited and very grateful for the opportunity.”

“I’ve wanted to play college baseball since I was 6 years old, so this is a dream come true for me,” Carlson says, “They just seemed like they were really honest with me and up front about what next year would look like. I really appreciate that. It just felt like a really good fit,” Carlson adds, “Right now I’m just trying to be the best that I can be and give myself the best opportunity. I have some older guys who are ahead of me right now, but I’m just trying to work hard to make the best of the opportunities that I do get.”

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