HASTINGS, Neb. – Ten senior athletes will be representing Hastings High School at the collegiate level next school year. 

Hastings High held its spring signing ceremony Wednesday afternoon that saw those ten athletes putting pen to paper, making their commitments official. 

Track and Cross Country athlete Austin Carrera is heading to the D1 level to compete with Wichita State. 

He has several individual cross country and track medals across his high school career, and most recently became the 3200m state record holder in Class B just last weekend.

Carrera says he made the connection to Wichita State with the help of a Hastings teammate.

"One of the girls on the track team, her dad used to coach at Wichita State, so not too long ago, he got me in contact with Wichita State," said Carrera. "I hadn't even heard of Wichita State, so I checked it out, we went on a visit, and I loved it. It all happened so fast, I wasn't even expecting to go there, but it all worked out."

A familiar Hastings name, Tucker Synek is staying home to play football at Hastings College.

He says it was never that hard of a decision for him, and with his older brother Jarrett, who played one season with Nebraska in 2022, and now transferred from South Dakota St. back home, that made the decision easier.

Not to mention his brother Quentin is a Graduate Assistant with the Bronco Football program as well.

"I knew my brothers were coming back, so I just wanted to play with them since I've never played in the same game with them ever," said Synek. "It's going to be a nice learning curve just learning from my brother, because he knows a lot more than me."

The eight other signees were Kooper Kohl, who will also play football at Hastings College.

Alex Reynolds will run track at Hastings College.

Gio Hernandez and Nolan Cardona will play soccer at Hastings College, rounding out the Hastings athletes staying home.

McKenzie Nollette and Diego Cholojan will both run track at Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln.

Katie Drake will play volleyball in Kansas at Manhattan Christian College.

Nayely Guzman-Soccer will play soccer at Northeast Community College in Norfolk.