ST. GEORGE — Dixie High School tennis star Kylie Kezos committed to compete on the courts at Utah Tech after she signed a letter of intent Tuesday afternoon.
Kezos capped off her stellar tennis career by taking state her senior season. She told St. George News at her signing ceremony that winning state was a huge learning experience.
“I think I most learned about the effort that it takes, the preparation and how much time it takes,” Kezos said. “And how worth it it is.”
Kezos is no stranger to hard work and preparation. She was a four-year member of the Dixie Jetettes drill and dance team that won state every year she was there.
“Being on the Jetettes did teach me to push and then all the girls around me really pushed hard too,” Kezos said. “I think that played into my tennis work ethic. All the work that we put in helped with both of my sports I did.”
Kezos often put in five-hour practice sessions for the drill team and then immediately went to play tennis.
“All my teammates and my coaches through all my four years have helped me get where I am today,” she said. “I’m really blessed that I was able to play at Dixie.”
Following are other recent letter of intent signings from Southern Utah schools since January.
If we have inadvertently missed anyone, please send details along with a photo, if available, to sports reporter E. George Goold and we’ll update this story with the additional information.
Desert Hills
On March 6, Desert Hills track stars Christopher Boyer, Kaden McKinlay, Kovin Brazzle and Kooper Denison all signed letters of intent.
The first three athletes all signed with Utah Valley University and Dennison signed to run in her hometown at Utah Tech University.
Boyer, McKinlay and Brazzle are the 18th, 19th and 20th Desert Hills track stars (respectively) that have gone on to run at the college level for the UVU program.
Dennison joins a Utah Tech group of runners that is rapidly stamping its footprint in the Western Athletic Conference.
Then, on May 8, Desert Hills basketball player Chomp Jones signed a letter of intent to play at Hartnell College in Salinas, California.
Hurricane
The Tigers have had four recent signings.
First, on Jan. 24, Hailey Lemmon signed to play soccer at USU Eastern.
Second, on Feb. 1, football player Nifai Iloa signed as a preferred walk-on at Snow College.
One month later, on March 1, Sam Johanson signed to play baseball for Colorado Northwestern.
And finally on March 8, lineman Mahonri Tonumaipea signed to play football at Minot State University in North Dakota.
Cedar
On Feb. 8, Cedar High’s Owen Murray signed a letter of intent to play soccer for Monmouth College in Illinois.
On Feb. 8, Owen Murray of Cedar City High School signed a letter of intent to play soccer for Monmouth College in Illinois. pic.twitter.com/pd33AayG4Q
— St. George News Sports (@STGnewsSports) February 21, 2023
On May 16, Cedar High distance runner Logan Peel signed a letter of intent to compete for the Southern Utah University track team. “SUU was the best choice for me because it’s so close to home and I can save money by staying at home,” Peel said during the signing ceremony, adding that he has already completed multiple concurrent enrollment classes for SUU credit. Peel added that he is excited to join the Thunderbirds starting this fall.
Canyon View
Six Canyon View High School athletes signed letters of intent in the school’s library on Jan. 10.
Hutson Slack, Trey Jacobsen, Ashton Arciero all signed to play baseball at Centralia College in Washington state.
Also, wide receiver Nick Macias signed to play football at Southern Utah University.
In addition, softball player Kamryn Allen signed to play at Snow College, while teammate Madison Fuller will play for Central Christian College of Kansas.
Allen’s and Fuller’s signings, along with that of teammate Jaeda Gleaver (Utah Tech), were previously reported in St. George News / Cedar City News.
Panguitch
Panguitch senior Adelaide Englestead, three-time individual winner of the state 1A girls cross country race, has signed to run for the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds starting this fall. Englestead also competed in volleyball and basketball for the Bobcats, and will be helping Panguitch contend for its third consecutive state title in girls track this spring.
Parowan
On April 1, Parowan guard Brooklyn Hulet signed to play basketball for Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake North, Washington. Hulet averaged 16.6 points and 2.3 assists per game this season, helping the Rams to a 15-10 overall record.
Hurricane
On April 17, Naomi Wright of Hurricane signed to play lacrosse at the University of Redlands in Redlands, California.
Dixie
On May 1, outfielder and slugger Jamelle Mullins signed a letter of intent to play softball for Salt Lake Community College. In 21 games played so far this season for the Flyers, Mullins is batting .500 (28-for-56) with seven home runs and 31 RBIs.
On May 8, Kierra Reid signed a letter of intent to play soccer for Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Cedar City News reporter JEFF RICHARDS contributed to this article.
Photo Gallery
Kylie Kezos is all smiles after signing her letter of intent to play tennis at Utah Tech, St. George, Utah, March 21, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News Cedar High senior Logan Peel, shown here with his parents and younger brother, signed a letter of intent to compete for the Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah, May 16, 2023 | Courtesy photo, St. George News / Cedar City News Hurricane High School senior Naomi Wright signs a letter of intent to play lacrosse at University of Redlands, Hurricane, Utah, April 17, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Hurricane High Athletics, St. George News Dixie High softball player Jamelle Mullins, center, and her teammates celebrate at her signing ceremony to play for Salt Lake Community College. Photo taken at Dixie High School, St. George, Utah, May 1, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News Panguitch distance runner Adelaide Englestead signs to compete for Southern Utah University, Panguitch, Utah, Feb. 27, 2023 | Photo courtesy of MarKay Englestead, St. George News / Cedar City News Hailey Lemmon signs to play soccer at USU Eastern, Hurricane, Utah, Jan. 24, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Hurricane High Athletics, St. George News Nifai Iloa signs to play football as preferred walk-on at Snow College, Hurricane, Utah, Feb. 1, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Hurricane High Athletics, St. George News Sam Johanson signs to play baseball at Colorado Northwestern , Hurricane, Utah, March 1, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Hurricane High Athletics, St. George News Desert Hills track stars (L-R) Christopher Boyer, Kaden McKinlay, Kovin Brazzle sign to compete for Utah Valley University, while Kooper Dennison signs with Utah Tech, St. George, Utah, March 6, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News Lineman Mahonri Tonumaipea signs to play football at Minot State University in North Dakota, Hurricane, Utah, March 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Hurricane High Athletics, St. George News Canyon View baseball players (L-R) Hutson Slack, Trey Jacobsen, and Ashton Arciero sign to play for Centralia College in Washington, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Canyon View Athletics, St. George News / Cedar City News Canyon View athletes Nick Macias (SUU football), Kamryn Allen (Snow College softball) and Madison Fuller (Central Christian College softball) sign letters of intent, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Canyon View Athletics, St. George News / Cedar City News Parowan guard Brooklyn Hulet signs letter of intent to play basketball for Big Bend Community College in Washington state. Parowan, Utah, April 1, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Scott Kamachi, St. George News / Cedar City News Dixie High soccer player Kierra Reid signs letter of intent for Chaminade University in Hawaii, St. George, Utah, May 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Dixie High Athletics, St. George News Desert Hills senior Chomp Jones signs letter of intent to play basketball at Hartnell College in Salinas, Calif., St. George, Utah, May 8, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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