Comet fans have known their destinations for a while. Now, it is finally happening.
On Monday, surrounded by friends and family in the West Liberty High School commons, Comet seniors Sophie Buysse and Pearson Hall officially committed to their respective college sports teams.
Both are staying in the Hawkeye State. Buysse will play volleyball at the University of Northern Iowa while Hall will play softball at Drake University.
Buysse has had an impressive run with the Comet volleyball team, racking up 1,136 kills and 1,460 digs to go along with 159 aces, 74 assists, and 31 blocks in four seasons at the high school varsity level.
In her four years in the blue and white, Buysse helped lead the Comets to 128 wins and state tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022.
In 2021, West Liberty made the Class 3A state championship but fell to West Delaware in four sets.
As a freshman, Buysse had nine kills, 10 digs and made all 17 of her serve attempts in the championship match.
On the softball diamond, Hall has recorded 166 hits, 58 of which have gone for extra bases. Hall has stolen 69 bases over the previous four years and has drove in 98 runs.
Hall's Comets have won at least 20 games in each of her four varsity seasons, totaling 87 overall.
West Liberty qualified for the state tournament in 2021, claiming a tie for fifth place with a consolation victory 7-4 over Estherville-Lincoln-Central in Class 3A.
As an eighth-grader during this season, Hall posted an OPS of 1.103.
Her fifth and final softball season will begin next year on May 26 with a home game against Wilton.