Wednesday was a big day for four Hopkinsville High School athletes who signed their names on the dotted line to continue their academic and athletic careers this fall in college during a ceremony in front of family and friends in Tiger Gym.
Lauren Mayes, Alexis Herrera-Lovato, and Savior Davis all signed to run cross country and track at Georgetown University.
Meanwhile, Jaleigha McFarland signed a soccer and softball scholarship with Brescia University.
McFarland, who didn’t start playing soccer until a few years ago, played goalie for the Lady Tigers and had 184 saves her senior season. She only allowed 52 goals and had five shutouts.
She is one of the key players on the Lady Tigers’ softball team, which returned after a year off last season.
McFarland said she is excited about the opportunity to play both sports in college.
McFarland said she plans to study Special Education.
Mayes has been one of the top cross country and track runners for the Lady Tigers for many years. She especially shined in cross country, winning the Louisville Cross Country Classic, Mustang Stampede, and Madisonville Classic last fall. She also won the Madisonville Classic in 2024.
Mayes had a personal record time of 20:14.91 in the 5,000-meter run and is second in school history in the 3,200-meter and sixth in the 1,600-meter run.
She completed her cross-country career by finishing 49th in the KHSAA State Cross Country Championships last fall.
Mayes finished seventh in the KHSAA Indoor Track and Field State Championships in the 3,200-meters with a time of 12:30.
The senior said she was grateful for the opportunity to continue her athletic journey at Georgetown.
Her track accomplishments include winning the 3,200-meter run in the 2025 Paducah Tilghman Invitational.
Mayes said she chose Georgetown after meeting the coaches and team
She plans to study Exercise Science and Pre-Physical Therapy.
Herrera-Lovato also liked the close-knit community feel of the community and teams at Georgetown.
She will leave Hopkinsville High School third on the all-time 800-meter run list with a time of 2:27.42. She earned a top 10 finish in the Region 1 Class 2-A cross country meet in 2025.
In track, Herrera-Lovato leaves high school with the third fastest time in the 800-meters at 2:27.42. She also won the 800-meter run at the Daviess County Invitational and Henderson County Colonel Classic this spring.
Herrera-Lovato said it’s been her goal since middle school to be able to compete in college.
Herrera-Lovato said she was undecided on a major.
Davis also always wanted to compete at the college level. He credited his coaches and the help of his running partner and teammate, Tyson Cavinder for helping reach his goal.
In track, Davis won the 800-meter run this spring at the Henderson County Colonel Classic. He also won the race in the 2025 Muhlenberg County Inviational. He is fifth all-time on the school’s all-time list.
Davis also has the best indoor half-mile time in school history.
In cross country, he qualified for last fall’s KHSAA State Meet and ran 53rd in a time of 18:00.63, which was a personal record.
Davis said he planned to major in English.
Photos by Joe Wilson