Four student-athletes enjoyed the ultimate send-off Wednesday as Christ School dismissed classes for Christmas Break.
Aydan White ’20 (N.C. State University), Kade Chapman ’20 (University of Virginia-Wise), Navy Shuler ’20 (Appalachian State University), and Will Buchanan ’20 (Liberty University) made their dream of playing college football a reality on National Signing Day. The Greenies put pen to paper during a ceremony in Pingree Auditorium attended by family, friends, and other members of the Christ School community.
Athletic Director Eric Thorp ’01 said that Wednesday was another proud moment for a football program which has reached a state-championship game four out of the last five years. The Greenies have won 44 games during that time.
“I want to thank these guys for representing Christ School well. I’m very proud as an alum, as the athletic director, as an employee here at Christ School of how they represent Christ School off the football field as well as the contributions that they have made to the football program over the last two, three, four, and five years,” Mr. Thorp said. “This is a big day for these guys and for you all as families. This is a commitment beyond where they are going to go to school. It is really a testament to their hard work, to your support, and I don’t think the program would be on the trajectory it is on without these guys, and guys the past couple of years who have gone before them.”
Navy is the most prolific quarterback in Christ School history, having thrown for more than 6,500 yards and accounted for 7,591 all-purpose yards and 82 touchdowns in his 24 games as a starter. He was the 2018 Asheville Citizen-Times Western North Carolina Player of the Year. Navy was under center for every game this past season, passing for 2,095 yards and 20 touchdowns with eight interceptions, while rushing for an additional 346 yards.
One of Navy’s primary targets was Aydan, who was a threat to score every time he touched the football. Aydan made 27 catches for 536 yards and eight touchdowns, returned three kicks for touchdowns on special teams, and made a pair of interceptions on defense. The coaching staff gave Aydan the Tom Thain '1918 Most Valuable Player Award and he has also been named to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association all-state and All-Big South Conference teams.
The third Greenie signee from the Asheville area is Will, who won the David McCullough ’45 Outstanding Lineman Award and was the highest-graded blocker for the offensive line. He was joined on that line by Kade, whose hometown is Franklin, N.C. Together, Kade and Will allowed the Greenies offense to average 355 yards per game.
Christ School went 6-4 this past season with notable wins over NCISAA Division II champion Charlotte Providence Day, Charlotte Country Day (which was the top seed in the Division I playoffs), University Christian out of Jacksonville, Fla., and 2018 N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A state champion Murphy. The Greenies beat Asheville School for the eighth straight year to maintain ownership of the Fayssoux-Arbogast trophy.
More photos from Wednesday have been posted at this link.