Elkin High School stand-out track star and senior, Ragan Speer, has signed a National Letter of Intent to run track with the Cavaliers of Montreat College.
“I visited multiple schools throughout the fall semester,” Speer said. “Montreat College was the first one I visited, and the moment I stepped on campus, I felt like I already had my mind made up. Each faculty member, coach, and student I met there ensured me that I will be continuously motivated, supported, and uplifted academically and athletically throughout my four years there. Coach Lewkowicz and the team welcomed me in and treated me like family. This is the exact atmosphere I wanted when deciding on a college, and I see Montreat as a location that will grant me plenty of opportunities and personal growth.”
Speer, who has participated in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and specializes in distance runs and hurdles, has racked up lots of awards and accomplishments over her four high school years. Her Cross Country achievements include 2A Western Piedmont Conference Team Championship 2020-21, All-Conference Female Team 2020-21, NCHSAA 2A Midwest Regional Meet Team Runner-Up, Northwest 1A Conference Team Champion 2021, Northwest 1A Conference Team Runner-Up 2022, Northwest 1A Conference Team Champion 2023, Northwest 1A Conference Runner-Up 2023, Two times Northwest 1A All-Region Team. In Indoor track, Speer has claimed 1A Northwest Conference Champion Team 2022-2023, Northwest 1A Conference Female Runner of the Year 2022-2023, 1A/2A NCHSAA State Meet Runner-Up in the 4x400m relay team 2022-2023. Her Outdoor track achievements include 2A Midwest Regional Qualifying 4x800m relay team 2021, Northwest 1A Conference Team Champion 2022, Northwest 1A Conference Female Runner of the Year 2022, 1A West Regional 4x400m relay Runner-Up 2022, 1A NC State Champion 4x400m relay 2022, NCHSAA 1A Midwest Regional 4th place 300m hurdles 2023, NCHSAA 1A Midwest Region Runner-Up 4x400m relay team 2023, NCHSAA 1A State Meet Runner-Up 4x400m relay team 2023. In addition to her work on the track, Speer has also accumulated many academic awards. She received the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Essay Achievement Award in 2022, placed 5th in the Division II Creative Writing award at the National Beta State Convention in 2023. She has maintained the A-Honor Roll all four years of high school. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, and was a junior marshall for EHS and graduated in the top 10% academically of her graduating class in 2024. Speers also was a member of the Interact club, the Women’s Empowerment Club and the SAVE club and served as a Homecoming representative in 2023.
Those in attendance for the signing included EHS Athletic Director Josh Pardue, Track and Field Coaches Billy Brown, Clarence Edwards and Scott Wood along with Ragan’s parents, Bethanie and Larry Speer and her brother, Solomon.
When asked what she most looks forward to, Speer quiped, “I am looking forward to the experiences that are going to come from being a college student-athlete. Running in college has been an aspiration of mine and I’m excited for the opportunity to train at the collegiate level and see myself progress. I’m also looking forward to the classes I will be taking getting me one step closer to my future occupational goals.”
EHS track coach Billy Brown responded, “I am so happy for Ragan. She has worked so hard and has been so dedicated to her team. Ragan is an outstanding student-athlete and she is a tribute to all that is good about today’s young people!”
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