Perquimans County High School’s Daven Brabble and Colin Tibbs both signed national letters of intent last week, Brabble to play volleyball next year at Meredith College and Tibbs to play soccer at Bridgewater College.
Surrounded by close to 50 friends, coaches, classmates and teammates, and seated between her mother and father, Brabble signed her name on the dotted line Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Perquimans County High School.
Brabble said her decision to attend Meredith College wasn’t a difficult one.
“Meredith stuck out to me so once that college popped up and I spoke to the coach it was pretty easy from there,” she said.
Brabble said she knows just how special the opportunity is to play collegiate sports.
“I know there is only a small percentage (of players) that get to move up to play at the next level,” she said. “It is a blessing to see how God has moved in my life and positioned things for me to be able to have the opportunity, and it is exciting to see what comes next.”
Discussing memories from her illustrious volleyball career at Perquimans, Brabble spoke about playing in the state championship game two years ago and playing in the semifinals this past year. She also said playing “travel ball” helped her gain friendships that remain special to her to this day.
Asked what she loves about playing volleyball, Brabble talked about the game’s challenges as well as the sense of community it provides.
“There is just so much to learn every day and you are always learning new skills and learning how to get better,” she said.
She said she just started playing volleyball seven years ago after playing softball for most of her youth.
Before Brabble signed her letter of intent, her father, Chris Brabble, spoke about how proud he and Brabble’s mother, Crissy, are of their daughter.
“We are certainly proud of her achievements, and we couldn’t be prouder of her even if it wasn’t about volleyball, for the young woman she is, for her work ethic, and the light that she shines so brightly,” Chris Brabble said.
Head volleyball coach Kristie Thach also spoke about how much coaching Brabble has meant to her and the impact she’s had on Perquimans volleyball over the past four years. She noted that in the four years Brabble played varsity volleyball, the Perquimans team played a total of 332 sets, and that Brabble played in all but two of them.
“It shows that not only is she a great player, but that she takes care of her body, she stays healthy and she is devoted to her team,” Thach said. “She is there for workouts in the summer, and whenever she is supposed to be there she is there, and she is being a leader while she is there.”
Thach went on to say that Brabble is a standout student-athlete both in the classroom as well as on the court.
Perquimans High School Principal Mickey Drew echoed that remark, pointing out that Brabble embodies what it means to be a student-athlete at Perquimans.
“She’s at the top of her class, she is never in trouble, and she models exactly what we want our athletes to be: a good student, good person, and then a good athlete,” he said.
Brabble will graduate in the spring and head to Meredith College soon after.
Tibbs also signed his letter of intent to play soccer at Bridgewater College at the high school on Wednesday.
At his signing ceremony, also held at the high school, Athletic Director Justin Roberson offered a few words about Tibbs and his impact on Pirate soccer.
“We appreciate the four years you’ve given us and this soccer program,” Roberson said. “Our soccer program has really come a long way and it’s players like you that put in the time, (who) play with class, play with integrity and compete every time you are on the field. We appreciate that and wish you the best of luck.”
Drew also had kind words to say about Tibbs and his character.
“The thing I like most about you is that you are not a leader only on the field, but when you walk these halls you are kind to kids that might not have anyone else being kind to them,” Drew said.
“You’re a good student, you work hard, but you’re respectful to the adults in the building and you set a good example for everyone else to follow,” he continued. “That’s way more important than soccer is ever going to be, because soccer is going to end one day but who you are and your integrity never will, so thank you for that.”
Tibbs said he chose to attend Bridgewater, which is located in Bridgewater, Virginia, because he enjoys the mountains and the sunrises and sunsets and said that he wanted something different. Bridgewater is located in northwestern Virginia.
He also said that he is going to miss the friendships that he made on and off the soccer field. As for what he thinks will be the hardest thing about transitioning to the college level, he said just getting more comfortable with the other players on his new team.
Speaking to those in attendance, Tibbs thanked everyone who has been in his life supporting him.
“My parents especially, how I was raised. How people say I am such a good kid, I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” Tibbs said.
Tibbs said he plans to major in engineering at Bridgewater.
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