Incarnate Word Academy athletes sign letters of intent

Andrew Nicholson	Bianca Valderrama

Two Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) seniors will sign letters of intent on Wednesday, April 22, at 4 p.m. in the high school level’s front lobby. Andrew Nicholson will sign with the Texas A&M University-Kingsville track team and Bianca Valderrama will sign with Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas to join the women’s basketball team.

At the TAPPS 4-4A District Track Meet on April 18, 2015, Nicholson earned 2nd place in the 800-meter finals (2:01.33) and 3rd place in the 1600-meter finals (4:37.22). He was also a member of the boys’ 4x400 relay team that earned 3rd place (3:33.90). He qualified to compete at the TAPPS 4-4A Regional Track Meet from April 30-May 1, at Cornerstone Christian High School in San Antonio.

“Andrew always goes out to do his best. He’s self-motivated and very driven,” IWA Track Coach Donald Patterson said. “He’s going to do great at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.”

Valderrama was recently named to the TAPPS 4A All-State Girls Basketball Team. This season, she averaged 12 points and 6.8 rebounds a game. She was named to the TAPPS 4A Area All-District first team and was named MVP. She was also named to the All-South Texas third team.

“When I first met Bianca in the eighth grade, she said she knew that she wanted to play basketball in college,” IWA Girls’ Basketball Coach Malcolm Smith said. “She’s had a great senior year and now she’s fulfilling that goal of going to play basketball in college.”