Two Vernon Lion seniors, Lavery Gonzales and Beau Gearld, signed letters of intent Tuesday morning to continue their athletic career at the college level. Lavery will be playing baseball on a scholarship at Ranger College, while Beau received a scholarship to throw the shot put for Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, Okla.
Lavery is the son of Gordy and Elly Gonzales, and Beau is the son of Paul and Becky Gearld. Both young men are excited for the opportunity to continue both their education and their athletic careers.
“It’s a great feeling,” Beau said. “When I visited the Southwestern Christian campus it just felt like home. I love throwing the shot and I’m glad I will be able to continue and get better.”
Lavery said playing college ball is a dream come true. “I’ve dreamed of playing college ball since I was a kid,” he said. “I knew before the Christmas break that I was going to Ranger. We visited the campus and I liked the coaches, and the fact that it’s in a small town. Ranger is smaller than Vernon. There’s nothing to do there but go to school and play baseball, and that’s what I wanted.”
Vernon Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Kevin Sherrill said both young men exemplified leadership.
“These are two good young men and the Lion athletic program is going to miss them,” the coach said. “They are both able and willing to lead by their actions and then by their words. They do a great job.”
Along with throwing the shot put, Beau is currently playing baseball and also played football all four years in high school.
“Beau gives it his all everyday and it doesn’t surprise me that he is continuing his playing career,” Coach Sherrill said of the former offensive lineman. “He overcame a tough ankle injury suffered in his junior year of football. He wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to play his senior season, but with heart, determination and hard work he made it back to the field. We would not have had the season we had if we hadn’t had Beau out there.”
Southwestern Christian track coach Matt Parent was also at the signing and is excited to have Beau joining his team.
“I’m glad to be getting Beau,” he said. “I feel lucky to have him. He wants to be good and is willing to put in the effort to be good. A lot of athletes want to be good, but aren’t willing to put the work in. I can tell Beau is the type who is going to put the work in.”
While he will be playing baseball in college, Lavery played basketball and tennis, and was also a member of the VHS tennis team that captured the Class 3A State Team Tennis crown earlier this month.
“I tried hard to get him to play football because he is just such a competitor,” Coach Sherrill said of Lavery. “You can see it when he’s on the basketball court or the baseball diamond, he wants to win and he competes hard.”
Vernon Lions Head Baseball Coach Trent Pearson echoed those thoughts. “Lavery is an extremely hard worker and an even better teammate. There’s not a better teammate than Lavery. Ranger got them a good one,” the coach said.