By Colin Ehrman
Staff Writer
As seniors at R.J. Reynolds High School begin their final year of spring sports and take their first steps into a bigger world, the time has come for Reynolds to recognize the careers of their very best athletes. Four years of hard work, determination, and dedication have produced one of the best signing classes in school history. One that will be remembered. A few athletes from the class of 2026 include: Brandon Bell, Landon Byerly, Elizabeth Kim, and Harper Patterson. To celebrate athletes moving on to the collegiate level, the spring College Sports Commitment Ceremony will be held on April 16, 2026, at the new Zack Bacon Hall of Champions.
Kicking off the signing day ceremony is Brandon Bell, a standout slot receiver and defensive back who has officially committed to play D3 football for Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia.
“I committed to Bridgewater because of the coaches’ constant interest and how they made me feel like it was the right place to be,” Bell said. “I feel like Bridgewater is the place for me because it’s not a big, chaotic college, and it’s pretty straightforward.”
While Bell is moving on to the next level of football, he hasn’t forgotten about the system that shaped him and the memories of his high school years.
“Reynolds has really prepared me well for college life,” Bell said. “Coach Davidyock always had coaches in and out of the building to give players a chance to start the recruiting process. But most of all, I’ll miss my time at Reynolds because of the Friday nights, the fun during school days, and just being in high school period.”
The next athlete is Landon Byerly, a senior captain and goalkeeper who has committed to play D2 soccer for Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina.
“I signed with Barton College because of how heavily oriented they are on their athletics and sports teams,” Byerley said. “I credit a lot of my success to my coach, with all the help he did in the recruiting process and all the training we had done, so I’m of the caliber of a college soccer player. Coach Roach makes an effort to prepare us for life after high school, not just as an athlete but also as a person.”
Another notable athlete in the class is Elizabeth Kim, better known as EK, a goalkeeper and tri-sport athlete. EK has committed to play D3 lacrosse for Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Along with her accomplishments on the lacrosse field, Kim also competed for the Swim and tennis teams, earning a varsity spot all four years.
“I signed with Dickinson because of the awesome team environment and the coach,” Kim said. “I really enjoyed the head coach’s coaching style as well as that of their assistant coach. They value much of the same things as I do, positivity and hard work being a few of those values. I am so excited for the next level of competition and the community of like-minded people that I’ll be able to learn and grow alongside at Dickinson.”
Rounding out some of the notable signing-day athletes is Harper Patterson, a star Midfielder and captain who has committed to play D3 lacrosse for Sewanee: The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. While Patterson shines on the lacrosse field, he’s also made his name on the football field, playing varsity wide receiver and Safety.
“I chose Sewanee because of its strong academic preparation and the even balance between social life and lacrosse,” Patterson said. “Sewanee helps its athletes by letting them choose their classes first and setting aside time for academic achievement. Sewanee is well known for career readiness preparation; they help you secure high-tier internships and ensure you understand what you are learning.”
Together, these four athletes represent more than individual achievements; they represent a deep love, dedication, and pride for Reynolds and the community. Through the highs and lows, successes and failures, these athletes have represented Reynolds well and have an exciting future ahead. And while each athlete goes their own way, one thing is very certain: they will carry the knowledge, memories, and experiences of Reynolds sports for the rest of their lives.
“I can attribute a fairly large part of my success and recruiting to Reynolds,” Kim said. “Most of which comes from the support of my teammates and coaches throughout the whole process. I will definitely miss my time at Reynolds. It has been a great experience, and I’ve made many good memories here.”
