Prime Nine: Group of Blue Devils make collegiate commitments

Published 1:14 pm Tuesday, June 2, 2026

QUINCY — Quincy High School held its final signing of the 2025-26 school year, with nine student-athletes making their collegiate commitments.
QHS held a ceremony on Tuesday, May 19 in their cafeteria highlighting each student-athlete.
Wyatt Boeing, Indian Hills men’s wrestling
After a decorated career with Blue Devils wrestling, Boeing is moving on to be part of the Indian Hills Community College’s wrestling team. He will major in welding.
On the mat, Boeing brought hard work, toughness and determination to the Blue Devils.
Boeing was a two-time Western Big 6 Conference champion in his weight class, and was an individual champion at the Rollie Platt and Ron Rush QHS Invitational.
Isabella Brown, Culver-Stockton women’s soccer
Brown has been a defensive midfielder and sometimes an offensive midfielder for Quincy High School, and is ready to play whatever role she is needed for Culver-Stockton College.
“The recruitment process was really easy with (Wildcats head coach Tyler Tomlinson),” said Brown. “We were family friends, so getting in touch was really easy with him. I went to a few camps and they were really fun. I got to see the team together. It’s more of a family than just teammates.”
Brown was able to share the stage with two fellow QHS teammates — Avri Warner and Brai Warner.
“It was an amazing experience sharing the stage with some of my friends,” said Brown. “Honestly, the (Warner) twins are some of my best friends. Just getting to share that moment was one in a million.”
One thing Brown appreciated at QHS was soccer head coach Travis Dinkheller.
“Dink is such an amazing coach that always treats us as family,” said Brown. “He says we’re kind of his daughters in a way. It just shows me how important friends and family can be on the field and off the field.”
That family-type atmosphere carried over to the field.
“I think my favorite memory would be when we score goals, how we all just run to each other,” said Brown. “It’s not just a one-person score, we always have to be a team and connected to each other. So it’s all the bonding that we do on and off the field.”
Mason Dent, Quincy University sprint football
Dent has been a pivotal part of the Blue Devils’ football and baseball programs in recent years and made a decision on his future.
Dent will join the QU sprint football team after being recruited by a familiar face, second-year Hawks head coach Kirkland Burton.
“It was kind of different than everyone else,” said Dent. “The (QU) head coach right now used to be affiliated with QHS football, so I knew him. He came into my work one day and we kind of joked about that I was going to play there. We texted back and forth and I got the official offer.”
At QHS, Dent played a variety of positions and was the team’s starting running back his senior season. He will continue to play that position at QU.
“It was amazing,” said Dent. “Growing up, I never was a running back. So I was thrown into that after Jeraius (Rice) graduated. That’s big shoes to fill. My sophomore and junior years getting around those guys was some of the most fun I’ve had in my life. Seeing what they done and knowing them, kind of drove me to be the best that I can be.”
Two coaches helped a lot with Dent’s development — football head coach Rick Little and baseball head coach Rick Lawson.
“Coach Little taught me a bunch,” said Dent. “He taught me no matter what you’re doing, go hard and be relentless. Being part of baseball, I had Coach Lawson and he’s the same way. They both strived on going out there and doing your best. They were both amazing coaches.”
Dent is looking forward to playing at the next level with QU.
“Obviously the goal is to go out there and break records, and compete at the highest level I possibly can,” said Dent. “That’s my main goal. Go out there and prove that I belong.”
Trace Routh, Quincy University men’s soccer
During his time at QHS, Routh had played soccer, basketball and baseball.
However, soccer is Routh’s favorite sport and he has decided to commit to QU men’s soccer team.
“It was a little tough, just because being a multi-sport athlete, you’re looking to play whatever sport you can get a chance in,” said Routh. “With me being injured Coach (Mike Carpenter) reached out to me for soccer season and it went good from there.”
Routh considered also playing baseball at QU, but ultimately decided against it.
“They wanted me to play baseball there too, but I’m more confident out on the soccer field,” said Routh. “I just love soccer, so being able to play that sport at the next level means everything.”
Routh was a All-Western Big 6 Conference second team selection this past season, but his favorite memory came early in his high school career.
“Definitely my first ever varsity goal against Alleman,” said Routh. “That was probably my top moment.”
Routh is ready to make his mark with the Hawks.
“I just want to score a bunch of goals,” said Routh. “That’s definitely one of my goals. Just want to be on the field as much as possible and put in the work.”
Gavin Slee, Coe College track and cross country
Slee was unsure of his future before deciding to dual sport with Coe College as part of their track and field and cross country team.
“It was really hard to decide,” said Slee. “It waited until the last minute to decide, just so I could get all the facts together and eventually decided.”
The coaching staff at Coe College was a big enticement for Slee to commit there.
“The coaches here are great,” said Slee. “They’re always very supportive.”
Slee’s favorite track event is the 800-meter run, and he also competes in the mile run and 4×800-meter relay. His favorite cross country course is the one in Granite City.
At Coe College, Slee is looking to make his mark.
“I want to get some school records there,” said Slee.
Ethan Stark, Quincy University men’s tennis
After being part of a strong Blue Devils tennis team, Stark is now moving across town to be part of QU’s men’s tennis team.
“I applied to QU just because I’m from Quincy,” said Stark. “Then I reached out to Zach and mentioned how I got accepted. He got in touch with me and gave me my offer.”
Stark was part of a QHS boys tennis team that won its third straight WB6 championship, and advanced to the state tournament.
According to Stark, the best part of his game is his forehand and ground stroke play.
“I started playing tennis when I was six years old,” said Stark. “I just picked it up, went to the park and started doing this.”
Stark is hoping to continue his success at the collegiate level.
“I would like to be able to just compete at a super high level,” said Stark. “Being able to compete with the guys on that team. Just upgrade as a player and be able to win matches.”
Avri Warner, John Wood women’s soccer
Avri Warner and her twin sister Brai Warner both decided to join John Wood’s women’s soccer team.
Both Warner’s have been playing soccer for the last 14 years.
“I’m excited,” said Avri. “We’ve been playing together since we were little. So getting to continue to play together is a dream come true.”
Avri was recruited by one of her club coaches to John Wood.
“We were hesitant at first, but then we realized that we wanted to continue playing soccer,” sadi Avri. “We loved the sport for so long, so it would be fun to continue because we have so much support. So the recruitment process wasn’t that hard. He kept in touch with us trying to recruit us. We were iffy about it, but then we finally thought that it was the best fit for us.”
Avri plays left wing and back defense for QHS, and hopes to continue playing that position with the Trail Blazers.
“I’ve been playing that position since I started soccer,” said Avri. “I feel like I’ve learned to get really comfortable in that position. Every year, I do private trainings for my club coaches or Coach Dink, and it’s really helped me.”
Avri remembers the friends she made on the soccer field.
“The friendships that I’ve made has really stood out,” said Avri. “Just because you create your own family there.”
Brai Warner, John Wood women’s soccer
Brai Warner joins her twin sister Avri Warner as part of the John Wood women’s soccer recruitment class.
“It’s been really hard for us to do things separate than together, so it’s exciting to go together,” said Brai.
After some convincing, the Warner twins are ready for the challenge of collegiate soccer.
“It took a lot of convincing for us,” said Brai. “We didn’t really know if we wanted to play college soccer because we knew it would be a big step between high school and college. Once we both agreed we would do it, it kind of clicked.”
Brai has been a center midfielder and defensive midfielder throughout her soccer career. She was an honorable mention All-WB6 selection.
“I’m not sure what role I’ll have,” said Brai. “I can play either really good, so I’m just ready for what coach runs out with.”
During her time at QHS, Warner learned plenty from Dinkheller and the coaching staff.
“I learned so much from (Dinkheller),” said Brai. “Just how to be a better teammate, learning soccer better. Just how they created a big family. So I can not just learn things from the coaches, but the girls, too.”
Milton Whitfield, John Wood men’s basketball
Whitfield was the Blue Devils’ senior leader this season, and most of came from the bench since he missed the first half due to injury.
After being part of some standout QHS boys basketball teams, Whitfield embraced the leadership role for this year’s edition, which was the youngest in Blue Devil program history.
At John Wood, Whitfield will major in health science.