Columbus North High School

February 1, 2023 - Five Columbus North student athletes will be participating in the second of three collegiate signing ceremonies hosted by the Columbus North Athletics Department on Wednesday, February 1 in the CNHS Cafeteria beginning at 5:30 pm. Each athlete will be presented by Athletic Director Brian Lewis and a representative from their high school coaching staff. Family, friends, and teammates of each athlete will be in attendance. Student athletes participating in this ceremony represent six Columbus North athletic programs, including boys cross country, boys track and field, girls cross country, girls track and field, volleyball, and softball. These student athletes’ future colleges or universities represent the Division 1 and NAIA levels. The Bull Dog student athletes planning to participate in the February 1 signing ceremony include the following: Logan Branstetter is signing to play volleyball at NAIA IUPUC. Logan earned three varsity volleyball letters, was named the team’s most improved player during her freshman year, and served as team captain her senior year. She was named to the Indiana Volleyball Coaches Association Academic All-State team, and earned Conference Indiana All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition following the 2022 season. On the club volleyball circuit, Logan was named to the Junior Volleyball Association 2023 Watch List. Logan chose IUPUC over other offers from St. Xavier University, Manchester University, Madonna University, and Quincy University, and she plans to major in Nursing, eventually becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Kaylee Cowan is signing to play softball at IUPUC. Kaylee played nearly every position on the field as she earned varsity letters the past two seasons after having her freshman year canceled due to COVID. She was one of the top hitters on the 2022 team that went 20-4. She hit a key homerun in a Regional victory over Center Grove in 2021. Kaylee, who is a team captain, was also given offers from Trine University and Indiana Tech before choosing IUPUC where she will study Mechanical Engineering. Kellen Hottell is signing to run cross country and study Agriscience at Division 1 Murray State University. Kellen was a four-time varsity letter winner in cross country and a three-time letter winner in track and field. He was named All-Conference Indiana following the 2022 season, and was a member of the 2022 State Champion 4x800 meter relay team which set the State Meet record time. Hottell was also recruited to run cross country by Hanover and Bellermine before choosing Murray State. Mateo Mendez is signing to run cross country and track and field at Division 1 University of Louisville. Mateo was a member of the 2022 State Champion indoor and outdoor 4 x 800 meter relay teams. His outdoor team set the all-time State Meet record time and his 4 x 400 meter relay team broke the school record in 2022. He was a captain of his cross country team his senior year, and his 20th place finish at the 2022 State Cross Country Championships earned him All-State honors. He has earned two varsity letters so far in soccer, track and field, and cross country. Mateo, who chose Louisville over another offer from Indiana State University, will study exercise science and plans to attend physician assistant school. Brianna Newell is signing to run cross country and track and field at the U.S. Naval Academy, a Division 1 institution. Newell was named All-Conference Indiana all four years, earned four cross country and two track and field varsity letters, and was named freshman cross country co-MVP and Runner of the Year. She was a State qualifier (and two-time All-Conference) in the 1600 meters, and was awarded the 2021 Bull Dog Award for track and field. Brianna was part of the 2021 State Championship and 2022 State Runners-up cross country teams, and was a member of the school record 4 x 800 meter relay team which placed second at the 2022 State Championships. She was All-State Honorable mention in 2021 and 2022, and ranks in the top-10 All-Time at Columbus North. Brianna had offers to run at Westpoint Military Academy and Purdue before choosing the U.S. Naval Academy. She is undecided at this time on her major. This ceremony will bring the total number of Class of 2023 signees to thirteen. Columbus North will host one additional collegiate signing ceremony on April 12 in the Columbus North cafeteria, beginning at 5:30 pm.