BEATRICE - February 1, 2023 will be a day about a dozen Beatrice High School athletes will remember of the rest of their lives…. The day they signed to play college sports at their school of choice.

On Wednesday afternoon, Beatrice held their annual signing day ceremony where athletes were honored, along with signing their letters, with family but their side. One of those athletes is Tucker Timmerman, who’s headed to Nebraska to play baseball. Timmerman set Beatrice High School record with a .341 ERA in his junior year.

The Will Bolt effect can be chalked up Timmerman’s journey to Nebraska, when he committed about three years ago.

“Coach [Will] Bolt was the first coach that I talked to,” Timmerman said. “It was an instant connection... He was very cool, very calm. The way he explains baseball is the exact way I want to be playing baseball.”

Avery Barnard is headed to Wichita State to play softball as an infielder. She’ll reconnect with her sister Addie on the diamond, a Beatrice alum, who holds single-season Shocker records of 33 home runs and 84 RBI’s. While Addie will graduate in 2024, Avery is excited to once again compete with her sister.

“I don’t even know how to explain it, I’m so excited,” Barnard said. “Addy has had such great success at Wichita and I’m excited to be a part of her journey, to have our memories together... I can’t even begin to explain how excited I am.”

Avery is excited to have a family feel during her time at Wichita, but also knows her sister will push her to be her best.

“I think having her there will be easier, because I won’t be able to see my mom or dad everyday, or my little sister,” Barnard said. “She’s going to help a ton, but also be a person who can get hard on me at times, and I’ll be like ‘Okay, I got it Add’."

Both Timmerman and Barnard play multiple sports at Beatrice. Timmerman is currently playing basketball, but then baseball will ramp up, before he heads off to Lincoln this summer.

“We’ll finish up basketball, play school baseball, finish up school and then I’ll head up to Nebraska in July, get on campus, take a couple classes and get on campus really early, enjoy life up on campus.”

Barnard also is in the midst of basketball season, with track to follow. She has accolades she’d still like to achieve, in both sports.

“I want to make it to the state championship again for basketball,” Barnard said. “Also get back to state for track, maybe medal in a few events. It’s not one of my favorite sports, but I definitely push myself to my best ability so I’m excited.”