Two senior Lady Jackets, Caroline Castleberry and Raylie Peebles, whose efforts have helped define Mineola High School athletics over the past four years, signed letters of intention last Thursday to attend local universities and continue their athletic careers.

Castleberry inked a Celebratory Letter of Intention to attend East Texas Baptist University in Marshall and play softball. Peebles intends to participate in track and field at the University of Texas at Tyler and signed an Athletics Financial Aid Agreement toward that end for $6,000.

The signings were conducted in the Mineola gymnasium, and the ceremony was attended by teammates, coaches, friends and family.

Athletic director Luke Blackwell described both student-athletes as possessing the highest caliber of personal character.

“Both these young ladies can be best understood by their philosophy,” he said. “They each believe, ‘Tell me what you want me to do, and I will do the best I possibly can.’”  

Peebles was also lauded for her incredible work ethic as well as her leadership skills. Castleberry’s perfectionist trait featured in the coaches’ comments. Both athletes were described as among the most competitive athletes to have ever donned Mineola uniforms.