Toone signed an NCAA Division I national letter of intent with Vanderbilt University on Friday afternoon at the Belton fieldhouse, which underwent a temporary transformation from the Tigers’ red and white to the black and gold of the Commodores.
The senior became the sixth Belton athlete to sign with a Division I school in the last month, following soccer players Josh Caffey (New Mexico), Chelsea Jones (Texas A&M), Kali Hellinghausen (Northwestern State), Michelle Hagen (Baylor) and hurdler Myca San Miguel (North Carolina).
“They called me out of the blue on June 1,” Toone said of Southeastern Conference member Vanderbilt. “I looked it up online and it seemed like a good fit, so we visited and it was perfect.
“I also considered San Diego State and just a bunch of random places. But Vanderbilt was the one I liked best.”
Toone is a three-time defending district champion and has qualified for the Nike Indoor Nationals, which will be held March 13-15 in Boston. Last spring, she won the Class 5A Region II title and captured the bronze medal at the University Interscholastic League state meet.
Her vault of 12 feet, 9 inches at the state meet was the fourth best girls outdoor mark in the nation, and it upped her stock in this year’s recruiting class.
“I started getting a lot more calls after the state meet, even more than I thought I would,” she said. “It was tough. I didn’t know if I would make the right choice, but I think I did.
“The (Vanderbilt) campus was great. It was really laid back. And the coaches were really nice, and it’s a good school. It’s a long way from here, but my parents said they are planning to move with me.”
Toone will be in competition today at the Temple Relays at Wildcat Stadium, one of several meets in the run up to her district and regional title defenses.
“I never jumped to impress people. I just did it for fun,” she said. “So I still feel the same amount of pressure to do as good as I want to do. Hopefully, it will be just as fun in college.”
edrennan@temple-telegram.com
