Three Hound seniors sign with Northwest

On this particular National Signing Day, Maryville and Northwest Missouri State athletics were aligned even closer than usual.

Three of Maryville's premier senior athletes—Jonathan Baker, Caleb Mather and Alyssa Stiens—each signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Northwest Wednesday afternoon inside a crowded MHS Gymnasium.

Baker signed a football scholarship with Northwest as did Mather who will also be part of the track and field team. Stiens inked with the Northwest women's soccer team.

Each signature was met with a round of applause from a large gathering of MHS students, faculty and family members that forced the signings to be moved from the hallway to the gym.

"It means a lot to have the support of your school and your community behind you," said Baker. "It goes to show the type of town Maryville is and how fun it is to play here. This really solidified the decision I've made to continue to play here at Northwest. I feel like the community is behind me and it's going to be a lot of fun here."

Baker and Mather occupy two of the 34 slots in Northwest's 2013 football signing class.

Both were first-team all-state selections in Class 3 as seniors, leading the Spoofhounds to a 15-0 finish and a state championship.

A two-year starter at quarterback, Baker set the school's all-time, single-season and single-game passing records last year. He finished with 2,215 yards, 33 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

Mather, a three-year starter along the defensive line, totaled 21.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last year. He was also a first-team all-conference offensive lineman.

"I'm extremely proud of both of these young men and the decision they made," said Maryville head football coach Matt Webb. "This is a unique community, and in our program we talk about what this community means. To have them make a decision to stay at our local university is very reflective of their appreciation for the Maryville community and the high-caliber of football the Bearcats play. I'm excited personally to be able to continue to watch them play on a weekly basis and have them close at the same time. I know they are getting very well taken care of."

Baker chose Northwest over William Jewell and Washburn.

His signing came five days after he scored a career-high 34 points and went over 1,000 for his basketball career in a 64-57 win over Smithville, making this one of the best weeks he can remember as an athlete.

"It's definitely up there when you put it that way," said Baker. "I was thinking about that today. We keep thinking every football banquet that football is ending. Signing Day was pretty special to me and my family."

Born and raised in Maryville, Baker grew up a Bearcat fan and has attended most of their home games over the years. One of his childhood dreams was to play for Northwest, and that desire grew even more once he got to high school.

"Once you start putting all the pieces together, you realize how great Northwest is," said Baker. "If you look at our size of town, it is very odd to have a school like Northwest be as successful as they are in the Division II level. That just makes it that much more awesome to be here and play for them."

Mather went on his visit to Northwest with Baker, and made the decision soon after to continue his football/track career at home.

He was also recruited by Washburn and had a visit to Missouri Western fall through.

A two-way lineman in high school, Mather (6-1, 260) will play only on the defensive side of the ball in college. In track, he'll throw the shot put, discus and hammer.

Mather won the Class 3 state shot put title last year and has a chance to go to back-to-back.

"It's awesome," said Mather of playing for Northwest. "I had season tickets when I was little. I've always wanted to be a Bearcat. It's just exciting to be one."

Steins has attended Northwest soccer camps since she was little and never really considered playing anywhere else in college.

She is believed to be the first Maryville girls soccer player to sign a college scholarship.

In her MHS career, which has one year remaining, she's scored an astonishing 117 goals.

She had a career-high 57 last year along with eight assists.

Stiens was also Maryville's starting setter in volleyball and earned All-MEC honors.

The Bearcat soccer team finished fifth in the MIAA last year.