Several local athletes commit to play in college on busy signing day around St. George

ST. GEORGE — The number of Southern Utah athletes going on to play in college grew exponentially Wednesday afternoon as local Region 10 prep stars signed to take their skills to the next level.

Dixie High School soccer player Monet Rogers at a letter of intent signing ceremony, St. George, Utah, Feb. 1, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Two athletes from Dixie High School signed their letters in front of a packed house in the lecture hall on campus.

Monet Rogers signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Park University in Gilbert, Arizona.

“Me and my dad were emailing a bunch of colleges since freshman year,” Rogers told St. George News. “Sending our videos out, just looking at different colleges.”

Rogers was interested in programs like Montana State and Westminster College in Salt Lake City, as well as others.

“I was all over the place,” she said. “We found Park University and we shot them an email and they invited us out.”

Part of the visit included meeting members of the Buccaneers, an NAIA team that plays in the California Pacific Conference.

“We came to the campus, I practiced with the team and got to know the coaches and I really like the environment there,” Rogers said. “One of the most important things for me is the environment of a team and how they work together. So ultimately we decided to go there.”

Rogers was a three-year varsity letter winner as goalkeeper for the Flyers. She also played for Rebel Elite FC, the second-ranked women’s soccer club in Utah and the No. 14 ranked club team in the country.

Rogers had this advice for Flyers who might want to go on to play in college like she has.

“You should be able to get anywhere you want to go, reach whatever limit you want to go, as long as you’re willing to put effort in consistently,” she said. “Always be ready to work hard.”

Dixie High School football player Mason Kesterson at a letter of intent signing ceremony, St. George, Utah, Feb. 1, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Fellow Dixie Flyer Mason Kesterson signed a letter of intent to play football in Cedar City at Southern Utah University.

“I decided to go to SUU because I kind of bonded with the coaches, they were pretty nice,” Kesterson, a tight end, said, adding that he has a cabin right up the canyon outside of town and that “kind of sparked me going there.”

Kesterson said he was primarily recruited by T-Birds tight ends coach Will Brunson.

“I really like the way they utilize their tight ends,” Kesterson said. “Coach Brunson introduced me to (head) coach (DeLane) Fitzgerald. He’s a pretty funny guy, he’s really nice. They’re both really nice guys.”

Kesterson said he signed for the year 2025 because he’ll go on a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before he continues his football career.

His brother Derek Kesterson, a former standout with the Flyers, is currently serving a mission in Africa.

Mason reflected on his career at Dixie and how much his coaches and teammates helped him, noting how they lifted him up and inspired him to play harder.

“The biggest thing is they brought a lot of love to the sport, and made that bond,” he said. “That’s what really made me want to play in the future, so I could make those bonds with other guys. I’m always going to remember these guys. They’re my brothers.”

SUU finished 5-6 overall last year and was 2-3 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Mason will be joined at SUU by two players from Cedar High who also committed this week to the Thunderbirds.

For more coverage of Region 10 athletes who signed to play in college, go to The Fan Sports Network.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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