GRAFTON -- Three-sport standout Heather McDaniel has signed a letter of intent to continue her playing career at Alderson-Broaddus College, a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
In her high school career, McDaniel was a cross country all-stater three times, an all-stater in nine track events and helped lead the Bearcats to a school-record time in the 4x800 relay.
She was part of two state champion cross country teams at GHS.
Also a starter on the Grafton basketball team, McDaniel averaged 11.1 points per game in both her sophomore and junior years.
The senior plans to continue her playing career in all three sports for the Battlers.
"They're all three sports that I like to play," McDaniel said. "I just really like competing."
A-B coaches expect McDaniel to make an immediate impact in all three sports.
"Heather is a great addition to our program and a very talented student athlete that will have an impact from the very beginning," Alderson-Broaddus women's basketball coach Laurie Herrington-Arnett said. "She has the ability to make herself known throughout the WVIAC."
A-B track and cross country coach Jim Seaton has similar views.
"Heather is a true team leader," Seaton said. "We are overjoyed at Heather's decision to sign with us.
"McDaniel is the first piece of a puzzle to reload A-B's women's cross country team and build a new women's track team."
Last season was the first year that the Battlers fielded a track team. The men's team finished sixth among eight teams in the WVIAC championships.
McDaniel thinks A-B is the right fit.
"I like the coaches and it just seems like a place I can be happy with for four years," she said.
Sports writer Chris Vannoy can be reached at 626-1444 or by e-mail at sports@exponent-telegram.com
