Seated from left are Tracey Ireland (mother), Brittany Ireland and Jack Ireland (father). In back are Junior Pearce (travel coach), Triton athletics director Wendy Simmons. Triton principal Ryan McNeill and Triton softball coach Mark Whitman. (Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Three Triton High School seniors signed on Friday to continue their athletic careers at the next level: Brittany Ireland, Josiah Beasley and Ethan Hedgepeth.
Brittany Ireland has signed with Catawba College in Salisbury to play softball.
“I really like the coach (Mandy Harris-Morgan),” Ireland said. “She was really sweet and nice. And I went to watch their practices and I really liked how she ran the practices and how everything was just smooth and fun and it really looked like the girls enjoyed it. And the campus is also very beautiful.”
Ireland has been a part of the varsity softball team at Triton for all four years. She initially played in the outfield, but moved to catcher last season, where she is expected to play again this year. But she said she will mostly be playing third base and some at first base for the Indians in college.
Ireland said she plans to major in environmental science at Catawba and is undecided on her career field, but wants to go into a career that involves working with trees.
Ireland said her standout memories of her time at Triton are the Hawks games against rival teams.
“We always get super excited and hyper,” Ireland said. “We’re always cheering each other on. And just the love that we share with each other always makes me really excited and happy to play.”
In her senior campaign, Ireland has a simple goal in mind: win.
“Win. Everything,” Ireland said. “I also just want to play really well. And, it’s kind of selfish, but I’d like to break the home run record this year.”
The record Ireland referred to is the school’s single-season home run record of eight, set by then-senior Ashley Daniel, now an assistant for Triton, in 2017, which was Ireland’s freshman year. Ireland finished her sophomore season in 2018 with seven, one home run shy of tying the record.
Josiah Beasley has signed with Barton College in Wilson for swimming.
“Really, it just came down to the family aspect of the team,” Beasley said. “And being close to home is kind of nice. When I went on my visit, the team took me in like they were my family and I really enjoyed meeting the coaches and meeting the other swimmers. Coach (Tyler) Ziegler, the head coach, he was really inviting. We actually got to talking early in my junior season and he talked me through the whole process, which made it really nice.”
Beasley said he would consider the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle to be his main events he competes in, but he is working on broadening his skillset for the college level.
“I’m definitely more sprint oriented,” Beasley said. “But in college you have to have those backup events, so I’m working on the 100 back (backstroke) and 100 fly (butterfly stroke) right now.”
Beasley considered the biggest standout moment of his time swimming for the Hawks came in his freshman year when he competed on a relay team in the regional meet.
“My freshman year when I went to regionals with Triton on a relay,” Beasley said. “That was absolutely amazing for me. It’s what really made me want to go further in the sport and made me want to swim there again. Seeing that pool, the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary, and seeing a bigger venue like that, I really wanted to make it to meets like that again and I was able to do that in my remaining years.”
Beasley said his goal for his senior campaign is a top three finish in the state championship meet.
“Podium at states,” Beasley said. “I’ve kind of gradually went up. Sophomore year I just kind of wanted to make it to states. Last year I wanted top eight, which I did. I believe I was fifth in my best event there, which was the 100 free. This year, I just want to podium. Top three would be really nice.”
Beasley said he plans on majoring in business and minor in history. He hopes to eventually become a teacher and coach at the high school level and use the business part of his studies for a career in real estate.
Ethan Hedgepeth has signed with Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh to play baseball.
“It’s a good program and I really like the school,” Hedgepeth said. “It’s a good option for me. The field’s nice and the coach (Robert Dudley) is really nice. And I know a lot of people that play there. I emailed (Dudley) about it and told him I was interested and I went for a visit and that was that.”
Hedgepeth is a right-handed pitcher and also plays second and third base for the Hawks. He expects to continue playing those positions for the Eagles.
Hedgepeth plans to study criminal justice at Wake Tech, but has not decided on a potential career field.
Hedgepeth said his standout memories of playing baseball at Triton are of game preparation with his fellow Hawks.
“Just all the games and getting ready for them with my teammates,” Hedgepeth said.
Hedgepeth said his goal for his senior season was for the Hawks to win the Tri-County Six 3-A Conference championship.
Hedgepeth’s older brother, Aaron Hedgepeth also had a standout career with the Hawks as a left-handed pitcher and first baseman. The brothers played together at Triton for one season in 2017, which was Aaron’s senior year and Ethan’s freshman year. Aaron currently plays college baseball for the University of Mount Olive.
Seated from left are Richard Beasley (father), Josiah Beasley and Amy Beasley (mother). In back are coaches Adam Bryant, Philip Abruscato and Julia Hendrick, Triton athletics director Wendy Simmons, Triton principal Ryan McNeill and Morgan Morrison (girlfriend).
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Seated from left are Kim Hedgepeth (mother), Ethan Hedgepeth and Ricky Hedgepeth (father). In back are former Triton baseball coach Joey Miriello, Triton baseball coach Jake Willis, Triton athletics director Wendy Simmons and Triton principal Ryan McNeill. (Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
