Wednesday, Nov. 13 was National Letter of Intent Signing Day for high school athletes around the country. Westside had four seniors sign with colleges. This is a continuation of the ongoing Wired series of features of these athletes. 

Megan Peterson, who started for the Westside softball team all four years of high school and was named All-State once and All-Nebraska honorable mention twice, will be going to the University of Sioux Falls (USF) to play softball next year. USF is a NCAA Division II university in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

One of Peterson’s main reasons for selecting USF is the coaching methods of head coach Kelsey Thompson.

“They were a lot different than the other coaches I would talk to from other schools when I visited [Sioux Falls],” Peterson said. “[The head coach is] a new coach, and I liked her coaching style. It’s newer, not like an old coach that had been there for [a long time].”

In addition to coaching style, the coaching staff has another draw for Peterson.

“The coaches seemed more open to school first then sports, rather than … [the] team and then going to school after that,” Peterson said.

School is the priority for Peterson, and another factor in her decision to go to Sioux Falls is academic.

“They have a nice nursing program, which is what I want to go in to,” Peterson said.

Another factor in her decision was ability to play early in her career, something Peterson will have the opportunity to do.

“I think I’ll be able to, as a freshman, have a good chance to start,” Peterson said. “I just have to practice hard and earn that, though.”

Peterson said she’s excited to meet her new teammates next year, along with starting her nursing courses.

The previous two athletes featured in this series were Jake Meyers and McKinney Harwood.