The NorthWood senior trio of Taylor Knight, Riley Hershberger and Landon Parker signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their track careers at Bethel College. (Photo provided)

NAPPANEE – It’s not often two athletes from the same school end up taking the next step together.

NorthWood had three do just that.

The NorthWood track program is sending three of its athletes to Bethel College after Taylor Knight, Landon Parker and Riley Hershberger all signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their track careers with the Pilots.

Bethel coach Tony Natali was able to scoop up all three Panthers to bolster a lineup that has seen several Pilots compete on a national level.

Riley Hershberger is the daughter of Justin and Kathy Hershberger of Nappanee. Hershberger carries a 3.83 GPA and is a four-year NorthWood Scholar Athlete. Hershberger made her name both at NorthWood and around the state during a tremendous freshman season, where she won the Northern Lakes Conference title in both hurdles events, then smashed the sectional record with a brisk 14.90 in the 100 hurdles at the sectional, claiming both hurdles titles in the process. A pair of runner-up finishes in the regional sent Hershberger to state, where she medaled in the 100 with a sixth-place time of 15.06 and took 15th in the 300 at 46.05. After a knee injury curtailed her sophomore year, Hershberger eased back into her junior season before returning to form this spring, where she has been a standout for the Panthers.

Taylor Knight is the son of Jeff and Angela Knight of Nappanee. Knight has earned a 3.88 GPA in his career at NorthWood High School and is a four-year NorthWood Scholar Athlete. Knight has risen to stardom for the Panthers this spring, becoming one of the top sprinters for coach Mark BeMiller’s squad. Knight finished in the top three of four events at the Goshen Relays last weekend, helping the Panthers to a four-peat team championship in Class B.

Landon Parker is the son of Rod and Karleia Parker of Wakarusa. Parker is among some of the top sprinters in NorthWood history, teaming to run a record-setting 42.28 in the 4×100 relay last May at the Goshen Sectional. The time was one of the top five relay times in the state at the sectional level. Parker was also a standout member of the boys soccer team, where he was among the team leaders in scoring with six goals and 14 assists. Parker has earned a 3.75 GPA and is also a four-year NorthWood Scholar Athlete.