ALAMOSA – A pair of Alamosa High School student-athletes have decided where they will continue their academic and athletic careers as they signed national letters of intent earlier this month.

Laci Christensen has signed to play volleyball at Hastings (Neb.) College, which is an NAIA school, and Jeremiah DeLaCerda signed to compete in cross country and track and field with Colorado Christian University.

“I just really liked the team and the campus,” Christensen said. “The girls are really nice and the coach is amazing. My brother and cousin went there and it felt like home.”

“I’m excited for her,” said Alamosa volleyball coach Annie Mortensen. “I think it’s a good fit and she’s a really great player and a really great kid.”

“I think going on a visit there and they’re team and culture and coaching was so good,” DeLaCerda said. “I see myself growing there as a person and as a runner.”

“Jeremiah is one of the top runners in the program and he’s going to continue running for Colorado Christian,” said Alamosa track and field/cross country coach Jen McQuitty. “We’re excited for this. We’re looking forward to Jeremiah continuing to grow and expand and chase his horizons as a collegiate athlete in running.”

Christensen was a four-year letter winning for the Mean Moose volleyball team which culminated in AHS finishing as the Class 3A state runners-up last fall.

“We got second, but it’s time to move on to bigger and better things,” Christensen said.  “The state tournament was a memorable part of this career. My teammates taught me how to be a good teammate, a good person and a good friend.

Christensen also played basketball one season for Alamosa but gave up the sport after an injury.

“I played sophomore year,” Christensen said. “I tore my ACL so I began recovering for volleyball.”

Christensen is one of several former Mean Moose volleyball players to sign with a college in the last couple of years.

“All of them really worked hard and validated our play,” Mortensen said. “They’re prepared to move on to the next level.”

DeLaCerda is currently a member of the Mean Moose wrestling team which is at state this weekend. But he decided to pursue a career in running.

“Wrestling is just like a different mentality,” DeLaCerda said. “You definitely have to be a bigger person and being 106, the smallest weight, I don’t think I’d be able to make it up to 125. I feel like I’m still good at running.”