Two Vernon Lady Lions will be continuing their sports journey at the next level, as they signed with two-year colleges last week. Key’Maria McBride will be attending Ranger College on a scholarship to play volleyball and run track, while Mijah Johnson will be going north of the Red River to Western Oklahoma State College after receiving a scholarship to be on the cheer team.
Both Key’Maria and Mijah are members of the VHS Class of 2025 and both have been multi-sport athletes all four years of the high school career. Key’Maria played volleyball, basketball and was on the Lady Lions track team, while Mijah also played those three sports along with being a VHS cheerleader.
“These are two fantastic young ladies,” Lady Lions volleyball coach Amber Hall said during the signing ceremony. “This is quite an accomplishment and it is well-deserved. Key and Mijah have been outstanding these last four years. They stayed committed. They persevered and accomplished things others didn’t believe they could do.”
Both young ladies are four-year varsity lettermen in all three sports. Both also came into VHS and earned starting positions on both the volleyball and basketball court as freshmen.
“I’m elated to see both of these young ladies have this opportunity to move on,” Lady Lions basketball coach Thomas Robinson said. “I came in here three years ago and met them when they were sophomores and knew they were special. And now, here we are and I wish them the best of luck.”
During their high school career, they helped the Lady Lions earn a spot in the volleyball playoffs their freshmen and senior seasons, and helped lead the Lady Lions to the basketball playoffs the last two years as well. Both also earned all-district honors in both sports all four years of their high school career.
Mijah was an all-district selection in basketball and volleyball, while Key’Maria was Co-Newcomer of the Year in Volleyball and Newcomer of the Year in Basketball her freshman year, while also earning MVP Server honors one season. For the last two seasons, Key’Maria was named Defensive MVP for District 7-3A in basketball.
While Key’Maria ran on the 3 Lady Lions’ relay teams, her passion in Track & Field lies in the Triple Jump. “I really don’t like to run,” she said with a smile.
During her high school career, she advanced to compete in the Triple Jump at the Class 3A State Track & Field Meet twice, bringing home a silver medal this year. She also set a new VHS school record in the event this year.
“I really wanted to stay closer to home and family, and I’m getting to play two sports,” Key’Maria responded when asked why she chose Ranger College. “Volleyball and the triple jump are my two favorite sports. When I visited the campus, it felt like home.”
The business/marketing major hopes to move on and play at a four-year university after her time at Ranger.
Sports has also been a huge part of Mijah’s life as well. Like Key’Maria, Mijah has moved from sport to sport, season to season throughout her school career but, with the addition of being a cheerleader as well.
“I love cheerleading and it was the best opportunity for me to receive a scholarship to help with school,” Mijah said. “I love bonding as a team and being there to support all of the sports. I’m going to miss playing sports for sure, but this is just a new chapter after high school. A new beginning.”
Mijah will be in the nursing program at Western Oklahoma, and plans to attend the University of North Texas to receive her bachelor of science in nursing.
These two young ladies definitely made their mark on Lady Lions’ athletics, and they leave some big shoes to fill.