A pair of Northside athletes recently signed to continue their respective careers at the next level.

Silvia Chavez, who ran for the Lady Bears cross country squad, signed with the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, while Jevonn Cobin, a swimmer for the Grizzlies, signed with Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla.

Chavez recorded her best finish her senior season at last fall’s Chile Pepper Invitational in Fayetteville, where she ran a 22:39.

“Silvia is a giant killer; she ran toward her giant which was a girl she had never beaten,” Northside cross country coach Jeff Lewis said. “I told her the week when she had led the whole race and this athlete beat her in the last half mile that you don’t believe you can beat her when you believe you can, you will.

“Then the next week, she did and has never looked back.”

Lewis said that was a testament to the will Chavez displayed while running, something which also helped her be able to sign with the University of the Ozarks.

“She dared to dream and make it a reality,” Lewis said. “That reality is running collegiate cross country.”

Cobin, who moved to Fort Smith from Texas two years ago, is a home-schooled student who swam for Northside and is also on the Fort Smith Tideriders. At February’s 6A/7A state swimming meet, Cobin finished 12th in the 100 meter breaststroke.

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“I really wanted to go to a good swimming college that had my major (computer science), wasn’t too far away and have something to help further my walk with Christ,” Cobin said. “Immediately, OBU stood out to me.

“The team, who is coached by Sam Freas, is one of the best NCAA Division II swimming schools in the nation; plus, the school has a beautiful campus that isn’t too far from major cities. On the academic side, OBU had everything I was looking for.”

Cobin said the all-around experience at OBU was the determining factor.

“Being in a Christian environment meant a lot to me when I was deciding my college, and I could tell right away when visiting OBU that it had what I was looking for,” he said. “Really, OBU just stood out to me as a place I can go to excel in all areas of life and I’m so happy I can attend it in the fall.”
