Every year, thousands of high school student-athletes make the tough decision of where to continue their education while playing college sports. For 12 Concord High School seniors, the time to announce their future plans has arrived.

On Wednesday night, the Tide hosted a version of National Signing Day in the high school auditorium after the spring season’s “Meet the Coaches” night. All 12 went up on stage ready to declare their choice and sign a national letter of intent.

Ranging from equestrian to football, here are the 12 student-athletes, their choices and what motivated them to sign where they did:

Colby Nyhan, Bryant University: On top of leading the Crimson Tide football team in the fall, Nyhan has shined the brightest as a pole vaulter and has consistently placed in the top three in the state the past two seasons.

“I wanted to go into some sort of business, and they had a really strong business program. Then the team camaraderie there and the coaches, they were really great in the recruiting process,” Nyhan said.

Nyhan will be majoring in team and project management, and he said he feels ready to compete at the next level for track and field, adding that he might still dabble in some flag football if possible. 

Ella Goulas, Bryant University: The second Bryant Bulldog of the bunch is also joining the track and field team. She plans on majoring in exercise science and is ready to research the ins and outs of athletic performance, injuries and much more.

She was the Concord Monitor’s winter season girls’ track and field player of the season for her exploits as a jumper and in relay races. She most recently won the state title in the long jump, was part of the 4x200-meter relay team and placed third in the high jump.

“I wanted to stay close but not too far, where I’d have to fly. They have a really great track program and really great coaches, so that caught my attention and really made me love that, like fall in love with that school,” she said.

Connor McGahan, Emmanuel College: McGahan, a three-year varsity track and field athlete, chose to attend Emmanuel in Boston for graphic design and marketing. He’s done it all for the Concord High team and is a true multi-sport athlete who excelled at javelin, hurdles, shot put and jumping, which he combined for decathlon competitions as well.

“I’m hoping to try the decathlon; that’d be good. But yeah, new team, new standards, just looking forward to compete,” he said.

McGahan said he’s excited about school in the big city while retaining that homey, small-campus feeling. For his major, he said that the proximity to a lot of organizations he would like to work for is a huge bonus, and he’s interested in interning with the Red Sox or the Celtics.

Andie Moreira, Roger Williams University: With one more Crimson Tide softball season left, Moreira is still focused on the task ahead but signed her commitment to be an RWU Hawk. She played the outfield well in her first three years, posting a .929 fielding percentage, but is perhaps an even better hitter with a .429 batting average and .605 on-base percentage.

She will be studying architecture and said that throughout touring and recruiting, the coaches and team were very welcoming and that it seemed like the right community for her. Moreover, the program and architecture on campus itself is ideal for her.

“The beautiful Cummings School of Architecture, I walked in that building every single day, every single tour, and I’m like, ‘Wow, I cannot wait to study here,’ ” she said. “On top of that, I’ll also be studying my masters there for the 5½-year program, so I’m so excited to continue my career at Roger Williams.”

Ellie Worster, Vermont State-Castleton: The Spartans will be getting one of Concord’s best skiers and the Concord Monitor’s girls’ Alpine skier of the season. She recently won the Meet of Champions slalom title and will take her talents over to Vermont, where she can be closer to the mountains.

Worster plans on studying business and is very excited about the opportunities ahead but, most of all, she looks forward to skiing and racing at Killington because she’s never been before.

“I really liked the people that I met on the ski team,” she said. “It seemed like a really inclusive community. And I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Hannah Buffington, University of Lynchburg: Although not offered as a varsity sport at CHS directly, Buffington will be taking her abilities on the saddle to be part of Lynchburg’s equestrian team. She plans on studying forensic psychology and is looking forward to riding in the warmer weather in Virginia.

“They have a really good forensic psychology program, which is what I’m majoring in,” she said. “Just hands-on experiences in the psychology department. That’s what I’m really excited for.”

Avery MacDonald, Rivier University: Some of the Tide’s talent will be staying in the Granite State, and MacDonald — Concord volleyball’s starting middle blocker and hitter — will go on to study criminal justice in Nashua in the fall. She said she’s happy to have the opportunity to continue playing volleyball, and on the criminal justice side she’s not exactly sure where she wants to take it but is excited to explore.

“I loved the campus and I loved how it was smaller so I’m able to connect with my professors more, and I loved just the atmosphere of it all,” she said. “I’m really excited for volleyball, to meet all the girls, to have that season with them and to improve.”

Addison Cain, University of New England: The first of three Concord student-athletes attending UNE, Cain was captain of the Tide’s cheer team and a talented member of the marching band during her varsity career. She’ll join the Nor’Easters’ cheerleading team and will study applied exercise science.

“Definitely my friends, and the campus is gorgeous and the team is amazing,” she said on her reasons for choosing UNE. “I’m really excited for all of the labs, the hands-on opportunities they have there, and hopefully the doctor of physical therapy.”

Tess Bolduc, University of New England: Bolduc will study applied exercise science alongside her good friend and she will play on the softball team as an infielder, primarily at first or third base. She also hopes to go into physical therapy and continue her studies in the doctorate program while having fun and winning lots in softball.

“I just love the campus and all the people. When I went up and visited, I just loved the environment that they have and all the studies. And I’m just really excited to like get up there,” she said.

Sydney Fye, University of New England: Fye, another volleyball-playing senior, will be joining Cain and Bolduc at UNE, but she plans on studying English. She said that it seemed like the perfect fit for her and echoed the sentiment that the campus was beautiful.

“It’s the perfect distance away – everything about it is beautiful and, for English, I just really like writing and I can’t wait to be there,” she explained. “In the fall, just play volleyball. It’s my favorite thing to do and I can’t wait to get to do it at a higher level.”

Katie Blinn, Southern New Hampshire University: Blinn will join the Penmen in the Northeast 10 Conference and will become a rival for her older sister, Elizabeth Blinn, who is a middle blocker at Bentley University. She’s the third senior from the Tide’s volleyball team to sign to play at the collegiate level. She plans on majoring in justice studies and hopes to earn a law degree down the road.

“It’s close to my family. It has my major, which is really important. Academics are always going to come first, but the program that SNHU has, their volleyball team, is great,” she explained. “Very excited to play in the conference with my sister.”

Evander MacIver, Wesleyan University: Last but not least, MacIver will be studying pre-med and playing football for NESCAC’s Wesleyan Cardinals in the fall. He’s going to play as a linebacker and long-snapper as he did for the Tide with his large 6-foot, 185-pound frame, and is excited to get with the team in the fall.

“It’s a good school. Football is my favorite sport I’ve ever played, and I’ve just always been interested in healthcare. So it like helps me get the right way where I’m trying to go,” MacIver added.

Alexander Rapp can be reached at arapp@cmoni tor.com.