Big news for local sports fans—Van-Far senior Gaven Gaston has signed on to play football at Monmouth College in Illinois. The signing happened on a sunny Friday morning at Van-Far High School in Vandalia, and you could just feel the excitement in the air.
Gaston isn’t just a football guy. He’s all over the place—basketball, baseball, track and field. The guy racks up awards too. This past season, he landed spots as a Class 1 all-state third team running back and a first team all-conference defensive back.
He’s got his eye on studying exercise science at Monmouth, which honestly seems like a natural fit for someone who lives and breathes sports.
Gaven Gaston’s Athletic Prowess
Gaston’s time at Van-Far High School? Pretty wild, honestly. He’s a multi-sport athlete, and it shows in everything he does.
Football Achievements
This season, he played both running back and defensive back. Here’s a quick look at the numbers:
- 1,043 yards on 80 carries
- 9 catches for 193 yards
- 18 total touchdowns
- 20.5 total tackles and 4 interceptions (one returned for a touchdown)
- 8 returns for 293 yards
Those stats didn’t go unnoticed. He picked up honors like Class 1 District 2 running back, second team Eastern Missouri Conference running back, and first team all-conference defensive back. No wonder Monmouth College was interested.
Other Sports
It’s not just football. Gaston’s made his mark in basketball, baseball, and track and field too. Balancing all those sports? That takes some serious work ethic and drive.
Monmouth College: A New Chapter
Now, Monmouth College in Illinois is getting a real competitor. The college is known for mixing strong academics with a solid athletic program, which should suit Gaston just fine.
Why Monmouth College?
The place offers a supportive vibe and solid facilities—kind of a dream for student-athletes. Their football program is tough and has a reputation for pushing players to be their best, so Gaston should fit right in.
Academic Pursuits
He’s going to study exercise science, which just makes sense with his background. Whether he ends up coaching, training, or maybe even working in sports science, he’ll have plenty of options.
Looking Forward
As Gaston heads off to play college football, a lot of eyes will be on him. The whole Van-Far community’s pretty proud, and honestly, who can blame them?
Community Support
His high school and hometown have been cheering him on the whole way. That signing ceremony? Packed with friends, family, coaches—everyone wanted to be there for the big moment.
Future Prospects
With everything he’s accomplished and the backing he’s got at Monmouth, Gaston’s future looks bright. He’s the kind of athlete younger kids look up to—someone figuring out how to juggle sports and school, and making it look almost easy.
Conclusion
Gaven Gaston’s signing with Monmouth College is the start of something pretty exciting for him. It’s a big step in both his athletic and academic life.
His time in high school sports really set him up well for what’s next. Now, as he gets ready to join the Monmouth College football team, you can bet the Van-Far community will be watching and cheering him on.
If you’re curious about Gaven Gaston’s signing ceremony or want to look back at his high school highlights, check out the Mexico Ledger.
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