“I’m ready!” Ashley Love announced, as she signed her intent to attend Emory & Henry College, and play soccer for the Wasps.

On Thursday, April 28, Love and Wil Rimer, who’ve starred for Polk County’s varsity women’s and men’s soccer teams, each made it official that they would be attending Emory & Henry, and playing for the Wasps on scholarships.

On April 16, Love spoke with Wasps’ women’s coach, Linda Schirmeiser-Gess, who’d watched the Polk-Owen match that evening.

“She offered me a spot on the team,” Love reported. Other coaches had also offered Love a chance to play for them, but she had already chosen Emory & Henry (located in Emory, Va.) because she had fallen in love with the school.

There, Love plans to major in physical therapy.

Love began playing soccer while in fifth grade at Saluda Elementary School. Coach Jeffery Howell convinced her to try it.

“I had a couple of seasons with him,” Love remembers. “It was really nice.”

Rimer has played soccer since he was five years old. He grew up playing baseball, soccer, and wrestling (in middle school).

“Soccer has always been my go-to sport,” Rimer emphasized. “It’s not a hobby; it’s part of my life.”

Competing in soccer on the college level “was always my dream,” he said, adding, “I knew I’d have to be dedicated and motivated.” When he earned more playing time in his sophomore year at Polk, Rimer knew he had a chance at college.

“My main thing was I worked hard in the off-season. There was no off-season for me.” In non-soccer seasons, Rimer ran, lifted weights and continued to eat healthfully.

“I always did something each day to make sure I kept myself in shape.”

What nailed Emory & Henry for Rimer?

“When I visited the campus, I knew it was my new home,” he said.

Rimer also hopes to become a physical therapist, and knows it requires eight years of study.