“I went to a camp and loved it and had a good time,” Ruston said. “New campus, new field, just everything you’d ever need to be successful in college.”
Ruston specifically thanked his family, including his parents and little brother as well as coach Hamrick and everyone who had coached him over his lifetime.
Ruston was grateful to the entire community for their support over the years. That extended to his signing day as dozens of friends, family, teammates, coaches and other supporters filled the library to wish him congratulations upon signing.
“Columbiana’s been everything to me,” Ruston said. “They’ve been so special. They’ve been all so supporting. Everybody in this room was so supporting today, and I just can’t thank everybody enough in this school, in this town that had done everything for me.”
Now that his decision is finalized, Ruston looks forward to taking the field with Shelby County for a special senior season. He’ll look to make another run in the postseason and help the Wildcats avenge an early loss to Marbury in the Class 5A playoffs.
Ruston said the decision helps him focus on the remainder of his high school career and prepare with college in mind.
“It prepares me that I know what I have now, that I know I can do so much better, and love the game, and just play the game the right way, and know that I’m going to be ready for the year,” Ruston said.