Bond signs with Milligan U.
Aydin Bond has signed his intent to further his academic and athletic career at Milligan University in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Ayden is joined by his parents and siblings to cele- brate the signing. Pictured are: Sandy (mom), Alex, Aydin, Joel (dad) and Avery Bond. (photo:Tony Cox )
Bond, an infielder, catcher and pitcher for the Mavericks, will play baseball next year at Milligan University in Elizabethton.
He signed his national letter of intent last week during a ceremony at ACHS. He said he’ll play for the Buffaloes while pursuing a degree in computer science.
“It’s a three-year degree, and hopefully, that’ll work out,” Bond said.
He said that his family is happy that he’s staying close to home and playing in Elizabethton.
“They’re all stoked about it,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun time.”
Bond noted that the coaching staff with the Buffaloes helped him make the decision to attend Milligan and play baseball there.
“I really did it because of the coaching staff,” Bond said.
“Once I talked to the coaching staff, I knew that I was going to sign.
“I knew I was going to have a good experience. Basically, it felt like home to me.”
Bond also said that the small campus at Milligan appealed to him.
“That was what I was looking for,” he said. “I didn’t want to go to a big ol’ campus with a lot of kids.
“I wanted more one-on-one instruction,” he said. “It’s personal. You know everybody and everybody knows you.”
Bond said that he is pleased with his decision to attend Milligan, and is glad that the recruiting process is behind him.
“Once I signed, I felt like I had a big weight off my shoulders,” he said. “Now, I can just go play.”
With the recruiting process over, Bond can now concentrate on his senior season playing baseball at ACHS.
That season is looming around the corner.
He said that he and the Mavericks have some lofty goals.
They shared the District 4-AAA regular-season championship last year with crosstown rival Clinton and Knoxville Halls.
The Red Devils, however, are no longer in the league. They’ve been reclassified to Class
4A.
“Everybody wants a district championship and it’s always nice to knock Clinton out,” Bond said.
“I want a state championship. That’s my end
goal,” he added.