By GARETT VALCOURT
Holmes County High School senior Ava Jones has officially signed to play softball at Chipola College, becoming the third member of her family to compete in the Panhandle Conference. For Jones, the milestone represents far more than athletic advancement, it stands as a tribute to a family legacy defined by excellence, resilience, and championship tradition.
“It is exciting… knowing that I’m going to play with a bunch of girls that love and work at this sport every day,” Jones said. “I’m ready to get to work.”
Jones follows in the footsteps of her older siblings, Colby and Ciera, who both earned state championships during their high school careers. Ciera went on to compete in Division I softball at Chipola, while Colby played baseball at Northwest Florida State.
While her signing day marks the beginning of a long-awaited new chapter, Jones’ journey has not been without adversity. During her junior year, she tore her ACL, an injury that sidelined her for nine months and forced her to rebuild both physically and mentally. She was officially cleared from physical therapy in September.
Much of her drive, Jones said, comes from years spent watching her older siblings compete and thrive.
“That’s always what I’ve worked for,” she said. “I watched my sister grow up and play D1 softball. I went to every one of her games. Me and my dad always talked about it, this is what I’ve worked for since I was four years old. And now, it’s starting.”
Jones will complete her senior seasons in basketball and softball at Holmes County High School before joining the Chipola Lady Indians next fall.
Staff Report 