TROY — Three Troy High School seniors made their college choices official this week in the Trojan Activity Center.

J.J. McCoy will play football for Hocking College, while Allyson Burns will play softball for Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Ashley Kloeker will play softball for Blufffton University.

J.J. McCoy

McCoy, the son of Dimitrius and Jani McCoy, has been a standout on the Troy defense for the last three seasons.

The 6-2, 215-pound linebacker had 59 tackles as a sophomore.

As a junior, he followed it up with 64 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble.

Last season, he had 71 tackles, 4.5 sacks, one force fumble and two fumble recoveries.

McCoy felt Hocking, a community college in Southeastern Ohio, was an easy choice.

“It was the best opportunity for me to go and then move on (to a four-year school) somewhere else,” McCoy said. “I wasn’t happy with the way our senior season ended. That (going 6-4) is not Troy football.”

McCoy will also play linebacker, but will likely have more responsibility.

“I think it is a good opportunity for me,” he said. “I will play linebacker, it maybe a little more hybrid. I feel like I can still get better at everything. Reading defense, dropping into coverage, things like that. “

Former Troy football coach Dan Gress said it is that kind of drive and determination that will make McCoy successful at the next level.

“It is a great opportunity for J.J.,” Gress said. “The coach (at Hocking College) has done a great job of giving the kids opportunities to go on and play somewhere else. J.J. was a true Troy Trojan. He was everything you could ask for in a football player. I can’t wait to see how he does at the next level.”

Allyson Burns

Burns, the daughter of Matthew and Amanda Burns, said Mount Vernon Nazarene is a great fit for her.

“I just loved the school when I visited there,” she said. “I have always loved softball. I have always been a catcher. My dad was a catcher and taught me everything.”

After losing her sophomore season to Covid, Burns had a big season last year on Troy’s team that set a school record with 22 wins.

She batted .535 with five doubles, three triples and a home run. She drove in 22 runs, stole 24 bases and had only two errors on defense.

“Definitely, I feel like I can still get better,” Burns said.

Troy softball coach Scott Beeler agreed.

“Allyson took a lot of visits and Mount Vernon was where she felt comfortable,” he said. “Allyson has work to do, but so does every player. She is a good hitter and baserunner. She is a smart catcher. It will be exciting to watch and see how she does (at the next level).”

Ashley Kloeker

Kloeker, the daughter of Jennifer and Chris Kloeker, knew she had found her home for the next four years when she visited Bluffton.

“I just loved the school and the community,” she said. “I played a lot of sports in high school. The other sports weeded themselves out and softball stood strong.”

Kloeker, like Burns, is hoping for another record setting season this spring.

The middle infielder batted .431 as a junior, with two doubles, two triples, two home runs and 17 RBIs.

“We set a school record for wins last year and with a lot of seniors coming back, we want to meet those expectations and exceed them,” she said.

Her positive energy always carries over to her teammates, something Beeler said makes Kloeker special.

“Ashley didn’t take that many college visits because she decided later that she was going to play softball,” he said. ” But, they always say go where you are comfortable. Ashley started last year in a slump. But, even then, she was the biggest cheerleaders for the other players in the dugout. That is the kind of player she is and I think the Bluffton coach picked up on that. It will be exciting to watch and see how she does at the next level.”

After all three left and continue to leave their mark at Troy.