SOUTH MADISON COUNTY — COVID-19-related restrictions have taken away the traditional college signing photos, but it hasn’t stopped some of the area’s top student-athletes from announcing post-high-school plans.

Six senior standouts from Pendleton Heights and Lapel have recently committed to play sports and continue their academic careers in college. All have plans to resume at NCAA Division III institutions in Indiana.

Pendleton Heights senior basketball player Tristan Ross has chosen Hanover College to play basketball. Ross averaged 14.6 points and 10.3 rebounds for the Arabians this season.

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Arabians football players Joe Rios and Kamden Earley have committed to Wabash College, located in Crawfordsville.

Rios and Earley were both named to the All- Hoosier Heritage Conference team. Rios was named as a linebacker and Earley as a running back.

In the fall, Rios was second on the Arabians and seventh in the HHC in tackles (101, 8.4 per game). Earley was second in league in rushing yards with 1,207 (100.6 per game), trailing only the state’s all-time rushing leader, Charlie Spegal of New Palestine.

C.J. Williams, a punter for the Arabians’ football team and pitcher for the school’s baseball team, announced he will be playing both sports at Manchester University in North Manchester.

Williams was 3-4 as a pitcher in 2019 with a 2.31 earned run average. He led the team in appearances with 12 and saves with three. He also hit .500 (7-of-14) at the plate.

He averaged 39.0 yards per punt with 11 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

Lapel boys basketball player Carson Huber also picked Manchester.

Huber averaged 12.2 points per game, second for the Bulldogs, and led Lapel in assists at 4.5 per game.

Girls hoopster Makynlee Taylor has chosen Anderson University.

Taylor led the 17-win Bulldogs in scoring, 12 points per game, and rebounding, 7.7 per game.