Graham, Marriott, Fast sign with college programs

By Jon Dykstra | March 25, 2025 |

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Nodaway Valley senior Ava Graham signs Tuesday with Drake University at West Nodaway High School.

BURLINGTON JCT., Mo. — Ava Graham, Reganne Fast, Savanna Marriott and the rest of the West Nodaway and Nodaway Valley senior class have played a lot of ball together in the gym in Burlington Junction. On Tuesday, they shared the court together again — each signing with their respective college programs.

“We’ve all worked hard,” Marriott said. “We’ve worked our butts off for the last four years in high school. … Now we are all committed, so it is pretty cool.”

Graham, an All-State basketball player and a state champion in track and field, opted for track and field at the next level and signed with Drake University.

“Basketball has always been my first love,” Graham said. “But whenever I was a freshman, (track and field) was my dink-around sport. Whenever I saw success and saw that I can get really, really good at this and go to a better college than I was getting offered for basketball — it made me really fall in love with it.”

The 2023 Class 1 shot put champion enjoyed her visit to the Des Moines campus, liking the smaller school feel despite being a Division-I program.

“It is a D-I college, but it is a smaller campus,” Graham said. “I like that it feels smaller and closer to home. … It really makes me feel at home.”

Graham began really taking track and field seriously her sophomore season when she was able to win state and credits Pony Express club coach Danny Butterfield with helping her to develop her throwing.

She has one more season with the Nodaway Valley program and is excited to attack the season and attempt to add another state championship or two.

“I’ve never been able to focus on track as just a singular sport,” Graham said. “I’ve always had AAU basketball and things like that. It is really nice to get track season started and focus on it.”

Graham will study kinesiology at Drake.

Fast is signing with Southwestern Community College to play volleyball and pursue a degree in nursing.

“I always knew I loved volleyball, and the more I played it, the more I liked it,” Fast said.

After her senior season, Fast thought that she was done playing volleyball, but a comment from a friend changed her plans.

“One of the girls I play club volleyball with actually plays up there, and she texted me and asked if I ever thought about playing after high school,” Fast said. “I wasn’t really sure at the time, but then I thought about it more. Last month, my mom and I went on a visit up there and I loved it — loved everything about it.”

Fast is also excited to be being joined by her high-school setter with Marriott not just signing with the volleyball program, but also the basketball program at Southwestern.

“To do it with one of my best friends is more exciting too,” Fast said.

Marriott will take on the rare college dual-sport route.

“When I found out that I could do both, I was pretty excited,” Marriott said.

She joins a basketball team that already includes another Nodaway County standout with Northeast Nodaway graduate Dalanie Auffert heading into her sophomore season. Auffert made an impact last season — starting 12 games as a freshman.

“I really like the family feel with all their coaches,” Marriott said. “… Everyone felt like family.”

Graham, Marriott and Fast say that it was special to share their signing day as they closed a chapter on their Nodaway Valley careers and a began new ones.

“I think that is cool,” Fast said. “Two other girls that I’ve grown up with, playing sports with, and all of us moving on in on lives to do something we all love.”

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Nodaway Valley senior Reganne Fast signs Tuesday with Southwestern Community College at West Nodaway High School.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Nodaway Valley senior Savanna Marriott signs Tuesday with Southwestern Community College at West Nodaway High School.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Nodaway Valley seniors Savanna Marriott, Ava Graham and Reganne Fast signed Tuesday at West Nodaway High School. Marriott signed with Southwestern Community College basketball and volleyball. Fast signed with Southwestern Community College volleyball. Graham signed with Drake University track and field.