Surrounded by family, friends, teammates, a state senator and former coaches, Jessica Koumas made the transition from high school graduate to soon-to-be college student-athlete with one swift move of the pen.With those in attendance at Hall’s Restaurant in Lugoff serving as a backdrop, the 2013 Lugoff-Elgin High School graduated completed a roundabout journey to Coker College by signing a national softball letter-of-intent with the Lady Cobras.What made this signing unusual was the fact that Koumas did not play high school softball in either her junior or senior seasons. Instead, the right-hander played travel ball for the Richland County-based Palmetto Heat. And as for the connection between Koumas and the Lady Cobras’ softball staff, that came after she had made her decision to attend the Hartsville institution as a student, earlier this year.The fact that she had been accepted as a student first, before getting the opportunity to play softball at Coker, made Monday’s ceremony all the more sweet.“I always think of school before softball,” Koumas said following her signing.
Koumas pitches her way to Coker
L-E grad signs on with Cobras

