Buffington signs with Coe College

WINFIELD - Winfield-Mt. Union senior Jenna Buffington made her college choice official on Friday at the WMU library. The Wolves' star hitter will head north to Mount Vernon to join Coe College. Buffington, the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division's Player of the Year for the 2020-21 season, took her time to officially commit, but decided to become a Kohawk in February.

'I didn't verbally commit until the beginning of February,” Buffington said. 'I took my time for my decision, because I wanted to make sure it was the right school.”

Buffington says she had a good visit at Coe, and the coaching staff kept consistent contact with her. She will join a squad that currently sits at 5-1 in its special spring season on the nets.

Buffington says she thinks she'll be a good fit at Coe, a school that is just about an hour and 15 minute drive from Winfield. The short distance home is a nice bonus.

'It definitely means a lot to me, and it was a big part of my college decision,” Buffington said. 'I wanted to go somewhere close enough that I can come home on the weekends.”

Academically, Buffington plans on studying exercise science with a track toward physical therapy, and that she also plans on getting her doctorate after college. She battled lower body injuries throughout her high school career, and says she wants to help kids that are going through the same things she went through.

Buffington had yet another great year at the net in her return to the court in 2020. She finished the season with 261 kills, the most in the SEISC North Division.

She is the fifth senior on the WMU volleyball team to sign an athletic letter of intent, with more signings expected to come in the spring. Kayla Edwards has signed with Rock Valley Community College. Jami Wilkerson signed with William Penn University. Kyndal Townsley will play both volleyball and basketball at Carl Sandburg Community College, and Madie Anderson signed with Indian Hills softball.

It has been a banner year for WMU girls sports under the current senior class. The Wolves went undefeated in the North Division in both volleyball and basketball to earn the division title in both.

'I think all of us girls realize all the work we put in, and it is finally paying off,” Buffington said. 'That is the best feeling in the world, knowing you worked so hard for something and being able to achieve it.”