Emma Choate (center) was the guest of honor Thursday afternoon when she signed to play collegiate soccer with Birmingham Southern. It is the second time in just a year that Lile and Andrea Choate — who were with Emma at the signing — have had a daughter announce an intention to play at Birmingham Southern; Abby Choate signed with the school last year and played on BSC’s 15-4 team last fall.

TIFTON — Birmingham Southern College’s soccer fields will be the site of a family reunion this fall.

Tift County High’s Emma Choate signed a scholarship with Alabama-based Lady Panthers Thursday, barely one year after her sister, Abby, inked with the college.

“She’s been a special athlete,” said Tift County athletic director Rusty Smith at the signing ceremony held in TCHS’ media center.

As a freshman with the Lady Devils, Choate scored 22 goals and contributed 20 assists as Tift advanced to the second round of the Class AAAAAAA playoffs. Four games into the 2018 campaign, she has already notched two goals and two assists.

“I’m very proud of her and her accomplishments,” said Lady Devils head coach Zac Martin.

Smith, as he admitted he did often at athlete signings, pushed her to get a college degree. Choate has already shown as much tenacity in the classroom as she has on the athletic fields.

Choate is assured of being one of the youngest players on Birmingham Southern’s roster this fall as she is set to graduate a year early from Tift County High. She has been a superior honor student every year at TCHS.

As a club soccer athlete, Choate played with Birmingham United Soccer Association on the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) U15 team as a ninth grader. During her sophomore year, she played with United Futbol Association’s (UFA) South Georgia ’00 Premier team, which finished second in the state. For these two squads, she scored 17 goals and added 20 assists.

Most recently, Choate scored 15 goals and had 10 assists for UFA’s South Georgia ‘99G Premier team, which finished 21-0.

“I’m proud of all of her hard work and dedication,” said Martin.

Besides soccer, Choate played varsity basketball for Tift County High her sophomore year.