Highly Decorated… Elizabethton’s Deuce Morton signs to play at UPike
Published 1:51 pm Tuesday, February 9, 2021
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Morton family looks on as Deuce Morton signs his National Letter of Intent to play for Pikeville University in the fall. Pictured seated beside Morton are his dad Jonathan, mom Kim and standing is his sister Maddie.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Morton family looks are all smiles after Deuce Morton signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Pikeville University in the fall. Pictured seated beside Morton are his dad Jonathan and mom Kim. Standing, from the left are, grandparents Ed and Doris Morton, is his sister Maddie, and grandparents Janet and Mike Jones.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Morton family looks are all smiles after Deuce Morton signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Pikeville University in the fall. Pictured seated beside Morton are his dad Jonathan and mom Kim. Standing, from the left are, Chris Jones, Janice Townsend, Ed Morton, Melissa Jones, Doris Morton, Maddie Morton, Janet Jones, Ashley Bell and Mike Jones.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Elizabethton High’s Deuce Morton is surrounded by members of the Cyclone football staff after he has signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Pikeville University in the fall. Seated to his left is David Campbell and to the right is Head Football Couch Shawn Witten. Standing behind him, from the left, is EHS AD Forrest Holt and coach Jordy Harrison.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Elizabethton High’s Deuce Morton is surrounded by members of the Cyclone wrestling staff after he has signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Pikeville University in the fall, they are Eddie Morrell on the left and Travis Pennell to his right.
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BY NIC MILLER
STAR CORRESPONDENT
After already having many of his teammates make their collegiate athletic commitments official, it was time for Elizabethton High School’s Deuce Morton to put the pen to the paper on Monday.
Morton, who was an outstanding player at the linebacker position for the Cyclone football team, was also very well recognized on Elizabethton’s wrestling team as well.
While helping the Cyclone football team accomplish a perfect 30-0 record as well as back to back state titles in 2019 and 2020, Morton has also had his fair share of accomplishments on the wrestling mat, winning the state championship tournament for his weight class in back to back campaigns with a shot at a three-peat coming up this season.
And while still in the middle of the wrestling season, Morton made it official Monday afternoon by signing his national letter of intent to play football at the University of Pikeville.
Surrounded by family, coaches, teammates, and friends, Morton explained just how special of a day this was for him.
“First off, it’s a feeling of relief to be able to sign and make my decision official. I’ve been blessed to accomplish a lot at Elizabethton and I want to continue accomplishing great things, so to be able to be here and put the pen on the paper is an awesome moment.”
On committing to play for the University of Pikeville, Morton expanded on his decision saying, “It’s close to home, so my parents won’t have to travel far. The coaching staff is also a plus, you have a mix of older and younger coaches there which can help give me many different looks and help me get much better. It’s a great place to be and I can’t wait to get at it.”
As previously stated, Morton is a dual-sport athlete in the likes of both football and wrestling, which made his decision of which school and which sport to participate in even tougher.
“I had a few opportunities to wrestle at the next level, but I’ve always loved football and being so close with my teammates. The brotherhood you get from being on a football team is unmatched, and that’s one thing that heavily influenced my decision.”
With his competitive nature and a go-getter attitude, Morton is sure to excel as he progresses and takes his talents to the collegiate level.
