It was another celebratory day at the new Pit Gymnasium on the campus of Conroe High School.
Led by a three-sport standout in Alisa Sneed, who made it official with one of the top collegiate softball programs in the country, the Tigers had three total participants on Signing Day Wednesday afternoon.
Conroe volleyball player Pretsyn Parish signed with Southwestern University and baseball player Sam Buzbe locked on with St. Thomas University.
Conroe basketball coach and girls athletic coordinator Tamisha Houston remembered hearing about this athlete named Sneed when she was a junior high.
Sneed has since taken Conroe by storm, achieving success in softball, basketball and track and field for the Tigers.
“I want to thank my parents who have supported me through the ups and downs,” Sneed said.
Sneed verbally committed to the Longhorns 13 months ago in October of 2023. Texas had just played in the NCAA World Series championship in 2022 and made it back there again this past spring.
“The University of Texas is getting a great one,” Houston said.
Conroe senior athlete Alisa Sneed poses for a photo with her family. (Rob Tate/SportCast Media)
Last year as a junior, Sneed batted .473 with 11 homers, 30 RBIs and 29 runs scored. At shortstop, she was first-team All-District 13-6A and the Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Sneed is the all-time home run leader in Conroe history.
“She’s the most humble, down-to-earth and the cultural heart of our program,” Conroe softball coach Rachelle Harris said.
Conroe softball coach Rachelle Harris, left, speaks about Alisa Sneed during Wednesday’s signing day ceremony. (Rob Tate/SportCast Media)
Sneed is one of four NCAA Division I verbal commits on the Tigers roster. Among the rest of the Tigers, Eva Lantagne (Duke), Kaylee Chatman (Sam Houston State), Addison Mason (Prairie View A&M) make for a formidable team this spring.
In basketball, Sneed is the starting point guard and was a part of the 2022 team that went to the Region II-6A tournament. Conroe has made the playoffs every year that Sneed has been on varsity and she was the Defensive MVP for the district last season.
Houston, who also coached an elite softball recruit in Kennedy Powell, who two years ago signed with UCLA and is currently at Texas A&M, is glad to have a dedicated athlete like Sneed participating in more than one sport.
“Every year she just keeps coming back,” Houston said.
Sneed finished sixth last year in the long jump at the Region II-6A meet and ran in relays.
Conroe track and field coach Michael Williams has always been impressed with Sneed’s willingness to come out for track.
“She sets the bar high and then just keeps achieving it,” Williams said.
Parish is a four-year varsity letterwinner for the volleyball team and was a part of the playoff run in 2022. She totaled nearly 1,100 digs in her career and 338 kills, according to MaxPreps.
“She’s a great teammate and loves the game,” Conroe volleyball coach Keandra McCardell said. “She could play all positions at once, if she could.”
Conroe athletic coordinator Cedric Hardeman speaks during Wednesday’s signing day ceremony. (Rob Tate/SportCast Media)
Buzbee is a middle infielder and right-handed pitcher for the Tigers.
“One of the things that sticks out to me the most about Sam is he’s going to be successful at whatever he does,” Conroe baseball coach Jeff Raymer said. “He’s proven to persevere and work through challenges to become better. That’s a characteristic that’s going to make him a highly-successful baseball player.”
Conroe coaches pose for a photo with student-athletes Alisa Sneed, Prestyn Parish and Sam Buzbee during the school’s signing day ceremony on Nov. 13, 2024. (Rob Tate/SportCast Media)
