Two Ridgeview soccer players, both named Intermountain Conference most valuable player in the 2017 season, will be friendly rivals at the next level.

Aspen Jeter, who led the Ridgeview girls to the state quarterfinals in 2017, signed Feb. 7 to play collegiately at Concordia University in Portland, while Alex Nadermann, who helped the Ridgeview boys to the play-in round his senior year, will play for Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho.

It’s exciting that both schools are members of the NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference, said Nadermann, who was named co-IMC MVP with Bend’s Calvan Berteau.

“I’m going to be able to watch her, and she’ll be able to watch me,” he said.

Jeter looks forward to the friendly competition with her classmate in Redmond.

“We get to talk a little bit of trash,” she said after the ceremony on national signing day for sports including soccer and football.

The event in Ridgeview’s Skybox room was attended by dozens of family members, teammates and staff.

Jeter looks to make a name for herself at the college level.

“I’m really excited to play,” she said. “I think I’m going to be a force to be reckoned with. I want players to be a little intimidated because I work so hard.”

Nadermann, who also helped Ridgeview to its first boys playoff appearance as a junior, wanted to attend Northwest Nazarene because it gives him an opportunity to combine high-level soccer with a strong program for engineering, which he plans to pursue a career in.

“”I felt it was the perfect fit for me,” he said.

Nadermann said coaches assured him that the goalkeeper spot for the Nighthawks is open, so he plans to compete for it in the 2018 season. He is receiving a partial scholarship at the school.

Jeter looks forward to attending the liberal arts school in Northeast Portland. As of 2014, it has enrollment of 1,300 undergraduate students.

“I love how small the school is,” she said. “I love the small class size, but I also love that they have a super-solid Division II soccer program.”

Jeter, who is getting $18,000 in scholarship money, looks to work on her athleticism in the offseason, she said.

“I’m not a slow player, but I think I need to be in phenomenal shape, because they run their butts off,” she said.

But first, Jeter has some unfinished business on the basketball court, where she also stars. The Ravens can put themselves in the driver’s seat for the IMC title Friday with a victory against Bend. After splitting their first two meetings, the Lava Bears are tied with Ridgeview at 7-1 in league play with four games to play.

“We need to finish that up and secure first place in league,” she said. “I want that legacy to be left here after my four years.”

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com