It made perfect sense that Free State High seniors Megan Wyatt and Catelin Karlin finalized their college commitments Thursday morning by each donning navy and gold.

The two, who have played club volleyball together since they were 12 years old, will be defending those same colors for different schools in the fall — 2,193 miles apart, to be exact.

“Megan made her decision a long time ago, and she’s been waiting for Catelin to decide so that they could do their signing together,” FSHS coach Nancy Hopkins said. “I’m sure the phone lines between those two will be burning up.”

Probably, as they shorten the distance between Flagstaff, Ariz., and Washington.

The gathering in the Free State gym, attended by faculty, family and friends, was highlighted by Wyatt confirming her commitment to play volleyball at Northern Arizona and Karlin pledging with George Washington.

“We’ve done everything together, and it’s been tough. But we both support each other, we’ll go watch each other play, and it’ll be fun,” Wyatt said. “We didn’t want to make our college decision based on (friendship). We knew we had to sign with the right school for us.”

Wyatt said everything clicked when she took her first trip to NAU, where she felt a quick bond with coach Chris Campbell.

The Lumberjacks went 7-19 last season in the Big Sky Conference, and Wyatt’s toughness should help her fit in on a rebuilding club.

Free State High seniors Megan Wyatt, left, and Catelin Karlin hug after each signed a letter of intent to play college volleyball. The pair signed Thursday at Free State.

“She just doesn’t quit on stuff, and that’s what the coach at Northern Arizona saw in her, and that’s what they were looking for,” Hopkins said. “She’ll go for anything, as evident with a play we had last year at Blue Valley Northwest, when she ran into Jenny Heppert, because they were both diving for the ball, and Megan ended up with a concussion.”

Heppert was the first of three Firebird senior volleyball players to commit to a Division One program, signing in November with Central Florida.

Karlin could play right away at GW, which was an attractive feature of the program. The Colonials struggled last season in the Atlantic 10 conference, going just 7-23, but had an impressive 21-11 mark in 2003-04.

Plus, it helps she has familiar faces nearby.

“I went there for a camp my sophomore year, and ever since then I’ve been in contact with them, regarding playing volleyball there,” she said. “And then this October, I took my official visit there with my parents, and we just loved the parents, loved the coach, the players and everything about it.

“(Washington) is completely different. I don’t even know what to expect. Thank goodness that my aunt lives about 20 minutes away from there.”

6Sports video: Firebirds sign college letters