On Monday, Fairview’s Dylan Garner officially became a collegiate athlete.

The senior standout signed a track and field scholarship with the University of Alabama — he was surrounded by family, friends, teammates, coaches and administrators inside the high school library — where he’ll compete in the discus and hammer beginning this fall.

Garner was as thrilled as could be about his decision, even though he’s a lifelong Auburn fan.

“It’s a little weird, but I’ll enjoy it,” he said. “I’m going to a good home. They’re going to take care of me. It’s like a dream I’ve been working toward for five years finally came true. I couldn’t be happier going to, I believe, the best program in the country. I’m going to go and be the best thrower I can.”

Garner put together a dominant senior campaign with the Aggies.

He won a gold medal in three events — discus, javelin and shot put — at the Cullman County meet before finishing first in the discus at the Class 4A, Section 4 meet.

He went on to earn a silver medal in the discus at the 4A-7A state meet in Gulf Shores.

Garner also holds the school record (156-00) in the discus and is a three-time USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic qualifier in the same event.

He also qualified twice in the hammer and was the USATF Region 6 champion in that event in 2018.

Not too bad, even if Garner knows he can always keep making progress.

“I’m coming in very small,” he said. “I have to put on a lot of weight. Always improving my technique, too. You can never have perfect technique.”

Garner, however, brought a whole lot more to Fairview than just his athletic ability.

Just ask head coach Shannon Black, who knows the Crimson Tide is getting a good one.

“Dylan is one of the hardest working kids I’ve seen,” he said. “He has great character and great leadership. This caps off a great senior year and career. To see him move on to the University of Alabama — we’re so excited. And I’m sure he’s going to come back and help us out later on, too, and we’re excited about that as well.”

As for Garner, he’ll certainly miss his time at Fairview.

“I loved being in the program here,” he said. “It was always a lot of fun.”