Student athletes from around San Diego County gathered at the Hall of Champions on National Signing Day, Nov. 9, to commit to colleges and universities around the country and to whatever futures lie waiting for them beyond the horizon.
East County was well represented with more than two dozen athletes from Valhalla, Grossmont, Helix, Steele Canyon, West Hills, Granite Hills, El Capitan, Santana and Foothills Christian high schools.
Student athletes from around San Diego County gathered at the Hall of Champions on National Signing Day, Nov. 9, to commit to colleges and universities around the country and to whatever futures lie waiting for them beyond the horizon.
East County was well represented with more than two dozen athletes from Valhalla, Grossmont, Helix, Steele Canyon, West Hills, Granite Hills, El Capitan, Santana and Foothills Christian high schools.
Valhalla runner Jordan Sorilla said she signed her letter of intent to run cross-country and track and field for Wagner College in New York City, N.Y., where she plans to major in behavioral economics. She received both athletic and merit scholarships to the college.
The transition from a high school to a college athlete is one she is looking forward to, said Sorilla.
“I was a little nervous as my weekly mileage will be upped from where it is now,” she said. “However, after meeting with the coaches and team, I was reassured that it would be a gradual increase. Overall I am very excited and optimistic for my future running career at Wagner.”
Carissa Ramirez, a field hockey player from Helix, said she is looking forward to playing against some stiffer competition.
“I think that high school sports are less intense than college sports because now everyone is just as good as you are, so I feel you have to work harder than you did in your high school season,” she said. “I am very excited to be playing at the next level and am looking forward to the season.”
Ramirez plans to major in criminal justice at Elms College in Chicopee, Mass.
Some athletes will find themselves on the other side of the country next fall, like El Capitan senior Gracie Burkett, who signed her letter as a volleyball commit for University of Massachusetts Lowell. Others will find they are close enough to drive home for Thanksgiving, like Granite Hills baseball star Trevor Omahen, who will be attending University of San Diego where just last spring he aided his team in bringing home the CIF Division I Championship.
Football, soccer and men’s water polo hopefuls have nearly two months till their signing date, Feb. 1, 2017.
The following students signed letters of intent: Grace Burkett, El Capitan, volleyball, University of Massachusetts Lowell; Tyler Luba, Steele Canyon, baseball, Minot State University; Gentry Hoffman, Steele Canyon, softball, Simpson University; Landon Schirer, Steele Canyon, baseball, Minot State University; Makayla Stromenger, Steele Canyon, softball, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Lewis Dirkes, Valhalla, baseball, Cal State Bakersfield; Casey O’Sullivan, Valhalla, baseball, SDSU; Jordan Sorilla, Valhalla, track and field, Wagner College
Jaylen Hands, Foothills Christian, basketball, UCLA; Noah Nuñez, Santana, baseball, SDSU; Rachel Wilson, Santana, softball, Thomas University; Cassidy Matthie, Santana, softball, UC Riverside; Alex Guay, West Hills, softball, Binghamton University; Halle Kyles, Granite Hills, USD; Joseph Mazzenga, Granite Hills, lacrosse, Adams State University; Darien Cossio, Granite Hills, baseball, UC Riverside; Trevor Omahen, Granite Hills, baseball, USD; Alexis Collins, Grossmont, softball, La Sierra University; Jessica Wilson, Grossmont, softball, Central Washington; Chris Laethem, Grossmont, lacrosse, Denison University; Jackson Hulett, Grossmont, baseball, St. Mary’s; Chloe Camarero, Grossmont, softball, Weber State University; Matthew Richards, Helix, baseball, University of Utah; Connor Konishi, Helix, baseball, San Jose State; Carissa Ramirez, Helix, field hockey, Elms College.
