Archives > Sports Update
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Variety Pack: Plano signees run the gamut in ceremony
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
Nine student-athletes spanned five sports at Plano Senior Thursday morning for National Signing Day.
Be it on a field, court or body of water, the Wildcats will complement their athletic achievements with academics in a bevy of universities based throughout the country.
"It's such a relief," said Maddie Morell. "It's been such a long process and I'm so glad that it's done, signed, over with and I don't have to worry about it anymore."
"The day I got home, they called and offered me a five-year full ride," she said. "I had a week to decide. It moved pretty fast."
The full seven days wouldn't be required, as the prospective nursing major said her mind was essentially made up the day she received the phone call.
While not given an ultimatum like Morell, teammate Aubrey Landry is equally joyous over her commitment to Northern Colorado.
Also manifesting on the club volleyball circuit, Landry learned of the school prior to her Skyline squad's trip to the USA Volleyball Championships.
"Right after Nationals, I talked with their coach and went to a three-day camp at the school," Landry said. "I really liked it and the coaches were really nice."
The Plano setter made an equally-strong impression, denoted by her commitment.
Senior Mackenzie Daly was also along for the Lady Wildcats' run to regionals and will continue her athletics career in college.
It won't be on the hardwood, but as a rower for SMU.
"I had never rowed before, but I knew that I wanted to try a new sport and go to a big school," Daly said. "SMU has a good program for my major, so I started talking with the coach and since I had never rowed before, it was a little different. But since I was tall and athletic, they were interested in me and I was interested in them."
Daly started rowing classes earlier in the week and will carry those lessons into the spring semester so she'll enter college with a firm grasp of the sport.
The engineering major will do so at her college of choice as a long-time SMU supporter.
"I like that it's close," Daly said. "I think the school is very pretty and has a great engineering program while still giving me the chance to play a sport."
Also navigating the collegiate waters is Jay Friestad, who will swim for New Jersey Institute of Technology. Fueled by a love for the New York area and aspirations of helping the program to new highs, Friestad stumbled upon the institute through a recruiting website.
Sending e-mails back and forth, Friestad set up a visit one month ago to set the wheels in motion for his commitment.
"It was very technology-oriented, which was nice," Friestad said. "They also have a partnership with Panasonic, which I thought was really cool."
Friestad plans on majoring in virtual design with a minor in computer science.
He'll do so several hundred miles from home, while softball standout Ashlee Begis opted for a more homely approach in her commitment to play for University of Texas-Tyler.
Begis got started early in the game, reaching out to schools as a sophomore.
"UT-Tyler was the one that responded the most, so I decided to go watch them play a bit," Begis said. "I ended up falling in love with the school and the coaches."
Begis plans on majoring in social studies to become a history teacher. Her elation was matched by teammate Calli Irvin, who signed with Memphis.
After being noticed by Memphis during a club tournament in Houston last year, Irvin was invited to a camp there in December. Also considering offers from the likes of George Washington, San Jose State, Missouri-Kansas City and McNeese State, the experience at Memphis was too good to pass up.
"I just really loved the coaches and the atmosphere of the campus," Irvin said. "At the time they were ranked No. 30 in the nation, so I felt this was the best choice of all the other offers I had."
Making her official visit recently, Irvin said the trip quelled any concerns about living far from home. Eying a future as a sports broadcaster with a major in sports marketing and a minor in communication, Irving can now concentrate on fulfilling the final year of her tenure with the Lady Wildcats.
"It's so rewarding," Irvin said. "I've worked for around nine years trying to get to this point and I'm so glad it's finally here. It's just like, 'Wow, I guess it was all worth it.'"
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Sports Update «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
