Moving Forward: college signings

BRADEN RIVER — Courtney McDevitt is living a dream — one she’s been harboring since she was 8 years old.

From the moment she stepped onto the volleyball court as a youngster, the Braden River High setter has had one goal in mind — to play college volleyball.

Last month, the senior fulfilled her dream when she signed a national letter of intent to play volleyball for Tusculum College, in Greeneville, Tenn.

“It doesn’t seem real,” McDevitt says. “I’ve been working 10 years for this. It’s very rewarding.”

McDevitt, who plans to major in sports management, chose Tusculum College over Florida Atlantic University and Caldwell College in New Jersey for its campus and the team.

“The team is so close,” McDevitt says. “Everyone was so welcoming. I really liked that.”

After spending the past year playing club volleyball for Venetian Bay’s 18U team, which earned the program’s first bid to the Junior Olympics, McDevitt will spend the summer training in the gym, before leaving for Tusculum College in early August.

“I’m looking forward to playing with new people and playing at a whole different level,” McDevitt says.

ODA
Juliet Onufrak wasn’t hit with the same wave of emotion her fellow senior teammates experienced as they walked off the field at The Out-of-Door Academy for the final time.

As their eyes brimmed with tears at the thought of seeing their soccer careers end, Onufrak treated the game like any other.

After all, in the eyes of the Lady Thunder midfielder, it simply marked the end of another chapter in her athletic career.

This fall, Onufrak will continue her soccer career at Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C.

“Everyone else was sad because high-school sports were ending, but I didn’t feel that way,” Onufrak says. “It’s really exciting. Ever since I was in seventh grade, I wanted to play college soccer. It’s really awesome to be getting there.”

Onufrak, who plans to study art, music and global relations, chose Catholic University of America over Oxford College of Emory University.

Onufrak entered the recruiting process later than she had hoped, and, at the time, many rosters had already been filled.

But once she visited Catholic University of America, Onufrak fell in love with the campus, its academics and the soccer program.

“It was really the perfect school for me,” Onufrak says. “It didn’t make sense not to go. An opportunity like this doesn’t really come around, so it wouldn’t have been smart not to take the opportunity.”

Onufrak will spend the summer training on her own.

“I’m just looking forward to being in the environment and representing my school,” Onufrak says. “College sports are totally different. I love the feeling of playing for ODA and winning games and winning for the school. College is 10 times more than that.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].