- November 25, 2024
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SARASOTA — Eighteen Sarasota County student-athletes officially announced their intention to play at the next level during National Signing Day Feb. 5.
National Signing Day marked the first official day football players could sign letters of intent. Eight athletes signed football scholarships while the remainder signed soccer, softball, swimming, golf and track and cross-country scholarships.
Players signed with a wide range of schools across Florida as well as Georgia, Virginia, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, New York and Pennsylvania.
Here’s a look at where this year’s National Signing Day athletes are headed.
Richie James
Age: 18
School: Riverview
Sport: Football
Position: Wide receiver
College Choice: Middle Tennessee State
Deciding Factor: “It’s a great place to be,” James says. “There are a lot of good people there — the fans, the coaches and the upcoming talent.”
Other Options: Georgia Southern
Intended Major: Sports management
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s a sigh of relief,” James says. “It’s been a long process. It’s been fun and stressful at the same time.”
Nick Bernier
Age: 17
School: Riverview
Sport: Football
Position: Defensive end and long snapper
College Choice: Lyon College
Deciding Factor: “I really wanted to go somewhere where I knew (at least one) of my team-mates,” Bernier says. “Luckily it worked out that four of us could go.”
Intended Major: Psychology
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s pretty exciting,” Bernier says. “It’s always been a dream of mine to sign on signing day.”
David Knight
Age:18
School: Riverview
Sport: Football
Position: Guard
College Choice: Lyon College
Deciding Factor: “The chance to play with my teammates again and stick together for another four years,” Knight says.
Intended Major: Undecided
Signing Day Reaction: “When you’re younger, you think about how wonderful it would be to see yourself here doing this,” Knight says. “A weight has been lifted off of my shoulders now that I know where I’m going.”
Mark Miller
Age: 17
School: Riverview
Sport: Football
Position: Center
College Choice: Lyon College
Deciding Factor: “It was a really good fit and I liked the academics,” Miller says.
Intended Major: Chemistry
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s a life-changing moment,” Miller says. “This is something I’ll remem-ber forever.”
Tony Mascolino
Age: 18
School: Riverview
Sport: Football
Position: Defensive tackle and punter
College Choice: Lyon College
Deciding Factor: “It’s all about my teammates,” Mascolino says. “I wanted to follow them and continue playing together for four years.”
Intended Major: Biology
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s one of the best feelings in the world,” Mascolino says.
Austin Walker
Age: 18
School: Riverview
Sport: Football
Position: Free safety
College Choice: Bethune-Cookman University
Deciding Factor: “The coaches and everyone is like a family,” Walker says. “They are more in-terested in having you graduate than playing football.”
Other Options: University of South Florida
Intended Major: International business
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s a big weight lifted off of my shoulders knowing where I’m going,” Walker says.
Sam Johnson
Age: 18
School: Riverview
Sport: Football
Position: Linebacker
College Choice: United States Military Academy at West Point
Deciding Factor: “I’ve wanted to go there ever since they first came to see me in the spring,” Johnson says. “It’s a great school and a great opportunity.”
Intended Major: Undecided
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s very exciting, but also very nerve-wracking,” Johnson says.
Alex Katz
Age: 17
School: Riverview
Sport: Swimming
Stroke: Freestyle and backstroke
College Choice: University of Michigan
Deciding Factor: “After my trip there I just knew it was the perfect fit,” Katz says. “It has every-thing I want in a school.”
Intended Major: Undecided
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s really special knowing you worked so hard and finally having it pay off,” Katz says.
Niamh O’Grady
Age: 17
School: Riverview
Sport: Swimming
Stroke: Freestyle
College Choice: Washington University in St. Louis
Deciding Factor: “I loved the combination of the education and the team,” O’Grady says.
Other Options: Johns Hopkins University
Intended Major: Biochemistry
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s really exciting,” O’Grady says. “I’ve been a high school swimmer for four years and now to be able to come up and do this, I’m just excited to be here.”
Mason Fox
Age: 18
School: Riverview
Sport: Golf
College Choice: Nova Southeastern University
Deciding Factor: The location, the weather and the chance to win a National Championship “I was contacted by schools all over the country, but I wanted to stay in South Florida,” Fox says. “I’m very happy with my choice.”
Other Options: University of Cincinnati, Mercer University and Marquette
Intended Major: Economics
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s very exciting because I have been working for it for so long, and I’m glad it’s finally over,” Fox says. “I’m ready to show my skills on the national level.”
Jaclyn Knapczyk
Age:17
School: Riverview
Sport: Soccer
Position: Center midfielder
College Choice: James Madison University
Deciding Factor: The major and the opportunity to play soccer
Other Options: William & Mary
Intended Major: Intelligence analysis
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s relieving and also exciting to be able to go on to the next level,” Knapczyk says.
Katy Mixon
Age: 17
School: Riverview
Sport: Soccer
Position: Center midfielder
College Choice: The University of West Georgia
Deciding Factor: The opportunity to move out of state and experience a different landscape
Other Options: Youngstown State University and Florida Southern College
Intended Major: Undecided
Signing Day Reaction: It’s relieving and exciting,” Mixon says.
Alissa Jackson
Age: 18
School: Riverview
Sport: Softball
Position: Utility
College Choice: State College of Florida
Deciding Factor: The program and the coaches. “They really want to develop not just good players but also good people,” Jackson says. “The program really cares about its players.”
Intended Major: Physical therapy or social science
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s exciting,” Jackson says. “It’s nice to see all of my friends signing too.”
Carly Nicholas
Age: 17
School: Riverview
Sport: Softball
Position: Third base
College Choice: Eastern Florida State College
Deciding Factor: “It’s like a big family there and everyone is so hardworking,” Nicholas says.
Other Options: State College of Florida
Intended Major: Undecided
Signing Day Reaction: It’s a relief off of my shoulders,” Nicholas says.
Grace Casagrande
Age: 18
School: Cardinal Mooney
Sport: Track and cross-country
College Choice: Saint Louis University
Deciding Factor: “When I went on my visit, I automatically clicked with the team,” Casagrande says. “I felt a connection to the team and a connection to the coaches, and I could just see my-self there.”
Other Options: University of Florida and the University of Mississippi
Intended Major: International business
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s really special,” Casagrande says. “All of the hard work I’ve put in over the past four years has finally come together, and now I get to run at the next level at col-lege. It’s really exciting.”
Anna Brusco
School: Cardinal Mooney
Sport: Soccer
Position: Forward
College Choice: Florida Atlantic University
Deciding Factor: The location being in Boca Raton and close to Miami. “I like playing in the heat,” Brusco says.
Other Options: Lynn University
Intended Major: Undecided
Signing Day Reaction: “It’s really exciting to be able to play at the next level and be a college athlete,” Brusco says.
Marlon Mack
School: Booker
Sport: Football
Position: Running back and safety
College Choice: University of South Florida
Deciding Factor: “It felt like home on the visit,” Mack says.
Other Options: Michigan, Arkansas, Iowa State, Louisville and UCLA
Intended Major: Physical education
Signing Day Reaction: “It means a lot,” Mack says. “I can finally stop worrying about (where I’m) going to college.”
Sam Proctor
School: Booker
Sport: Baseball
Position: Pitcher
College Choice: University of Pittsburgh
Other Options: Texas, Florida, Miami and LSU
Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected]
