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Seniors make history on National Signing Day

Seniors+make+history+on+National+Signing+Day
Senior Molly Woolery keeps her eyes on the ball during an informal practice Feb. 18. Woolery is one of two STA lacrosse players who will be the first to play lacrosse in college.
by MaryMichael Hough, photos by Anna Bauman and Julia Hammond

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The Class of 2014 marks the largest in STA history to commit to college athletics. Nine STA athletes signed National Letters of Intent Feb. 5 as part of National Signing Day 2014.

 

The athletes signing included two for volleyball, four for soccer, two for lacrosse and one for equestrian. These athletes have signed to schools such as Cornell University, Duke University, Vanderbilt University, the University of Oklahoma, Rice University, the University of Missouri, Bard College, Carthage College and Baylor University.

 

“I think [this number of athletes signing] shows the caliber of athlete that we have,” athletic director Mark Hough said. “We have more and more athletes and they are getting spread out among sports.”

 

According to information collected by the Kansas City Star, the average number of female athletes signed at one school is 3.2. In Missouri, 188 high school female athletes signed to play college sports.

 

According to Hough, the number of signers was expected to increase slightly from the past average of “anywhere between two and five” after the addition of lacrosse in 2011.

 

“Adding more sports and having more levels helps [raise the number of signers] but mainly the more competitive our teams are becoming from year to year as a whole,” Hough said.

 

According to Hough, the number of athletes signing has also increased because colleges are approaching STA athletes after noticing their academic strengths.

 

“Already being a college-prep environment, [colleges] know that [the athletes’] grades are legitimate and their grades are good and that they are ready for the academics in college,” Hough said.

 

According to Hough, colleges are no longer just watching athletes’ “highlights,” or short clips from games. They are instead watching entire games. College scouts are also beginning to recognize and approach athletes earlier in their careers Hough said.

 

Senior Savannah Trujillo has been playing soccer since kindergarten and says the University of Missouri approached her when she was going into her freshman year.

 

According to Trujillo, colleges notice not only athleticism, but also those willing to work hard outside of practices and games.

 

“It’s really what you put in during the off-season or what you put in when other people are just sitting on the couch at home,” Trujillo said. “What you put into it you get out.”

 

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Senior Emily Wemhoff has committed to play volleyball at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Wemhoff agrees with Trujillo and also believes that being noticed by colleges takes “a lot of self-motivation.”

 

“A lot of times the athletes that make it to the next level are the ones who wanted to get there more than others,” Wemhoff said. “You can’t just have your parents push you or your coaches push you, it has to come from you. It has to be self-driven.”

 

Trujillo is “honored” to be a part of the biggest signing class at STA.

 

“It’s really cool just to know that this group of girls is so determined and good enough at what they do to be able to play sports in college,” Trujillo said.

 

Wemhoff agrees that her classmates are talented but also attributes their success to the athletic department.

 

“I think [being a part of the biggest recruiting class in the history of STA] is just a testament to how much our athletic program is growing, changing and becoming better,” Wemhoff said.

 

According to Hough, the athletic department is expecting success among STA athletes to continue.

 

“Nine is a pretty big number,” Hough said. “But, I mean, this group finished up and the new wave is coming in, getting their letters and starting to look at schools and soon will decide where to go.”

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Seniors commit to college sports

by Torie Richardson

On Feb. 5, nine St.Teresa’s athletes committed to play college sports by signing National Letters of Intent. Because of snow, the school ceremony planned for that day was postponed until after school Feb. 19.

 

Below are the names of the seniors who signed these letters, their sports, and the colleges they plan to attend.

 

Maggie Allen – Lacrosse – Carthage College

 

Christina DeZeeuw – Soccer – Vanderbilt University

 

Anna Kropf – Volleyball – Duke University

 

Lizzie Luallin – Soccer – University of Oklahoma

 

Mallory Radtke – Soccer – Rice University

 

Savannah Trujilo – Soccer – University of Missouri

 

Lindsey Valdiviez – Equestrian – Baylor University

 

Emily Wemhoff – Volleyball – Cornell University

 

Molly Woolery – Lacrosse – Bard College

 

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