Wednesday was National Letter of Intent Day, the first day student-athletes could sign on the dotted line and accept scholarship offers from the college of their choice.
I spent the last 2 weeks trying to compile a list of all the Lancaster County student-athletes who were going to sign on Wednesday.
Here’s what I came up with for Thursday’s New Era:
They are signed and they are sealed.
And once the nearly 40 Lancaster County student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday are finished with their prep careers later this spring, they will be delivered to the colleges they committed to yesterday.
Student-athletes from all across the country held signing ceremonies on Wednesday, the first day student-athletes could accept scholarship offers and sign with the college of their choice.
It was a busy day at county schools, where student-athletes signed letters of intent for scholarships in football, field hockey, swimming, soccer and lacrosse.
Some student-athletes received full athletic scholarships, others received partial scholarships.
There were also a couple of local student-athletes who committed to a school that offered just a preferred walk on spot.
Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships.
Among the highlights of Wednesday’s local commitments:
*Manheim Township quarterback Pat Bostick, who gave a verbal commitment to the University of Pittsburgh back in May, signed with the Panthers.
The record-setting signal-caller is hoping to earn a spot in Pitt’s quarterback rotation as a true freshman.
Bostick was originally going to report to Pitt in January. Instead, he’ll head to the Panthers in May so get an early start.
*Penn Manor tight end Jordan Gibbs will join Bostick at Pitt, and he signed his letter on Wednesday.
*And a third football player from the county — Lancaster Catholic tight end Matt Balasavage — is also off to play at the Division I level. He signed a letter of intent to play for Temple University.
Those three student-athletes received scholarships; Lancaster Catholic’s Tom Nardo (Iowa) and Penn Manor’s Chas Alecxih (Pitt) were offered preferred walk on packages.
*Four field hockey players from Warwick all signed on the dotted line Wednesday: Nikki Aucker (Louisville), Steph Kratzer (Old Dominion), Jess Miller (Lehigh) and Meredith Way (Michigan).
*And there was a state-championship swimmer who signed on Wednesday – Conestoga Valley’s Chase Caruso, the reigning state Triple-A 50-yard freestyle champ, committed to the University of Indiana.
Keep reading for a list of local student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.
Student-athletes on the list were submitted to the New Era by local athletic directors and coaches.
COCALICO
Kaitlan Mitchell (field hockey) Ball State University.
Devin Orme (football) Shippensburg University.
Kyle Payne (football) Clarion University.
CONESTOGA VALLEY
Devon Burnley (field hockey) University of Virginia.
Chase Caruso (swimming) University of Indiana.
Brad Herr (football) West Chester University.
Teresa Rinier (soccer) James Madison University.
DONEGAL
Kirsten Gebhart (field hockey) American University.
Elana Konas (field hockey) East Stroudsburg University.
EPHRATA
Melissa Speros (soccer) University of Tennessee.
GARDEN SPOT
Andrew Farnsworth (football) Shippensburg University.
Brian Heitz (football) Shippensburg University.
Cara Lyons (field hockey) Lafayette College.
HEMPFIELD
Steve Hohenwarter (football) Shippensburg University.
Joe Kinderwater (swimming) University of North Carolina.
Kayla Zeller (swimming) Towson University.
LANCASTER CATHOLIC
Matt Balasavage (football) Temple University.
Tom Nardo (football) University of Iowa (preferred walk on).
Amy Pickard (soccer) University of Delaware.
MANHEIM CENTRAL
Whitney Clugston (field hockey) Towson University.
Meredith Hurst (field hockey) Ohio University.
Travis Nissley (football) Bucknell University.
Daneen Zug (field hockey) Penn State University.
MANHEIM TOWNSHIP
Pat Bostick (football) University of Pittsburgh.
John DuBois (lacrosse) Towson University.
Colin Henny (football) Kutztown University.
Matt McDonald (football) Lafayette College.
Cory Pfautz (football) Temple University.
Allison Roush (field hockey) Temple University.
Sara Reese (field hockey) University of Richmond.
<That’s the gang from Township on the right, photographed Wednesday morning after they signed their letters of intent.>
McCASKEY
Gabrielle Nolt (field hockey) LaSalle University.
PENN MANOR
Chas Alecxih (football) University of Pittsburgh (preferred walk on).
Kristen Armstrong (soccer) St. Francis University (preferred walk on).
Jordan Gibbs (football) University of Pittsburgh.
Paige Herr (field hockey) Ohio University.
Geoff Hess (football) Millersville University.
Morgan Kauffman (field hockey) Bucknell University.
Sara Scheid (soccer) Temple University.
Lauren Wolpert (soccer) St. Francis University.
PEQUEA VALLEY
Trey Good (soccer) Loyola (Md.) College.
WARWICK
Nikki Auker (field hockey) University of Louisville.
Layne Eidemiller (swimming) James Madison University.
Steph Kratzer (field hockey) Old Dominion University.
Jess Miller (field hockey) Lehigh University.
Meredith Way (field hockey) University of Michigan.
If I missed anybody, please drop me a line and I’ll try and make some additions.
For more photos and a graphic featuring Wednesday’s signees, please grab Thursday’s New Era.
JEFFREY REINHART
