On the first National Signing Day of the 2021-22 academic year, several senior athletes from Orange County Catholic high schools made their commitments to play their respective sports at the collegiate level.
Mater Dei High School had 24 student athletes from 10 sports programs sign letters of intent during a November 10 ceremony hosted at the Meruelo Athletic Center on campus.
Nine athletes from the school’s boys and girls water polo programs will be continuing to play at the next level.
Ryan Kerry committed to Wagner University. Logan McCarroll will be playing for Princeton University. Ryan McManigal and Luke Redoutey are both headed to UC Santa Barbara.
From the girls’ side, Gracin Kerry will be playing for Villanova University. Genoa Rossi committed to UCLA. Jada Ward is headed to USC, and both Grace Klingler and Nicole Tyner signed with Indiana University.
The Monarchs baseball program saw three players make college commitments. Ethan Hedges committed to USC. Jack Kirrer signed with UC Berkeley, and Cade O’Hara is headed to Texas Tech University.
From the pitch, four players from Mater Dei’s girls soccer program will play at the collegiate level. Gracie Burns is headed to SMU. Annie Karich will play for Santa Clara University. Josephine Master signed with University of Colorado, Boulder and Angelina Rivas committed to University of Montevallo.
Girls volleyball player Jordyn Schilling will play for West Virginia University.
From the boys’ volleyball program, Trevor Gruner committed to Campbells-ville University and Jeffrey Sowa signed with Loyola University, Chicago.
Monarch basketball players Soleil Montrose and Lani White signed with University of Texas, El Paso and University of Utah, respectively.
Rounding out the Mater Dei signees are boys lacrosse player Rowan Piani who will play for The College of Wooster, girls lacrosse player Madeleine Luer who signed with Villanova University and rower Lydia Dillon who committed to University of Rhode Island.
“We congratulate these 24 exceptional students for their hard work and dedication to their sport while balancing their studies,” said Mater Dei Executive Director of Communications, Allison Bergeron. “We also commend and thank their support system of parents, teachers, coaches, mentors and friends who helped them reach this milestone event.”
Servite High School saw 11 of their senior athletes make collegiate commitments, including six from the Friars’ baseball program. Chris Grothues and Jarrod Hocking are headed to UCLA. Xavier Cardenas III signed with San Diego State. David Ladjevic committed to Long Beach State. Mikiah Negrete will play or University of San Diego and Trevor Schmidt signed with University of Arizona.
Golfers Jack Cantlay and Chip Deegan committed to Long Beach State andthe US Naval Academy, respectively.
And from the school’s soccer program, Eddie Villeda committed to UC Santa Barbara, and Justin Falson and Lucas Gimenez both signed with Sacramento State.
“It is always an incredible feat to earn the opportunity to play at the next level, but considering what these young men have gone through over the last couple years, the accomplishment is even greater,” said Servite Athletic Director, Alan Clinton. “We are so grateful for the way these Friars have represented Servite during their high school careers and are excited to see what they accomplish this year before moving on to compete collegiately.”