In the final National Signing Day of the 2018-19 school year held last month, both Santa Margarita Catholic High School and Servite High School saw several athletes commit to continuing their athletic careers in college.
Santa Margarita celebrated six student athletes who committed to college athletic programs.
From the Eagles track and field team, Kyle Hastings will be continuing his running career at the University of California, San Diego. A four-year varsity athlete and captain this year, Hastings holds the school records in the 4×100-meter and 4×200-meter relays.
A two-year varsity starter, team captain and outside hitter for the Santa Margarita girls volleyball team, Taylor Heberle has committed to Kent State University. As a junior, Heberle was a member of the Eagles Division 1 CIF-SS and California State championship team.
Also from the Eagles girls volleyball team, Grace Dennis has committed to Wesleyan University. A four-year member of Santa Margarita’s girls volleyball program, Dennis is also a member of National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation.
From the Eagles’ pool, swimmer Jack Forsythe is headed to the University of Redlands. The freestyle sprinter is a school record holder in the 6×50-yard freestyle relay and the 4×50-yard medley relay. He is also a National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) Academic All-American.
Also from the pool, water polo player Nick Maramica has committed to Claremont McKenna College. The four-year varsity player is a member of the school’s 2016 CIF championship team.
And from Santa Margarita’s boys lacrosse team, Jason Cwiertnia has committed to Carthage College. The two-year varsity player and midfielder for the Eagles was part of the team that earned a Trinity League title in 2018.
“We are so proud of these young men and women,” says Santa Margarita’s Athletic Director, Annie Mai-Garrett. “To be able to handle the rigors of athletics and balance it with their academic workloads really speaks volumes about them and their families.”
Servite recognized 16 senior athletes from across six sports as they made their commitments to play college athletics.
From the gridiron, five Friars will continue their football playing careers. David Cooper is headed to Chapman University. Cooper also ran track and was a wrestler for Servite. Two-year varsity player Samuel Duran has committed to California Lutheran University. Cade Fuller will be playing for Fresno State University. A member of the Curia this season and Trinity League Punter of the Year, Fuller also played soccer and ran track for the Friars. Joining Fuller at Fresno State is quarterback Blaze McKibbin. Starting all nine games his senior season, McKibbin threw for 1,394 yards and five touchdowns. And wide receiver Cade Rosenkranz is headed to Texas Christian University. He was second on the team in receptions this season with 25.
Two hurdlers from the Friars track and field program will continue their track careers at the collegiate level. Kyle Kimble will run for Cornell University and Nathan Lacson will run for Saint Louis University. Both have contributed to Servite’s Trinity League titles over the past three seasons.
From the volleyball court, Matthew Helmick is headed to William Penn University. Three-year starter and middle blocker Gil Herold will play for Concordia University Irvine. And three-year starter and 1st Team All-Trinity League opposite and setter Chris Morikawa committed to University of California, Merced. Both Herold and Morikawa will represent the Friars in the OC All-Star game this month.
Servite’s wrestling program saw four athletes make college commitments. Daniel Magaña and Marcos Magaña are both heading to Colorado Mesa University. Daniel is a three-time CIF finalist and a Trinity League champion. Marcos is a three-year varsity wrestler and a CIF champion at the 126-pound weight class. Four-year varsity wrestler Teddy Okada is committed to San Francisco State University, and three-year varsity letterman Andrew Silva will wrestle for Vanguard University. Both Okada and Silva are Trinity League and CIF champions.
Three-sport varsity letterman Christian Martinez will be swimming for University of California, Santa Barbara. Martinez also played basketball and water polo for the Friars and was a member of the school’s 2018 CIF-SS Division 3 championship water polo team.
And to round out the group of Servite signees, Micah Navarro will run cross country for Creighton University. Navarro ran both cross country and track for the Friars and was a member of the school’s last three track and field Trinity League championship teams.
“We wish all these young men the best of luck as they move on to compete at the collegiate level, and we thank them for representing Servite so well over the last four years,” says Servite Athletic Director, Alan Clinton. They worked hard in the classroom and on the field (court/mat/pool) to earn the chance to continue their athletic careers, and we know they will make the most of their opportunities.”