Excitement was in the air when student-athletes from throughout San Diego County converged on Petco Park on Nov. 11 to announce where they would be playing at the next levÂel as they signed their National Letter of Intent.
The College National Letter of Intent Announcement and Signing Day event is sponsored by the San Diego Sports AssoÂciation and is open to any high school senior student-athlete who intends to compete in interÂcollegiate athletics in any sport.
It is an annual rite of passage for high school student-athÂletes in the county as they preÂpare to embark on their college careers. For many it is a highÂlight of many years of practice and competition to earn the opportunity to compete at the next level.
It is a time to celebrate local athletic excellence.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions this year, however, sponsors of the event created a unique soÂcial-distancing drive-in opporÂtunity for student-athletes and their families at the facility’s Lexus Premier Lot, limiting caÂpacity to 250 cars. In order to enÂsure a safe environment, guests had to remain in their vehicles for the duration of the one hour program.
Student-athletes were called up to the stage to make their anouncement and a photo opÂportunity.
East County student-athletes who have signed a National Letters of Intent for baseball include Santana High School’s Tyler Glowacki (San Diego State University), Granite Hills’ Austin Smith (UC San Diego), Steele Canyon’s Sebastian GraÂnado (Cal State Northridge) and Jacob Entrekin (Point Loma Nazarene), Christian’s Braden Ross (Cal State Northridge) and Grossmont’s Evan Vasiliou (UC Irvine).
El Capitan High School’s Mackenzie Curtis will play women’s basketball at the UniÂversity of New Mexico while fellow Lady Vaquero Jacey Danks has committed to attend Ottawa University-Arizona. Christian’s Kristin Williams (University of San Diego) and Serene Weckback (Arizona Christian) also have elected to play basketball at the next level.
Grossmont High School’s Sarah Funk has committed to attend San Diego State for womÂen’s soccer while Steele CanÂyon’s Kassandra Jaggard has committed to play at Central Washington. Valhalla’s MackÂenzie Samuel (Cal Poly San LuÂis Obispo) and Kate Baranski (Vanguard University) also will continue to play the sport at the collegiate level.
Christian’s Leah Kunde (AlaÂbama) and Jenna Rubidoux (Air Force Academy) have both anÂnounced their intent to play women’s soccer in college.
El Capitan High School’s Katy Hicks has chosen to play women’s softball at Furman University while Santana’s Makinley Barkhimer has seÂlected to attend North Carolina A&T.
Women’s swim and dive signÂees include Valhalla’s Olivia Zamudio (San Diego State) and Christian’s Stella Rubidoux (Air Force Academy).
Women’s track and field signÂees include Christian’s Alaina Zamorano (Baylor), West Hills’ Brandy Atuatasi (Stanford) and Grossmont’s Madeline MinutelÂli (Montana State).
Helix Charter High School’s Lauren Mantel has chosen to play women’s volleyball at the University of Greensboro.
Football players who have committed to play at the next level include Helix’s Tyler BuÂchner (Notre Dame), Jaiden Brown (San Diego State) and Jeremiah Fletcher (University of Arizona).
