BERLIN- It’s not unusual to Stephen Decatur High School to have national letters of intent signing ceremonies each November as a high number of the school’s student-athletes have gone on to do great things at the next level, but this year’s bumper crop required a unique ceremony on Wednesday.
A total of 11 Decatur senior student-athletes officially committed to continuing their academic and athletic careers at Division I schools this week. Typically, one or two, or a handful of Decatur athletes sign letters of intent to continue their careers at the collegiate level each year and the letter-signing ceremonies are usually held in the school library with a handful of coaches, parents and family in attendance. On Wednesday, however, the annual signing ceremony was moved to the school auditorium to accommodate the large number of signees and their families and coaches.
“This is a nice problem to have,” said Decatur Principal Tom Zimmer. “This is an unprecedented day at Stephen Decatur. We have 11 senior student-athletes here today to sign letters of intent to continue their education and their athletic careers at the next level.”
Zimmer thanked the students for their dedication and hard work to advance to the next level, and also thanked the coaches and especially the parents.
“They are truly the definition of student-athletes in every sense,” he said. “We want to thank their parents for keeping them on the right track.”
Assistant Principal and Director of Athletics Ryan Cowder also pointed out just how special the huge signing class was for Decatur.
“It’s a huge day for Stephen Decatur and all of our student athletes,” he said. “It’s unprecedented, really, and we’re extremely proud of each and every one of them.”
Senior Savannah Schultz will continue her academic and soccer career next year at Robert Morris University. Decatur basketball standout Keve Aluma will take his game to Wofford University next year. Standout baseball pitcher Will Sass will continue his career next year at the University of South Carolina-Sumpter. Golf standout Matt Kristick will continue his academic and athletic career next year at Temple University.
The Decatur girls’ varsity lacrosse team is sending seven senior standouts to Division I programs next year. Sisters Jillian and Sara Mitrecic are headed to Queens University of Charlotte. Rachel Florek will continue her athletic and academic career next year at Towson University. Claire Porter is headed to Old Dominion University. Lexie VanKirk will continue her career next year at James Madison University. Victoria Kerkovick will attend and play lacrosse at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Christina Romano will continue her academic and athletic career next year at George Mason University.
The individual student profiles and plenty of pictures will appear on the sports pages of The Dispatch in the coming weeks.