Brunswick High School honored student athletes signing to their respective colleges Feb. 1 during the school’s Athletic Signing Day event.Brian Lisik/special to cleveland.com
BRUNSWICK — In year’s past, when Brunswick High School students signed to a college, the accomplishments were honored individually. This year, the high school made an event of it.
“The last several years we’ve had more and more students signing,” said BHS Athletic Director, Pete Demonte said Feb. 1, as the high school held its athletic signing day, honoring 20 student athletes. “We used to do it individually, and we still do, but a lot of other schools are doing it this way too.”
By the end of the 2017 spring sports seasons, the number of BHS student signings is expected to grow to at least 25, Demonte said.
“I myself, if I hadn’t played sports, I would have never gotten through college,” he said. “And these students earned it and have worked very, very hard.”
Scott Gillespie, whose son, Alex will be heading to Ashland University this fall to play football and major in Biology/Pre-med, called the experience “surreal.”
“It’s something you think about the whole time they are growing up and when it finally happens, it takes a while to sink in,” Gillespie said. “And of course we couldn’t be more proud as parents.”
Alex’s mother, Jennifer, agreed wholeheartedly while continuing to snap photo after photo of the event.
Alex said sharing signing day with his peers is special.
“It’s a really special feeling and something you always talk about – to actually be here is a great feeling,” he said.
Kayla Webb signed with Baldwin-Wallace University, where she will major in Early Childhood Education and play soccer.
“I think it’s fortunate that we can all come together, from all the different teams, to recognize our accomplishments,” Kayla said. “It is a great way to start our next chapter.”
Her mother, Melissa Webb, and father, James Webb, were at the ceremony to share in the celebration.
“We are excited to see all her hard work pay off,” James said.
Brunswick High School Principal, Michael Draves, said the school had an academic signing last year – the 2017 academic signing is scheduled for April 28 – which led to the recognition of the school’s student athletes. The significance of each of the student recognition programs was not lost on parents like Scott Gillespie.
“The fact that there are this many kids, that they can put this on, is incredible,” he said. “It says something about the athletic programs.”
Students honored at the athletic signing ceremony included Gillespie; Webb; Andre Bollam Godbott, who will be attending Akron University, running cross country and track and majoring in Exercise Science; Devon Allison Matson, The College of Wooster, golf, Political Science; Cassandra Pasadyn, Harvard University, swimming, Biology (pre-med); CJ Ferrante, Heidelberg University, football, Education; Amanda McGreer, John Carroll University, swimming; Kyle Williams, Lourdes University, lacrosse; Dani Lung, Malone University, soccer, Human Resources; Jeremy Karthan, Mercyhurst North East College, baseball, Biology (pre-med); Maria Payne, Notre Dame College, softball; Brionna Costanzo, Notre Dame College, swimming; Colin Sustersic, St. Bonaventure University, rugby, Nursing; Drew Kratche, Thomas More College, football, Communications; Jake Williams, Tiffin University, baseball, Education; Rebecca Craddock, University of Dayton, cross country and track, Science; Allison Mysliwiec, Ursuline College, soccer, Nursing; Nick Kiussis, West Virginia University, wrestling, Sports Psychology; Rodney Axson, Winston Salem State, football, Marketing/Pre Law; and Nicole Eyssen, Wright State University, swimming, Nursing.
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