Some 15 student athletes were honored for receiving partial to full athletic and academic scholarships.
On Wednesday, dozens of teachers, coaches, families and friends gathered in the Timber Creek Regional High School library to commemorate 15 student-athletes as they committed to colleges across the country.
Although students have been accepting admissions offers since the fall, the event was an opportunity to be officially recognized for their past accomplishments and future sporting unfoldings.
From Temple University to North Carolina State University, the seniors will continue their four years of sporting success around the country in the fall.
“They’re excellent students, role models,” Robert Milavsky, 10th-grade vice principal, told the crowd. “And that’s what we expect of our student athletes.”
The afternoon’s signees included seven football players, two golfers, two soccer players, two basketball players and a track-and-field athlete. The collegiate grants ranged from partial to full scholarships, as some students received up to $80,000 per year.
Decked out in their future schools’ gear, students eagerily “signed” their way to college, as they received certificates. In a sea of colorful pennants, hats and balloons, students were individually recognized for their scholarly and sporting triumphs.
Along with carrying Timber Creek athletes toward success, several of the students were named to all-state teams. Some have won a host of regional awards, such as two Carpenter’s Cups received by baseball pitcher Anthony DiMartino. Others have clinched state records, such as Devin Leary, who holds the high school state record for touchdown passes and yards.
Milavsky says what makes this particular group of athletes extraordinary is their abilities to excel are not limited to the field, as a handful of students receive academic scholarships on top of their athletic ones.
“None of these students would be going to college if they didn’t meet the requirements, get the grades that they get,” he said. “That’s why they’ve gotten the offers they’ve gotten.”
The signees hold GPAs that are close to above a 3.0.
Milavsky advised athletic underclassman about the importance of translating motivation from the courts and fields to their academia. Often, despite being athletically gifted, students have been rejected from colleges due to poor grades.
“The most important thing you can do is perform well in the classroom,” he said. “You need to do well in the classroom, and those opportunities will open up for you, and these people have done that.”
2017–2018 National Signing Day Honorees:
Girls Basketball
Jazmine Carter — Fairfield University
Baseball
Anthony DiMartino — Goldey-Beacom College
Golf
Alexandra Williams — Methodist University
Daniel Murphy — Cabrini College
Boys Basketball
Isaiah Sanders — Notre Dame College
Football
Devin Leary — North Carolina State University
Kyle Dobbins — Temple University
Deion Jennings — Rutgers University
Tariq Snead — East Stroudsburg University
Jordan Nash — East Stroudsburg University
Dallas Newkirk — Elizabeth City State University
Derryk Sellers — Elizabeth City State University
Girls Soccer
Emily Navarrete — Wilmington University
Boys Soccer
Brandon Rudy — Widener University
Cross Country/Track and Field
Vincenzo D’Aquanno — DeSales University
