Wednesday, Feb. 5, was National Signing Day. I was so excited I could hardly sit still in any of my classes in the morning. Finally, during 7th period, it was off to the library for the big three (Steve Bretz, Joe McCafferty and I). We weren’t the athletes who would be “signing” their commitments to their respective colleges, but rather The Rambler‘s representatives, sitting off to the side taking pictures of Cathedral Prep’s top athletes.
I have never seen the library this packed, even when there are three study halls and the Gannon scholars in there on an off morning. Filled with the student-athletes, coaches, parents, administration members, and fellow curious classmates, the atmosphere inside was celebratory and jovial, and excitement flowed like milk and honey. The aggregate of congratulations, fist bumps, high fives, and hand shakes I was giving out made me feel slightly overwhelmed, but I pushed through it. The amount of hard work these students put into their athletics and academics deserved the amount of fatigue I was going through.
Mr. Flanagan started directing everyone on what would be happening, when the actual signings would happen, what time would be appropriate to take pictures, when the parents/coaches would go take their picture with their kids, and when the interviews would take place. I snapped my fair share of photos, as did Steve and Joe, and we even tried to get some interviews.
Unfortunately, we were unable to score the first interviews because the larger local media sources had a higher standing than The Rambler, but I was able to catch up with senior Jacob DeHart later on, after the event. I asked DeHart what it is like to know that he is going to be playing college football for Yale University and he said, “It’s amazing. I’m very grateful to be continuing my football career at Yale.” He plans on getting playing time as a slot receiver as well as some time at running back, hopefully getting some experience as a freshman. When I asked him if it has dawned on him that he’s joined the likes of Andrew Wilcox in that they are both attending Ivy League schools, Jake replied, “Yes, it’s very humbling to be compared to an academic powerhouse like Andrew [Wilcox].”
The following students will be playing a sport in college:
Bryan Sienerth
Jacob Duska
Brian Dailey
Sam Riley
Ted DeSanti
JT Joint
Felix Manus-Schell
Jacob DeHart
Alex Greenawalt
Matt Harris
Caleb Futscher
Devonne Barnes
Jake Gromacki
William Monono
Congratulations to the Class of 2014, and good luck at the collegiate level.
Check out the photo gallery from National Signing Day below: