College commitment

SARASOTA — Eighteen Sarasota County student-athletes officially announced their intention to play at the next level during National Signing Day Feb. 5.

National Signing Day marked the first official day football players could sign letters of intent. Eight athletes signed football scholarships while the remainder signed soccer, softball, swimming, golf and track and cross-country scholarships.

Players signed with a wide range of schools across Florida as well as Georgia, Virginia, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, New York and Pennsylvania.

Here’s a look at where this year’s National Signing Day athletes are headed.

Richie James
Age: 18

School: Riverview

Sport: Football

Position: Wide receiver

College Choice: Middle Tennessee State

Deciding Factor: “It’s a great place to be,” James says. “There are a lot of good people there — the fans, the coaches and the upcoming talent.”

Other Options: Georgia Southern

Intended Major: Sports management

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s a sigh of relief,” James says. “It’s been a long process. It’s been fun and stressful at the same time.”

Nick Bernier
Age: 17

School: Riverview

Sport: Football

Position: Defensive end and long snapper

College Choice: Lyon College

Deciding Factor: “I really wanted to go somewhere where I knew (at least one) of my team-mates,” Bernier says. “Luckily it worked out that four of us could go.”

Intended Major: Psychology

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s pretty exciting,” Bernier says. “It’s always been a dream of mine to sign on signing day.”

David Knight
Age:18

School: Riverview

Sport: Football

Position: Guard

College Choice: Lyon College

Deciding Factor: “The chance to play with my teammates again and stick together for another four years,” Knight says.

Intended Major: Undecided

Signing Day Reaction: “When you’re younger, you think about how wonderful it would be to see yourself here doing this,” Knight says. “A weight has been lifted off of my shoulders now that I know where I’m going.”

Mark Miller
Age: 17

School: Riverview

Sport: Football

Position: Center

College Choice: Lyon College

Deciding Factor: “It was a really good fit and I liked the academics,” Miller says.

Intended Major: Chemistry

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s a life-changing moment,” Miller says. “This is something I’ll remem-ber forever.”

Tony Mascolino
Age: 18

School: Riverview

Sport: Football

Position: Defensive tackle and punter

College Choice: Lyon College

Deciding Factor: “It’s all about my teammates,” Mascolino says. “I wanted to follow them and continue playing together for four years.”

Intended Major: Biology

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s one of the best feelings in the world,” Mascolino says.

Austin Walker
Age: 18

School: Riverview

Sport: Football

Position: Free safety

College Choice: Bethune-Cookman University

Deciding Factor: “The coaches and everyone is like a family,” Walker says. “They are more in-terested in having you graduate than playing football.”

Other Options: University of South Florida

Intended Major: International business

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s a big weight lifted off of my shoulders knowing where I’m going,” Walker says.

Sam Johnson
Age: 18

School: Riverview

Sport: Football

Position: Linebacker

College Choice: United States Military Academy at West Point

Deciding Factor: “I’ve wanted to go there ever since they first came to see me in the spring,” Johnson says. “It’s a great school and a great opportunity.”

Intended Major: Undecided

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s very exciting, but also very nerve-wracking,” Johnson says.

Alex Katz
Age: 17

School: Riverview

Sport: Swimming

Stroke: Freestyle and backstroke

College Choice: University of Michigan

Deciding Factor: “After my trip there I just knew it was the perfect fit,” Katz says. “It has every-thing I want in a school.”

Intended Major: Undecided

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s really special knowing you worked so hard and finally having it pay off,” Katz says.

Niamh O’Grady
Age: 17

School: Riverview

Sport: Swimming

Stroke: Freestyle

College Choice: Washington University in St. Louis

Deciding Factor: “I loved the combination of the education and the team,” O’Grady says.

Other Options: Johns Hopkins University

Intended Major: Biochemistry

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s really exciting,” O’Grady says. “I’ve been a high school swimmer for four years and now to be able to come up and do this, I’m just excited to be here.”

Mason Fox
Age: 18

School: Riverview

Sport: Golf

College Choice: Nova Southeastern University

Deciding Factor: The location, the weather and the chance to win a National Championship “I was contacted by schools all over the country, but I wanted to stay in South Florida,” Fox says. “I’m very happy with my choice.”

Other Options: University of Cincinnati, Mercer University and Marquette

Intended Major: Economics

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s very exciting because I have been working for it for so long, and I’m glad it’s finally over,” Fox says. “I’m ready to show my skills on the national level.”

Jaclyn Knapczyk
Age:17

School: Riverview

Sport: Soccer

Position: Center midfielder

College Choice: James Madison University

Deciding Factor: The major and the opportunity to play soccer

Other Options: William & Mary

Intended Major: Intelligence analysis

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s relieving and also exciting to be able to go on to the next level,” Knapczyk says.

Katy Mixon
Age: 17

School: Riverview

Sport: Soccer

Position: Center midfielder

College Choice: The University of West Georgia

Deciding Factor: The opportunity to move out of state and experience a different landscape

Other Options: Youngstown State University and Florida Southern College

Intended Major: Undecided

Signing Day Reaction: It’s relieving and exciting,” Mixon says.

Alissa Jackson
Age: 18

School: Riverview

Sport: Softball

Position: Utility

College Choice: State College of Florida

Deciding Factor: The program and the coaches. “They really want to develop not just good players but also good people,” Jackson says. “The program really cares about its players.”

Intended Major: Physical therapy or social science

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s exciting,” Jackson says. “It’s nice to see all of my friends signing too.”

Carly Nicholas
Age: 17

School: Riverview

Sport: Softball

Position: Third base

College Choice: Eastern Florida State College

Deciding Factor: “It’s like a big family there and everyone is so hardworking,” Nicholas says.

Other Options: State College of Florida

Intended Major: Undecided

Signing Day Reaction: It’s a relief off of my shoulders,” Nicholas says.

Grace Casagrande
Age: 18

School: Cardinal Mooney

Sport: Track and cross-country

College Choice: Saint Louis University

Deciding Factor: “When I went on my visit, I automatically clicked with the team,” Casagrande says. “I felt a connection to the team and a connection to the coaches, and I could just see my-self there.”

Other Options: University of Florida and the University of Mississippi

Intended Major: International business

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s really special,” Casagrande says. “All of the hard work I’ve put in over the past four years has finally come together, and now I get to run at the next level at col-lege. It’s really exciting.”

Anna Brusco
School: Cardinal Mooney

Sport: Soccer

Position: Forward

College Choice: Florida Atlantic University

Deciding Factor: The location being in Boca Raton and close to Miami. “I like playing in the heat,” Brusco says.

Other Options: Lynn University

Intended Major: Undecided

Signing Day Reaction: “It’s really exciting to be able to play at the next level and be a college athlete,” Brusco says.

Marlon Mack
School: Booker

Sport: Football

Position: Running back and safety

College Choice: University of South Florida

Deciding Factor: “It felt like home on the visit,” Mack says.

Other Options: Michigan, Arkansas, Iowa State, Louisville and UCLA

Intended Major: Physical education

Signing Day Reaction: “It means a lot,” Mack says. “I can finally stop worrying about (where I’m) going to college.”

Sam Proctor
School: Booker

Sport: Baseball

Position: Pitcher

College Choice: University of Pittsburgh

Other Options: Texas, Florida, Miami and LSU

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected]