On April 30  Mentor High School held its final athletic signing day of the year . The athletes who signed their letters were Alexis Berwald (track and field at John Carroll University), Julia Maynard (cross country/track at Muskingum College), Addie Collins (soccer at Heidelberg University), Antonio Shelly (wrestling at Baldwin Wallace University), Peyton Zupancic (baseball at Shelton State University), Nick Square (baseball at Baldwin Wallace University) Andrew Nelson (baseball at Mount Union University),  Tyler Milnes (baseball at Hiram College), Gwyn Gill (volleyball at Mount St. Joseph), Ben Pierce (baseball at Cuyahoga Community College), Henry Schenk (football/lacrosse at Mount Union) and Christina Katava (basketball at Tiffin University). 

At the beginning of the college signing ceremony, Athletic Director Jeff Cassella talked about each of the athletes who were signing their letters. For example, he discussed what sports they did, what college they will be going to, and what they accomplished during the sports they participated in while at Mentor high School.

The athletes who signed their letters were all valuable members of their respective teams and represented Mentor High School with an exceptional skill and sportsmanship on and off the athletic fields.

Cardinal Nation had some questions for the athletic director and the athletes who were signing their letters about the ceremony and these were their responses.

Cardinal Nation: How long have you played (Softball) and when did you start?

Isabel Coode: I have been playing softball for 13 years, I started when I was 5 years old.

Cardinal Nation: How have your coaches and teammates influenced both your experience with (Softball) and your life outside of it?

Isabel Coode: My coaches have been a huge inspiration. Never really had a love for softball until my summer season two years ago. My coach not only made me a better athlete but a better person over all. Spending countless hours with him to this day not only getting better but also learning more about the game, we’ve become family. The teammates I have made throughout the years I will talk to for the rest of my life.

Cardinal Nation:  Is there any specific memory from your years as a high school athlete that stands out to you?

Isabel Coode:  My favorite memory while playing at Mentor was all the bus rides and competing for a district title last year.

Cardinal Nation:  What is one thing you are especially looking forward to during your collegiate athletic career/ And where are you going?

Isabel Coode:   I am mostly looking forward to meeting new people and getting to play against some of the best. I will be attending John Carroll University.

I emailed  Mr. Cassella with some questions about the college signing day and what follows were his responses.

Cardinal Nation: Why does Mentor high have signing days?

Mr. Cassella:   We do this to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of our student athletes.

Cardinal Nation:  What is the purpose of the signing days?

Mr. Cassella:  Our student athletes who receive scholarships for athletics is an exciting event and we want to celebrate with them.

Cardinal Nation: Can any athlete become a signee?

Mr. Cassella:  Any athlete that is continuing to play a sport in college and receives a scholarship or aid for playing a sport is eligible to be part of a signing ceremony.

Cardinal Nation:Why should students be interested in the signing days?

Mr. Cassella:  It is another way to celebrate the success of their classmates.

Cardinal Nation:  How does Mentor do compared to other schools in getting kids signed to colleges for athletics?

Mr. Cassella: I believe that due to the success of our athletic programs are athletes are noticed more by college programs and gives them more opportunities to showcase their abilities that may lead to more scholarship offers and opportunities.

Cardinal Nation:  What can you add about the signees that participated this year and why they were successful?

Mr. Cassella:  We are seeing signings across all of our sport programs, not just football or basketball. Our athletes are being given opportunities in all sports and that is fun to see and be a part of it.

Congratulations to all of the signees!