National Signing Day: Local athletes set to sign college scholarships

By Michael Bower

Makenna Grewe figured she would be continuing her athletic career in college as a soccer or softball player. But then field hockey entered her life her freshman year at Del Norte High.

She has made the sport her passion for the last four years and on Wednesday her hard work will all pay off, as she will sign a National Letter-of-Intent to the University of Iowa, where she will continue to play the game that won over her heart.

“I am extremely excited and I just cannot wait for it to happen,” said Grewe, a midfielder for the Nighthawks’ field hockey team. “I have always wanted to pursue sports in college and I am really excited to have this opportunity.”

Grewe will sign her scholarship at the San Diego Hall of Champions along with several other athletes in the county on National Signing Day Wednesday.

The early signing period for boys and girls receiving college scholarships in basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, girls water polo and wrestling starts Nov. 12 and runs through Nov. 19.

Athletes expected to sign National Letters-of-Intent from Poway High are: Ralphy Tovar (Grand Canyon University, wrestling), Kourtney Shaw (California, softball), Maddelyn Zack (Oakland University, girls golf), Tyler Nevin (UCLA, baseball) and Natalie Yorba (Fresno State, girls lacrosse).

From Del Norte: Kayla Evans (UCSD, girls volleyball), Allie Carter (Pepperdine University, swimming) and Grewe (University of Iowa, field hockey).

From Rancho Bernardo: Drew Finely (USC, baseball), Kendall Brundrett (Quinnipiac University, softball), Andrew Parker (University of Denver, boys lacrosse), Skylee James (University of Illinois Chicago, softball), Brianna Burchianti (University of Texas at Arlington, softball) and Brandon Rattray (University of Hawaii, boys volleyball).

From Maranatha Christian: Corey Adkins (Cedarville University, baseball).

Poway softball player Catherine Seitz is committed to Brown University, but the Ivy League schools do not give athletic scholarships. Seitz will still join her teammates that are signing to celebrate.

Most of these athletes have been verbally committed to a college since their sophomore and junior seasons. But actually putting the ink on the scholarship makes it official.

“I have been looking forward to this day for my whole life,” said Finley, one of the top high school pitchers in the country. “I am eager to put my name down on that piece of paper. It is going to be an awesome experience.”

Said Evans: “I am super excited for the moment. This is the day I have been waiting for since I made the decision to go to UCSD. It is the day that all of my hard work will finally have paid off.”

Shaw, a dominant right-handed pitcher for Poway’s softball team, has been committed to California since her sophomore year. She said the wait really didn’t seem like it was that long.

“I am super excited and it seemed so far away when I committed, but time actually went by really quick,” she said.

“It is going to be great to have my family down at the Hall of Champions and be with all the other athletes I played with growing up and seeing them all do the same thing. It is going to be really special.”

The signing party at the Hall of Champions begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and will last until 10 a.m. The event is free to the public.