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BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

National Signing Day 2020

Updated: 
Wednesday, February 12, 3:47 pm
Angie Frederickson
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  • MHS lacrosse

    Lax to the max! Memorial High School’s boys lacrosse team has three college recruits (from left): Benjamin Bradshaw (Colorado College), Luke Chapman (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Sean Kennedy (Roanoke College).

  • Mike Bissinger

    Fencing recruit Mike Bissinger will leave behind Memorial High School and enroll at Princeton University this fall.

  • MHS Signing Day

    Signing Day at Memorial High School was a day to celebrate sending athletes to play at colleges and universities across the country.

  • Bellaire High School signing day

    With a crowd of well-wishers, Bellaire High School’s Armyni Perales (seated) celebrates her commitment to play volleyball at Missouri Southern State University.

  • Bellaire High School signing day

    Ole Miss is Bellaire High School’s Emily Hawes’ choice for collegiate volleyball.

  • Duchesne Signing day

    Duchesne Academy’s Sasha Amelang signs to play golf at Seton Hall University.

  • Duchesne Signing day

    Go Dawgs! Duchesne Academy’s Peyton Valdez plans to continue with Acrobatics and Tumbling as a freshman at Adrian College this fall.

  • Duchesne Signing day

    Accomplished field hockey player Ariel Schumacher signs to continue her sport at the collegiate level at Lafayette College.

  • Emery signing day

    Cousins Peter Berry (seated on left) and Noah Berry (seated, center) celebrate their commitments to play sports at the collegiate level. Peter is headed to the University of Alabama to play basketball, and Noah will play tennis at California Polytechnic State University. See more on Peter and Noah's accomplishments here and read about the Houston Sports Awards, where Peter received the city's first Inspiration Award. 

  • Kinkaid Signing Day

    Signing Day at The Kinkaid School honored some top athletes (from left): Annabel Skubisz (Field Hockey, Northwestern University), Eren Senyuva (Soccer, Northeastern University), Regan Arkless (Lacrosse, University of California, Davis), Trinity Curry (Basketball, Prairie View A&M University), Haylie Sims (Lacrosse, California State University, Fresno) and Charlie Brenning (Swimming, Texas Christian University). 

  • Kinkaid Signing Day

    Talented Kinkaid Falcons are on their way to compete at the collegiate level (from left): Alexandra Blake (Cross Country/Track and Field, Washington University in St. Louis), CC Jeffers (Lacrosse, Colorado College), Zack Nicolaou (Soccer, Houston Baptist University), Everett Easterby (Lacrosse, Middlebury College), Mikaela Lawler (Soccer, University of Mount Olive), Wilson Kelsey (Golf, The University of the South), Peyton Pivec (Swimming, Bates College) and Chris Stallings (Baseball, United States Air Force Academy). 

  • Wilson Kelsey

    Kinkaid’s Wilson Kelsey (second from left) celebrates his recruitment to play golf at Sewanee. 

  • Second Baptist School signing day

    Second Baptist School seniors Jay Coleman, Dylan Cordell, Nate Dyman, Josh Johnson, Jared Monroe and David Nunez (seated, from left) celebrate Signing Day with their coaches.

  • Abigail Shelby

    Abigail Shelby, a top water polo player at St. Agnes Academy, will continue her sport this fall at Villanova University. 

  • St. John's signing day

    St. John’s School is sending top athletes to play at universities across the country this fall (from left): Beckett Vine (Baseball, Pepperdine University), Mary VanLoh (Field Hockey, University of Virginia), Amelia Williams (Field Hockey, University of Iowa) and Christine Wang (Golf, University of Southern California). 

  • Strake signing day

    Strake Jesuit honors athletic recruits at Signing Day (from left): Drew Leach (Baseball, Baylor University), Dillon Campbell (Baseball, University of Texas) and Michael Artlip (Gymnastics, Penn State University). 

  • Clayton Miller

    Stratford High School’s Clayton Miller proudly signs to play baseball at Washington University in St. Louis.

  • MHS lacrosse
  • Mike Bissinger
  • MHS Signing Day
  • Bellaire High School signing day
  • Bellaire High School signing day
  • Duchesne Signing day
  • Duchesne Signing day
  • Duchesne Signing day
  • Emery signing day
  • Kinkaid Signing Day
  • Kinkaid Signing Day
  • Wilson Kelsey
  • Second Baptist School signing day
  • Abigail Shelby
  • St. John's signing day
  • Strake signing day
  • Clayton Miller

Last week, some of the top high school student-athletes participated in the annual tradition known as National Signing Day. Each year the high school seniors who have been recruited to play sports at the collegiate level make their official commitment to play for their chosen college in a celebratory ceremony. 

National Signing Day has long been a well-known event for recruited football players, but these days the ceremonies honor athletes from a wide variety of sports for both boys and girls. Our Buzz-area Class of 2020 athletes had a strong showing, committing to play not only football at the collegiate level, but also many other sports including swimming, fencing, volleyball and lacrosse. 

At Memorial High School, booster club president Frank Dragna addressed a crowd of proud family members and friends and introduced each of the athletes participating in National Signing Day. Athletes sat at tables decorated with balloons and pennants from each of their new schools, and donned college-logo gear like shirts and hats. On Dragna’s command, they all raised their pens and signed their commitments together. 

Although it’s referred to as “National Signing Day,” there are actually multiple signing events each year. Some athletes from the Class of 2020 committed to colleges last fall, and another group will commit later this spring. As of last week’s signing day, here’s where some of the talented athletes will be playing:

Bellaire High School 

  • Justin Jefferson: Football - East Texas Baptist University
  • Willie McCoy: Football - Kilgore Junior College
  • Jordan Payton: Football - McPherson College
  • Aaron Willson: Football - Navarro Junior College
  • Armyni Perales: Volleyball  -  Missouri Southern State University
  • Emily Hawes: Volleyball – University of Mississippi
  • Darius Reed: Football – Angelo State University

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart 

  • Sasha Amelang: Golf - Seton Hall University
  • Ariel Schumacher: Field Hockey - Lafayette College
  • Peyton Valdez: Acrobatics and Tumbling - Adrian College

The Emery/Weiner School

  • Peter Berry: Basketball - University of Alabama
  • Noah Berry: Tennis - California Polytechnic State University 

Episcopal High School

  • Tanner Witt: Baseball - University of Texas 
  • Jahari Long: Basketball - Seton Hall University
  • DA Houston: Basketball - College of Charleston
  • DJ Nussbaum: Basketball - Virginia Military Institute
  • Laney Pieper: Lacrosse - Lee University 
  • Trinity Watts: Volleyball - Liberty University 

Houston Christian High School

  • Colton Harris: Baseball - Trinity University
  • Wesley Mitchell: Baseball - Texas A&M, Corpus Christi
  • Austin Smith: Football - Howard Payne
  • Justin Wilson: Football - Missouri Western State University
  • Joseph Mosbey: Football - Abilene Christian University
  • Zareion Daniels: Football - Undecided
  • Peyton Leingang: Football - Olivet Nazarene University
  • Thomas Miller: Football - Bethel College
  • Malachi Bingham: Football - Ouachita Baptist University
  • Peyton Erck: Tennis - The University of the South 

The Kinkaid School

  • Chris Stallings: Baseball - United States Air Force Academy
  • Trinity Curry: Basketball - Prairie View A&M University
  • Alexandra Blake: Cross Country/Track and Field - Washington University in St. Louis
  • Annabel Skubisz: Field Hockey - Northwestern University
  • Wilson Kelsey: Golf - The University of the South 
  • Regan Arkless: Lacrosse - University of California, Davis
  • Everett Easterby: Lacrosse - Middlebury College
  • CC Jeffers: Lacrosse - Colorado College
  • Haylie Sims: Lacrosse - California State University, Fresno
  • Mikaela Lawler: Soccer - University of Mount Olive
  • Eren Senyuva: Soccer - Northeastern University
  • Zack Nicolaou: Soccer - Houston Baptist University
  • Charlie Brenning: Swimming - Texas Christian University
  • Peyton Pivec: Swimming - Bates College

Memorial High School

  • Jack Riedel: Basketball - University of North Carolina
  • Tom Vincent: Baseball - Texas A&M University
  • Ben Dukes: Baseball - Rice University
  • Mason Flinn: Baseball - Wharton Junior College
  • Josh Witte: Baseball - Grinnell College
  • Ethan Taylor: Basketball - United States Air Force Academy
  • Grayson Buehler: Basketball - Dallas Baptist University
  • Mike Bissinger: Fencing - Princeton University
  • Isaac Herbst: Fencing - University of Pennsylvania
  • Rocco Silvestri: Football - Stetson University
  • Jacob Graham: Football - Texas A&M University
  • Zoe Slaughter: Golf - University of Houston
  • Emma Kelley: Gymnastics - University of Arkansas
  • Benjamin Bradshaw: Lacrosse – Colorado College
  • Luke Chapman: Lacrosse - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Sean Kennedy: Lacrosse - Roanoke College
  • Kelsey Hranicky: Soccer - University of Texas
  • Noah Czelusta: Swimming - Columbia University
  • Jenny Reynolds: Tennis - St. Thomas University
  • Claire Bryant: Track - University of Florida

Second Baptist School

  • Kaitlyn Kollmorgan – Basketball: University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
  • Jay Coleman: Football - Houston Baptist University
  • Dylan Cordell: Football - Southern Methodist University
  • Nate Dyman: Football - United States Air Force Academy
  • Josh Johnson: Football - Trinity University
  • Jared Monroe: Football - Trinity University
  • David Nunez: Football - Lehigh University
  • Maddie Johnson – Track – Texas Christian University

St. Agnes Academy

  • Lauren Geczik: Soccer - Texas A&M University
  • Allie Wieland: Swimming - Stone Hill College
  • Kathryn Leach: Track and Field - Undecided
  • Julia Bradshaw: Volleyball - University of Pennsylvania
  • Sahara Maruska: Volleyball - Rice University
  • Abigail Shelby: Water Polo - Villanova

St. John’s School

  • Beckett Vine: Baseball - Pepperdine University 
  • Mary VanLoh: Field Hockey - University of Virginia 
  • Amelia William: Field Hockey - University of Iowa 
  • Christine Wang: Golf - University of Southern California

St. Thomas High School

  • Blazek Skucius: Cross Country - Lyon College
  • Cooper Thomas: Football - Columbia University
  • Chidera Umeh: Football - Lamar University

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory 

  • Dillon Campbell: Baseball - University of Texas
  • Drew Leach: Baseball – Baylor University
  • Luke Thorburn: Basketball - Case Western Reserve University
  • Michael Artlip: Gymnastics - Penn State University
  • Barclay Briggs: Football - Davidson College
  • Denzel Blackwell: Football - Boston College 
  • Josh Cashiola: Football - University of San Diego 
  • Brian Johnson: Soccer - St. Louis University
  • Job Trahan: Track - Duke University

Stratford High School

  • Clayton Miller: Baseball - Washington University in St. Louis
  • Jackson Ware: Baseball - Millsaps College
  • Clayton Wendel: Baseball- Angelina Junior College
  • Tyler Zyroll: Baseball - Vernon College
  • Jaevon Brandon: Football - Sul Ross State University
  • Van Heitmann: Football - Rice University
  • Pius Njenge: Football - Southern Nazarene University
  • Ashton Kettler: Soccer - Rice University

Editor’s Note: Congratulations to the Class of 2020! If you’re a graduating senior and want to be considered for our annual “Where are they headed” story featuring high school seniors heading to college, fill out this survey here.  

MHS lacrosse

Lax to the max! Memorial High School’s boys lacrosse team has three college recruits (from left): Benjamin Bradshaw (Colorado College), Luke Chapman (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Sean Kennedy (Roanoke College).

Mike Bissinger

Fencing recruit Mike Bissinger will leave behind Memorial High School and enroll at Princeton University this fall.

MHS Signing Day

Signing Day at Memorial High School was a day to celebrate sending athletes to play at colleges and universities across the country.

Bellaire High School signing day

With a crowd of well-wishers, Bellaire High School’s Armyni Perales (seated) celebrates her commitment to play volleyball at Missouri Southern State University.

Bellaire High School signing day

Ole Miss is Bellaire High School’s Emily Hawes’ choice for collegiate volleyball.

Duchesne Signing day

Duchesne Academy’s Sasha Amelang signs to play golf at Seton Hall University.

Duchesne Signing day

Go Dawgs! Duchesne Academy’s Peyton Valdez plans to continue with Acrobatics and Tumbling as a freshman at Adrian College this fall.

Duchesne Signing day

Accomplished field hockey player Ariel Schumacher signs to continue her sport at the collegiate level at Lafayette College.

Emery signing day

Cousins Peter Berry (seated on left) and Noah Berry (seated, center) celebrate their commitments to play sports at the collegiate level. Peter is headed to the University of Alabama to play basketball, and Noah will play tennis at California Polytechnic State University. See more on Peter and Noah's accomplishments here and read about the Houston Sports Awards, where Peter received the city's first Inspiration Award. 

Kinkaid Signing Day

Signing Day at The Kinkaid School honored some top athletes (from left): Annabel Skubisz (Field Hockey, Northwestern University), Eren Senyuva (Soccer, Northeastern University), Regan Arkless (Lacrosse, University of California, Davis), Trinity Curry (Basketball, Prairie View A&M University), Haylie Sims (Lacrosse, California State University, Fresno) and Charlie Brenning (Swimming, Texas Christian University). 

Kinkaid Signing Day

Talented Kinkaid Falcons are on their way to compete at the collegiate level (from left): Alexandra Blake (Cross Country/Track and Field, Washington University in St. Louis), CC Jeffers (Lacrosse, Colorado College), Zack Nicolaou (Soccer, Houston Baptist University), Everett Easterby (Lacrosse, Middlebury College), Mikaela Lawler (Soccer, University of Mount Olive), Wilson Kelsey (Golf, The University of the South), Peyton Pivec (Swimming, Bates College) and Chris Stallings (Baseball, United States Air Force Academy). 

Wilson Kelsey

Kinkaid’s Wilson Kelsey (second from left) celebrates his recruitment to play golf at Sewanee. 

Second Baptist School signing day

Second Baptist School seniors Jay Coleman, Dylan Cordell, Nate Dyman, Josh Johnson, Jared Monroe and David Nunez (seated, from left) celebrate Signing Day with their coaches.

Abigail Shelby

Abigail Shelby, a top water polo player at St. Agnes Academy, will continue her sport this fall at Villanova University. 

St. John's signing day

St. John’s School is sending top athletes to play at universities across the country this fall (from left): Beckett Vine (Baseball, Pepperdine University), Mary VanLoh (Field Hockey, University of Virginia), Amelia Williams (Field Hockey, University of Iowa) and Christine Wang (Golf, University of Southern California). 

Strake signing day

Strake Jesuit honors athletic recruits at Signing Day (from left): Drew Leach (Baseball, Baylor University), Dillon Campbell (Baseball, University of Texas) and Michael Artlip (Gymnastics, Penn State University). 

Clayton Miller

Stratford High School’s Clayton Miller proudly signs to play baseball at Washington University in St. Louis.

People in this article: 
Blazek Skucius, Cooper Thomas, Chidera Umeh, Dillon Campbell, Drew Leach, Luke Thorburn, Michael Artlip, Barclay Briggs, Denzel Blackwell, Josh Cashiola, Brian Johnson, Job Trahan, Clayton Miller, Jackson Ware, Clayton Wendel, Tyler Zyroll, Jaevon Brandon, Van Heitmann, Pius Njenge, Ashton Kettler, Jack Riedel, Tom Vincent, Ben Dukes, Mason Flinn, Josh Witte, Ethan Taylor, Grayson Buehler, Mike Bissinger, Isaac Herbst, Rocco Silvestri, Jacob Graham, Zoe Slaughter, Emma Kelley, Benjamin Bradshaw, Luke Chapman, Sean Kennedy, Kelsey Hranicky, Noah Czelusta, Jenny Reynolds, Claire Bryant, Lauren Geczik, Allie Wieland, Kathryn Leach, Julia Bradshaw, Sahara Maruska, Abigail Shelby, Beckett Vine, Mary Vanloh, Amelia William, Christine Wang, Kaitlyn Kollmorgan, Jay Coleman, Dylan Cordell, Nate Dyman, Josh Johnson, Jared Monroe, David Nunez, Maddie Johnson, Frank Dragna, Justin Jefferson, Willie McCoy, Jordan Payton, Aaron Willson, Armyni Perales, Emily Hawes, Darius Reed, Sasha Amelang, Ariel Schumacher, Peyton Valdez, Peter Berry, Noah Berry, Tanner Witt, Jahari Long, DA Houston, DJ Nussbaum, Laney Pieper, Trinity Watts, Colton Harris, Wesley Mitchell, Austin Smith, Justin Wilson, Joseph Mosbey, Zareion Daniels, Peyton Leingang, Thomas Miller, Malachi Bingham, Peyton Erck, Chris Stallings, Trinity Curry, Alexandra Blake, Annabel Skubisz, Wilson Kelsey, Regan Arkless, Everett Easterby, CC Jeffers, Haylie Sims, Mikaela Lawler, Eren Senyuva, Zack Nicolaou, Charlie Brenning, Peyton Pivec

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