This year, our February Signing Day included 11 senior student athletes across the sports of cross country, track and field, football, rowing, and swimming.
At Bolles, there are four signing days a year, taking place in November, December, February, and April. Every signing day, families and friends are invited to come and watch their senior athletes take this next big step in their academic and athletic careers.
This past signing day on February 4, a group of students committed to different schools, including eight Division I and three Division II universities. Six sports were represented, of which football had the largest representation.
Charlotte Joseph signed to the University of Richmond for Cross Country and track & field. Noah Wasserman signed to the University of San Diego for men’s rowing. Lizzy Watkins signed to Syracuse University for women’s rowing. Aleda Cashwell signed to Rollins College for women’s softball. Dillon Brigman signed to the University of Tampa for men’s swimming. As for women’s swimming, Clara Peris Diaz-Varela signed to Long Island University, and Christanya Shirley signed to the University of Arkansas.
Representing the football team, Caleb Barnes ‘26 signed to Charleston Southern University, Ryan Ingram ‘26 signed to Wagner College, Reid Koelbel ‘26 signed to the University of West Florida, Santana Starks ‘26 signed to Glenville State University, and lastly, Andre Terrance ‘26 signed to Keiser University.
The college decision-making process is time-consuming and tedious for all. After all, it is the next four years of their future. Joseph described her process to be “difficult at times, knowing I had easy options that might not check every box I wanted, but that I could settle for early on.”
“It was a long process because I knew taking my time in this decision would lead to the most well-thought out outcome,” Joseph said. She wants to be positive and believe that this is the right decision for her.
Similarly, Peris agreed that the process was a long one, as she felt pressured to make the right move for her next chapter of life. “It was for sure something super new and overwhelming for me, but it was also super fun to learn a lot of things about myself and my priorities.”
Watkins recalled the whole experience to have a “‘trust the process’” kind of vibe. She knew what she wanted, just not how to approach it. “Since my freshman year I knew that I wanted to be a D1 rower. However, once it got to the summer going into my junior year, I still did not know what I was looking for in a college other than its rowing program.”
When it comes to what part of college students most look forward to, it’s a divide between the different opportunities and the new lifestyle it will bring with it. Peris stated that she is “most looking forward to living in a big city and getting to study human behavior with my psychology degree, as well as growing in my athletic career with all of my international teammates.”
Although she is excited for the new possibilities and freedom of college living, Clara says she is “more nervous to leave Bolles and all my friends behind,” than to start the new chapter of life at college.
Some students are more excited about starting a new life at college, rather than relishing in their current high school experience. Koelbel stated that he is “very excited but not really nervous. Although, I am sad to be leaving a great football program with an amazing coaching staff and all my friends.”
Overall, the college commitment process is an exciting, yet stressful time for all student athletes and their families, but is always worth it in the end.
