Being chosen to play on a college sports team? There aren’t many honors more exciting for a high school senior.
Alyssa Zwolensky, Brady McConnell, Kaley Verpaele and Connor Allen are congratulated by friends and family after signing college letters of intent Wednesday at Merritt Island High School.
Every year, signing days are major celebrations, events to remember forever. But parents bring the perspective of more life experience to those ceremonies, allowing them to see deeper meaning.
Even without considering what a college scholarship often means for their bank accounts, the idea of seeing a child reach that kind of milestone often touches parents.
Several Brevard County high school seniors signed college athletic scholarship papers on Wednesday, the first day of the fall signing period. Parents and grandparents were among those gathered as witnesses, as well as coaches who brought their own insights.
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“It’s like 15 years wrapped into one day,” said Gina Gallo. Her son, Jack Gallo of Eau Gallie, signed as a pitcher with the University of North Florida. Gina and Kevin Gallo looked on with people who had seen this particular journey from its first step.
“I’m glad all his hard work and spirit paid off,” Kevin said. “All the tears, sweat, all the travel ball … very happy for him.”
Scott and Lisa Teter’s son Jacob signed with Florida Southern as in infielder. The Gallos and Teters watched their sons go to kindergarten together and work their way all the way to 12th grade at Eau Gallie. That’s almost a lifetime for the boys.
“When we put him in sports, we just wanted to teach him to compete,” Scott Teter said. “That’s so much of what life is about, competing.”
Holy Trinity baseball coach Tracy Biggs looked on as one his players, Tony Jenkins, signed with Miami Hurricanes baseball, while classmate and softball player Talia Douglas signed with Radford.
Biggs had the advantage of following their careers up close, and then he had the satisfaction of seeing Wednesday’s payoff.
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“As you go through all the trials and tribulations with the student-athletes and their families and still see that child get to where they are today,” he said, “that’s what makes it great.”
Merritt Island’s Connor Allen also signed with Miami baseball, while Brady McConnell picked Florida. Alyssa Zwolensky signed with Lipscomb volleyball, and Kaley Verpaele with Alabama soccer. Melbourne softball star Ashe-Leigh Wells signed with Seminole State College.
Those students and all the others who will sign during the early signing period have one thing in common in addition to their athletic abilities: They all have good enough grades to give college coaches the faith that they can meet minimum standards and remain eligible.
After Titusville volleyball player Sam Bitner signed with Franklin Pierce University of New Hampshire and basketball player Romeo Crouch with Presbyterian, Terriers volleyball coach Eileen Serridge told the assembled group of students, many of them athletes, what they would need to do to sit at the head table someday and sign similar paperwork.
“You won’t be sitting here unless you do the right things in the classroom,” Serridge said. “If you make the right choices, you can be sitting right here.”
Even if it wasn’t foremost in their minds at the time, that wasn’t anything the student-athletes didn’t know. For those aspiring students watching, a little perspective from those who have seen the journey before always helps.
Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum and @Brian_McCallum on Twitter.
High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/