TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Signing Day Getaway: A Reporter's Journey

ADVERTISEMENT

By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 15, 2007

Photo Gallery: National Fall Signing Day

It was the road less traveled. Maybe never traveled. If it's been traveled, I'd like proof.

On Wednesday, I set out on, dare I say, an unprecedented journey that reached the far corners of Hillsborough County to witness, in as many instances as possible, arguably the biggest day for high school senior athletes: National Signing Day.

The 126-mile trek in the name of celebrating high school athletics began before sunrise and ended minutes before school got out (though if you count the time detailing the journey in this story, around 10:30 p.m.). It began at Jesuit and ended at Bloomingdale, with several stops in between. And if I learned anything between my time snapping photos, asking questions and weaving in and out of traffic, it was that all of it was worth it.

That said, welcome to the first Tribune Cross County Signing Day Trek, a one-man mission to witness as many smiling faces in one day as possible. The following is a timelined adventure, chronicling stop by stop and detailing the many, many things I picked up during this near eight-hour extravaganza.

7:25 A.M.: The first stop was for a one-man show, as Jesuit baseball player Matt Brazis was set to sign his scholarship with Boston College. Brazis initially committed to the Eagles' program back in August, and there was no chance the right-handed hurler intended on throwing a curve on Signing Day.

The BC program had everything Brazis had been looking for: strong academics, a new facility in the works (a $25 million facility), and, being a Division I program, the chance to get to Omaha, Neb., site of the College World Series.

Plus, as mom Lori kindly pointed out: "The chance for him to continue his Jesuit education," she said.

Brazis' official visit only solidified things. He was hosted by a former Hillsborough County standout, 2006 Sickles grad Robbie Anston. He loved the campus. And seeing Doug Flutie's Heisman Trophy was a real treat.

Now, the time had come to make things official.

"It's after 7 a.m., so you're good to go," Jesuit baseball coach Richie Warren told him.

And with that, Brazis' stroke of the pen, which came around 7:36 a.m., set things in motion.

8:50 A.M.: There was a bit of a layover between ceremonies, but the ample rest was needed heading into this monster of an assignment. The largest signing ceremony in the county was on the horizon, as seven Plant Panthers, including five baseball players, were set to sign Division I scholarships.

Now, as the prep baseball beat writer, I had covered most of the athletes in attendance. Of the five players, the only news to me was that catcher Jared Womack, who had a monster junior season, was joining the party.

Womack took his official visit to High Point this weekend and came way impressed, enough so to ink his scholarship with the Big South Conference school Wednesday. Womack said he always thought he was going to play college ball, but didn't think he'd be signing early.

But he enjoyed the fact that he got to sign at the same time as so many of his teammates, and he can't wait until baseball season.

"This year is going to be special and we're going to show what Plant is all about," he said.

As for the two female participants in the signing, well, I'll work them in here in a fun way. Try and keep up.

Kellie Catanach, a volleyball standout, signed with Duke, which is the alma mater of Brad Welch, father of Logan Welch, the baseball player who signed with Maryland. Maryland, the alma mater of Logan's mom, Sally, is coached by Terry Rupp, a Jesuit High grad who also coached baseball at the University of Tampa. Rupp led the Spartans to the 1998 Division II national title, where they beat Kennesaw State in the championship. Kennesaw State is in Georgia, the home of Plant coach Dennis Braun's alma mater, Georgia Southern, which is also the school Panthers pitcher David Bergin signed with Wednesday. And last, but not least, Georgia touches North Carolina, home to N.C. State, the school softball standout Hannah Ojeda signed with.

Oh, a memo to Tyler Stinson. I hope you're not too attached to that beard. Last I heard, Navy boys have to be clean-shaven.

SOMETIME AROUND 9:10 A.M.: I'd like to note that around this time my boss, Tribune prep team leader Rick Harmon, was on his way from Freedom, where he caught softball standout Ali Grant signing with Michigan State, over to Riverview, to catch the five-member Sharks signing brigade. That group included three softball players – Ashley McClain (FIU), Brittany Yates (Saint Leo) and Dianne Gonzalez (Saint Leo) – and two pitchers from Bill Leiby's baseball squad – left-hander Anthony Ferrara (USF) and right-hander Colby Fairfax (Florida Southern).

9:52 A.M.: I was 12 minutes behind schedule, and figuring Chamberlain's signing had already begun, I thought I'd just slip in the back unnoticed and go about my business. Apparently, though, softball coach Bob Diez knew I was coming, and put me on the spot as soon as I walked in the door.

The four girls – softball players Mary Kate Smith (Stanford), Gina Kafalas (USF) and Danielle Moreda (Saint Leo) and tennis player Jamie Mera (Missouri) – were finishing up their paperwork by the time I got my camera out of the bag. So I snapped a few photos and went to chatting.

Turns out, the trio of softball players were bitter rivals growing up, playing on competing little league and travel squads. I accidentally sparked off a huge debate between the trio by asking who got the better of who in youth ball – Kafalas played at Citrus Park, Moreda at Tampa Bay and Smith at Northside. Since no one gave in, I'll settle the score now – I'm siding with Kafalas, for the simple reason that she signed with my alma mater (USF). In fact, it wasn't until coming to Chamberlain as freshmen that they became friends; as Moreda put it, spending six days a week practicing with each other. There really was no alternative.

Now, originally (before editing/double checking) I had a nice thing about how Smith provided the history lesson of the day, explaining why the Tree was Stanford's mascot (and see, Mary Kate, I didn't even mention that part about you saying how lame the mascot was … oops!). However, as it turns out, Stanford doesn't have an official mascot. According to the school's athletic department website, the Tree is a member of the Stanford band, not the school's official mascot.

As for Mera, the All-American tennis star, she's the first Division I signee for fifth-year coach Mike Zanatian. Mera said one of the keys for her choosing Missouri is its broadcast journalism school, her chosen field of study. Let me be the first to say that if we don't see Mera on the tennis tour in a few years, we'll definitely see her in a news anchor chair.

10:33 A.M.: Now, walking into this next assignment, it hit me – the two athletes signing at King, boys golfer Chris Biuso and baseball player Sean Buckley, had an interesting scenario on the horizon: They're college choices will battle it out on the gridiron Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium. Biuso was heading to Louisville, and Buckley to the hometown USF Bulls.

However, when presented with the situation, neither seemed as intrigued by the coincidence as I did.

Biuso is one of the best golfers in Hillsborough County and is currently up for the Casey Most Valuable Golfer Award, given annually to the county's top senior boys golfer. Buckley had a good junior season with the Lions but really made a name for himself playing with travel teams during the summer. He said he'll likely be used at one of the corner infield positions, but added Bulls coach Lelo Prado might want to try him at catcher as well.

A special thanks to baseball coach Jim Macaluso, boys golf coach Barrett Zebos and the King High administration for working with me and allowing me to show up late to sit down with Biuso and Buckley.

11:37 A.M.: Anyone want to know which college Alonso junior standout baseball player Ray Delphey is going to sign with next year? Well, the smart money is on Florida.

Why, you ask? Well, Alonso's Alex Panteliodis became the third Division I signee for the Ravens' baseball program on Wednesday, and he ended up with the Gators, the same place the first two went.

"We're the farm team for the Florida Gators," athletic director Kent Glover joked.

Panteliodis committed to the Gators this summer after a breakout junior season on the mound for Alonso and a good showing playing this summer for the Midland Redskins, an elite travel team based in Ohio.

When Panteliodis took his official visit to Florida, former Alonso teammates Tommy Toledo and Chris Freshcorn, now roommates at Florida, were his hosts. Panteliodis said he spoke with his former teammates last week, and from his comments it seems Chris and Tommy, each 2007 grads, have college all figured out in semester No. 1.

"They said it's a lot better than high school. The weekend starts on Thursday for them," Panteliodis said with a laugh.

Panteliodis had several programs after his services, including Miami, LSU and USF. But Gainesville gave him what he was looking for.

"I wanted to stay close to home but not too close," he said.

1:01 P.M.: Well, I heard there was a 1 p.m. signing at Middleton that was going to feature baseball players Corey Thomas and Jamie Mallard signing scholarships. Turns out, I was the only one to hear about it.

A special thanks to the nice secretary who helped me sort things out. She got Mallard to come down and talk to me in the office.

As it turns out, there were some suggestions floated around, but nothing set in stone about a signing ceremony. Mallard is still going to sign with UCF, the school he committed to over the summer, but he doesn't even have his paperwork yet. Thomas has verbally committed to USF, according to his father, though it's uncertain when he'll sign.

Middleton coach Vernon Slater floated around the possibility of a Friday signing. I told him I'd be there when they straighten things out. Whenever it happens, Mallard and Thomas will be the first two Tigers baseball teammates to sign Division I scholarships together since 2004 grads Mark Gildea (FSU) and Josh Johnson (Texas). Both of those players are now playing professionally in the minor leagues.

2:05 P.M.: The last stop of the day featured Bloomingdale teammates Katelyn Molkhentin and Kristen Kelly, who I believe wore the exact same outfit just to throw off the reporters in the room (check out the pictures of the two in the photo gallery and tell me they don't look like twins).

As tradition, according to Bloomingdale athletic director Danielle Shotwell, the girls had to sit behind the Red Bull (again, check the pictures) while they signed, an interesting tradition to say the least.

Now, Molkenthin signed with South Carolina Upstate, which will play its first season in Division I in 2008 as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Turns out she got noticed during a summer travel team game in South Carolina and fell in love with the campus on her official visit.

Kelly, who garnered a lot of attention from several junior colleges, also caught her break during a summer travel league game in Clearwater, and jumped at the chance to sign with Saint Leo.

An interesting note (and yes, Katelyn, I know this part of the story is supposed to be about you) is that Molkenthin's father, Walter, actually played little league baseball for veteran Bloomingdale softball coach Mike Clamon. Clamon coached Walter's 11-12 year-old all-star team at Tampa Bay Little League, one that apparently was pretty good, according to Clamon.

And, of course, who can forget Katelyn's first words to her coach. Clamon sure can't: "Man, coach, you are really old!"

One last thing on a personal note: just as I expected I ran into former Bloomingdale baseball coach K.B. Scull, who was heading in to grab a bite to eat at the ceremony as I was leaving. Scull, who resigned after last season, said he's enjoying his time away from the game, and that he has no plans to get back into coaching right now. Sad news for me to hear (and probably a lot of others involved in prep baseball in this county, too) as Scull is a class act.

That's it. The journey's over (at least until Thursday, when I've got trips to see Plant City's Kendall Dawson sign with Alabama in the morning, and Newsome baseball players Kyle Parker (USF) and Kris Castellanos (FSU) sign with their respective colleges in the afternoon).

Stay tuned for Volume 2, which will probably come in February (National Signing Day for football players). Until then, feel free to share your experiences on signing day.

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 657-4533 or aadkins@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT