With the signing of the National Letter of Intent (NLI), 12 students have committed to play college athletics next year. Students made the decision official in a signing ceremony last Wednesday morning.

“The atmosphere of the room was really exciting when we were signing,” said Marika Cusick, a senior who will be playing tennis at Cornell University next year. “A lot of faculty and parents were there to support the athletes, which goes to show how strong our athletic program here at Central is.”

According to Dan Jones, athletic director, the NLI gives prospective Division I and Division II students the week of Nov. 14-21 to commit to a school that has offered them a spot. “This round we are signing 12 students to their respective schools,” Jones said. “By the time the end of the school year rolls around, I’d expect the school to have signed some 20-25 students.”

Although the students have reason to celebrate, there is always the chance college athletics will not work out for them. “Students have to take into account the educational experience they want regardless of their sports because anything can happen – injuries or a bad experience – and students can be off the sports team,” Jones said. John Whitelaw, a standout quarterback who graduated four years ago, made the decision to quit the Yale football team after not receiving playing time.

Now that the 12 seniors have officially committed to schools, they are done with the college admissions process. “I am definitely feeling a lot less pressure now in my classes,” Cusick said. “Hopefully the rest of the year will feel this relaxed.”

The students who committed to schools are:

• Ernest Battaglia, University of Michigan, Wrestling
• Christian Bokich, Miami University (Ohio), Baseball
• Marika Cusick, Cornell University, Tennis
• Adam Dressler, Purdue University, Baseball
• Will Leach, Georgetown, Swimming
• Cara LoPiano, University of Chicago, Swimming
• Caroline Lorenzini, West Point Academy, Tennis
• Eddie Mapel, University of Missouri, Swimming
• Meghan McDowell, University of Virginia, Volleyball
• Ryan O’Donnell, University of Michigan, Diving
• Andrew Pyle, University of Pennsylvania, Football
• Bobby Skogsbergh, Boston College, Baseball