Football shares spotlight

Gymnast signs with MSU

At the alma mater of Heisman Trophy winner and Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, the star of National Signing Day wasn’t a football player — wasn’t a “he,” in fact.

Taking center stage Wednesday at Boynton Beach High — by herself — was Lea Mitchell, a gymnast, signing her college letter to Michigan State.

Mitchell was the lone Tigers athlete featured in the school’s signing ceremony on a day that is known around the country as a veritable holiday celebrating schoolboy football.

“It is amazing because at Boynton Beach High they have never had a female athlete get a full ride to college before,” Mitchell said. “Plenty of boys, but never a girl.

“I feel honored that I made history.”

Mitchell plans to study sports broadcasting while competing for the Spartans and hopes one day to be an ESPN anchor.

A five-time national qualifier who competes out of American Twisters in Coconut Creek, she also has her eye on an NCAA championship.

At Boca Raton High School on Wednesday, soccer player Hailey Skiff said she didn’t sleep much Tuesday night, following her team’s double overtime win over Wellington in the regional semifinals. The Bobcats (23-0) host Vero Beach on Friday night for the regional title and a state final four berth.

Skiff, a center midfielder, plans to major in art and history and said Rollins College, in Winter Haven was a perfect fit because of its liberal arts program.

“This is probably the biggest day of my athletic career,” Skiff said. “To have a great win last night and come here today and have all of my dreams come true is just amazing.”

Bobcat softball player Dacia Green is headed to Williams College in Massachusetts, where she also will pursue a liberal arts degree. Green, a catcher who also plays both corner positions, was thrilled with the festivitites of signing day.

“To be a part of something so grand and to be a female athlete signing on national signing day is incredible,” she said.

At St. Andrew’s, six athletes signed letters of intent.

Tennis player William Townsend is headed to Fairfield University in Connecticut, while Michael Wrubel will throw the shot and discus at Emory in Atlanta.

“This is really cool because most of the kids at my school don’t go to college for track and field,” Wrubel said. “This is really exciting to make it for my sport.”

“It was a really good fit for me,” Townsend said. “They gave me a good deal of academic money and they have a good tennis program as well.”

Three lacrosse players — Mark Heatzig (MIT), Nick Iznaga (Bowdoin) and Tristan Cade (Washington and Lee) — have been teammates since they were in the fourth grade and enjoyed celebrating the day with each other before they move on to college.

“This is huge to be able to sign with them, with our have parents here together,” Heatzig said. “It shows that all of our hard work paid off.”

Scott Gellman, a baseball player who signed with Dickinson, said he hopes to continue the success St. Andrew’s was celebrating on Signing Day.

“It is nice to see that the school appreciates you and cares for you,” Gellman said.