PW’s O’Brien signs with Bucknell University

Loads of talented athletes make college decisions

There are breakout seasons, then there’s the year Taylor O’Brien put together for Plymouth Whitemarsh last winter.

Now a senior, O’Brien turned nearly every head in District I and quite a few more around the state as she engineered an incredibly impressive all-around season. O’Brien led the Suburban One Conference in scoring but also chipped in more than 150 rebounds along with 90 assists and 85 steals.

A good volleyball player and an excellent track athlete with numerous district and state medals, O’Brien always looked at basketball as her first sport. With such a strong junior season, which included an SOL American title, a second place District I 6A finish and an appearance in the state quarterfinals, colleges were clearly interested in O’Brien.

Wednesday, O’Brien made her decision final by signing a national letter of intent to play at Bucknell University next year.

O’Brien was just one of many area athletes who signed their letters on intent last Wednesday. It was a national early signing period for all sports except football, men’s water polo and boys’ and girls’ soccer. Those sports will sign in February while basketball will have another signing period in April.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Lansdale Catholic’s Lauren

Crim signed with Chestnut Hill College on Wednesday. A fouryear starter with the Crusaders, Crim joins a growing number of area players on the Griffins’ roster. The team’s leading scorer last year, Crim will look to lead LC back to the state playoffs.

LC forward Brady Wassel also signed on Wednesday, pledging to Holy Family after committing verbally in September. Wassel will be following older sister Chase, who is a junior on Holy Family’s women’s volleyball team.

Souderton’s Kate Connolly signed with Drexel on Wednesday and will be joining former Archbishop Wood teammates Aubree Brown and Bailey Greenberg in Philly next season. A 6-foot-2 forward, Connolly’s arrival at Souderton was a huge boost as the Indians advanced to last season’s state semifinals. Souderton’s Alana

Cardona also signed on Wednesday, committing to Indiana University of Pennsylvania. An athletic forward with improving range, Cardona and Connolly will form one of the top frontcourts in Suburban One. Germantown Academy’s

Cat Polisano missed last season with a knee injury, but she had already established herself as an excellent player on the AAU circuit and during her sophomore season. Healthy and preparing for her senior year, Polisano signed with Fordham on Wednesday.

Alexa Naessens was the second GA player to sign on Wednesday, locking in with Colgate after committing last spring. A traditional low-post presence at 6-foot, Naessens is the right complement

to the sharpshooting guards the Patriots can put around her on the floor.

Baseball

North Penn’s Danny Kirwin signed with Rider on Wednesday morning. Last season, Kirwin became the team’s ace hurler, winning both of his district tournament starts as the Knights made it to the District I final. A right-hander, Kirwin will again get the ball in plenty of big spots this spring. Knights catcher Hunter

Hamlin signed with Chestnut Hill College on Wednesday. Lansdale Catholic’s Bryce

Cunningham signed his letter of intent with Maryland last week. A hard-hitting shortstop who also throws some for the Crusaders, La Salle catcher Andrew

Cossetti, the PCL Offensive MVP last spring, signed his letter of intent with St. Joseph’s on Wednesday. Joining his was brother Anthony, who signed to continue his career at the US Naval Academy.

The Explorers’ baseball team had a busy morning Wednesday. Infield Eric

Marasheski signed with Princeton, pitcher/outfielder Joseph Miller inked his letter of intent with Penn, pitcher/utility Shane

Manieri signed with Gettysburg and outfielder Anthony Basciano signed with Neumann University.

Abington’s JP Nolan signed with East Stroudsburg on Wednesday. In line to serve as the Galloping Ghosts’ ace this season, Nolan will pitch at the college level. Souderton’s Blaise Sclafani signed with UMassLowell. A 6-foot-5 righty, Scalfani has a significant mound presence with a fastball in the high 80’s.

Field Hockey

Mount St. Joseph midfielder Grace Wallis committed to Virginia while teammate MaryKate Stefanowicz signed with Bucknell. North Penn senior Erica

Kelly signed with Fairfield on Wednesday. Knights forward Bri O’Donnell signed with Penn State and Mikayla Barrow signed with Appalachian State.

Methacton, fresh off a PAC title, had a number of players sign on Wednesday. Defender Gretchen Alderfer signed with Towson, midfielder Julia Dickinson signed with Ohio State, forward Olivia Hoover signed with Harvard and attacker

Emily Owens signed with Drexel. Gwynedd Mercy Academy’s

Gabrielle Saxon signed with Fairfield. Souderton senior Jess Gabriel inked her letter of intent with Old Dominion.

Germantown Academy senior Hannah Santos signed with Stanford.

Men’s Lacrosse

As one of the top lacrosse programs in not only the area, but the state, it’s not surprise a number of La Salle players are continuing in the college ranks. Brothers Michael and Matthew Clibanoff signed with Ohio State Wednesday. Michael is a goalkeeper while Matthew is a potent attackman/midfielder. Joseph Burnham signed with St. Joseph’s as a defenseman. Long-pole midfielders Blake Rondeau and Brendan Dulin signed with Boston University and Catholic respectively. Additionally, LSM Daniel Jordon has committed to Penn. Defenseman Bobby Bohner signed with Lafayette. Midfielder Ethan Masucci signed with Monmouth. Midfielder Ethan LaMond will be continuing his career at the US Naval Academy. Goalie Findley Campbell will be attending York College. Germantown Academy’s Ben Garcia signed with Hartford.

Women’s Lacrosse

PW’s Ali Diamond is a three-sport athlete but chose lacrosse as her sport of choice in college. The high-scoring midfielder has signed with Georgetown. Teammate Sophie Kolkka has signed with St. Joseph’s. Pennridge’s Grace

Loughery will be continuing her career at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Upper Dublin midfielder

Lindsey Schreiber signed with Butler. Also a threesport athlete, Schreiber will be a key piece for the Cardinals this spring.

GMA’s Paige Anfelus has signed with Old Dominion. Kendall Seifert, who is hoping to return during the season from a knee injury, has committed to University of California-Davis.

A pair of Upper Merion athletes signed to continue their careers on Wednesday. Quinn O’Malley signed with West Chester while

Andrea Davis picked the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where the current teammates will be PSAC rivals. CB West midfielder Dani

Dundas has also signed with Old Dominion. Teammate Maddie Maio has committed to Delaware. Attacker Finely Ueland finally capped of her commitment to the University of Southern California this week after giving a verbal as a sophomore. North Penn’s Kelly Macnamara signed with Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Macnamara was also the kicker for North Penn’s football team the last two seasons.

Wrestling

Pennridge’s Josh Stillings signed with Drexel, continuing the program’s strong tradition of producing Division I wrestlers. Stillings won his 100th match as a junior and finished second in the state at 160 pounds.

Women’s Volleyball

Abington’s Grace Whitney, a middle blocker, signed with West Chester. Whitney and the Ghosts set a school record for wins this season.

Swimming

Pennridge’s Morgan

Scott, the defending state champion in the 200 and 100 freestyle, signed with Indiana University on Wednesday. Archbishop Wood’s Peter

Gori inked his letter of intent to continue his swimming career at Fairfield University on Tuesday.