Signature party is tradition at Dwyer

Annual ceremony set for 19 Panthers who will sign today.

National signing day rarely is a low-key affair at Dwyer High School. There’s cake, there’s balloons, and there’s athletes. Usually lots of them.

The Palm Beach Gardens school typically signs a big class of student-athletes each spring — so many that in some years, the number of people at Dwyer’s annual signing day ceremony far outweighs the number of available chairs in the media center. Last February, a record 21 student-athletes covering six sports signed national letters of intent on signing day. Eighteen signed at the school, while three others signed at their college campuses after enrolling early.

Last year’s number of signees far eclipsed that in any of Pagley’s nine years as Dwyer’s athletic direc- tor. This year, the school will come close to that figure. Pagley expects 19 stu- dent-athletes to attend cere-

monies today. These athletes, representing the Panthers’ baseball, soccer, softball, lacrosse and football teams, will sign their letters of intent at 10 a.m.

Signing day is an opportu- nity to recognize student-ath- letes for their accomplish

ments on and off the field, Athletic Director Tom Pagley said. That’s why Dwyer makes a big deal out of it.

“It’s special for the kids, because it’s definitely a feather in their cap,” Pag- ley said. “They get to use something that they love to do to further their education. As far as we’re concerned, that’s what academic-based athletics is all about. It’s about furthering your education and using your sport and your skills and your hard work to get to the next level.”

The school invites family members, coaches and teammates to the media center for the big day. About half of each signing class is composed of football players, but it isn’t unusual to have up to a half-dozen other sports represented.

The school follows a specific set of guidelines when determining who gets to attend its signing ceremony.

Student-athletes are invited to participate only if they already have signed their letters of intent, or are firmly committed to sign with a specific school that day, or later.

Athletes who are undecided are asked to sign at

another time.

DAMON HIGGINS / PALM BEACH POST A record 21 Dwyer student-athletes signed letters of intent on national signing day last year, including three who enrolled early in their schools.