SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD — Commitments became official for high school senior athletes all across the country on Wednesday, Feb. 7, including those at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

Fifteen total senior student-athletes at SPFHS penned their signature to respective schools for sports ranging from fencing to soccer, and everything in between.

On the Division I front, eight Raiders became a part of programs all across America. Division I signees are: Jack Brady (mens’ lacrosse, Wagner); Taylor Diggs (womens’ soccer, The Citadel); Tommy DeVizio (mens’ soccer, Rutgers); Sam Wustefeld (wrestling, Columbia); Rachel Maizes (womens’ swimming, Pennsylvania); Dee Dee Maizes (womens’ swimming, Cornell); Olivia Barcia (womens’ swimming, Lafayette).  

Rourke Hillyer signed with NJIT for fencing, also a Division I program, though SPFHS does not currently offer fencing. As Ryan Miller, the Raiders’ assistant principal of athletics, praised during the signing ceremony, it’s a huge testament to Hiller and how hard he worked to go DI in a sport not offered by his high school.

Though the NCAA only requires Division I athletes to submit letters of intent, it doesn’t mean that Division III athletes don’t get their recognition. Seven Raiders’ intentions to play at the DIII level were celebrated: Erika Muskus (womens’ soccer, Gettysburg); Sam Schetelich (baseball, Gordan); Brogan Quigley (mens’ soccer, Montclair State); Jonathan Schwab (mens’ soccer, Stockton); Amber Bretz (womens’ lacrosse, Widener); Kelly Mehorter (womens’ lacrosse, Ithaca); Madeline Bord (cross country/track, Johns Hopkins).

Boys’ soccer and girls’ swimming, both perennial powerhouses on the statewide level, had the highest number of athletes (3) sign on with college programs. Girls’ soccer and girls’ lacrosse each had a pair of athletes pen their signatures.

Staying home to play in New Jersey is a major draw for many athletes when making their college decisions. Tommy DeVizio, Brogan Quigley, Jonathan Schwab, and Rourke Hillyer will all be playing in their home state next year.

National Letter of Intent Day, always the first Wednesday in February, marks the opening day of the NCAA’s regular signing period.