BY ETHAN MUNCAN
On Wednesday, February 7, CCHS’ top student-athletes gathered together to sign to their university of choice, where they will be playing their sport for the next four years. The students signing came from the softball, baseball and football teams.
Starting with softball, Rebeka Ehrenthal signed to St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida. Dual-sport athlete Kassandra Espinoza playing both softball and basketball committed to Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. Both of these girls led the softball team in scoring throughout the season.
Next to sign were two players from the baseball team. Jimmy Michaels signed to Virginia State University and Zach Ruebens signed to Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. Headed by a new coach, the baseball team has more rising stars that will soon sign in the future.
Lastly, five football players signed to their schools. Defensive end Michael McColgin signed to the University of Fort Lauderdale located in Lauderhill, Florida. Defensive tackle Dillan Mornay signed to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas. Linebacker Landon Segarra signed to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota and both wide receiver Mark Brent and quarterback Michael Diliello signed to play at the Florida Institute of Technology. Diliello and Brent have been close friends and teammates since they were young, and will continue to play together in college.
“Being able to sign to Florida Tech with one of my best friends [Mark Brent] really puts an exclamation point on this entire journey,” Diliello said. “These next four [years] will be ones to remember.”
Many of the athletes have been playing their sport since they were young, with signing to a university serving as another important milestone on their lifelong journey. Still, others ignited or rediscovered their love for the game at CCHS.
“I played basketball my whole life, and only played football at Cooper City Optimist when I was younger,” Segarra said. “My junior year I decided to go back to playing football [and] I fell in love with it all over again.”
For these seniors, signing day was a culmination of years of hard work on and off the field. However, in addition to their own hard work, many find that they have their families to thank for their support along the way.
“Obviously I wouldn’t be here without my mom and dad,” Diliello said. “They have supported me throughout this whole process.”
As their time playing high school sports comes to a close, those who signed have much to look back on, and even more to look forward to.
“Football changed my life in high school, and I knew that it would change me even more in college,” Segarra said.
Photo by Ben Milgram
