Onward and upward: NP winter sports athletes ink letters

Corey+Smith%2C+Mikaela+Giuliani+and+JJ+Melchior+sign+collegiate+letters+of+intent+at+NPHS+on+April+14%2C+2016.

Eric Beideman

Corey Smith, Mikaela Giuliani and JJ Melchior sign collegiate letters of intent at NPHS on April 14, 2016.

Eric Beideman, Staff Writer

TOWAMENCIN – On Wednesday, three more North Penn Athletes signed their national letters of intent to continue playing their respective sports at the collegiate level.

Swimmer Corey Smith will be attending Eastern Michigan University, while Mikaela Giuliani and J.J. Melchior will be attending the the University of Sciences to play basketball.

The elated signees fielded questions from the media concerning their decision to attend the university that they chose.

“It felt like I was at home (at EMU),” said Corey Smith. “The coach was a great guy and when I went out to visit, the entire team made me feel like the right decision (was to attend EMU).”

The administrators and Athletic Department staff that was in attendance pointed out what a great financial and athletic opportunity the kids had earned for themselves, as well as how important it is for athletics to be used as a means to an education.

“This is the entire goal of high school athletics. We have always stated that athletics are a means to an education and that’s exactly what these kids have achieved and earned,” said first year athletic director Bill Bartle.

“I chose the University of Sciences because it made the most sense financially, athletically, and academically for me and my family,” said J.J. Melchior. Melchior has earned a combined academic and athletic scholarship worth full tuition from U.S.P.

Four year varsity basketball players and 1,000 point scorer Mikaela Giuliani echoed the sentiments of the other two.

“I ultimately chose U.S.P. because of the education I could get, and I also decided that I didn’t want this to be the end of my basketball career.” said Giuliani.

With these three spring signings, North Penn now boasts 15 student athletes who have signed their NLI in the 2015-2016 school year.