TOWAMENCIN- Twelve athletes from nine different athletic programs at North Penn signed their letters to continue their athletic careers in college. While the life of a high school athlete isn’t always pretty, from grueling morning practices to tough loses, the athletes that signed letters today saw the bigger picture and reward for continuing passions.

“This is certainly one of the most exciting events that we hold in the Athletic Department; today is a great day,” said Athletic Director William Bartle as he began the North Penn Letter of Intent Signing. “We have a lot of good student athletes here today. Athletics is a means to education, and fortunately [these students] have put themselves in situations where they can not only pursue something they enjoy very much, but receive a good education at the same time.”

There were three member of the Girls’ Basketball team signing letters of intent to play college basketball. Sam Carangi will be continuing her basketball career where her parents and aunt did at Villanova University. Jess Huber and Irisa Ye will be attending the University of the Sciences to play basketball together.

“We have been playing together for four years, and we were also on the same AAU team. I think the transition [to collegiate basketball] is going to be easy and smooth [for us],” said Huber.

Their coach, Maggie DeMarteleire, had the pleasure of coaching the three outstanding athletes for the past four years.

“It has been a pleasure to watch them grow. I saw them play when they were in middle school and just to see them mature into responsible young women makes me so proud,” said DeMarteleire.

Two members of the Golf Team will be going to Division l programs on the collegiate level. Andrew Lombardo will be playing golf for Colgate, and Ron Robinson will be playing for Monmouth.

“These two guys up here are knuckleheads,” joked Golf Coach David DeValentino, “but in my nine years of coaching, the best years have been with these two on the team.”

The North Penn Lacrosse team was represented by Madaline Rinker, who signed her letter of intent to play lacrosse at Shippensburg University.

“I picked Shippensburg because of their business program. Also, when I visited, the team made me feel at home,” said Rinker.

Bri Battavio will be playing softball at Monmouth next year. While her coach is sad that he will be losing a key player, he is hopeful for the spring season and knows that Battavio will see great success in collegiate softball.

“We are looking for great things from her [this year]. I want to congratulate her as well. Monmouth is getting a great player,” said Coach Rick Torresani.

Continuing her field hockey career at the collegiate level, Amber Blackshear will be playing at LaSalle. After looking at other big field hockey schools, Blackshear decided the field hockey team at LaSalle was the best fit for her.

Mikaela Vlasic will be joining her older sister Melanie at the University of Pittsburgh to continue her Track and Field career.

The Swimming and Diving programs at North Penn will be sending two athletes to compete at the collegiate level. Heather Hartmann will be swimming at Marist College, and Bryce Hoch will be diving at Penn State University.

Matthew Stevenson will be playing baseball at Millersville next year.

“I’ve wanted to play baseball in college ever since I started playing. It has always been my dream to continue playing,” said Stevenson.

North Penn wishes all student athletes the best of luck as they move on to the next step in their adult lives while taking their high school passion with them.