National Signing Day 2022: Gulf Coast, North Fort Myers, CSN, Dunbar, Verot hold ceremonies

Here's a roundup of ceremonies held in Southwest Florida for the February National Letter of the Intent signing period.

The loud ovations at sporting events stayed true in the school library for one of Gulf Coast’s most beloved athletes, Reese Tremitiere.

The two-sport standout, who plays volleyball and basketball, chose New York University to continue her basketball career. She will head back to the northeast after moving down to Florida from Pennsylvania after her eighth-grade year.

“Ever since freshman year, I’ve watched my older teammates and really dreamed about Signing Day since then,” Tremitiere said. “This is so much fun. My team is so supportive, and they made it really special for me. It was a good day.”

More: National Signing Day: Fort Myers' Greg Delaine signs to play football at Syracuse

More: National Signing Day: Naples High sends five athletes to Division I schools

Tremitiere, the 2020-21 Southwest Florida Girls Basketball Player of the Year, is averaging a double-double for the second straight year for coach Mark Woodruff and company. The Sharks are ranked as one of the top 25 teams in the state of Florida.

“It’s incredibly awesome,” Woodruff said. “Reese is the absolute definition of a student-athlete. A dominant player in multiple sports in high school, 1,500-plus on her SAT, a 5.0 GPA, just excels in everything.

“It’s awesome to see her get the attention she got, and it speaks volumes, passing on four or five Division I scholarships to go to NYU. She continues to challenge herself academically.”

The atmosphere is something that Tremitiere is likely to miss at Gulf Coast, especially taking part in the loud gyms against rival Barron Collier for both basketball and volleyball.

“I’ve never seen another high school that’s more spirited than us. Everyone is always cheering for each other, and wanting to see each other succeed. It’s literally like High School Musical. It’s what you come here for. It’s the spirit, seeing everyone do their best, and seeing everyone go and reach their heights. It’s such a cool atmosphere to be in.”

Aside from Tremitiere, three other Gulf Coast athletes signed their letters of intent. Sam Shields inked with Webber International for lacrosse, Maddie Sheek chose Grove City College for soccer, and Jack Griffith is headed to the Air Force for fencing.

Shields is set to reunite with former teammate Philip Scopano at Webber, who was a senior last season with the Sharks.

Sheek will go up to Pennsylvania to continue her soccer career, after moving to the area from Indiana after her freshman year at Carmel High School. She netted a goal in her first game back after tearing an ACL.

Griffith chose the academy because they have a Division-I fencing program, and opted to pursue the sport because of his older brother.

“I watched my older brother do it,” Griffith said. “I really admire him, and that’s where I got it from.”

— Alex Martin

Eight North Fort Myers athletes headed to next level

North Fort Myers baseball coach Mark Rose couldn’t be prouder of his senior athletes. At Wednesday’s national signing day ceremony, the Red Knights coach saw five of his players sign their letters of intent to play at the collegiate level.

“It's really exciting,” said Rose. “Finally seeing this commitment and seeing their parents kind of breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they can watch their senior year without worrying about college anymore, I’m really excited for them.”

Eight Red Knight athletes signed overall with the five baseball signees being Riley Reed (Barry University), Gavin Hause (South Florida State College), Logan Smith (Pasco-Hernando State College), while Dylan Mercer and Aiden Denlinger will remain teammates at Southern Arkansas University Tech.

“I’m very happy that I get to play college baseball with one of my best friends,” Mercer said.

North Fort Myers defensive lineman Gavin Lepore, who totaled 53 tackles his senior year and will continue his career at Ave Maria. Cross country and track and field athlete Nekhi Perry will head to Florida Southern College. North girls soccer captain Michelle Horan will travel two hours east to Florida Atlantic University.

Horan has been a staple for coach Nick Erickson’s Red Knight team over the last four years, scoring 76 goals and 77 assists in his career.

If Horan were to score four more goals and add three more assists, she would become the only player in North Fort Myers history to reach the 80-80 mark, joining Emilee Hauser as one of the top North Fort Myers soccer players in recent memory.

“She’s probably the most dynamic player we’ve ever had here,” Erickson said. “Her going downhill and attacking defenses is second to none. She can change games in an instant. You hear all the time she’s a game-changer or he’s a game-changer. She is a game-changer, every single team we play knows where No. 2 is.”

The two-time First Team All-Area athlete has been recruited by the Owls since her freshman year.

“It’s honestly where I loved the most,” Horan said. “I love the coaches, I love the people that I’m going to be going there with and the campus. Everything about it just felt like somewhere I needed to be.”

— Izubee Charles

Seven CSN athletes sign with colleges

CSN athletic director Bart Weiss told a gymnasium full of teammates, parents, friends, and coaches that Wednesday’s signing ceremony felt a lot like one that took place in 2018, except that this group was much more diverse when it came to their respective sports.

The seven CSN athletes that signed Wednesday were split across six sports. Jacob Baer (Carnegie Melon, football), Tommy Buckley (University of HospitalHealth Sciences and MedicinePharmacy in St. Louis, baseball), Laela Jimenez (Mars Hill, volleyball), Yates Miller (North Greenville, lacrosse), Nick Molloy (Princeton, track and field), Victoria Rankin (San Diego State, lacrosse), and Matthew Wiley (Dennison, football) all signed their NLIs.

Rankin is on the Puerto Rican national team for women’s lacrosse and made her debut in Southwest Florida last season after playing in Virginia. She had 54 goals and 34 assists for CSN, which also captured its first district championship last season prior to advancing to the state final four. Rankin also added 148 draw controls and 114 ground balls in the midfield to earn Naples Daily News First Team honors.

“It feels like the end of an era, kind of,” Rankin said. “I got a little emotional, but I always find myself as a high school athlete, but now I’m going to be a college athlete, so that’s really cool.”

Miller was a key piece for Keith Lee’s team, helping them finish with an 11-7 record.

“I think Yates will do extremely well at the next level,” Lee said. “He is shifty, fast, agile, tough. I think he’s going to fit into the coach’s system there very well, and I think he’ll be a great fit on the team.”

— Alex Martin

Dunbar star headed to the SWAC

Dunbar safety Avian Rice, who was named to The News-Press First Team All-Area Defense and to the Southwest Florida All-Region Defense team, signed with Alabama A&M. Rice joins the SWAC program that went 7-3 last season.

"It just felt like home when I went there," said Rice, who was also talking to Louisville and Maryland. "They showed me a great weekend, I loved the coaching staff, the players, it's a great vibe. It felt like home."

In the secondary as a Tigers senior, he was tied for second on the team with 66 tackles and came up with three interceptions. A&M coaches told Rice he'll have the chance to play and earn a starting role as a freshman.

"My family and my friends, they always said I could do it so I'm gonna keep my mind to it and go do it," Rice said.

— Ed Reed

Bishop Verot trio signs

The Vikings had three student-athletes sign on Wednesday. Volleyball player Morgan Crawford committed to Transylvania University, baseball player Dylan Peck is going to Florida State College at Jacksonville and Madison Thomas will run cross country and track at Florida Southern College.

— The News-Press Staff

Lehigh's Gonzales, Barron's McNamara walking on

Lehigh WR/DB Alex Gonzalez, a Big 15 player, announced his commitment to Florida as a preferred walk-on Wednesday.

“That’s been his dream school,” Lehigh head coach James Chaney said.

As a player at Florida State, Chaney saw firsthand players going from preferred to scholarship status.

“It’s a tough process,” Chaney said. “He’s going to be a scout team player at first.”

Chaney described Gonzalez as a hard worker, someone who doesn’t need to be chased into the classroom or the weight room.

“I’m glad he found a home,” Chaney said.

Barron Collier quarterback Dylan McNamara announced he committed to Florida State as a walk-on. McNamara threw for 1,231 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions his senior year.

— Dustin Levy

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Signing Day 2022: Gulf Coast, North, CSN, Dunbar, Verot athletes sign