Gregori’s annual signing day a success, honors over 20 who will continue careers

Athletic directors highlight a common idea at every signing day event: Only a small percentage of high school student athletes continue playing in college.

And in the ever-changing world of college athletics, with the transfer portal and a new rule seemingly coming up each week, that is more true today than ever.

That is why Stanislaus District schools celebrate their athletes’ achievements.

Over the past few weeks, local schools have held signing day ceremonies for dozens of students that will continue their careers at all levels of college athletics.

Here are some of the athletes honored at their respective schools.

Gregori’s annual ceremony sees over 20 sign at all levels

The Jaguars’ historic girls soccer team captured the program’s first ever Sac-Joaquin Section title and will send six to the next level. Kylie Farmer heads to the University of Oregon in the fall, Jocelyn Malagon and Grace Rodriguez will continue on as teammates at UC Merced and twins Melanie and Mia Contreras will stay local, playing at Modesto JC. Jacob Diosdado will continue playing football at Southern Oregon University and high school teammates JJ Brawley and Ramon Esparza head to the gridiron at Simpson University.

Here are the Jaguars who will continue playing their respective sports:

JJ Brawley – Football, Simpson University

Melanie Contreras – Soccer, Modesto JC

Mia Contreras – Soccer, Modesto JC

Jacob Diosdado – Football, Southern Oregon University

Ramon Esparza – Football, Simpson University

Kylie Farmer – Soccer, University of Oregon

Jacqueline Fernandez – Stunt, University of the Pacific

Oswaldo Franco Villegas – Soccer, Merced College

Claire Gornik – Soccer, Pacific Union College

Delilah Housh – Wrestling, Dickinson State University

Chris Knight – Football, San Jose City College

Alanah Lopez – Basketball, Modesto JC

Jocelynn Malagon – Soccer, UC Merced

Nolan Moffett – Wrestling, Modesto JC

Audrey Pacheco – Softball, Western Oregon University

Grace Rodriguez – Soccer, UC Merced

Bryce Simonds – Football, Modesto JC

Kyle Sousa – Soccer, Merced College

Angela Stoner – Softball, Delta College

Izzy Watson – Volleyball, Cal State East Bay

Veronica Whitten – Basketball, Modesto JC

Oakdale sends senior student-athletes off with ceremony

Back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section football finalist, wrestling state champion and track and field masters qualifier Wes Burford was honored along with a number of other Mustangs April 27. The section’s all-time rushing leader will continue playing at the Air Force Academy. After making school history, soccer section champion Avery Gleason will play at UC Irvine. Baseball ace Landon Schutte heads to play in the SEC at the University of Georgia and the softball team sends four to the next level.

Audrey Romiti and Briley Everett will continue on as teammates at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Reese Donaldson will play at the University of Nebraska Kearney and Holly Conde heads to Corban University.

Here is where each Oakdale senior will go next year:

Laila Lourenco – Cheer/Stunt, Fresno Pacific University

Landon Schutte – Baseball, University of Georgia

Griffin Costa – Baseball, Fresno Pacific University

Avery Gleason – Soccer, UC Irvine

Eli Fisher – Bass Fishing, Simpson University

Reese Donaldson – Softball, University of Nebraska Kearney

Holly Conde – Softball, Corban University

Audrey Romiti – Softball, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Briley Everett – Softball, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Jordan Wylie – Cross Country/Track, Vanguard University

Cody Soares – Wrestling, Simpson University

Wes Burford – Football, Air Force Academy

Jaedyn Riley – Volleyball, Colorado State University

Turlock’s Wenstrand signs

Lars Wenstrand estimates he sent out about 80 total emails to 15-20 college coaches over the span of his high school career in an attempt to be recruited and on Thursday, March 26 he saw his persistence pay off. The Turlock High senior signed to play water polo and train to serve at the Air Force Academy in the fall.

“It’s just persistence,” he said of his recruiting experience. “It might be discouraging to not get an email back, but it’s about what I do to stick out to them. When I was persistent with my emails, I think that is why I was able to get recognition. Just got to put myself out there.”

One of Turlock’s First Team All-CCAL selections this past season, Wenstrand was in communication with other schools but he always had his eye on the Air Force Academy. Wenstrand says the circumstances helped make his decision easier. He has wanted to join the military for years. About two years ago he locked in on the Air Force. Not a lot of schools offer water polo and even fewer offer water polo and the chance to serve the country. Air Force also plays in a conference with a number of California schools so he gets to return to the state multiple times a season.

He signed in front of family members, teammates and friends in Turlock’s Career Center. He says friends and teammates kept him encouraged through the recruiting process, parents drove him to the Bay Area for years for club practices and coaches pushed him to get better daily.

“It’s great to have the support from everyone because everyone played a part,” he said.

Quinton Hamilton

The Modesto Bee

Quinton Hamilton covers high school sports for The Modesto Bee. He is a Southern California native and received his bachelor’s degree from Pacific Union College and a master’s in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Quinton has worked at the Record-Journal in Meriden and helped on projects at Hearst Connecticut.