Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Signing Day roundup - Parisse to Pitt, Hilton to Ohio State

It's Signing Day and there are some happenings locally. I still have a few calls out there, so check back for updates.

Canon-McMillan wasn't as busy this year as the last couple years but senior Taylor Parisse signed with the Pitt women's soccer team and faxed her National Letter of Intent around 9:30 a.m.

Parisse's skills enabled Big Macs head coach Dave Derrico to play her at a variety of positions. Parisse played forward, defense and even midfield during her varsity career and did all three exceptionally well. Her play was a key factor in Canon-McMillan's 14-5-1 record in 2010. The Big Macs lost to eventual state champion Peters Township in the WPIAL quarterfinals.

A member of Beadling Soccer Club, Parisse is the second Big Macs girls player in as many years to land with a Division I program. Last year, high school All-American Taylor Schram signed with Penn State, where she started as a freshman.

* C-M wrestler Nick Catalano plans to wrestle for North Carolina but has not signed.

* South Fayette was busy today as five athletes signed papers.

Nicole Hilton, a multi-sport standout, signed with Ohio State to participate on the track and cross country teams. Hilton's story is an interesting one as she didn't compete as a runner until her junior year.

Hilton won the WPIAL Class AA cross country title in the fall. As a junior, she won two medals in distance events at the state track meet, including a second-place finish.

Nick Carr, a defending PIAA Class AA wrestling champion and the first from South Fayette to do as a member of its own wrestling team, signed with Kent State.

Nick Faraci, an all-state selection in football and a dominating two-way lineman for the WPIAL Class AA champions, has signed with Robert Morris. Faraci fielded offers from various Division I-AA, II and III schools.

As expected, Christian Brumbaugh signed with William & Mary and Nolan Spicer signed with Liberty.

According to South Fayette athletic director Joe Farkas, football players Jeff Davis, Eric Myers and Tyler Challingsworth could be making decisions soon.

* Got off the phone with Wash High football coach Mike Bosnic around 2:40 p.m. and he filled me in on a few seniors from his team.

Julien Anderson has committed to Robert Morris and will be part of the Colonials' incoming class as soon as he is accepted into the school. Anderson said before the start of the 2010 football season that he hoped to land with a local school, and the three-sport athlete accomplished his goal. Anderson was a prime target for Robert Morris and he projects as a defensive back, most likely at corner.

Anderson will join Trinity's Kyle McWreath at Robert Morris, which is coached by Joe Walton. Anderson and McWreath played on several all-star baseball teams together growing up.

With Anderson, McWreath and Faraci, it's evident that Robert Morris is hitting this area hard.

Austin Phillips, a big two-way lineman, has committed to Division II West Liberty State. Phillips, much like Anderson, will be part of its incoming class upon his acceptance into the school.

Zach Barnes will visit West Liberty State Saturday. Bosnic said Barnes has several options, including Valley Forge Military Academy, a prep school that was attended by Larry Fitzgerald before he went to Pitt.

* Peters Township senior Nevin Hagman, a starting offensive tackle for the Indians, signed with Bucknell. Hagman was one of the area's more heavily recruited players this year with interest from Patriot League, Ivy League, Division II and some of the premier academic Division III schools in the region.

Hagman (6-4, 270) has a 4.4 GPA and plans to major in chemical or biomedical engineering before attending medical school.

* Hagman was one of five Peters Township athletes to sign at 12:30 p.m. this afternoon.

Soccer players Shelli Spamer (North Carolina State), Christina O'Connor (Long Island) and Hagman's teammate Austin Hancock (Fordham) also signed.

So did soccer player Karen Jackson, who moved from defender to forward this season for the state champs. Jackson signed with Slippery Rock.

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