Marc Narducci: For athletes and parents, signing day fulfills a dream

Wednesday is truly a family day around South Jersey and throughout the country. So many talented student athletes will make their immediate future known by signing a national letter of intent, a reward for their talent, perseverance, and dedication.

The national signing day is Wednesday, and as usual, there will be an abundance of signatures coming from South Jersey.

Many student athletes, such as Melissa Blevins of Highland, have known their decision for some time, but it won't lessen the joy she feels when she finally applies her signature to the letter. Blevins made an oral commitment in December 2010 to attend Seton Hall, where she will play soccer.

"I thought this day would never come," she said.

And now it's here.

"It's nice," she said. "I have been playing soccer since I was 4 years old, and to get something out of it is a big accomplishment."

Imagine how her parents feel.

Parents tend to get more sentimental at a time like this. It is a time to remember all the car rides to games, to tournaments, in New Jersey, out of state. The calendar was always full, and many parents wouldn't have it any other way, rearranging their schedules to see as many games as possible.

That was certainly the case with Terrance and Michelle Blevins, Melissa's parents.

Terrance coached his daughter in her early years and continued to watch her grow, as a soccer player and a person.

"It is a bittersweet day," Terrance said of signing day. "They grow up so fast."

As fast as the memories are accumulated.

"I don't think it has really sunk in that my little girl is leaving me," Terrance said. "I couldn't be prouder of her."

For Melissa Blevins' parents and many out there, this is their day also to celebrate and enjoy a moment or two of introspection.

"I don't know the words to explain, I am so ecstatic for her and happy that this is finally here," Michelle Blevins said.

The parents didn't want to influence their daughter's decision, but privately they were hoping that she would choose a school relatively close to home.

Imagine their reaction when they found out they wouldn't have to leave the state to continue following her games.

"I would be attending her games no matter where she played, but this is great for us and we're happy most of all because it's such a good school," her mother said.

Melissa Blevins has the dream of any recruit, to excel on the field. She also has her academic priorities in order.

She is looking to major in criminal justice with the goal of one day working for the FBI.

Blevins liked what she saw from the school and soccer program and saw no reason to delay her decision.

Recruiting can be a pressurized time for youngsters, and once she made the decision, she felt the typical sense of relief that engulfs most student athletes.

On Wednesday, just like her parents, there will be a sense of pride when she signs that letter of intent. A lifetime of work, symbolized by one signature on a piece of paper.

"I have been waiting for this day a long time," Melissa said.

So have her parents.

For them, their little girl is moving and the memories accumulated to reach this point are worth even more than any scholarship can provide.

Commitments for field hockey, boys' and girls' soccer, and boys' and girls' track, the sports in which athletes may sign letters of intent on Wednesday. This list is for players attending Division I or II schools. (Ivy League schools don't sign a letter of intent, but are included.) Football commitments appear on pages C8-9. E-mail any additions to Marc Narducci at mnarducci@phillynews.com.

Field Hockey

Player   High school   College   

Emily Arnot   Shawnee   Delaware

Alana Barry   Eastern   Iowa

Alexa Branco   Clearview   Delaware

Carolynn Clark   Haddonfield   Villanova

Liz Cruz   Ocean City   Columbia

Zenee Gadson   Glassboro   Ball State

Rebecca Holden   Lower Cape May   Virginia

Rachel Ippolite   Kingsway   Rider

Megan Johnston   Haddonfield   Penn

Madison Jung   Eastern   Harvard

Rachel Lombardi   Cherokee   Longwood

Julia Osisek   Eastern   James Madison

Victoria Radwell   Shawnee   Michigan State

Ali Stever   Ocean City   Rutgers

Abby Watson   Shawnee   Bucknell

Girls' Soccer

Tara Ballay   Delran   Rider

Rebecca Barb   Kingsway   Nova Southeastern

Alexa Bergey   Kingsway   Philadelphia U.

Dana Bernetich   Bishop Eustace   Richmond

Melissa Blevins   Highland   Seton Hall

Victoria Cocozza   Cinnaminson   Mount St. Mary's

Devin Dougherty   Gloucester Catholic   Old Dominion

Kelly Farrell   Timber Creek   Old Dominion

Rebecca Forcellini   Cinnaminson   UNC-Charlotte

Janae Genonnetti   Paul VI   St. Joseph's

Melanie Gilatto   Clearview   Catawba

Erica Graziosi   Paul VI   St. Joseph's

Emily Hansinger   Bishop Eustace   Seton Hall

Colleen Howard   Holy Cross   Monmouth

Rachel Jackson   Cherokee   West Chester

Alexandra Johnson   Bishop Eustace   Delaware

Katie Johnston   Haddonfield   William & Mary

Jordan Jones   Winslow Township   Old Dominion

Kelly Kane   Gloucester Catholic   East Stroudsburg

Regina Kelly   West Deptford   Lenior-Rhyne

Courtney Kovac   Lenape   UNC-Wilmington

Taylor Lewis   Willingboro   Tusculum

Shelby Lyon   Seneca   West Virginia

Patrice Maro   Haddon Township   Philadelphia U.

Olivia McEachern   Timber Creek   St. Joseph's

Kim Nale   Cherokee   Kutztown

Ashley Nolan   Holy Cross   Bloomfield

Brittany Ratcliffe   Paul VI   Virginia

Loren Reilley   Paul VI   UNC-Charlotte

Katie Rigby   Lenape   Utah

Alexis Robinson   Absegami   Catawba

Courtney Rosu   Hammonton   Western Carolina

Erica Skroski   Absegami   Rutgers

Kelsey Tierney   Absegami   Iona

Shannon Westhead   Lenape   St. Joseph's

Boys' Soccer

Greg Biggiani   Shawnee   Lafayette

Bobby Briggs   Lenape   La Salle

Angelo Dambalas   Cherokee   Philadelphia U.

Andrew Garcia   Timber Creek   St. Francis (Pa.)

Sonimi Halliday   Timber Creek   Rider

Nick Savino   Moorestown   UC Santa Barbara

Ryan Schroy   Shawnee   Philadelphia U.

Girls' Track

Holly Bischof   Bishop Eustace   Duke

Madeline Hummel   Holy Cross   Rider

Dina Iacone   Washington Twp.    Cornell

Maria Jimenez   Vineland   Monmouth

Megan Kirschling   West Deptford   Elon

Tracey Masterson   Mainland   Monmouth

Boys' Track

Darrell Bush   Woodbury   LSU

Isaac Williams   Willingboro   Houston

- Marc Narducci

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