How Samo athletes celebrated Signing Day amid the pandemic

Gwendolyn Warren, Staff Writer

As many get ready for National College Decision Day in May, when all college-bound seniors commit to their respective schools, some athletes at Samo have already signed with their college of choice on Signing Day. Usually, Signing Day would be a collaborative celebration held on the Samo campus in which senior athletes would sign their National Letters of Intent (NLI), declaring their commitment to play for their college. Though the COVID-19 pandemic has put a stop to large gatherings and celebrations, many seniors formed in small, socially distant groups to enjoy independent Signing Day celebrations on Nov. 15.   

Five beach volleyball players gathered together to congratulate one another on their commitment, including Ava Guerra (’21), Ella Dreibholz (’21), Alana Witting (’21) and Tabitha Mitchell (’21), who had a toast to honor the hard work the athletes had done to get to this point in their athletic careers. Guerra and Witting signed to Tulane, while Dreibholz and Mitchell committed to UC Berkeley and UC Davis, respectively.

Ava Guerra explained how COVID-19 affected her celebration. 

“I wasn't able to do a [Samo] related Signing Day, so I had to set up something at home with Ella Dreibholz and Tabitha Mitchell. We weren’t able to celebrate to the fullest but we were still able to sign our NLI’s, which was the whole point of Signing Day,” Guerra said.

The feeling a student gets when they are admitted to their college of choice is indescribable. Many athletes at Samo want to pursue their athletic careers in college. Guerra is getting to fulfill that dream as she is set to play beach volleyball at Tulane next year.

“The commitment basically turned my future into reality. Being committed so long, this whole process felt so normal, so when I finally signed my letter I fully realized that I am so close to actually going to college. I’m excited to see where it takes me,” Guerra said.

Photo by Ava Guerra. Above, Guerra celebrates Signing Day by signing her National Letter of Intent, which certifies her commitment to play beach volleyball at Tulane next year.

Another set of dreams came true for Kalana Ortega-Hoefner (’21), a coxswain for the Marina Aquatic Center. Ortega-Hoefner got accepted into Loyola Marymount University and is thrilled to attend the college. 

“I had been talking to LMU since October of my junior year and have known it was my dream school since then. Committing to LMU is fulfilling that dream, and I know that I am going to be so happy there and hopefully really successful in my coxing career,” Ortega-Hoefner said. 

Principal Antonio Shelton congratulated the athletes on Signing Day. 

“In this pandemic, I’m glad that they are still being offered scholarships. I’m excited for them and this is the next chapter. Hopefully they will be able to go to college and be a part of a campus experience. I wish them the best and keep making us proud,” Shelton said. 

Shelton explained how the virus has unfortunately changed celebrations. 

“I hate that we didn't get to get up and congratulate everyone and take pictures like we normally do. It is very different. As with everything else since the spring, we have adjusted and we celebrate differently than we have before,” Shelton said. 

Although COVID-19 ended many opportunities for seniors at Samo this year, athletes that have signed with their college have celebrated in a safe and enjoyable way. 

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