Marymount Celebrates Three Sailor-Strong Athletes on National Signing Day

11/14/2018

On Wednesday, Nov. 14, National Signing Day, Marymount High School celebrated three student-athletes’ commitments to continue their athletic careers at Division I colleges and universities.

Seniors Grace F., Devon N., and Emi S. signed their National Letters of Intent (NLI) on Cantwell steps as Marymount’s Head of School, faculty, staff, fellow students, coaches, and families watched.

Grace will play Division I Volleyball as a Torero at the University of San Diego (USD).
Devon will become a Bruin at the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA), where she will play Division I Beach Volleyball.
As an Anteater, Emi will play Division I soccer at University of California, Irvine (UCI).

Assistant Athletic Director Erin Diamond led the signing ceremony and noted that, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), eight million high-school students participate in athletics each year. Of those, only six percent of student-athletes continue to play their sport at NCAA division colleges and universities.

Grace, Devon, and Emi make up an even smaller, elite percentage: of those eight million high-school athletes, only 0.6 percent sign an NLI, a binding agreement in which an athlete commits to attending the NLI-listed school for one academic year in exchange for financial aid from the college or university. By signing the NLI, the recruitment process officially ends for Grace, Devon, and Emi.

“Getting to this moment in an athlete’s career is rare and impressive; signing this document is commendable; officially committing to a future in athletics is brave and noteworthy,” Ms. Diamond said in her address to students, their families, and the Marymount community. “For all of these reasons, we applaud and recognize these three ladies today.”

Before the signing, Grace, Devon, and Emi individually thanked their Marymount coaches and families for their support and commitment.

Head of School Jacqueline L. Landry acknowledge the girls’ monumental achievements before giving a blessing.

“Loving god, we thank you for the gift of sports and the camaraderie on teams, and we thank you for the gifts and lessons of resilience and of stamina,” said Ms. Landry. “We ask for your blessings on Grace, Devon, and Emi as they embark on their new adventures and that they may continue to have the embodied life and spirt and all the many wonderful lessons that athleticism teaches.”

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