Lakewood High signing day event honors future Lancer collegians

LAKEWOOD >> It was Lakewood High’s tu to honor its scholarship student-athletes on Tuesday, in a lunchtime ceremony held in the school’s Tim Sweeney Gymnasium. The Lancers recognized 18 seniors who will move on to play collegiate sports, as well as nine junior college commits.

As usual, Andy Miramontes’ softball program cranked out the big-time players, with six players signing scholarships: Montana Dixon (Stanford), Ari Bus (CSU Fullerton), Madison Rafuson (West Virginia State), Logan Miller (Whitworth), Alexis Weekes (CSU Monterey Bay), and Jaci Sanchez (Redlands).

“We’re all having a lot of fun right now, getting ready for the playoffs, getting ready for college, it’s a lot of fun,” said Bus, whose Lancers open up at home Thursday against Roosevelt in the first round of the CIF-SS playoffs.

Aside from another big day for the Lancers’ softball team, the theme of the event was “Redlands,” as four athletes are moving on from Lakewood to the university. In addition to Sanchez, Michael Talag (water polo, swimming), Samantha Lopez (water polo) and Brittain Foster (men’s basketball) will all become Bulldogs.

The signing capped a big spring for Talag, who set the school record in the 50-yard freestyle this year with a time of 21.54. That was the only record that hadn’t been set by Talag’s friend, Utah swimmer Daniel McArthur.

“Daniel was texting me that he had confidence in me breaking that record, which was nice,” said Talag. The Lancer is definitely plaing on playing water polo at Redlands, and is hoping to add swimming into the mix too, depending on how the seasons overlap.

Foster will play basketball for the Bulldogs, but also got academic scholarships to help cover the entire cost of his college experience.

“I woke up from a nap and my mom was crying,” he said. “That’s when I knew she’s set, she doesn’t have to worry about me.”

The other signees from the day were: Jason Hurst (baseball, Pacific University of Oregon), Daniel Peralta (water polo, McKendree University), Malia Kemp (basketball, St. Katherine College), Amani Briggs (track, Central Washington), Pasindu Senaratne (track, Cal Poly Pomona), Taylor Miller (soccer, Trinity Christian College), Alexa Miller (soccer, Trinity Christian College), and Amanda Febach (soccer, Brandeis).

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As always, there are a few players still waiting to make their decisions or to have a Division 2 offer come in, including some of head football coach Jimmy Nolan’s players, with Hawaii recently dropping in on Jeremiah Paulo. In addition, Lakewood baseball standout pitcher Matt Fields is weighing offers from Nevada and CSU Northridge, among others.

The Lakewood volleyball program recognized Paige Easley (NYACK), and also just recently had junior setter Shelbie Dobmeier commit to Middle Teessee State (making five of head coach Mike Wadley’s last six setters to go D1), and middle blocker Destynie Viliamu commit to UC Irvine.