Spring signings: 112 Erie County high school student-athletes reveal college choices

They may not have known it when the recruiting process started.

Each of Mercyhurst University’s local recruits, however, is now a Division I athlete.

Mercyhurst’s transition from Division II to D-I athletics has energized several of the Lakers’ recent commitments. They’re ready to prove themselves against the Northeast Conference’s best.

“I actually had taken interest when they were Division II,” said Seneca’s Aubrey Hammill, a Mercyhurst soccer commit. “They announced Division I and everyone was freaking out, and I told them it was on accident. Everything happens for a reason and I’m just super excited for the opportunity.”

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How will Mercyhurst fare in its first D-I campaign? That’s still to be seen.

Regardless of results, though, these Erie County standouts will be showcased on an unexpectedly large stage.

“I just thought it was a good opportunity for me to take it because, at the time, I didn’t know where I was going to go,” said Erie High’s Kyungu Kombe, who will also play soccer at ‘Hurst. “I’ve got to get in the best shape of my life when I go there so I’m going to keep training and working hard.”

Mercyhurst’s proximity to home remains as large a draw to Erie County athletes as anything.

“I’m a little momma’s boy, I’m not going to lie,” said Harbor Creek’s Vlad Garnica, another soccer commit. “I didn’t want to go too far and get homesick. I was excited to play D-II, but I’m more excited to play D-I and ready to give it my all.”

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Other standouts find D-I homes across the northeast

Mercyhurst isn’t the only D-I school chasing Erie County athletes.

Standouts such as Cathedral Prep’s Noah Handzel (Bucknell soccer) and Mercyhurst Prep’s Katie Caryl (Duquesne golf) found new homes in-state while others like Prep’s Madison Simmerman (Maine softball) and Fairview’s Hannah Lindenberger (St. Bonaventure soccer) found theirs outside Pennsylvania.

“I love the coaches and love their style of play, and I thought I fit in really well with the team,” said McDowell’s Caylen Spano, who will play basketball at Buffalo. “All the resources they have there I thought would be really beneficial going into my freshman year.”

More than 100 Erie County student-athletes have committed to a college program since the Times-News’ latest list in March.

“(Canisius) was close to home and, when I visited, it really felt like home,” said McDowell’s Havana Austin, who will swim at Canisius. “My parents being able to come to meets, that was one of the bigger things. The other school I looked at was far away and making that drive was not too fun.”

More commitments

Below is a complete list of recent college commitments from Erie County student-athletes.

Cathedral Prep

• Owurakwame Anim-Somuah, D'Youville soccer
• Joel Brennan, Penn State-Wilkes Barre baseball
• Evan Calvert, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology swimming
• Dylan Danch, D'Youville soccer

• McKenzie DiPlacido, Mercyhurst water polo
• Josie Dufala, Cleveland State swimming
• Derek Galla, Penn State Behrend basketball
• Noah Handzel, Bucknell soccer
• Daniel Oblich, Case Western Reserve football
• Madison Simmerman, Maine softball

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Corry

• Hallie Graves, Mercyhurst cheerleading
• Mackenzie Spence, East Stroudsburg swimming
• Levi Ehrhart, Waynesburg football
• Alli Goodwill, Mount Union softball
• Alyssa Burlew, Pitt-Bradford softball

• Taylor Moats, Westminster swimming

Erie High

• Kyungu Kombe, Mercyhurst soccer
• Noah Kowalczyk, Clarion football
• Kaleb Nickson, John Carroll football

• Jaheim Mims, Pitt-Bradford basketball
• Enisa Siljkovic, Penn State Behrend tennis

Fairview

• Dana Golden, Wheeling lacrosse
• Maisee Carrier, Marietta soccer
• Hannah Lindenberger, St. Bonaventure soccer
• Ella Garrity Penn State Behrend basketball
• Isabel Owens, Lehigh track and field

• Luke Irwin, Gannon soccer
• Patrick Stafford, SUNY Oneonta baseball
• Maggie Bolla, Indiana (Pa.) cross country and track and field
• Aari Fox, Slippery Rock baseball
• Graham Louis, Penn State Behrend tennis

Fort LeBoeuf

• Jackson Bowers, Hiram wrestling and track and field
• Ryan Hayes, Pitt-Bradford cross country and track and field
• Kaylee Kennedy, Edinboro cheerleading
• Kelsie Skinner, Navy track and field
• Kayleigh Anderson, Geneva volleyball
• Alivia Hetrick, Penn State Behrend cross country and track and field
• Grace Wilson, Allegheny swimming

• Ella McGowan, Penn State Behrend track and field

General McLane

• Magnus Lloyd, Edinboro wrestling

• Logan Anderson, Slippery Rock track and field
• Braeden Means, Allegheny golf
• Daphne Gindlesperger, Westminster swimming
• Jayla Duffrin, Malone stunt
• Cooper Robson, California (Pa.) soccer
• Ethan Bihler, Thiel soccer
• Landon Roach, Fredonia baseball
• Greysen Rhodes, California (Pa.) golf
• Chance Kimmy, Gannon wrestling

Girard

• Story Buchanan, Penn State Behrend wrestling
• Ryan Carr, Penn State Behrend track and field
• Jeremiah Colon, Girard football
• Geremia Dell'omo, Penn State Behrend basketball

• Nate Edwards, Penn State Behrend basketball
• Lily Polk, Mount Union track and field
• Baileigh Marino, Penn State Behrend water polo

Harbor Creek

• Lance Brown, Washington and Jefferson football
• Catherine Burkett, Allegheny softball
• Cassie Kruse, Cleveland State track and field
• Vlad Garnica, Mercyhurst soccer
• Ava LaFuria, Slippery Rock competitive cheer
• Ayden Ratajczak, Pitt-Bradford soccer
• Jake Powers, Allegheny football
• Hannah Smith, Penn State Behrend volleyball and softball

• Nathan Smith, Geneva track and field
• Tyler Storicks, Edinboro track and field
• Braylon Wilson, Edinboro basketball

Iroquois

• Baelyn Randolph, Edinboro softball
• Christian Krysiak, Saint Vincent football
• Sam Kightlinger, Penn State Behrend wrestling

McDowell

• Carter Swanson, Ohio Northern baseball
• Bobby Blue, Gannon wrestling
• Eric Neavins, Clarion football
• Dominic Berarducci, Allegheny football
• RJ Nagg, Chatham volleyball
• Ryan Okey, Penn State Behrend swimming
• Havana Austin, Canisius swimming
• Brooke Hudnall, St. Bonaventure cross country and track and field

• Anthony Iacobucci, Penn State Behrend baseball
• Amaiya Nelson, Seton Hill basketball
• Tyler Grove, Indiana (Pa.) basketball
• Alexis Marsh, Stevenson golf
• Grace Tirak, Mercyhurst water polo
• Caylen Spano, Buffalo basketball

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Mercyhurst Prep

• JJ Ganska, Mount Union football
• Camden Bryant, Slippery Rock track and field
• Shea Weislogel, John Carroll soccer
• Noah Trojanowski, John Carroll baseball
• Michael Burrows, Mercyhurst soccer
• Ella Schumacher, Gannon soccer
• Abigayle Desser, Rochester Insitute of Technology rowing
• Katie Caryl, Duquesne golf

• Kathleen Reddinger, John Carroll soccer
• Alyssa Kehl, Gannon cheerleading

North East

• Jacob Babo, Edinboro football
• Catie Britt, Iowa Central Community College soccer
• Julianna Coletta, Penn State Behrend softball
• Alex Cozzens, Geneva basketball and softball
• Mikayla Dance, Mercyhurst cheerleading
• Kayla Forsythe, Penn State Behrend volleyball
• Jackson Humes, Westminster football
• Cadence Jones, Penn State Behrend volleyball
• Tatiana Llera, Mercyhurst bowling
• Jonathan Morey, Bethany volleyball
• Grace Sanfilippo, Mercyhurst volleyball

Seneca

• Aubrey Hammill, Mercyhurst soccer
• Nolan Seabury, Allegheny football
• Reed Yost, Westminster track and field
• Lee Hoover, Edinboro track and field
• Emily Snippert, Edinboro track and field
• Michael Werner, Penn State Behrend cross country/track and field

Union City

• Joe Pituch, Edinboro track and field

Contact Jeff Uveino at juveino@gannett.com . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @realjuveino .

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Spring signings: 112 Erie County high school student-athletes reveal college choices