Sixteen Santa Margarita Students Sign Letters of Intent

By Sean Zeitler

Sixteen students from Santa Margarita Catholic made their futures evident on Wednesday as they officially signed legally binding letters of intent or celebrated their commitment to attend colleges across the country for their sport. 

Wednesday was the first day high school seniors could sign scholarship papers for the following sports: baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo (girls only) and wrestling. 

The letter of intent is a binding agreement between the student-athlete and a college, by which the student-athlete agrees to attend the college for one academic year.

The following student-athletes signed as part of the NCAA National Letter of Intent Signing Day:

• Allie Prukop of Coto de Caza has committed to Seton Hall University for softball. Allie is a four-year varsity athlete for the Eagles as an infielder. Prukop is a two-time All-Trinity league selection, team captain, and has been named the SM player of the week. In addition to playing softball, Prukop has lettered in girls basketball and maintains a 4.04 grade point average. 

• Kevin Thomsen of Newport Beach has committed to Princeton University for baseball. Kevin is an infielder and has often been used as a relief pitcher for the Eagles, with an impressive 1.79 ERA (earned run average) his junior year. Thomsen excels on and off the diamond as a member of the National Honor Society, co-founder of the SM Clean Water Initiative, originating member of the Fellowship of Eagle Athletes, a National Merit Commended Scholar, and maintains a 4.76 grade point average. 

• Griffin Canning of Coto de Caza has committed to UCLA for baseball. Griffin is a three-year letterman for the Eagles as both a position player and a pitcher. Canning is a member of the Fellowship of Eagle Athletes, a two-time All-Trinity League selection both his sophomore and junior year, and has spent the last two summers playing for the USA National baseball teams on their 17 and 18-Under teams. 

• Mikayla Dobson of Mission Viejo has committed to Cal Lutheran University for volleyball. Dobson has been named the MVP the last three years for her different level volleyball teams and is the captain of this year’s varsity team. Off the court, Mikayla is a member of the National Honor Society, CSF, Honor Roll, Scholar-Athlete four consecutive years, she is involved with peer ministry and is a student-ambassador while carrying a 4.30 grade point average. 

• Erik Sikes of Coto de Caza has committed to BYU for Volleyball.  Erik was recruited as a Libero by the Cougars of BYU and has also played outside hitter for the Eagles.  In 2012, Erik played on the USA Youth National team and won a gold medal at the Junior Nationals. Erik has been named first-team All-Trinity League the past 3 years and was named MVP for the Eagles his junior year. Of the court, Erik has been involved with the Special Olympics, Loaves and Fishes, and maintains a 3.73 grade point average.

• Joe Furstinger of Rancho Santa Margarita has committed to the University of New Mexico for basketball. This past winter, Joe averaged a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Santa Margarita basketball team, leading them to the division 3AA CIF Championship game. In addition to a CIF Finals appearance, Joe was voted first team All-CIF and first team All-Trinity league. 

• Hayden Ruiz of Rancho Santa Margarita has committed to Boston University for lacrosse. Hayden is a four-year letterman for the Eagles Lacrosse team and is a three-time All-Trinity League selection and two-time All-County selection. Hayden was a West Coast Under Armour team member last year and has represented the West Coast Starz the past three years. Hayden is committed to assisting US Marines and their families through his volunteer work with Operation Help a Hero, and carries a 4.02 grade point average. 

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• Alexandra Krogius of San Juan Capistrano has committed to Villanova University for Tennis.  Krogius is a nationally ranked USTA player and has been the #1 Singles player for the Eagles four consecutive years, leading the tennis team to the Trinity League Championship every year.  Alex has been named varsity captain for three years in addition to being a scholar-athlete for four consecutive years.  Krogius is a member of National Honor Society, CSF, Peer Ministry, Student Ambassador, and commits over 100 hours a year serving others through Mission Hospital and National Charity League. 

• Chris Taber of Anaheim Hills has committed to the University of Utah for swimming. Taber is a four-year letterman for the swim team and is the 2012 Trinity League champion at the 500 free. Chris’ best times rank him #3 in the 100 butterfly and #6 in the 500 free in school history. Taber is a member of the school record holding 4x50 butterfly relay, is a three-time CIF Finals qualifier and has qualified to swim at the United States Winter Nationals and made the 200 meter butterfly standard for the 2013 World Championship Trials. 

• Elizabeth Devitt of Rancho Santa Margarita has committed to Duke University for swimming. “Lizzie” is a four-year varsity swimmer and is the current school record holder in the 100 free and 200 individual medley. She is a member of four record setting relays and at one time held the record in the 500 free. Devitt is a two-time high school All-Americanin the 200 individual medley, was named the 2011 Trinity League Swimmer of the Year, and owns four individual Trinity League Titles. Lizzie has qualified for the US Junior and Senior National Championships and is a 4.0 student. 

• Jacquelyn Shoults of Laguna Hills has committed to UCLA for swimming. “Jax” is a four-year varsity swimmer for the Eagles and is the school record holder in the 100 backstroke. Shoults is a 2012 All-American and is a two-time Trinity League Champion in the 100 backstroke. Shoults is a three-time CIF qualifier and is a member of three school record setting relay teams. Jax has qualified for the US Swimming Junior Nationals and met the qualifying standard for U.S. Winter Nationals. 

• Annie Whelan of Coto de Caza has committed to USC for diving. Whelan is a four-year varsity diver for the Eagles and has qualified for CIF each year. Whelan was recognized as an NISCA All-American which places her in the top-100 divers nationally. She is the 2013 Trinity League Diving Champion and has qualified for the US Junior Diving Championships and the National Age Group Championships while maintaining a 4.11 grade point average. 

• Payton Gabris of Rancho Santa Margarita has committed to the San Diego State University for diving. Payton is a four-year varsity diver for the Eagles and has qualified for CIF every year. In 2012, Payton was selected to the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association All-American team and has qualified and performed at the US Junior and Senior Zone Championships.

• Kelli Baumgardner of Laguna Niguel has committed to the University of California, Irvine for water polo. Kelli is a three-year varsity letterman for the Eagles and holds the third highest assist total in school history with 63. Last year she scored 41 goals and 33 steals, earning her a starting spot on the CIF division 2 Championship team. Kelli was named to the 2013 All-Trinity League team and All-CIF team and carries a 3.81 grade point average.

• Kacey Avalos of Lake Forest has committed to the University of California Berkeley for water polo. Avalos is a four-year letterman for the Eagles and is 12 assist’s shy of becoming the all-time assist leader in school history. Last year, Avalos earned All-Trinity League and All CIF honors and was also named NISCA High School All-American. Outside of the pool, Avalos is an honors student and maintains a 4.14 GPA.

• Haley Wan of Irvine has committed to Princeton University for water polo. Wan is a four-year letterman for the girls’ water polo team. Haley looks to re-write the girls water polo record books this season as she currently holds the season steals record with 96, 34 steals shy of setting the school career record, 32 goals shy of the school’s career scoring record, and is the current record holder for field blocks with 53. Last year Haley helped lead the Eagles to their first CIF championship in 13 years and their first league championship in three years with her game-winning goal in overtime to defeat Mater Dei. She was named first team All-Trinity league three years in a row, 2013 Orange County Register’s Player of the Year, CIF Division 3 Player of the Year, and was named to the NISCA high school All-American team. In the classroom, Haley is an AP/IB student and maintains a 4.71 grade point average.