Novi High Up To 21 College Athlete Commitments

From Novi Schools: With the spring sports tournaments yet to go, Novi athletics has already had a tremendous year, collecting two state championships and five Final Four appearances. On Thursday, Novi athletic director Brian Gordon introduced six student athletes at a special National Letter of Intent ceremony in the school’s Commons, bringing this school year’s total to 21 seniors who have affirmed a commitment to participate in collegiate athletics.

Beginning next fall, three student athletes who attended Thursday’s event will compete in Division I sports at Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, and the University of Tennessee-Martin. Rower Emmy Robinson, track athlete Scott Sawyer, and soccer player Jacalyn Schubring are headed to MSU, CMU and UTM, respectively.

The others who signed Thursday were basketball player Cara Ninkovich (Albion), lacrosse player Katie McMaster (Otterbein); and track athlete Emma Hammelef (Case Western Reserve).

Thursday’s event was the third signing ceremony held at Novi High School this school year. Signings were also held on Nov. 9 and Feb. 1.

Earlier signees, who will compete at the D1 level are, swimmer Camden Murphy (Georgia); soccer players Bethany Kopel (Indiana), Grace Backus (Central Michigan), and Kyle Bandyk (Detroit Mercy), golfer Alexa Hatz (Detroit Mercy); and volleyball player Ally Cummings (Valparaiso).

Other signees are football players Anthony D’Annibale (Dayton) and Nathan Hankerson (Saginaw Valley State); soccer players Ben Noud (Marygrove) and Eric Rice (Northwood); swimmers Emily Mayoras (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and Philip Billiu (Saginaw Valley State); lacrosse players Brendan Daschke (Madonna University) and Mariah Smythe (Siena Heights); and golfer Michael Ulle (Grand Valley State).

Novi athletics has had tremendous success this year. The Wildcats volleyball and pom teams won state titles, while boys cross country, tennis, soccer and swimming finished in the top four. The Girls’ golf team was state runners up.

“This has been, from a wins and losses standpoint one of the most successful seasons because of the seniors – because seniors make teams – that Novi has ever had,” Gordon said. “And we have yet to even begin our spring tournaments.”

During Thursday’s event, Gordon took time to pay a special tribute to Robinson, a senior co-op in the athletic department this year.

“We’ve had some great co-ops over the years and often times they’re one of our athletes,” he said. “Emmy has done an outstanding job of balancing academics, athletics and taking on the responsibility in our office, which is like no other co-op position in the school district.”

Image Courtesy of Novi Schools