COLLEGE SIGNING: OJR’s Dempsey to play soccer at Iona

Owen J. Roberts senior Taylor Dempsey, center, recently signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Division I Iona College. Dempsey is pictured with his parents Mike Dempsey, left, and Susan Marks, right, and OJR head coach Eric Wentzel. (Photo submitted)

By Steven Moore
smoore@pottsmerc.com

Taylor Dempsey had his mind made up last fall. He was ready to enjoy the rest of his senior year at Owen J. Roberts without the pressure of a college decision hanging over his head.
Then Mount St. Mary’s University (Md.) decided to cut three varsity sports programs – including men’s soccer.
Dempsey was back to square one.
Then he got a call from Iona College – a school he admits he “had never heard of” before.
“Around Thanksgiving, I had two tournaments and they saw me play and I had numerous calls,” said Dempsey, who signed a letter of intent to play at Iona, a school just north of Manhattan in New Rochelle, N.Y. “They seemed to be one of the more interested schools.
“The past four years, they’ve been ranked in the top 25 many times, and the school doesn’t have a football team, so soccer is one of the bigger sports there,” Dempsey said.” The coaches are really nice and they made me feel like they wanted me a lot.”

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Daniel Boone’s Howiszak making way to Mansfield

Kelly Howiszak has signed a letter of intent to continue her soccer career at Mansfield University in the fall. (JRC file photo)

By Dennis Weller
sports@pottsmerc.com

Kelly Howiszak thought that she wanted to go to a college in the city. Then the Daniel Boone senior visited and fell in love with Mansfield University, located in a scenic town of 3,600 in the north central part of the state, and she decided that’s where she wanted to continue her studies and soccer career.

Howiszak plans to major in chemistry and minor in forensic science and hopes to make an immediate contribution to the NCAA Division II and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference member Mountaineers following four varied and successful years of sports at Daniel Boone.

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Bears’ Lentz heading to Mansfield for soccer

Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury Boyertown’s Danielle Lentz signs a letter of intent to play soccer at Mansfield as her mother Paula Lentz and coach Bill Goddard look on.

By Dennis Weller
sports@pottsmerc.com

BOYERTOWN — When the Boyertown girls soccer team recorded an incredible 16 straight shutouts on the way to the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship last fall, senior Danielle Lentz was right in the middle of everything in more ways than one.
The defense-minded center-midfielder was not only an integral part of that impenetrable defense, but she also showed that she could put the ball in the net. She knocked in the winning penalty kick in the PAC-10 final against Owen J. Roberts, giving the Bears a second straight title and third in her four years on the field.
And while her high school playing days may be over, Lentz is all ready to go at it again in the fall after signing a National Letter of Intent to continue her studies and play soccer at Mansfield University. She plans to major in psychology at the NCAA Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference school of over 3,000 students in the north central part of the state, a half mile from the New York border.

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Rams’ Vagnoni picks Michigan State

John Strickler/The Mercury Simone Vagnoni, left, signs her letter to attend Michigan State, alongside her mother Rachel Vagnoni. Standing at left are assistant coach Mallory Greene, brother Dante Vagnoni, father John Vagnoni and Spring-Ford field hockey coach Jennie Moore.

By Dennis Weller
Special to The Mercury

ROYERSFORD — Goal scorers may get the headlines, but it’s impossible to measure the value of a solid leader on the defensive side, and that’s the role Simone Vagnoni played for undefeated Pioneer Athletic Conference field hockey champion Spring-Ford this past fall.
Her senior leadership and nose for the ball were major reasons why the Rams allowed only 29 goals in 20 matches and her shutdown play against the other team’s high scorer was a key to a 3-1 win in the PAC-10 Championship.
Now she’ll be taking her game to the next level when she continues her education at Michigan State University, a school of nearly 49,000 students in East Lansing, Mich.

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Phoenixville’s Ryan Pannella staying nearby at WCU

Photo by Barry Taglieber Phoenixville’s Ryan Pannella signs a letter of intent to play football at West Chester University.

By Barry Sankey
bsankey@journalregister.com

PHOENIXVILLE — Ryan Pannella has found a home to extend his football career that is, well, located close to home.
Phoenixville’s star inside linebacker and tight end has accepted a scholarship to attend West Chester University, a Division II school that is part of the highly competitive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
Pannella will be lining up at a strong safety position for head coach Bill Zwaan’s Golden Rams. Pannella, a 6-foot-1, 180-pounder, made his decision final Wednesday by signing a national letter of intent. He chose West Chester over East Stroudsburg.

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Phoenixville’s Ali Meszaros going to Temple

Photo by Barry Taglieber Phoenixville’s Ali Meszaros, right, will play field hockey at Temple.

By Barry Sankey
bsankey@journalregister.com

PHOENIXVILLE — Back in seventh grade, Ali Meszaros ventured to a field hockey camp at Temple University.
Now, five years later, the Phoenixville senior has decided to attend Temple on an athletic scholarship for field hockey.
Meszaros made her announcement official Wednesday when she signed a national letter of intent during a briefing at the Phoenixville High School television studio.

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Perkiomen Valley’s Natalie Marsh headed to American

Photo courtesy of Perkiomen Valley High School Natalie Marsh signs a letter of intent to play field hockey at American University. Seated with Natalie is her mother Elizabeth Mosteller. Back row, from left: father John Marsh, coach Erik Enters, stepfather Todd Mosteller.

By Darryl Grumling
dgrumling@pottsmerc.com

GRATERFORD — Natalie Marsh knows a thing or two about working together, having been part of a cohesive Perkiomen Valley unit during her high school field hockey career.
She is hopeful to continue that trend in college.
Marsh, a midfielder and All-Area first team selection, signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to accept a scholarship to attend American University in Washington, D.C., and play for the NCAA Division I Eagles.

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Upper Perkiomen’s Carrie Nyce headed to Rider

Photo by Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury Upper Perkiomen’s Carrie Nyce, shown with parents Jamie and Kathy Nyce and coach Jamie Warren, left, signs with Rider University.

By Darryl Grumling
dgrumling@pottsmerc.com

RED HILL — Carrie Nyce felt right at home when she visited Rider University.
Which was a main reason why the Upper Perkiomen field hockey standout will call the Lawrenceville, N.J., campus her home for the next four years.
Nyce, a Mercury All-Area first team selection and two-year captain for the Indians, signed a national letter-of intent Wednesday to accept a scholarship to attend Rider and play for the NCAA Division I Broncs.

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Pottstown native Hunter Knighton off to Miami

Photo courtesy of The Hun School of Princeton Hunter Knighton is heading to the University of Miami and former Temple coach Al Golden.

By Rosemarie Ross
rross@pottsmerc.com

POTTSTOWN — From the moment Hunter Knighton stepped onto the field for his first football practice, it was clear he had the right stuff for the game.
Always tall and muscular, even at the very young age of 9, Knighton had the right build and knack for it.
That flair for the game eventually paved the way from playing football at Owen J. Roberts Middle School to The Hill School, then to The Hun School ... and now to the high-profile and prestigious University of Miami for the strapping 6-foot-5, 265-pound two-way lineman.

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Owen J. Roberts star Heather Morris to Duke

Photo courtesy of Owen J. Roberts Heather Morris signs her letter of intent to play field hockey at Duke. She is joined by her parents Patti and Jack Morris.

By Darryl Grumling
dgrumling@pottsmerc.com

BUCKTOWN — The scholastic field hockey career of Heather Morris may have ended on an unfortunate note when she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during a midseason Pioneer Athletic Conference game against Upper Perkiomen.
But the beginning of her college career appears to be filled with positives and promise.
The decorated Owen J. Roberts senior made her future plans official Wednesday, signing a national letter of intent to accept a scholarship to attend the University of Duke and play for the Blue Devils.

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Pottsgrove's Tory Hudgins to Bucknell

Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury Pottsgrove’s Tori Hudgins signed a letter of intent to play football at Bucknell. Seated are parents Anthony and Ashley. Standing, from left, coach Rick Pennypacker, athletic director Gary Derenzo, quarterback coach Bill Hawthorne and principal Yolanda Wiliams.

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

LOWER POTTSGROVE — Tory Hudgins took his share of hits each and every time he carried the football, all 406 of them.
Now, or for the next four years, he hopes to deliver his share of hits.
Hudgins will get that opportunity after signing a national letter of intent with Bucknell University during a press conference Wednesday afternoon at Pottsgrove High School.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior, who as Pottsgrove’s starting quarterback helped drive the Falcons to a Pioneer Athletic Conference title and three straight postseason appearances — including the District 1-Class AAA championship in 2011 — was recruited as an athlete and will likely settle into the Bison’s secondary as a corner or safety.

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