On the dotted line

MONUMENT - For three Lewis-Palmer volleyball players, Wednesday marked the end of a long and stressful process.

Ariana Filho signed a national letter of intent to play for Minnesota at a ceremony in the high school’s library. Olivia Moss will play at Sacramento State. Jenny Kagarise will accept an appointment to the Air Force Academy.

A number of signing ceremonies were held. It was the first day seniors could sign national letters of intent to play volleyball and other college sports.

For many, including Filho, the ceremony was a relief.

“I’m a very indecisive person, and there were so many options,” she said.

Filho made a verbal commitment last May. Many waited until this fall. Others still are weighing their options.

“I started the process a little late,” Moss said.

“It was really stressful waiting to hear from all the coaches, but I visited Sac State and just really loved the program.”

The three Rangers have played together for more than four years, and it will take some getting used to competing on different teams.

“It’s going to be hard to be separated,” Kagarise said. “I’ve played with Olivia since I was 14, and I’ve been friends with Ariana since middle school. We have such great team chemistry, and it will be hard to lose that.”

Lewis-Palmer coach Sue Odenbaugh was thrilled to have at least three moving on to Division I programs.

“This is a culmination of all their hard work and dedication,” Odenbaugh told the crowd of about 50 onlookers.

Pine Creek’s Cindy Bathelt signed to play volleyball at Florida earlier in the day.

“I committed last Thanksgiving, so it’s been nice to have a year to relax,” Bathelt said.

Palmer boys basketball standout Reggie Jackson signed with Boston College in an afternoon ceremony.

Terrors senior Leah Fitzgerald also will play basketball.

“I’ve been going to basketball camp at Wyoming since I was in eighth grade, so I’ve been interested in the program a long time,” she said.

Lewis-Palmer had two more signings. Bobby Hanson will play baseball for Washington State and Rachel Houchin is going to Oklahoma State as the Rangers’ first equestrian scholarship recipient.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0250 or sports@gazette.com

AREA COLLEGE SIGNINGS

The following is a list of area athletes who signed national letters of intent Wednesday:

The Classical Academy: Lydia Blaha, women’s volleyball, Boise State.

Colorado Aerials: Jacqueline Thomas (Air Academy), women’s gymnastics, Alaska-Anchorage.

Colorado Springs School: Vanessa Leeper, women’s basketball, Nebraska-Kearney.

Coronado: Molly Crockett, women’s volleyball, UCCS.

Ellicott: Ashley Miller, women’s basketball, UCCS.

Lewis-Palmer: Ariana Filho, women’s volleyball, Minnesota; Bobby Hanson, baseball, Washington State; Rachel Houchin, equestrian, Oklahoma State; Olivia Moss, women’s volleyball, Sacramento State.

Mitchell: Tamia Herholz, women’s volleyball, Gardner-Webb.

Palmer: Reggie Jackson, men’s basketball, Boston College; Leah Fitzgerald, women’s basketball, Wyoming.

Pine Creek: Cindy Bathelt, women’s volleyball, Florida; Allie Benkert, softball, UCCS; Kristin Milardo, women’s gymnastics, William & Mary.

Friday Air Academy: Kory Harrell, men’s golf, Northern Colorado; Dexter Price, baseball, Auburn, both sign at 8:40 a.m. in school cafeteria.

Later this month Palmer: Murphy Barry, women’s swimming, Evansville.

Accepting military service academy appointments

Lewis-Palmer: Jenny Kagarise, women’s volleyball, Air Force.