On a day when Saugus High School celebrated 21 of its student-athletes and their commitment to continuing their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level, the Saugus Forum was filled with family, friends and former coaches who cheered on their seniors’ commitments.
Former girls’ basketball head coach Anthony Falasca described the day as “full circle” as Jasmine Garcia signed her national letter of intent to California Luthern University, Falasca’s alma mater.
“It’s going to be pretty sweet,” Falasca said. “She’s 40 minutes away and I can go watch her play and follow her career in college. She’s my first collegiate signee as a girls coach so it’s pretty special.”
Also signing a letter of intent is baseball star Matt Long, who’s not only committed to playing collegiate baseball but also football at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Long described the commitment as nerve-wracking but is excited to do what very few student-athletes do around the country and play two collegiate sports.
“To play two sports at the next level is something very few people do,” Long said. “And I just want to be a part of that and show that it’s possible for other people to play two college sports and excel in both of them.”
Long’s football teammate, Jake Nuttall, was also among the 21 who signed their letters of intent on Monday.
But in the Saugus Forum, not only did one Nuttall sign his letter of intent, but two as Joey Nuttall joined his cousin, Jake, on committing their athletic careers to the collegiate level.
Jake Nuttall, who is committed to playing football at Southern Connecticut State University, described the experience as “cool” as the Nuttall familysent off two members to the collegiate level.
“It’s phenomenal. We grew up playing sports together and have always been in the same sports circles,” Jake said. “I play football, he plays baseball, but we grew up playing baseball together. So, to see him go on to the next level and myself is pretty cool.”
With five signees, the most of any sports, the Centurions’ softball team celebrated the commitments of Amelia Johnson, Savanna Smith, Malia Horvat, Julianna Beadnell and Kona Ramsbottom.
Softball head coach Kyle Mark said after the event that celebrating the five players is validating as no one works harder than they do when it comes to putting work on the softball field.
“It’s a validation of the time and the effort and the people that they become,” Mark said. “And I’m just so proud of them and other accomplishments, and I know they’re all going to do great things.”
Signing her national letter of intent to the University of Oregon, Makea Leonard wrapped up a historic career at Saugus High School as the soccer senior capped off her high school career winning the school’s first girls’ soccer Foothill League title in 14 years.
When asked about what she’s looking forward to in Oregon, Leonard is happy to have her hard work pay off and see how she can grow as a student-athlete.
“I’m really excited. I feel like all my hard work has paid off,” Leonard said. “I’m excited to see where it takes me in the next level.”
Signing their national letters of intent were (player, sport, school):
• Joey Nuttall, baseball, University of Wisconsin-Stout.
• Andrew Martinez, boys’ soccer, Westmont College.
• Ash Bahroos, boys’ volleyball, John Jay College of Criminology.
• Yazzy Manzano, competitive cheer, Hope International University.
• Annika Mark, cross country/track and field, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
• Lucia Pearson, cross country/track and field, University of California, Santa Barbara.
• Aiden Bodell, cross country/track and field, Embery-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach.
• Jake Nuttall, football, Southern Connecticut State University.
• Nolan Campeau, football, Macalester College.
• Matt Long, baseball, Macalester College.
• Jasmine Garcia, girls’ basketball, California Luthern University.
• Makea Leonard, girls’ soccer, University of Oregon.
• Carmen Flores, girls’ soccer, Biola University.
• Frances Villegas, girls’ soccer, Canisius University.
• Amelia Johnson, softball, University Nebraska-Omaha.
• Savanna Smith, softball, California State University, Northridge.
• Malia Horvat, softball, Fort Hayes State University.
• Julianna Beadnell, softball, Westcliff University.
• Kona Ramsbottom, softball, American International College.
• Logan Divine, swim/dive, Washington & Lee University.
• Zachary Kuhn, swim/dive, University of Redlands.
