It’s a signing party

On the first day high school seniors can sign a national letter of intent during the NCAA spring period, Newport-Mesa athletes committed to colleges on Wednesday.

Corona del Mar High had the most sign national letters of intent with five. The Sea Kings were Annie Mortimer (Michigan women’s water polo), Kenzie Purcifull (UCLA women’s tennis), Brett Olson (Auburn baseball), Nick Catranis (UC Berkeley men’s crew), and Elizabeth Russell (UC Berkeley women’s crew).

The four CdM athletes who took part in the day’s event on campus and will play at Ivy League schools included Tyler Duncan (Yale baseball), Hale Furey (Harvard men’s golf), Liam Karras (Princeton men’s swimming), and Chris King (Yale men’s crew). Players going to Ivy League schools do not sign a national letter of intent.

Other CdM athletes who have committed to colleges are Giovanni Gentosi (UCLA football), Mason Garell (Wheaton men’s soccer), Kirby Morrow (University of Redlands men’s water polo), and Matt Hurst (Harvard men’s track and field).

At Newport Harbor, Henry Ramirez (Northern Arizona men’s soccer) and Blake Bauer (University of Washington men’s crew) were recognized.

The first day of the spring signing period is for sports like baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, swimming and diving, golf, wrestling, crew, hockey, lacrosse, girls’ water polo and tennis.

— From staff reports