Student-athletes from around Broward and Palm Beach counties finalized their college choices by putting pen to paper on Wednesday.
In most cases, students had received a verbal offer from a school and their financial aid package wasn’t finalized until the first major signing day for most NCAA Division I and Division II sports, except football.
Previously, student-athletes signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI), which is an agreement between the NCAA and a recruit to guarantee athletic aid. After 60 years, the NLIs were abolished in 2024. Letters of intent have been replaced with financial aid agreements between the NCAA and student-athletes.
Schools are now free to begin paying their athletes directly, marking the dawn of a new era in college sports brought about by a multibillion-dollar legal settlement that was formally approved in June. Schools can now pay athletes directly up to $20.5 million from their athletic budgets annually. Since 2021, colleges athletes had been allowed to make money from third parties via name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.
The football early signing period for Division I, Division II and midyear two-year college transfers is Wednesday, Dec. 3, while the regular signing period for football is Feb. 4, 2026. The regular signing period for all other sports, including Division I basketball is April 15, 2026.
Chaminade-Madonna had three baseball players sign, including pitcher Santiago Arismendi, who is headed to the United States Naval Academy, catcher Isaiah Fernandez (Barry University) and pitcher Spencer Krasner (University of South Carolina).
“It’s been a dream of mine since I first picked up a bat and ball, just having the opportunity to compete at the next level is just what every kid dreams of so having this honor is super humbling,” Krasner said. “Being able to sign with such a great program in South Carolina has been a goal of mine for the longest of times and it is just the first step towards the bigger goal that is getting drafted one day.”
Krasner, a southpaw, went 9-0 last season with a 0.95 ERA. He struck out 100 batters in 59 innings for Lions. Krasner walked 19 batters and scattered just 23 hits for the team that finished 24-5 last year, falling in the Class 2A regional quarterfinals.
“The (South Carolina) coaching staff believed in me from day one ultimately was the reason I committed and eventually made me sign with South Carolina,” he continued. “For sure signing definitely takes the pressure off of my back, and it feels good that I know where I’ll be headed for the next 3 to 4 years.
Nova senior Jaeylnn Housey will be staying close to home after signing with FAU. She held 16 offers.
“FAU really stood out the most,” Housey said. “I chose FAU because it felt like a great family – from the coaches to the players, they really made me feel welcomed and kept constant communication with me.
“I knew I wanted to become a collegiate athlete around 6 years-old,” she continued, “but at 10 is when I really became more self-aware of the mentality ‘okay this is where I want to be, I have to consistently put in the work for it.’”
Coral Glades boys basketball player Kyler Theophile virtually came out of nowhere this summer to earn a scholarship and sign with Kennesaw State. He held 14 Division I college offers.
“I attribute my rise to my work ethic and just my love for the game,” Theophile said. “I’m always in the gym and it really showed this summer. They (Kennesaw State) were the most excited about me, and I felt like I have the best chance at doing something great there.”
West Broward swimmer Carley Kaplan, who competes this weekend in the FHSAA Class 4A state swim meet in Ocala, signed with Boston College. She was joined by Adrian Bermudez, baseball, Missouri State; Ethan Lindo, baseball, Missouri State; Shawna Merrill, beach volleyball, Stetson; Ivan Sabater, baseball, University of Miami; Manuel Sarcos, baseball, Miami-Dade College, and Everett Suazo, baseball, Barry.
“I am so excited for the future to come with Boston College,” Kaplan said. “I love the coaches, team, atmosphere, campus and more. It has been a dream of mine since I was age 6 starting to compete in little swim meets. This compares to a childhood dream that has finally come true.”
King’s Academy midfielder Lola Hathorne signed with Florida Atlantic University to play women’s soccer. She was one of three athletes to sign, the others were Sophia Cueto, (women’s lacrosse, Rollins) and Timothy Gast (men’s cross country and track, Palm Beach Atlantic).
“Now that I am signed, a bit of pressure has been released in the sense that I am not anxious about the next showcase and how I perform in front of these colleges,” Hathorne said. “However, there is still the pressure of preparation.
Several other schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties have opted to hold its signing day ceremonies in February. However, the student-athletes still signed their respective financial-aid packages on Wednesday.
Here are other local signings:
Broward County
American Heritage: James Huard, baseball, Vanderbilt; Zahira Freeman , women’s soccer, Rollins; Lily Riegger, women’s golf, Lehigh; Jacob Rosenberg, men’s lacrosse, Marist; Emma Torres Brache, women’s soccer, Kansas State; Bria Villano, women’s softball, South Florida.
Archbishop McCarthy: Felipe Benitez, baseball, Daytona State; Miguel Delgado, baseball, FIU; Abigail Lee, women’s golf, Stetson; Ayden Summerell, men’s lacrosse, Belmont Abbey.
Calvary Christian: Nick Goodwin, baseball, Florida National; Camryn Kanell, women’s volleyball, Elon; Christina Paschal, women’s swimming, Western Colorado; Collin Paul, men’s basketball, FSU.
Cardinal Gibbons: Lydia Berent, women’s softball, Stanford; Mia Conard, women’s soccer, LSU; Beatriz Matos, women’s volleyball, UNC-Greensboro; Claudia Medina Ortiz, women’s swimming, Loyola-New Orleans; Michael Mocco, wrestling, Iowa; Will O’Connor, men’s lacrosse, Piedmont; Juliet Radich, diving, University of North Carolina; Sara Wrzosek, women’s softball, Nova Southeastern.
North Broward Prep: Yasmin Dias Tonon, women’s volleyball, Bentley; Dasia Johnson, women’s volleyball, Maryland-Baltimore County; Jack Rostock, baseball, North Carolina State; Lainey Tobias, volleyball, Queens.
Somerset Academy: Jon Mora, baseball, Miami; Ella Provost-Heron, women’s soccer, George Washington.
Stoneman Douglas: Drew Boivin, baseball, Northwest Florida State; Jacqueline DeStefano, women’s soccer, Flagler; Abraham “AB” Halaoui, baseball, Daytona State; Lorenzo Laurel, baseball, UF; Breanna McWilliams, women’s soccer, Ferrum; Chloe Resnik, women’s lacrosse, Robert Morris; Jake Rizzo, baseball, Dayton; Giovanni “Gio” Rojas, baseball, UM; Matthew Toback, baseball, Daytona State: Kenslee Ward, women’s soccer, Wake Forest.
St. Thomas Aquinas: Claire Diklich, women’s volleyball, West Penn Clarion; Sydney Guerrier, women’s volleyball, American; Aniya Harriott, women’s soccer, Morehead State; Emmi Merhi; women’s volleyball, Troy; Leah Novante, women’s volleyball, East Stroudsburg; Drake “DJ” Sandi, men’s basketball, American; Isabella Sangha, women’s volleyball, Notre Dame; Taylor Schiller, women’s softball, Weber International; Brianna Sims, women’s softball, St. Bonaventure.
Palm Beach County
Benjamin: Sofia Balistreri, women’s track and field, Northwestern; Stephen Cecil, men’s track and field, Emory; Gus Doskey, baseball, Carthage College; Johnny Havlicek, baseball, FSU; Campbell Hogan, men’s lacrosse, High Point; Kaitlyn Hummers, women’s golf, Rollins; Jake Ivancevic, men’s lacrosse, Brown; Madison Jayson, women’s lacrosse, Wofford; Tatum Little, men’s lacrosse, Queens; Riley McCaughey, women’s volleyball, South Florida; Derek Rubin, baseball, Cornell; Pryce Savidge, women’s lacrosse, Furman; Charlie Smith, football, Denison; Kai Trump, women’s golf, Miami; Piper Tuohey, women’s lacrosse, College of the Holy Cross; David Venoff, baseball, Oberlin; Gavin Venoff, men’s cross country and track, Union.
Cardinal Newman: Judson Reback, men’s lacrosse, Belmont Abbey.
Oxbridge Academy: Sofia Berezin, women’s soccer, Swarthmore; AJ Colonna, men’s golf, Villanova; Sean Dowling, men’s swimming and diving, Duke; Gabi Farinas, women’s swimming, Emory; Alex Fazzino, girls basketball, Grinnell; Gary Felsher, men’s lacrosse, Trinity College; Maddie Hyndman, women’s golf, Providence; Hadley Krasulak, women’s softball, Hillsdale.
St. Andrew’s: Ashlyn Cobb, women’s volleyball, Western Carolina; Nerea Gutierrez Steinhauer, swimming, George Washington, Olivia Meehan, women’s lacrosse, Cornell.
St. John Paul II: Tommy Ciaccio, baseball, Union; Mary Hartofolis, women’s soccer, Georgia; Julianna Liguori, women’s soccer, Stetson; Peyton Norris, men’s lacrosse, Queens University; Jack Wilhoit, baseball, North Florida.
Spanish River: Mac Hunt, men’s track and field (pole vault), Davidson; Jayden Loyacona, women’s golf, Bryant; Roman Zabala, baseball, Florida A&M.
West Boca Raton: Araya Brunner, women’s softball, Florida National; Deacon Lindman, men’s lacrosse, Barton; Madison Luft, women’s softball, East Tennessee State; Morgan Tyrakoski, women’s soccer, Miami (Ohio).
