On National Signing Day this year, February 6, High School South saw three of its athletes commit to NCAA Division 1 programs. Senior Ashley Pankey committed to the University of Kansas for soccer, and her teammate Bridget Skinner committed to The Ohio State University, also for soccer. Senior Eli Smith also signed his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. He will be playing football at Wagner College next year.

Ashley Pankey, who plays her club soccer with the Matchfit program, received several Division 1 offers, but the senior attacker chose to continue her athletic career at Kansas. In addition to helping the South girl’s soccer team claim back to back A North division titles, Pankey also claimed 2^nd Team All Shore and 1^st Team All Division honor for her endeavors this fall. When asked about her future and about her decision, Pankey was exceptional confident. All she had to say was “I made the right choice.”

Bridget Skinner, a two year captain of the Eagles, will be going off to begin her collegiate career at The Ohio State University this fall. The 1^st Team All Shore player verbally committed to OSU as a junior last spring, and cemented that decision on Wednesday. One of South’s all time leading scorers, Skinner lead the team in goals scored the past two years, however, Bridget hopes to break into OSU’s starting lineup as a central defender. Bridget, who plays for the Player Development Academy Club team, had several other offers from big name schools including BC, Penn State, and Georgetown, but settled on OSU, where she has also been accepted into the academic honors program.

Senior Eli Smith, who transferred from St. John Vianney at the beginning of this year, becomes the latest South football player who will be competing at the collegiate level. Smith, who played an essential roll on both sides of the ball for South committed to Wagner, where he is expected to act as a return man and defensive back for the Seahawks. Smith was an integral part of the Eagles Central Jersey Group IV state championship run, and was also a defensive 1^st Team All Shore player. Said football coach Antonucci, “It always helps your program when you have a scholarship player, and I know that Eli made the right choice, and I think it a well deserved reward for his dedication and work ethic.”

Pankey, Skinner, and Smith join their two other classmates, Mike Diorio and Jackie Deluhi as South’s current Division 1 athletes. As a school we are exceptionally proud of the pride and achievements that these scholar athletes have brought to our school, and we wish them the best of luck in their NCAA careers.