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Warriors have record number at signing ceremony
  
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Courtney Johnson
Letter of Intent day was all about the black and gold at Arapahoe High School.
Never was Warrior pride stronger then in the cafeteria of the school as a record 17 seniors signed letters of intent to continue playing sports competitively in college. The Warriors’ National Letter of Intent Day ceremony was Feb. 4 at the school in Littleton.
“One of the values we stress at Arapahoe is being involved,” athletic director Steve Sisler said. “Our 17 nominees have shown where time management, work ethic, commitment, passion and teamwork can lead you. Having all these teammates, family, friends and fans here to honor them reinforces what is so good about sports.”
Seven of those signing letters are players on Arapahoe’s girls soccer team. Amy Barczuk, who also plays basketball, will attend the University of Colorado as a midfielder.
“Being in Boulder, my parents can come see my games,” she said.
Barczuk’s older sister also attends CU.
2008 Continental League Player of the Year Kaitlin Bast will be studying at the University of Denver, where she can remain close to her family, especially her father who has coached her all four years at Arapahoe including during the team’s 2006 5A state championship.
Goalie Kaitlin Swanson, who was also part of the 2006 championship team, will be staying teammates with defensive player Davonne Holland at Creighton University.
“I’m happy to be going to school with someone I know,” Swanson said.
Louise Timboe will be playing soccer at Davidson College in North Carolina.
“I am so excited,” Timboe said after signing her letter of intent. “I am still shaking.”
Forward Amanda Dennis will be attending Winona State in Minnesota while teammate forward Amber McKinnon chose McPherson College in Kansas.
“I am extremely happy for these girls,” soccer coach Kirk Bast said. “It is a testament to their dedication, hard work and love of the game to have so many girls who want to continue playing at the next level.”
It was a proud day also for Arapahoe lacrosse coach Guy Cerasoli, as three of his players signed to play college lacrosse. Attack Eric Law will attend Salisbury University in Maryland.
“Eric is a great team leader who will excel at the up tempo Salisbury style,” Cerasoli said. “I think this is a great fit for him.”
Law was selected to the 2008 All League First Team for the Continental League.
University of Pennsylvania is where attack Ryan Parietti will play lacrosse. Parietti was selected to the 2008 All League Second Team for the Continental League.
“Ryan is a very complete lacrosse player,” Cerasoli said. “His versatility should get him on the field early at Penn.”
Midfielder Andrew Babb will be staying near home and attending University of Denver.
“Drew is probably the best athlete on our team and Division I loves big athletic middies,” Cerasoli said. “This is a very good fit for Drew and the University of Denver.”
Babb was also selected to the 2008 All League First Team for the Continental League.
Also playing college lacrosse is Liana Boraas. The defensive player will attend Harvey Mudd College in California.
“Harvey Mudd is one of the best math, science and engineering colleges in the country and because of Lianas’ success in school and on the field. I think it’s a great fit,” Arapahoe girls lacrosse coach Katie Peksa said.
Juggling track and cross-country practices next year will be Sophie McNeely.
“It means the world to me to continue running in college especially at a school nationally known for their distance running program,” McNeely said. “It will be a challenge to do it all but I did it in high school and I excelled.”
Standout catcher Justin Byrd is headed to Cal Berkeley.
“Arapahoe has been a building block for me and I feel that I have been thoroughly prepared for the future,” Byrd said. “I am so thankful to be a part of Arapahoe High School. I could not have had a better experience over the past years. The administrators and staff are the reason Arapahoe is known as an excellent school. The 2009 athletes are the reflection of a great school and great leadership.”
Byrd was named to the 2008 All League First Team for the Continental League for catching. He is the first Arapahoe baseball player to get a scholarship to a Pac 10 school.
Byrd’s teammate and pitcher, Tayler Davis will be playing ball at Barton Community College in Kansas.
“He will be able to go and really develop as a player,” baseball coach Luke Muller said. “He will be able to play a lot of baseball as a freshman.”
Tayler was 3-0 on the mound last year and defeated Dakota Ridge to put Arapahoe in the Final Four.
Leigh University in Pennsylvania will be home to Devin Pullara for the next four years. The safety and wide receiver will be playing football there.
“I think Lehigh is an excellent choice for Devin,” football coach Mike Campbell said. “He is an athlete that will experience great success both on and off the field. We wish him nothing but the best in all of his future endeavors.”
Rounding out the 17 are boys soccer players Drew Beckie and Connor Talbert. As a go-to defender and midfielder, Beckie will be playing close to home at the University of Denver.
“I believe that DU is an excellent choice for Drew,” soccer coach Mark Hampshire said. “He is an incredibly hard worker who gives 100 percent to everything he commits to.”
Beckie was selected to the 2008 All League First Team for the Continental League.
Talbert will be playing midfielder at Georgia Southern University.
“Georgia Southern is an excellent choice for Connor,” Hampshire said. “I am very proud of Connor, and I know he has worked hard for the opportunity to play for a program like GSU.”
Connor was also selected to the 2008 All League First Team for the Continental League.
Letter of Intent day was all about the black and gold at Arapahoe High School.
Never was Warrior pride stronger then in the cafeteria of the school as a record 17 seniors signed letters of intent to continue playing sports competitively in college. The Warriors’ National Letter of Intent Day ceremony was Feb. 4 at the school in Littleton.
“One of the values we stress at Arapahoe is being involved,” athletic director Steve Sisler said. “Our 17 nominees have shown where time management, work ethic, commitment, passion and teamwork can lead you. Having all these teammates, family, friends and fans here to honor them reinforces what is so good about sports.”
Seven of those signing letters are players on Arapahoe’s girls soccer team. Amy Barczuk, who also plays basketball, will attend the University of Colorado as a midfielder.
“Being in Boulder, my parents can come see my games,” she said.
Barczuk’s older sister also attends CU.
2008 Continental League Player of the Year Kaitlin Bast will be studying at the University of Denver, where she can remain close to her family, especially her father who has coached her all four years at Arapahoe including during the team’s 2006 5A state championship.
Goalie Kaitlin Swanson, who was also part of the 2006 championship team, will be staying teammates with defensive player Davonne Holland at Creighton University.
“I’m happy to be going to school with someone I know,” Swanson said.
Louise Timboe will be playing soccer at Davidson College in North Carolina.
“I am so excited,” Timboe said after signing her letter of intent. “I am still shaking.”
Forward Amanda Dennis will be attending Winona State in Minnesota while teammate forward Amber McKinnon chose McPherson College in Kansas.
“I am extremely happy for these girls,” soccer coach Kirk Bast said. “It is a testament to their dedication, hard work and love of the game to have so many girls who want to continue playing at the next level.”
It was a proud day also for Arapahoe lacrosse coach Guy Cerasoli, as three of his players signed to play college lacrosse. Attack Eric Law will attend Salisbury University in Maryland.
“Eric is a great team leader who will excel at the up tempo Salisbury style,” Cerasoli said. “I think this is a great fit for him.”
Law was selected to the 2008 All League First Team for the Continental League.
University of Pennsylvania is where attack Ryan Parietti will play lacrosse. Parietti was selected to the 2008 All League Second Team for the Continental League.
“Ryan is a very complete lacrosse player,” Cerasoli said. “His versatility should get him on the field early at Penn.”
Midfielder Andrew Babb will be staying near home and attending University of Denver.
“Drew is probably the best athlete on our team and Division I loves big athletic middies,” Cerasoli said. “This is a very good fit for Drew and the University of Denver.”
Babb was also selected to the 2008 All League First Team for the Continental League.
Also playing college lacrosse is Liana Boraas. The defensive player will attend Harvey Mudd College in California.
“Harvey Mudd is one of the best math, science and engineering colleges in the country and because of Lianas’ success in school and on the field. I think it’s a great fit,” Arapahoe girls lacrosse coach Katie Peksa said.
Juggling track and cross-country practices next year will be Sophie McNeely.
“It means the world to me to continue running in college especially at a school nationally known for their distance running program,” McNeely said. “It will be a challenge to do it all but I did it in high school and I excelled.”
Standout catcher Justin Byrd is headed to Cal Berkeley.
“Arapahoe has been a building block for me and I feel that I have been thoroughly prepared for the future,” Byrd said. “I am so thankful to be a part of Arapahoe High School. I could not have had a better experience over the past years. The administrators and staff are the reason Arapahoe is known as an excellent school. The 2009 athletes are the reflection of a great school and great leadership.”
Byrd was named to the 2008 All League First Team for the Continental League for catching. He is the first Arapahoe baseball player to get a scholarship to a Pac 10 school.
Byrd’s teammate and pitcher, Tayler Davis will be playing ball at Barton Community College in Kansas.
“He will be able to go and really develop as a player,” baseball coach Luke Muller said. “He will be able to play a lot of baseball as a freshman.”
Tayler was 3-0 on the mound last year and defeated Dakota Ridge to put Arapahoe in the Final Four.
Leigh University in Pennsylvania will be home to Devin Pullara for the next four years. The safety and wide receiver will be playing football there.
“I think Lehigh is an excellent choice for Devin,” football coach Mike Campbell said. “He is an athlete that will experience great success both on and off the field. We wish him nothing but the best in all of his future endeavors.”
Rounding out the 17 are boys soccer players Drew Beckie and Connor Talbert. As a go-to defender and midfielder, Beckie will be playing close to home at the University of Denver.
“I believe that DU is an excellent choice for Drew,” soccer coach Mark Hampshire said. “He is an incredibly hard worker who gives 100 percent to everything he commits to.”
Beckie was selected to the 2008 All League First Team for the Continental League.
Talbert will be playing midfielder at Georgia Southern University.
“Georgia Southern is an excellent choice for Connor,” Hampshire said. “I am very proud of Connor, and I know he has worked hard for the opportunity to play for a program like GSU.”
Connor was also selected to the 2008 All League First Team for the Continental League.
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