Plateau athletes make it official, sign to play at college
February 9, 2010
By Christopher Huber
Fourteen of Eastlake’s top student athletes signed letters of intent to play college sports next year. As football coach Gene Dales watched them, he estimated that the combined scholarships would be worth $2 million to $3 million.
The standout athletes, including four others at Skyline High School, committed to play for their respective colleges Feb. 3. Although a couple of the Eastlake athletes had officially signed commitment letters earlier in the school year, the ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of each one.
This was the most Dales and Eastlake athletic director Brent Kawaguchi had seen in one school year, they said. In 2007, Eastlake had four or five, Kawaguchi said.
“It’s a tribute to the senior class … and the community,” Dales said.
The Wolves’ star running back Cameron Hunt decided to play for Illinois State in the fall. He said he’ll miss not having friends and fans around.
“I’m a little sad, to be honest. But the other side of me is really excited to get ready for the next level,” Hunt said. “I’m walking into a pretty good program.”
Along with Hunt (6-0, 196 pounds), three other Eastlake football players signed letters of intent. Austin Reifeis, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound tight end, will play for the University of Montana, running back and safety Trent Butler (5-5, 170) signed with Montana Tech and wide receiver Michael Maguire (6-4, 215) will play at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Butler did not attend the ceremony.
“The hard work has paid off for ‘em,” Dales said.
Following Jake Heaps’ early signing with Brigham Young in December, four more Skyline football players committed to various colleges on the Feb. 3 National Letter of Intent Signing Day.
Defensive end Cooper Pelluer (6-4, 229) is headed to the UW this fall after turning down an offer to play at Hawaii. Husky head coach Steve Sarkisian called Pelluer just two days before the letter-of-intent signing, with an opening at Washington. Pelluer said the decision to go to UW was pretty easy — it’s much closer to home than Hawaii and his father, Scott Pelluer, was an assistant UW coach with Jim Lambright and Keith Gilbertson.
“It was huge. Getting that call from Sark was a huge monkey off my back,” Cooper Pelluer said. “I know they got good things going.”
Acclaimed linebacker Anthony DeMatteo (6-1, 218) signed with Central Washington University and linemen Evan Day (6-3, 255) and Jase Butorac (6-4, 289) each committed to Eastern Washington University.
DeMatteo said he looks forward to being part of a strong program, which has produced a few NFL prospects in recent years.
Eastlake standout girls basketball player Alyssa Charlston officially signed with the University of Idaho in November, but also partook in the ceremony.
Eight Eastlake soccer players signed to play college ball. Among the six girls who signed are the trio of captains from fall 2009, Courtney Pixler (University of Alabama), Allie Beahan (UW) and Lindsey Elston (UW). But Emily Hurd, a longtime standout at Eastlake, signed to play at Penn State in the fall. Candice Osei-Agyemang will move out East, too, to play for the University of Pennsylvania, and Kellie Shreve will play soccer at Gonzaga.
Boys soccer standouts Bradley McIntosh and Renato Bandeira committed to play at UCLA and Seattle University, respectively.
“The level is going to increase so much, soccer-wise,” said Courtney Pixler after the ceremony. She heads to Alabama in early July to start workouts. “It’ll be so fun to be at a higher level.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
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