On Wednesday, it all became real.
Throughout the day, athletes across the country solidified their future status as college athletes by signing their National Letter of Intent.
Though the actual signing of the paper is typically something of a formality – the documents are usually faxed in at a different time – getting to sign that piece of paper in front of friends and family bares a special significance for the college commits.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s actually happening,” NDSU soccer signee Kennedi Keller (Lincoln) said.
#SigningDaySD: Area recruiting lists, live blog
“I’ve been waiting for the moment my whole senior year and it’s finally here,” MSU-Mankato football signee Carter Carstens (Roosevelt) said. “To sign and make everything official – it’s awesome.”
“It was super nerve-wracking when I woke up this morning,” added fellow Rough Rider Maddie Simmons. “But I’m super excited. It’s a big step to be able to say I’m going to Mount Marty to go play volleyball.”
The act of putting pen to paper Wednesday was the ultimate reward for the hard work and seemingly endless hours of practice the signees had put in over the course of their high school careers.
“My sophomore season I set a goal, I wanted to play college football,” future Jackrabbit Austin Boen (Roosevelt) recalled. “I worked really hard, tried to put my name out there and I’m signing today, so I’m pretty excited about that.”
“I guess it’s kind of like a dream come true,” Nebraska soccer signee Theresa Pujado (O’Gorman) said. “I’ve been waiting for this day for so long, and now that it’s here, it’s just really cool knowing that this is my future and I’m just really happy about it.”
The athletes who took part in Wednesday’s festivities understand that the chance they’ve been given is not one that should be taken for granted. They are one of a finite number of people who are blessed with the chance to continue playing the sport they love.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always dreamed of playing college football,” USF signee Thuro Residorfer (Washington) said. “Now that it’s a reality, it’s kind of amazing that I made that step.”
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen .
Here is a list of South Dakota high schoolers who’ve signed on to play college football. For other athletic signees from around the state, click here.
MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
South Dakota State
- Jake Aandarud (St. Thomas More)
- Austin Boen (Roosevelt)
- Wyatt Ewing (Winner)
- Adam Heien (Tea)
- Krockett Krolikowski (Winner)
- Austin Lohsandt (Madison)
- Eddie Miller (Brookings)
- Brendan Rotert (Spearfish)
- Xavier Ward (Canistota)
- Alex Wickersham (Brandon Valley)
South Dakota
- Lincoln Gibbs (Langford)
- Ty Paulsen (Pierre)
- Riley Peters (Vermillion)
NORTHERN SUN
Minnesota Crookston
- Reece Walno (Spearfish)
- Boyce Harr (Spearfish)
Minnesota State, Mankato
- Carter Carstens (Roosevelt)
- Cole DeBerg (Lincoln)
Moorhead State
- Sam Burnison (O’Gorman)
- Lathon Gorospe (Baltic)
- Brock Harris (Harrisburg)
- Tyson Jahn (Roosevelt)
- Andrew Josko (Roosevelt)
- Ben Schilling (Lincoln)
- Brent Schulte (Watertown)
- Hunter Thompson (O’Gorman)
- Cole Zwahr (Roosevelt)
Northern State
- Preston Arity (St. Thomas More)
- Jack Braun (Warner)
- Bryce Christie (Brandon Valley)
- Justis Clayton (Harrisburg)
- Hunter Collins (St. Thomas More)
- Devin Coughlin (Brookings)
- Haden Ewoldt (Chester)
- Cameron Fees (St. Thomas More)
- Cutter Gillaspie (Stanley County)
- Lathon Gorospe (Baltic)
- Cannon Hannigan (Aberdeen Central)
- Hunter Hansen (Dell Rapids)
- Bronson Heier (Roncalli)
- Chase Jacobs (Aberdeen Central)
- Joe King (Pierre)
- Austin Leuning (Tri-Valley)
- Caden Maciejewski (Hot Springs)
- Tyler Nelson (Brandon Valley)
- Darian Ogunjemilusi (Wolsey-Wessington)
- Chance Olson (Langford)
- Logan Richie (Webster Area)
- Nick Rokusek (Yankton)
- Bennett Shabazz (Groton)
- Kale Stieg (Hamlin)
- Zach Sumption (Frederick Area)
- Robert Vomacka (Gregory)
Sioux Falls
- Jake O’Byrne (Belle Fourche)
- Thuro Residorfer (Washington)
- Parker Schulz (Watertown)
Southwest Minnesota State
- Curstin Conway (Harrisburg)
- Jacob Hojer (Oldham-Ramona/Rutland)
- Bennet Trygstad (Oldham-Ramona/Rutland)
Wayne State
- Syionte Canton (Roosevelt)
- Ryan Parker (Dakota Valley)
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Black Hills State
- Jarett Jenson (Harding County)
- Trig Olson (Harding County)
Chadron State
- Chase Thurness (St. Thomas More)
S.D. School of Mines & Technology
- Ira Murphey (Rapid City Central)
- T.J. Schaefer (O’Gorman)
- Aren Wells (Rapid City Central)
NAIA
Dakota State
- Cameron Belden (Sioux Falls Christian)
- Joe Bennett (Colman-Egan)
- Torren Devericks (Roosevelt)
- Noah Guse (Madison)
- Nate Guthmiller (Madison)
- Trevor Harms (Mitchell)
- Adam Heap (O’Gorman)
- Kaden Hight (Pierre)
- A.J. Imbery (Roosevelt)
- Joseph Jackson (Newell)
- Riley Janke (Madison)
- Jeridan Jordahl (Oldham-Ramona)
- Mason Leighton (Madison)
- Colten Nelson (Gregory)
- Marcus VandenBosch (Madison)
- Braedon Wallenstein (Lennox)
- Riston Wolf (Oldham-Ramona/Rutland)
Dakota Wesleyan
- Matthew Campbell (Colome)
- Devin Dethlefsen (White Lake)
- Chandler Diede (Scotland)
- Michael Engebreston (Deuel)
- Joshua Garry (Washington)
- Bryce Geraets (Mitchell)
- Tanner Johnson (Harrisburg)
- Dawson Kerzman (Dell Rapids)
- Alex Klingaman (Mitchell)
- Samuel Kretschmur (Huron)
- Spencer Neugebauer (Mitchell)
- Luke Novak (Mitchell)
- Seth Paulson (Mitchell)
- Luke Peterson (Roosevelt)
- Jonah Rasmussen (Harrisburg)
- Cody Reichelt (Mitchell)
- Nathan Schenkel (Bon Homme)
- Hayden Schmidt (Plankinton)
- Cade Schmitt (Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan)
- Devin Seeger (Redfield)
- Trevor Wilkinson (McCook Central)
Doane
- Jaren Fountain (Washington)
Missouri Valley
- Jackson Bogue (Spearfish)
Morningside
- Austin Johnson (Roosevelt)
- Spencer Grage (Brandon Valley)
- Triv Vosika (Gregory)
Northwestern College
- Adam Miller (Canton)
- Jon Todd (De Smet)
Presentation
- Gage Anderson (Harrisburg)
- John Kludt (Winner)
- Aren Wells (Rapid City Central)
Jaren Fountain and his family pose for a picture at Washington’s National Signing Day Ceremony.
Athletes sign their letters of intent during a signing ceremony at Lincoln High School on Wed., Feb. 1, 2017.
O’Gorman girls pose for a photo after a signing ceremony at O’Gorman High School on Wed., Feb. 1, 2017.
Roosevelt High School football players Austin Boen, right, who committed to South Dakota State University, and Carter Carstens, left, who committed to Minnesota State University, Mankato, check out the Argus Leader sports section before Roosevelt’s National Signing Day event Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, in Sioux Falls.
#SigningDaySD