Signing Day

On February 4, a group of emotional parents came to ElSegundo High School’s Hall Of Fame room to watch their talented children in the Signing Day Ceremony. Signing Day is the day in which all high school seniors committo playing a sport in college by officially signing a Letter of Intent. This
year, ESHS had eight students sign: Rihanna Rich (Harvard, Softball), Lars
Nootbarr (USC, Baseball – but he also was an All-State Football QB), Miguel
Wagner-Bagues (MIT, Football), Elijah Hale (Ave Maria University, Football), Jake
Barone (Marymount, Soccer),  Nolan Roles
(Marymount, Lacrosse), Jake Grundman (San Francisco State, Soccer) and Tyler
Rayman (Marymount, Soccer).

The
Ceremony is held in ESHS’s Hall of Fame room. This room was established in
recognition of uncommon and spectacular achievement, and perseverance by ESHS
graduates. The room has pictures all around it of notable graduates. Over 25 Olympian’s have been inducted into
the ESHS Hall of Fame, and most noticeably, so has major league baseball great,
George Brett. It made me think which of these eight students would possibly
make it into the ESHS Hall of Fame one day.

Coaches, administrators,
parents, and siblings all came to watch these eight athletes sign. Parents shed tears
of joy, knowing how hard their kids have worked. Siblings showed slight smiles,
upset that their brothers/sisters will leave, but happy to finally get the
bigger room. Coaches were proud as could be, knowing that they played a vital
role in the upbringing of the talented student they were there for.
Personally, attending ESHS’s 2015 signing day made me very emotional in
remembering last year when my older brother attended signing day. I almost
began to cry remembering when my brother signed, the feeling of being proud and
happy for him, but also not wanting to let him go off on his new journey, the
first journey without me.

All
the students sat at the table with smiles on their faces, wearing a sweater
displaying their college’s name. Principal Mancilla, the principal, told them to go
ahead and sign, as the parents took pictures, and the mothers cried into each
other’s arms. After they signed, Vice Principal Rabiei said a few
touching words about how he has known these students since they were freshmen,
and what a journey it has been to watch them grow. Then the head of athletics, coach Shevlin, gave a thanks to all the
students, and recognized all the sacrifices he watched the students
made. He gave credit to the community of El Segundo, and said, “Carry on the Eagle
tradition.”  He told the students to”
hug their parents and thank them for the opportunities they have given them.” The
parents wept tears of joy.

The most inspiring part about this whole day was understanding the perseverance
these students each had. Life as a high school student is tough, but to see the
students who stuck with it and reached their goals just reminds me that it is
worth it. Congratulations to the athletes. ESHS will miss you dearly next year.

Stay tuned to the Los Angeles Times High School Insider as I will be featuring these athletes in individual spotlights in the weeks to come.

 —Cece Jane