Catholic high school seniors sign college letters of intent

SALT LAKE CITY –With graduation just a month away, 15 Catholic high school seniors who have excelled in academics and athletics have signed letters of intent to play sports for various colleges.

Joseph Panushaka, a senior at Saint Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden, has signed to play basketball with Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont., because of its smaller size, he said. "I am looking forward to moving outside of Utah. I have gone to St. Joseph Catholic schools from kindergarten through my senior year."

Panushaka is 6’9" and played center for three years. He would like to major in pre-medicine, chemistry or engineering.

Mikelle Mancini, a senior at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, received a full-ride scholarship to Villanova University in tennis, which she started playing at age 4. "My mother, Mary, taught my sister and I to play. She played for Washington State," said Mancini, who plans to major in broadcasting or politics and government.

This year Mancini won the state championship in tennis singles and was named the Most Valuable Player in Tennis. She also played basketball like her father, Tad, who played for and graduated from Judge Memorial. She had a difficult time choosing which sport to play in college. "I love both sports," she said. "My dad knew the women’s assistant coach at Villanova and I visited the campus in the middle of November and really liked it."

Christian Barbiero, a senior at Judge Memorial, has signed with Weber State University and will be a member of the track and field team. Barbiero claimed titles in both the 100 meter and 200 meter last year in Region X. During his junior year, he received the Gary Barber Award for Most Valuable Player in track and field.

Judge Memorial senior Kiersten Berg has signed to play soccer for Brown University, where the coaches invited her to their summer soccer camp and she loved it. Wayne Voorhes, Judge Memorial girls’ soccer coach said Berg is a dedicated, intelligent player with great skills and speed.

Trey Kennedy, a Judge Memorial senior, has signed with Seattle University to play tennis. His father, Hank Kennedy, was his high school coach, and said coaching Trey has been fun and interesting experience. "He has matured greatly as a student and a person and that has translated into his tennis as well. He is not going to make tennis his career, but he should be successful at Seattle, a good academic school."

Isaac Losee, a Judge Memorial senior, has decided to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Losee always wanted to serve in the military and is a multi-sport athlete competing in cross country, track, baseball and basketball. He has consistently been on the high honor roll, received academic excellence awards in Latin and was honored with the Most Outstanding Newcomer for cross country as a sophomore.

Kallie McKown, a Judge Memorial senior, will attend the College of Charleston and will play women’s volleyball. She has played volleyball on club teams, most notably for High Country Volleyball. Her coach, Amanda Lazinski, said Kallie’s endless energy and dedication have made her a role model for all members of the school’s volleyball program.

Jennifer Flynn from Juan Diego Catholic High School received a full-ride scholarship to Utah State University. She has an interest in chiropractics and will study biology, and play center midfield on the women’s soccer team. The Juan Diego girls’ team won the State Championship in 2009 when Flynn was team captain. She was named the 3A Most Valuable Player by the Salt Lake Tribune.

Anna Jung, a senior at Juan Diego, received a full-ride scholarship to play forward on the University of North Dakota soccer team. She is versatile, having played in the positions of defense, forward, wing and midfield. She was named Second Team All-State in the Deseret News and the Tribune her sophomore, junior and senior years. She will study physical therapy.

"I have absolutely loved playing soccer," said Jung. "It is one of the most fun things I do, and is a great way to meet new friends, and let everything out."

Jung also played on the junior varsity and varsity hockey teams at Juan Diego, is a student body officer, a National Honor Society officer, and has volunteered at the Kauri Sue Hamilton School for special needs children and was a junior hockey coach for a special needs team.

Luke West, a senior at Juan Diego, has signed with the University of Utah in baseball as a pitcher. He is the first baseball player from Juan Diego to sign with a Division 1 school. "We won the state championship game my junior year. I pitched the whole game and only gave up three runs to beat Judge Memorial," said West, who would like to major in marketing or economics.

Keegan Andersen, a Juan Diego senior, accepted a full-ride scholarship to play football at Utah State University, where his father is the coach. Andersen made All-State, and played wide receiver and defensive back through two state championship years.

Cody Stevenson will study business and play quarterback on the Dixie State football team. His "Hail Mary" pass won the 2009 State Championship game for the Juan Diego team.

Juan Diego senior Trever McFalls will study business and play football as either a tight end or defensive end at Southern Utah University. He will explore a career in coaching.

Ashley Azarow, a senior at Juan Diego, received a scholarship to the Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. She will study nursing and the physical sciences while playing softball.