Three more Valley athletes commit to colleges
By Greg Gulas
WARREN
The spring national letter-of-intent period continued Wednesday with two Warren Harding High School track standouts, Gariana Bercheni and Samantha Sperry, making their college choices.
Bercheni, a four-sport athlete for the Raiders, will attend Ashland University in the fall while Sperry is set to enroll at Notre Dame College in South Euclid.
Raiders head coach Charles Penny called both athletes special talents and a pleasure to coach.
“Schools like to recruit multi-event athletes and Gariana has been a pillar of our program. She’s the best athlete on the team and a big reason why our program is so successful today,” Penny said. “Samantha, on the other hand, is a bulldog and when you first look at her you probably wouldn’t think that she is a runner. She’s dedicated, works hard and does everything for her family.”
Bercheni, who also ran cross country and played basketball in addition to earning four letters each in both indoor and outdoor track, will graduate as one of the school’s most decorated athletes by earning 13 overall letters.
She runs the 100, 200, 400 and 800 meter dashes, the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, takes part on all four relay teams, participates in the high jump and long jump and is excited about joining the Eagles track program.
She plans on majoring in early childhood education.
“As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I just felt right at home. The coaching staff was amazing and everything about the school was just so special,” Bercheni said.
Bercheni said that Penny is a coach who is always on you to do your best, whether it is in practice or during actual competition.
“Coach Penny has been a very big part of my success. He’s an in-your-face type coach who pushes you to do your best at all times,” she stated.
She will join teammates Aisha Jackson, Ka’Naylah Cox and Justice Richardson next week when they compete in the 4 x 100 relay at the prestigious Penn Relays, the only group from the Mahoning Valley and one of just a handful from the state that is set to take part.
“The spring has been great so far with times continuing to drop and PR’s being run,” she said. “We’re all excited to be taking part in the Penn Relays.”
Sperry plans on majoring in intelligence studies, hoping to add a master’s degree in computer science as she entertains the thought of a career with Homeland Security.
She, too, ran cross country and will graduate by earning 12 overall letters.
“Notre Dame College is a small school and I like that type of setting because it is more individualized,” Sperry said. “They have an excellent track tradition and are expanding by adding men’s track as well.”
An excellent long sprinter, her specialty is the 800 dash as she looks to close out her scholastic career with a trip to state, either as a team or individually.
The Penn Relays take place from April 28 to May 1 with the Raiders set for action on April 28-29.
URSULINE’S MOSLEY PICKS JCU
Ursuline senior football player Marcus Mosley has committed to John Carroll University in University Heights.
Mosley was a defensive back and slot receiver for head coach Larry Kempe’s Irish, who advanced to the Division IV state semifinals in 2015.
Mosley was an honorable-mention selection to the Associated Press Northeast Inland All-District Team.