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Boardman football sends three to college
Valley athletes make college commitments official
By Dan Hiner
The Boardman High School library was standing room-only as teammates, parents and school officials watched as Mike O’Horo, Alex Huzicka and Kareem Hamdan signed their letters of intent on Wednesday.
O’Horo signed with Saginaw Valley State, Huzicka will be a defensive end at Notre Dame College and Hamdan will play linebacker at Clarion.
O’Horo was a first-team All-All American Conference recipient as a junior and senior. He also was a Inland District second teammer as a junior and received honorable mention last year.
He became the Spartans’ all-time leader in completions (289) and passing yards (3,464). Still undecided on a major, O’Horo had walk-on offers from Ohio State, Akron and Bowling Green.
“Everyone kind of gets caught up in the D-I thing,” O’Horo said. “Like Ohio State — a preferred walk-on there, that’s faltering. Realistically, I want to go and play and compete and try to be a starter for four years somewhere.”
Huzicka recorded a Boardman-record 33 tackles for loss in his career.
He received first-team All-AAC honors last year. He was a two-time first-team Inland District defensive lineman, as well as a All-Ohio honorable mention as a junior and third-team honors this past season.
Huzicka, a business major, signed his letter of intent prior to the ceremony. He wanted to get the official document out of the way so he could enjoy the celebration with his family.
“I loved it because they have been with me through it all since I started flag football,” Huzicka said. “It was nice, it all coming together today.”
Hamdan was a team captain last season and the Spartans’ linebacker and fullback.
Boardman’s all-time leader in fumble recoveries (seven), Hamdan was named an All-AAC linebacker the last two years. He received first-team district honors as junior and second-team honors as a senior. He was named third-team All-Ohio in 2017.
“Every game I just go out there and play with my hear,” Hamdan said. “I play my heart out and do what needs to be done.
“What I look at when I play, is to do the best I can and prove everyone wrong.”
Austintown Fitch
Running back and linebacker Maleek Cheatham will sign with Lake Erie College on Monday.
Canfield
The Cardinals will have their signings on Friday.
Matt Zaremski will play wide receiver at Walsh and Peter Hallof will sign with Findlay football.
Jad Jadallah is headed to Westminster for men’s soccer. Ashley Story will sign with Ohio Dominican University women’s soccer.
Lily Polen will play lacrosse at Hiram and Ashley Ventimiglia signed with Youngstown State track and field and cross country.
East
Running back and linebacker Gei’Vonni Washington signed with Ashland while wide receiver and defensive back Markus Finkley signed with Walsh.
East Palestine
Dominic Posey will play wide receiver at Baldwin Wallace and Parker Sherry signed with Bowling Green as a preferred walk-on quarterback.
Girard
Running back and defensive lineman Daryl Smith will go to Notre Dame College.
Fullback and linebacke Marco Donatelli and receiver and defensive back Terrance Davis both signed with Akron as preferred walk-ons.
Hubbard
The Eagles had three footbaall players sign their letters of intent.
Running back Ralph Morales signed with Cincinnati Christian, offensive lineman Anthony Shaffer will go to Mount Union and lineman Seth Jones is headed to Allegheny College.
Lily Sinopoli signed with Capital Universtiy track.
Derrick Cobbin will bowl at University of Northwestern Ohio.
Niles
Corbin Foy signed with Mercyhurst Northeast for baseball, Nick Guarnieri will play baseball at Thiel, Kenzi Johnston and Jaycee Ward signed with Hiram women’s soccer, Carolynn Thomas will bowl at Northwestern Ohio and Hailey Zelinsky signed with YSU cross country and track and field.
Poland
Four-year starter Cole Kosco signed as a quarterback with the University of Cincinnati as a walk-on.
Salem
Linebacker Cooper Stockman is headed to John Carroll and linebacker Robbie Sarginger signed with Waynesburg.
Springfield
Quarterback and defensive back Brannon Brungard signed with Grove City College. He’ll play quarterback for the Wolverines.
Ursuline
Luigi Rohrbaugh signed with Ohio Dominican as a running back.
Valley Christian
Running back Altwjuan Beck-Linsey and offensive lineman Terrell Walker both signed with Lake Erie College.
Warren Harding
Jeremy Wilson (University of Charleston), Bill McCready (Thiel), Jakari Salter (Notre Dame College), Maurice Moore (Glenville State)and linemen Simahjay Warfield and Jaquahn McIntosh (Lake Erie College) will all sign today.
Warren JFK
Defensive back Jarret Likens will play at Thiel while tight end and defensive lineman Alex Hernandez will play at Lake Erie College.
Kaytlin Marlatt signed with Notre Dame College women’s tennis.