Fall signing day: 10 Avon athletes to play in college

AVON — With the recent success its had throughout its athletic programs, it's not a surprise that Avon is sending a lot of athletes on to continue their careers on the college level. Ten of those athletes gathered in the school's Performing Arts Center on Wednesday to finalize their college commitments in a National Signing Day ceremony. Half of that group — Jayla Antrum (track and field), Kaitlyn Reese (track and cross country), Jessica Pendleton track and cross country), Sierra Kobak (swimming) and Londyn Stone (volleyball) — is continuing on to play at the Division I level. Reese and Pendleton were part of the Avon cross country team that recently finished third at the state meet. Reese is heading to Michigan State while Pendelton is heading south to the University of Richmond. "I'm really excited," Pendleton said. "I am so proud of all of us. We have been working so hard in all of our sports. "I went to Richmond on an academic tour prior to my sophomore year before I even knew competing at the Division I level was an option for me. I really value the academic opportunities there so when I realized it might be a possibility to continue my athletic career there, I reached out to the coach. I am just blessed it all worked out and I have this opportunity." Antrum came to high school with hopes of basketball stardom but two ACL injuries forced her to detour from the hardwood to the track where she was a state qualifier in the 400-meter dash as a junior. "I worked my butt off to get to where I am and to be able to run at the University of Akron for the next four years means so much to me," Antrum said. "I'm so thankful for my family which has supported me the whole way through. "After I tore both of my ACLs, I decided the sport of basketball is no longer for me. I went back to running track and I've never looked back. It's been super rewarding to make it to state in indoor and outdoor and win the 4x400 in indoor. I spent so much time rehabbing and in the weight room to make sure I was healthy enough to run, but it's all been worth it." Stone, who is headed to Duquesne, is one of three members of the Division II state championship team that signed Wednesday, joining Lily Hamilton (Ashland) and Bethany Sherwood (Johns Hopkins). Although Sherwood had the opportunity to play Division I volleyball she chose Johns Hopkins because it was one of the few schools where she could follow here athletic and academic passions. "I love their volleyball program but I chose it mainly based on education and academics," Sherwood said. "Their programs and their majors as so outstanding, especially for what I want to get into which is chemical and biomolecular engineering. They are one of the best colleges in the country and probably the world for these engineering majors." Kobak, who was district runner-up in the 100-meter breaststroke as a junior as well as part of Avon's 2024 state semifinal soccer team, will swim at Northern Kentucky University. Swimmers Thomas Lipowski and Gavin Bello will compete at SUNY Geneseo and Malone University, respectively. Jacob Abfall committed to run at Hillsdale College in Michigan. National Signing Day marked the first day high school athletes in the Class of 2026 could sign commitments and aid packages with Division I and II schools for all sports except football. The early signing period for football opens Dec. 3. Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.