Signing day is part of what makes prep sports special—a kind of national holiday for high school sports, there’s nothing that compares to it in college or pro sports.  The hell weeks, the long season, the playoffs, the championship games—these can all be as grueling, or as exciting in high school as they are in the higher levels.  But after all that’s over, coaches, boosters, fans, fellow alumni, classmates, and yes, sportswriters get to watch these kids make a decision about their future, and sign their name to it. 

Over the last few days, proud parents and faculty gathered along with their athletes to celebrate their ascendance to the next level—we were fortunate to be there for three signings, and below you’ll find some anecdotes from those events, as well as a complete listings of where our Moore League and LBCC players will be strapping their helmets on each Saturday in the Fall of 2009.  Be sure to check out our photo gallery, as well as our interactive map that shows how far Long Beach’s influence will reach next year. 

Also note that several players from a few schools will probably still commit in the next few weeks—we’ll of course keep you updated on their status, and we’ll keep the map updated as well!

Lakewood

Lakewood actually did their signing a day early, on Tuesday, because their library access was going to be limited on Wednesday—that didn’t bother Aaron Aviles (headed to Humboldt State), Jimmy Young (Azusa Pacific), Talia Crichton (Washington), Trevor Erno (Arizona), or their families.  For Crichton and his parents, the signing represents the completion of one journey, a journey out of North Long Beach, and the beginning of a new path, far away from Atlantic Avenue.  For Erno, it’s the end result of countless hours spent in the weight room, trying to get bigger, faster, and stronger than his competition.

Lakewood coach Thadd MacNeal instructed his players to sign a blank piece of paper, since it was Tuesday, and they made plans to fax in the official letters early the next morning.  Erno noticed a typo in the All-CIF keepsake his coach handed him.  “I guess I’m ‘Trevo’,” he joked.  It was a very different experience at Lakewood than at other schools, because these talented seniors were aware that they were leaving an incredibly talented, young squad that returns almost all of its starters.  Next year, Lakewood’s probably going to need a bigger table.

Wilson

The Wilson signing, held in head coach Mario Morales’ office Wednesday afternoon, was small and informal, as Joel Bitonio (University of Nevada) and Jemari Roberts (Stanford) made their commitments official.  It was a tale of two recruits at Wilson, as Roberts committed to Stanford several months ago (he was recruited throughout his junior year), while Bitonio’s decision was much more recent.  “I decided Monday night,” he said.  “They flew me out, and I really liked the school, it feels like the right program.”  Bitonio had been vacillating between Nevada and UC Davis, but after the trip, and after learning more about Nevada’s engineering program (Bitonio’s intended degree), he made his choice.  The senior will have plenty to keep him busy between now and then, since he’s a starter on the Wilson basketball team—he actually came straight from practice to sign his letter.

Roberts was a little anxious to sign and get going—”I want to go get on the scouting sites to check and see who else is committing,” he said, anxious to preview who his teammates in the fall would be, as well as to start scouting the competition. 

The family affair at Wilson (Bitonio had his dad Mike there, and Roberts’ parents, Jerome and Marvie came to see him sign) was relaxed and loose, parents standing proudly by while their two kids signed, posed for photos, and joked about high school rivalries, rivalries they’ll soon be leaving behind.

Poly

Gathered in the Poly library after school let out, eight players (all from the defensive side of the ball) signed their papers in front of a pretty large crowd.  Since basketball signing period opened today as well, Monique Oliver signed her papers for USC, and Kelli Thompson signed with UNLV.  The football players were Juwan Brown (Southern Oregon), Mac Iosia (Langston), Stan McKay (UCLA), Lazzari Middleton (Nebraska), Iuta Tepa (UCLA), Matt Jones (Air Force), George Daily-Lyles (Hawaii), and Kenny Tuiloma (Stony Brook University). 

“I guess this has become an annual thing,” Poly athletic director Rob Shock told the crowd.  “This is the culmination of four years of hard work, on the field, in the class room, and in the weight room.”  He went on to thank the players’ parents, and Poly’s academic counselor Monica Kim, who received a standing ovation.

The players signed, and then posed for pictures with each other and their families.  Tepa, one of a number of players (along with Jordan’s Taniela Maka) who had been committed to another school but was lured to Westwood by Rick Neuheisel, said the decision wasn’t that hard.  Decked out in UCLA gear (as was his family), Tepa said he made his decision at a party Neuheisel threw for several dozen recruits at his home that convinced him.  “It’s nice to be closer to home, so I can go back whenever I want,” he added.

Two of his defensive teammates, Daily-Lyles and Tuiloma, will be anything but close next year.  “I decided like…the day before yesterday,” said Daily-Lyles of his commitment to the University of Hawaii.  “I really like it out there, and the head coach is great.  It hasn’t really hit me yet…I think when I’m on the plane, and we’ve landed, and the pilot has said, ‘Welcome to Hawaii.’  Maybe then it’ll hit me.”

Tuiloma was more practical about his upcoming move to Stony Brook, New York.  “Everything out there is nice, except the weather,” he said.  “It’s hard to be that far away because I love my family, I cling on to everyone.  But sometimes you need to go—that’s part of becoming a man.  You gotta let go to chase your dreams.  That’s the only way to live.”

Best of luck to all the athletes above, as well as all the ones listed below—when we talk about how great football in this city is, we aren’t just talking about how hard the hits are, or how sharp the cuts.  We’re talking about a level of play that’s high enough that it’s afforded, just yesterday, a grand total of 28 players an opportunity to go and get a free education; a new life, and a college degree.  Take that opportunity and run with it.

Full List of Moore League/LBCC Signees

Compton

Justin Brown, DL to Oregon (Eugene, OR)

Chris Metcalf, DB to USC (Los Angeles, CA)

Jerry Maluia, QB to Humboldt State (Arcata, CA)

James Randall, LB to Idaho (Moscow, ID)

Jordan

Taniela Maka, LB to UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)

Lakewood

Jimmy Young, DL to Azusa Pacific (Azusa, CA)

Aaron Aviles, DB to Humboldt State (Arcata, CA)

Talia Crichton, DL to University of Washington (Seattle, WA)

Trevor Erno, LB to Arizona (Tuscon, AZ)

Millikan

Elias Martinez, DL to Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY)

Poly

Juwan Brown, DT to Southern Oregon (Ashland, OR)

Mac Iosia, LB to Langston (Langston, OK)

Stan McKay, DB to UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)

Lazzari Middleton, DB to Nebraska (Lincoln, NE)

Iuta Tepa, DE to UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)

Matt Jones, LB to Air Force (Colorado Springs, CO)

George Daily-Lyles, LB to University of Hawaii (Aiea, HI)

Kenny Tuiloma, LB to Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY)

Wilson

Joel Bitonio, OL to University of Nevada (Reno, NV)

Jemari Roberts, WR to Stanford (Stanford, CA)

LBCC

Stephen Burton, WR to Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

Joe Fagaata, DL to Miles University (Fairfield, AL)

George Aludogbu, DB to West Virginia State (Institute, WV)

Scotty Miranda, DB to Humboldt State (Arcata, CA)

Markeis Carmichael, DB to Azusa Pacific (Azusa, CA)

Bryan Braman, DL to West Texas A&M (College Station, TX)

Phil Vournazos, OL to Stony Brook (Stony Brook, NY)

Josh Powell, QB to Harding University (Searcy, AR)