From Woodstown to the world

Wolverines recognizes14 more senior athletes who have signed with various colleges and universities to continue their playing, academic careers

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Joe Ursino was getting ready for another day in the life of Woodstown athletics director Thursday morning, but he knew this day felt different than most of the others.

For this was the day he got the enjoyable task of introducing the next wave college-bound Wolverines to the world. This was the day of Woodstown’s spring signing celebration, one of the AD’s favorite days of the year.

Ursino presided over festivities announcing 14 future college athletes to the world. Most had already signed their official paperwork for their programs of choice, but this was a day for collective public recognition and celebration.

“This is one of the days you get up to come to work (and) you’re not coming to work,” Ursino said. “We normally try to do it before the prom, so this is like the first celebration into the celebration season, so I like to be able to take advantage of that as the athletic director.

“Spent a lot of time with these kids. They’re all great kids. They all have different personalities, but like I said it doesn’t matter what their personality is, they all lean on each other, they appreciate each other. For me, I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

The group was impressive for its size, variety of schools chosen and the kaleidoscope of school colors on display.

It included Elizabeth Daly (Ursinus women’s lacrosse), Bryceton Rooney (Rochester football), Kyia Leyman (RCSJ-Gloucester women’s basketball), Ellie Wygand (FDU-Florham softball), Bryce Ayars (RCSJ-Cumberland soccer), Aidan Taulane (Rowan track), Sara Lodge (Rowan track), Anthony Costello (Georgian Court track), Kami Casiano (Wilmington track), Jacob Marino (Bloomsburg track), Emma Morgan (TCNJ women’s lacrosse), Joanna Winchell (TCNJ cheer) and Josh Crawford (Sacred Heart track).

That’s 11 different colleges and seven different sports represented Thursday. Add the group from the signing celebration the school held earlier this year and it’s another three schools and two more sports.

“It definitely impresses me seeing that people reached out to other places besides our local schools,” Ayars said. “It definitely impresses me that people reached out to farther places to see what they want to do in college and where the next home is for them.” 

“It speaks to our individuality,” Marino said. “Everyone’s found something they loved at all these schools and I think that’s really impressive. To find a place you love and want to be at is great, and I feel like it’s amazing that everyone found their home.”