By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Some of south Pierce County's top high school athletes officially made decisions last week that will take them to colleges and universities as far away as the East Coast to continue their athletic and academic pursuits. Feb. 3 was national letter of intent day, and nine seniors in the Bethel School District and two at Eatonville High School made recruiters for football, girls soccer, fastpitch and baseball teams happy by signing their names to the dotted lines. Three all-state football players GÇô Elijah Lugo and Aaron Wright of Graham-Kapowsin and Ezra Cleveland of Bethel High GÇô were among the signees. So were two all-league teammates of Eatonville's girls soccer team. Elijah Lugo, a 6 foot 4, 280-pound offensive guard, is headed for the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland. He and Wright, who signed with Central Washington University to be a defensive back, were named by the Associated Press to the 2015 All-State team on the strength of their performances with a Graham-Kapowsin team that won the South Puget Sound League's South Division title and reached the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament. In the SPSL, Lugo was Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year and Wright was Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Cleveland is on his way to Boise State University. The 6-6, 275-pound defensive lineman is considered by some scouting services as the 24th best football recruit among all positions in Washington and number 107 nationally at his position. He was the SPSL's Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year last season. After strong seasons last fall with Eatonville, Jacqueline Christoph signed with Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee, and Alexa Graddy signed with Montana State University. Christoph was a midfielder and Graddy was a forward Graddy for the Cruisers as they came within one victory in the district playoffs of reaching the 1A state soccer tournament. Other signees include: " Elijah McLeod, a Bethel wide receiver in football who will go to Central Washington. He was an All-SPSL choice in 2015. " Kaylee Fish, who after her final fastpitch season with Bethel this spring will go across country to play the same sport at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. She's been a pitcher and played first base for Bethel. " Emily Larue, a four-year All-SPSL soccer player at Graham-Kapowsin who now will play at Alabama State University. Her new coach, Jodie Smith, said Larue is "a versatile player who will make contributions as both a midfielder and a forward." " Shealan McKnight, who's going from Graham-Kapowsin to St. Martin's University to play soccer. " Bryce Missey, a second-team All-SPSL quarterback at Bethel who signed as a walk-on with Washington State University. " Michael Asahara, who will play baseball at Everett Commuity College after his senior year at Bethel.
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