Oak Park and River Forest High School hosted Signing Day, a ceremony on Feb. 7 for athletes who have committed to continuing their athletic careers in college.
The event was held in the school’s South Cafeteria, where athletes introduced themselves, announced their respective colleges and signed letters of commitment. All of the athletes were smiling as proud families stood next to them.
“We hold this signing ceremony yearly in November, February and May to recognize our senior athletes committing to play a sport in college,” said Nicole Ebsen, the Athletic Director at OPRF, adding that 23 athletes from a wide variety of sports signed letters on Feb. 7. 3 athletes have signed their letters on the first night of the Signing day.
Among those athletes was Keira Kleidon, an OPRF senior, who has committed to the University at Buffalo to play Division 1 volleyball. Kleidon has been playing volleyball since seventh grade and has been on the OPRF volleyball team for four years. She got put on freshman A, and then in her sophomore year, she started to participate in every varsity game. Both of her parents played sports in college. “Growing up in an athletic and competitive family encouraged me to start playing volleyball,” she said.
In college, she said, she hopes to continue her athletic and academic achievements through the discipline she has learned during her time at OPRF. Kleidon is ranked second in the West Suburban-Silver Conference, according to MaxPreps, a website that tracks high school athletics.
Another commit that night was OPRF senior Kai Coffee who will attend Depauw University for Division 3 lacrosse. “Lacrosse means having a support system that I can rely on and a fun learning environment where I can push myself to be the best version of me,” she said. Coffee joined the team at the end of her freshman year and has been on the varsity for three years. During her junior year, she became team captain and made all sectionals as well as the West Suburban Conferences.
Coffee hopes to “continue to grow as a player and contribute as much as possible to my future college team’s success.” She had high praise for her coaches, saying, “Coach [James] Borja and Coach [Doug] Hill have been a huge part of my journey as a player. They have always been there to motivate and push me to be the best possible player.”
Senior Sam Welin committed to play Division 3 field hockey at Wellesley College. “Playing field hockey has been important to me because I find a joy in it that I couldn’t find in other sports,” she said. “I found the community to be welcoming and supportive, which helped drive my passion to learn and improve my playing.”
Welin is a varsity starter and club travel team member. “I’m signing because I want to continue learning and perfecting my game,” she said. “In college sports I hope to further develop as an athlete as I compete and train at a higher level, surrounding myself with people who challenge and push me.”
OPRF’s successful student-athletes gathered once again on the second night of the traditional Signing day. It was a very cheerful and prideful moment for our athletes, and their parents. While they were signing their commitment letters, friends and families were congratulating them in joy and honor.
OPRF raises many accomplished students who achieve success with their hard effort in sports. At the end, they become ready to begin a new chapter in their life and go to college, while continuing to play their sports.
The last Signing day of the year will be held in May, we are so excited to see many other successful student-athletes who will continue to play their sports in college!
