National Signing Day: Six student athletes sign their letters of intent

Story by Omari Pinkney '09, Sports Editor
Photo by Elizabeth Walker '09, Photo Editor

LEFT: Monica Mason '09, shown laughing next to Christopher Townsend '09 at Signing Day 2009, said she chose to attend Memphis University because their recruiter "stuck with me even after my injury during my Junior season." Photo by Elizabeth Walker '09, Photo Editor

Wednesday, Feb. 4 was national signing day for athletes participating in Football and Track and Field. The library was the place where seniors Saniel Atkinson, Darrian Carmicheal, Jerome Couplin III, Monica Mason, Christopher Townsend, and Jared Williams all signed their letters of Intent to their respective schools.

The morning event was filled with joy from relatives from all of these student athletes whose hard work has paid off and earned them scholarships to college.

Saniel Atkinson will be attending Georgia University in the fall semester and will be running and jumping for track coach Wayne Norton, while majoring in International studies. "The environment of Georgia feels a lot like McNamara" she said, which made it a great choice.

Her track and field teammate Monica Mason will be attending Memphis University where she was recruited by Kevin Robinson, who she says "stuck with me even after my injury during my Junior season." The two Track and Field athletes gave nothing but thanks to their coach Richard Chapman who helped them greatly get to the level where they are now even through the hardships.

The Varsity football Team also saw four players sign their letters. WR/DB Darrian Carmicheal, who will be attending the University of Richmond to play for the Division 1-AA national champions, said he was comfortable with the coaches and the family oriented feel of the school. The school and Head Coach Mike London will be happy to have the Business Management Major.

Jerome Couplin III will be attending William and Mary to be a player for the Tribe. The two sport athlete and All Met receiver will be going in hopes of achieving a master's degree in Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy and becoming a star on Head Coach Jimmye Laycock's team. "The coaching staff is similar to McNamara and the Athletic Director reminds me of Mr. Johnson," he said before he sat to sign his letter of intent.

All Met Linebacker Christopher Townsend and WR/DB Jared Williams will both be attending Prairie View A & M to become Panthers and to play for Head Coach Henry Frazier III. Christopher Townsend said, "Prairie View was real comfortable and it felt like home, while Jared Williams said," I felt comfortable with the players and the coaches who were the first to show interest and had degrees in finance in which I want to major." The pair well be headed the furthest away to Prairie View which is in Texas but has many players and coaches hailing from the Washington D.C area. Christopher feels that him and Jared can start and have the opportunity to make things happen.

The football players also gave thanks to the coaching staff and Head Coach Bryce Bevill.

Mr. Johnson, who was the host of this event, said "This day feels great, to honor these student athletes and we'll be having a bigger event in the spring to honor all the sports."
With the signing of their letters of intent, these students have just kicked off their careers as collegiate student athletes.

By Bishop McNamara HS |  February 5, 2009; 2:21 AM ET Football , Track and Field
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