The annual Wilson signing day celebration won’t bring the top Bruins athletes to the gym for the first time in years because of COVID-19 closures. However, the Class of 2020 is still one of the most decorated and noteworthy because of some recognizable names going to Long Beach State, and the elite athletes choosing renowned universities.
Four-year softball star Sinclair Lawhorn didn’t get a chance to lead Wilson as its only senior starter this year, but the first baseman isn’t leaving Long Beach anytime soon. Lawhorn decided to sign with Long Beach State and is looking forward to playing for Kim Sowder.
“She’s a very good defensive first baseman, and has a smooth and consistent swing from the left side,” Sowder said of Lawhorn. “We feel her work ethic and maturity will translate well to the college game, and she can develop into an impact player for us.”
In the 10 games played this season, Lawhorn hit .350 with seven RBIs, eight runs scored and three extra base hits with a .606 on base percentage. She is joined by Lakewood’s Cassie Camou as part of a strong signing class for LBSU.
Peter Sio is also going to LBSU, where he’ll play rugby. The Somoan native played his first year of football as a senior and provided a great spark for the Bruins. He rushed for 637 yards on 73 carries (8.7 average) and one of his four touchdowns was a 60-yard scamper against Long Beach Poly. Fellow football player and CIF wrestling champion Brett Dowgiewicz is also going to play rugby, but at Cal. Sio and Dowgiewicz both played with Belmont Shore Rugby.
Track & Field star Rachel Glenn is taking her talents to South Carolina. Her teammates Denisse Agredano and Ashanti Gaither are staying in California. Agredano is going to Cal State Northridge and San Francisco State.
Girls’ volleyball outside hitter Gabriella Sonnhalter missed her senior season due to injury, but her time with local Mizuno Volleyball Club earned her a scholarship offer from UCLA.
The Wilson football team had a historically successful season and three other senior stars are going to the next level. Offensive lineman Adrian Tejeda is going to UC Davis, defense back Soloman Bowie is going to Arizona Christian and linebacker Logan Ziegenhagan will play at Redlands.
The CIF champion girls’ basketball team has two players going to the next level. Samiya Terry is going to CSU Monterey Bay, and Nylah Hines will attend Orange Coast College.
Pitcher Jacob Ribitzki is the only baseball player with a landing spot and he’s going to Amherst College in Massachusetts.
Soccer star Emma Harper is staying local and attending Chapman, and Karina Stropky is going to UC Davis to be part of the Aggies crew program.
Swimmers Mazen Abouelela and Brandon Samaniego are traveling quite a combined distance to continue their careers. Abouelela will attend Manhattan College in New York, and Samaniego is going to Wyoming.
On the boys’ track and field side Jordan Weimer will attend CSU Bakersfield, a new member of the Big West Conference, and Jaylen Ferrera is going to Sacramento State.
Water Polo players Ian Escoto, Owen Gurich, Brett Peoples, Maegan Simon and Delainey Whelan are all going to the next level after dominating the Moore League for the last four years. Simon is going to the East Coast and Villanova, and so is Whelan, who will attend Princeton.
Lastly, Joseph Espinoza will continue his cross country career at Minnesota State University, Moorhead.
