Manatee softball standout Peyton Varela signs with Tennessee to start spring signing period
BRADENTON -- Peyton Varela's path from Bradenton to Tennessee is easy to trace. It began in front of the television, where Varela realized softball was something she wanted to take seriously.
During the Volunteers' run to the 2007 Women's College World Series championship series, left-hander Monica Abbott, the Tennessee star and future Olympic silver medalist, inspired a 10-year-old Varela to race out to her backyard and pick up a ball for the first time.
"I was just watching her pitch and I was like, That looks like something I'd want to do," Varela said. "We just went out and did it."
On Wednesday, the Manatee senior signed a national letter of intent in Manatee High School's Davis Auditorium with Tennessee, for which she plans to play first base and perhaps get an opportunity to follow in Abbott's footsteps as a pitcher.
"I've had this dream since I was 10 years old," Varela said of playing for Tennessee.
Varela was joined by a pair of Hurricane football
players, who officially solidified their commitments to a pair of lower-level programs on the first day of the spring signing period. Wide receiver Reggie Carter, who was third in Manatee County with 612 receiving yards last season, will attend Iowa's Northwestern College of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Cornerback Aryn Wrona will attend Division III Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.
Manatee went 4-15 this season, but Tennessee coaches were impressed by Varela's production at the plate. Varela has attended Tennessee camps every summer since she was 10, so the Volunteers have always been able to keep tabs on her. A year ago, she noticed Tennessee's interest really peaked, and she orally committed in December.
"It just felt great to know that my 10-year-old dreams came true," Varela said. "I've worked hard to get here. I'm excited for the future."
SAINT STEPHEN'S -- Athletic director Lenny Paoletti said Saint Stephen's lone signing came as a surprise. Emiliano Concha-Toro signed with the United States Military Academy rifle team. He is the Falcons' first rifle signee, and he'll join a co-ed team that finished last season ranked 13th in the country.
SOUTHEAST -- Breyonna Reed, one of the Noles' star guards last season, plans to sign with Webber International University (NAIA) in Babson Park on Monday. She will become the second basketball player to commit. Tre Alexandria signed with State College of Florida on Friday.
IMG ACADEMY -- Eight sports will be represented at IMG Academy's spring signing ceremony Thursday with 14 set to sign with Division I schools.
Eight soccer players are scheduled to commit, including three in Division I: Isabella Lee (California-Riverside), Jake Agnew (Appalachian State) and Andres Martynek (Binghamton). Eva Frazzoni (Saint Rose, Albany, N.Y.), Ida Langer (Lynn), Francisco Anaya (Eckerd, St. Petersburg) and Concepcion Sanchez (Flagler) are headed to Div. II programs. Maia Krebser (Daytona State College) is lone junior college signing.
Six golfers are expected to sign, including three with D-I schools: Zhangcheng Guo (Boston), Alexandra Wright (Ohio State) and Stephen Osborne (Nevada). Daniel Faccini (Barry) and Herman June Kim (Academy of Art, San Francisco) are Div. II signings, and Justin Rockwell (Hobart and William Smith) is headed to Div. III.
Three football players expected to sign in Bradenton are offensive lineman Michael McAlvin (Georgia Southern), defensive back Gerardo Rodriguez (Stetson) and offensive lineman Colby Wilson (Cincinnati Christian).
Katarina Kozarov (Furman) and Brooke Lashway (South Florida) headline the expected tennis signings. Roberta Marcos is expected to sign with Div. II Merrimack.
Mac Casey is the lone baseball player expected to sign with a Div. I program (Jacksonville State), and Zachary Goins will sign with NAIA Montreat.
Other planned signings are JC Younger (basketball, Presbyterian), Ashley Thomas (track and field, Kennesaw State) and Simon Udrup (track and field, Tiffin), and Mitch Laffin (lacrosse, Albany).
This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee softball standout Peyton Varela signs with Tennessee to start spring signing period ."