Merced Union High School District

With the bleachers full of friends, teammates, family and coaches, six Merced High athletes made their college choices official as they signed their national letter of intent to play their sport at the next level during a special ceremony held in the gym on Tuesday afternoon.

 

As they sat at tables decorated with photos, medals, college banners, section banners and gear, the athletes were surrounded by their immediate family as they signed one-by-one down the line. Signing was tight end Hayden Czirban to play football at Southern Utah University, Camden Gudgel to run track and cross country at Biola University, flag football teammates Amiya Brown headed to Ottawa University in Arizona and Bree Pimentel set to play at Alabama State, softball pitcher Annalise Ramirez who is headed to Cal State Monterey Bay and water polo standout Eli Hamm who will play at the University of the Pacific.

 

“The six of us signing together is truly special because if you think about it, six people out of our whole graduating class isn’t much,” Pimentel said. “I believe that being able to support each other at the event, since we all know how much work it takes to get to the next level, means a lot. I wouldn’t do my signing day any other way and I’m extremely proud of everyone who signed that day.”

 

Pimentel and Brown are blazing a trail for future flag football players to pursue playing at the next level. The sport was introduced as a CIF competitive sport just three years ago. The duo helped the Bears win back-to-back Central California Conference championships and win a Sac-Joaquin Section title this past fall. 

 

“It truly means a lot to me to be one of the first women athletes to sing for flag football,” Brown said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my coaches, and especially my dad who has helped me get to where I am today. He’s truly my best friend and I couldn’t imagine doing it without him by my side.”

 

Brown plans to major in kinesiology at Ottawa. She was able to recover after tearing her ACL in her knee her junior year to play a vital role for the Bears in the secondary on defense. “I am very excited for this new chapter of my life,” she said. “I can’t wait to see where life takes me and how much growth I will have.”

 

Pimentel says she hopes many other female athletes will follow her path to playing flag football in college. “Signing as one of the first athletes to play girls flag football means that I have the ability to be an inspiration to other young girls who want to play football,” she said. “I think it’s a pretty big deal because the sport is still fresh, and I can’t wait to help inspire the next generation of female athletes to get on the field.”

 

Pimentel plans to major in biology at Alabama State. Her recruitment all started with an e-mail she sent to the Alabama State coach.” I had heard about colleges starting flag football at the end of my junior year, but I didn't really think it would take off until I had graduated,” Pimentel said. “I ended up being wrong, and during the start of my senior year, I finally believed that I could have a chance at playing flag football in college.”

Gudgel’s high school running career started as a way for him to get out of P.E. and to stay in shape for soccer. “Sports scholarships were never on my mind, as I am the first in my family to receive one, but I distinctly remember former coach (Tim) Hagerman coming up to me towards the end of my freshman year and telling me that if I kept working, it was a possibility for me,” Gudgel said. “That was the first time I had ever heard that. From there I decided to quit soccer and volleyball and go out for track in the spring where I worked alongside my upperclassmen and strove to keep up with and surpass every one of them.”

 

Gudgel kept working hard, getting stronger, faster and improving his performances. Now he’ll continue at Biola University where he will major in engineering.” That is what this sport has always been about for me, growing better,” Gudgel said. “Each and every day I ran miles upon miles and workouts upon workouts, I was getting better not only at my sport, but as an overall athlete and a person. In running you see effort translate to real results, which can do amazing things to someone's confidence and self awareness that they can do hard things.”

 

Czirban suffered an injury during his junior season that he thought might cost him an opportunity of playing in college. He excelled on both sides of the ball this past fall to help lead the Bears to their third consecutive CCC championship. Czirban’s recruitment also happened fast after he sent some video clips to Southern Utah. He ended up taking a visit and fell in love with the campus. 

 

Czirban couldn’t help but think of all the work he put in to make his dream a reality as he sat at the table during the ceremony.  “A lot of emotions were going through my head and it was my work that paid off and overcoming adversity from being hurt all of junior year to being here now,” he said. “It meant the world to me to have everyone there supporting me just like they did when I was on the field. It makes you super grateful.”

Hamm helped lead the Bears water polo team to CCC and section championships in the fall as a team captain. Now he’ll have an opportunity to join a Division I college program. He’ll be majoring in business. “It means a lot to me,” he said. “I’m super excited for the next four years and getting to see how I’ll do at the top level. I believe UOP is the best place for me. The program is super competitive and makes the NCAA tournament very often. The campus is also gorgeous and I’m excited to get an education at the oldest university in California.”

 

Ramirez was a four-year starter in the circle for the Merced softball team, leading the Bears to consecutive 10-0 seasons culminating in back-to-back CCC championships. She recorded 200 strikeouts this spring. Softball has always been a big part of her life so she’s excited for the opportunity to play the sport she loves at Cal State Monterey Bay. 

 

“Getting the opportunity to play softball at the college level is a dream come true,” Ramirez said. “Ever since I started playing softball at six years old it's been the ideal dream. I'm very thankful for being blessed with this opportunity because I know it's going to open so many doors for me. Softball to me means life, this sport means life because for the past 11 years, my life's habits have revolved around it and I truly couldn't imagine my life without it.”

 

For Ramirez, the ceremony will be memorable because of the people who showed up to support her. “I was surrounded by all my friends, family, teachers, and coaches who have supported me since the beginning,” she said. “Since going to college has been such a life long goal, (Tuesday’s) signing was a reminder that all my hard work and dedication has finally paid off. Like I said, I couldn't have been where I am today without all the support I receive from family and loved ones.”

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.