Local athletes sign with colleges
Last weekend, Corona del Mar High’s Chase Garbers and Edison’s Michael Saffell took their official visit to Cal. They flew out of John Wayne Airport at different times on Friday, Garbers in the morning and Saffell later that day.
On Sunday afternoon, they returned home on the same flight from Oakland. Saffell sat behind Garbers.
In college, it will be the other way around for the two. As a quarterback, Garbers will be behind Saffell, a center.
The seniors made a decision on Wednesday that could lead to Saffell snapping the ball to Garbers on the next level, as they signed their national letter of intent with Cal’s football program.
Garbers and Saffell are two of several local athletes participating on national signing day, the first day seniors can sign with a college to play football, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, and men’s water polo.
Unlike the other athletes in the area signing, Garbers and Saffell will be roommates in college.
“Growing up just about 15 minutes away from each other is definitely huge,” Garbers said. “Knowing that we can be on the field at the same time is just something [special].”
Garbers and Saffell are coming off remarkable senior seasons, leading their respective programs to the CIF Southern Section finals. The Sea Kings lost to Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, 36-35, in double overtime in the Division 4 championship, while Saffell anchored the Chargers to a 44-24 win at La Mirada to claim the Division 3 crown.
Both Saffell and Garbers made the Daily Pilot Dream Team, the All-Orange County first team and the CalHiSports.com All-State Team, Saffell on the first team and Garbers on the second team. Garbers, who passed for 3,895 yards and 47 touchdowns, with only five interceptions, and Saffell, who helped Edison’s offense average 404.9 yards per game, credited their parents, coaches and teammates for their success.
Garbers thanked CdM Coach Dan O’Shea, offensive coordinator Kevin Hettig and trainer Karif Byrd. Saffell praised Dave White, who retired in December after 31 years in charge of Edison, and Jesse Sapolu, a former All-Pro center with the San Francisco 49ers who has worked with Saffell since middle school.
Saffell said he signed while having breakfast at home with his mom and dad, Cristie and Mike.
“[The ceremony] was nothing too big,” said the 6-foot-3, 290-pound Saffell, adding that he had bacon and eggs. “I’ve known for a quite a while that [Cal is] where I want to be. I committed back in October. There was nothing exciting. There was no hat choice. There was nothing like that. I’m locked in. I’m ready to go. I’m ready to go be a part of [Cal].”
Saffell said he also chose Cal because of academics. Saffell, who has a 4.3 grade-point average, added that he plans to study business or biology.
Saffell and Garbers stayed with Cal, even though the Golden Bears fired Sonny Dykes as their coach on Jan. 8.
“It was crazy timing, three weeks before signing day,” Garbers said of Dykes’ dismissal. “But the new coaching staff is unbelievable, very defensive minded, but our offense will be very, very good with Beau Baldwin as our offensive coordinator. With Justin Wilcox as our head coach, I feel our team is going to be really good these next couple of years.
“It was just a huge relief that the recruiting process is over. Now that I’m officially with Cal, it’s time to get to work and make a difference in that program.”
Another standout signing on Wednesday was Newport Harbor’s Sianna Siemonsma. She is heading to the University of Washington to play women’s soccer.
Siemonsma had been waiting for this day for quite a while. She committed to the Huskies as a sophomore.
“The time has gone by so fast,” said Siemonsma, who has 22 goals for the Newport Harbor girls’ soccer team this season. “It’s the real deal now.”
Siemonsma is one of 14 local players signing with women’s soccer programs. Two of those are going to New Mexico State, Marina’s Natalie Swanson and Huntington Beach’s Katie Martinez.
Edison tied the Oilers for having the most soccer players signing with five. Edison’s players were Taylor Wasserman (Wagner College), Zoe Clevely (Pepperdine), Cassidy Helenihi (University of San Francisco), Mikayla Edwards (Kansas State) and Emma Nichols (Dominican University of California).
Huntington Beach’s other soccer players committing were Rachel Harris (University of Arkansas), Danielle Wright (Brandeis University), Ava Gomez (Trinity Christian College) and Summer Herring (Cal Poly Pomona).
Sage Hill’s Maya Roston is bound for the University of Denver and Newport Harbor’s Siena Ward to Ohio Northern University.
Seven locals signed with men’s water polo programs.
Huntington Beach’s Ethan Wojciechowski and Ryan Hurst are teaming up at Cal, while Huntington Beach’s Patrick Saunders and Quinten Osborne are bound for UCLA. The foursome led the Oilers to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 finale, the program’s first section finals appearance.
The other water polo players signing were CdM’s Will Rodosky (UC Santa Barbara) and Cole Strohson (La Salle University), and Newport Harbor’s Oscar Goodell (John Hopkins).
Laguna Beach’s Walmer Landaverde committed to the Providence Christian College men’s soccer program.
Twitter: @ByDCP
