West athletes make their college choices

IOWA CITY - After school on Wednesday, the cafeteria looked a bit different from normal.

On one side of the cafeteria, tables were lined up, stretching from wall to wall, each table filled with balloons, colorful table runners and baseball hats each of a designated school.

This collection of sports gear and party decorations was for early National Signing Day, with a second date to come in April.

Nine athletes signed their National Letters of Intent to participate in Division I athletics. Three athletes signed to the University of Iowa: Taylor Libby for softball, Tia Saunders for track and field and Will Scott for swimming. Three athletes signed to the University of Northern Iowa: Adara Opiola for softball, Tanner Lohaus for basketball and Matthew Schneider for track and field and cross country.

The three other athletes who signed were Donovan Doyle to Harvard University for wrestling, Aidan Keen to the University of Missouri for swimming and Mark McGlaughlin to North Carolina State University for swimming.

Staffers Aaron Carter, Nick Deerberg, Taylor Libby, Morgan Schmitt-Morris and Gabby Skopec got the opportunity to talk to the athletes about their future.

MARK MCGLAUGHLIN, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

Mark McGlaughlin will be attending North Carolina State University (NC State) starting fall of 2016 for swimming.

Although other schools including Louisville, Michigan, Tennessee and California Berkeley were all considered, McGlaughlin chose NC State based on the fact that 'they are a rising program, jumping several places in the last four years.”

Although he will be a considerable distance from home, McGlaughlin chooses to focus on the positives of moving.

'It will be a good experience to move to a new place,” McGlaughlin said. '(North Carolina State) is a leading sprint (swimming) school, which is my main focus.”

McGlaughlin looks forward to the young coaching staff and interaction with the other swimmers on the team.

'They have a young coaching staff that is very energetic. The campus is beautiful, and the other swimmers are all very cool,” McGlaughlin said.

AIDAN KEEN, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Aidan Keen plans to pursue swimming in college at the University of Missouri starting in the fall of 2016. After looking at Auburn, Ohio State, Mizzou and Tennessee, Keen picked Mizzou based on both their academics and athletics.

'After finding the major I wanted and finding a good program with a coach I liked, it came down to how much I liked the team and how much money in athletic and academic scholarships I was going to get,” Keen said. 'Mizzou has a good engineering program and a quickly rising swim program, that is known for making its athletes much better than when they came in.”

Keen hopes to meet new swimmers at Mizzou while also being able to swim with other Iowa athletes he knows.

WILL SCOTT, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

In the fall of 2016, Will Scott will begin his career as a swimmer for the University of Iowa. Scott is excited to be working with the university's swimming coach, Marc Long.

'I believe that (Long's) style of coaching best fits my beliefs as a swimmer,” Scott said, 'I think that his beliefs in how one should train are perfect. Most coaches would call his ideas crazy, but he tries new things that now some of the top programs use.”

Scott always knew the University of Iowa was going to be his future.

'I kind of just knew it was the place for me,” Scott said.

DONOVAN DOYLE, HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Attending Harvard University has always been a dream for Donovan Doyle, and now that is a dream that has been fulfilled.

'It (Harvard) was the best fit for me in every area,” Doyle said, 'It's the best education offered in the world, and I am looking forward to taking advantage of that while pairing it with the wrestling program.”

Aside from the education, the wrestling program also is on the rise.

'They have a highly competitive (Division I) team with a coach that I greatly respect, and their facilities are top-notch.” Doyle said.

Doyle also has a family connection to Harvard which makes the transition even easier.

'The strength coach worked for my dad so it's comfortable to be able to work with familiar faces.” Doyle said.

Wrestling for West under Mark Reiland has also helped Donovan prepare for Harvard.

'I wouldn't be close to the wrestler I am without Mark Reiland,” Doyle said. 'Anything I've accomplished in wrestling, Mark has been right there with me the whole time.”

TAYLOR LIBBY, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

Taylor Libby always had a pull toward the University of Iowa, and it was only a matter of time before she made her decision to attend in the fall of 2016.

'At first my mom (Larissa Libby, women's gymnastics coach) wanted me to have my own, separate life, but she eventually warmed up to the idea.” Libby said.

The influence of her mother had an obvious impact on her decision, but there were other reasons Iowa was the place for Libby.

'The team atmosphere was great. It was really like a family.” Libby said.

Libby also was drawn by the academics.

'They had the major I wanted as well. I think I want to major in either graphic design or sports marketing and they have good programs for both,” Libby said.

Libby also was looking into Minnesota State, but the bigger campus, the atmosphere and her mom really sealed the deal for Libby to become a Hawkeye.

'I liked Minnesota State, but Iowa just felt like home,” she said. 'I always wanted to go to a big university and Iowa gave me that and more.”

TIA SAUNDERS, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

Tia Saunders recently committed to the University of Iowa for track.

Saunders, who also plays soccer, considered the University of Northern Iowa where she could participate in both soccer and track, but ultimately chose Iowa.

'(I chose Iowa) because they have a really great track program and are a really great school,” she said. 'The coaches are super awesome and they have a very personal plan for making me a better runner.”

Saunders is the school record holder in the 400 meter dash and recently placed 16th in the state in cross country. Saunders has personal best times of 57 seconds for the 400 meter dash, 2:17 for the 800 meter dash and 18:59 for the cross country 5000 meter race but is looking forward to improve those times at Iowa.

'I'm really excited (to continue my running career) I am just ready to become a great runner,” she said.

MATTHEW SCHNEIDER, UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA

Matthew Schneider has committed to the University of Northern Iowa for cross country and track and field.

Schneider chose UNI for two reasons.

'I chose UNI because they fitted my needs both academically and athletically, they had really good programs for the majors I am going into and the coaching staff up there is really amazing,” Schneider said.

Schneider has participated in both sports since junior high and is excited to continue in them in college.

'(The opportunity) is amazing because I've always had this dream of continuing on my running career. I'm really happy about it.”

ADARA OPIOLA, UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA

Adara Opiola has committed to the University of Northern Iowa to continue playing softball.

Opiola chose UNI because of the environment surrounding of the University that made her feel comfortable.

'I liked the campus, I liked the atmosphere of Cedar Falls and I liked the population at UNI of not too many students, but just enough,” Opiola said.

With a coaching staff and a group of girls who made Opiola feel right at home, UNI emerged as her top choice.

'It's a dream come true of mine to play at the highest level possible for collegiate athletics,” she said.

TANNER LOHAUS, UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA

Tanner Lohaus had offers from other schools, but UNI ended up being the school for Lohaus.

'I like that it's a family atmosphere there and that they're interested in not just making their players better athletes, but better students and people, too,” Lohaus said.

Having to choose between Western Illinois, North Dakota State, Lehigh, South Dakota State, University of Omaha and UNI would usually be a difficult choice for most, but Lohaus was convinced UNI was the university for him to continue his career.

'They emphasize defense which I like because I believe that defense does win championships, and it's familiar to me coming from Coach Bergman's system,” Lohaus said.

PAYTON POTTRATZ, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Payton Pottratz decided to commit to Iowa State University during her junior year.

Pottratz first started communicating with schools during her sophomore year when they would attend club and school soccer games, but she eventually decided on Iowa State.

'Obviously (one of the reasons I committed) was because of soccer and the location. I didn't want to be too close to home but at the same time not extremely far away.” Pottratz said, 'The campus is very pretty as well, but it was mostly the soccer program that drew me in.”

Pottratz also has a close connection with the coaches, as well as one of the coach's pet.

'I love them (the coaches). My club soccer coach (Michael Printy_ is friends with the Iowa State assistant coach,” Pottratz said. 'I also love Tony Minatta's, the head coach, bulldog. Me and the rest of the team really bonded with the dogs.”

Pottratz was also considering the University of Iowa as well as the University of Northern Iowa, but Iowa State set itself apart for her.

'Once I talked with the coaches and the players, and looked at the style the team plays it was the obvious choice for me,” Pottratz said.

KATIE OLSON, UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA

Olson is one of two captains on the varsity girls soccer team with one state championship on her record. She hopes to continue her soccer success with the University of Northern Iowa after committing in January of 2015.

Olson first spoke to current UNI coach, James Price, at an Iowa state soccer camp in the summer of 2013.

'I was at an Iowa State camp the summer of my sophomore year and the UNI coach was there and I liked him, he was one of my eight versus eight coaches,” she said. 'I went to another Iowa State camp in the winter and he was there again and knew who I was. He was talking to me a lot and then we set up a visit. On my visit they gave me my offer and I called them after I got home from the visit and said yes (to his offer).”

Olson decided to commit to UNI for various reasons involving school size and distance from home.

'I wanted to play Division I soccer in college, and it's a nice distance from home,” Olson said. 'Not too far, but definitely not too close. I like the school and the size of it.”

Olson is looking forward to a close-knit team and meeting new teammates and friends.

'(I'm most excited to) meet the team and (have fun) with some new girls on the team. I just love that team aspect.” Olson said.

In order to prepare for her collegiate career Olson said she will begin working out more this summer before she leaves for UNI. For now Olson said she will continue going to practices with her club, Iowa Soccer Club (ISC).

'The freshmen that I talked to said that they didn't really have a certain fitness test, but now that there is a new coach it might change,” Olson said. 'I'm just going to try to be in the best shape that I can be.”

'I would hope to someday become an impact player on the team, and hopefully play all four years without injuries,” McDonnell said. 'I'm also excited and hopeful to be a part of a team that has had a few runs for the division two national title, so I hope to contribute to that in anyway that I can.”

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