16 Santa Margarita Catholic Athletes Commit on NCAA Signing Day

Santa Margarita Catholic High School Student Athletes – Make it Official

16 Athletes Commit on NCAA Signing Day

16 athletes from Santa Margarita Catholic High School made their futures evident on Wednesday, Nov. 12, as they officially signed letters of intent or celebrated their commitment to attend colleges across the country for their sport. Nov. 12 marks the first day that high school seniors could sign scholarship papers for the following sports: baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo (girls only), track & field and wrestling. The letter of intent is a binding agreement between the student-athlete and a college, by which the student-athlete agrees to attend the college for one academic year.

The following student-athletes signed as part of the NCAA National Letter of Intent Signing Day:

Jayme Cone of Trabuco Canyon has committed to George Washington University for Softball. Jayme is a four-year varsity starter, pitching for the Eagles in 21 of 28 games and has been a team captain the last two years. Outside of Santa Margarita, Jayme volunteers at The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center and the Special Olympics. Jayme Cone.
Sarah Cwiertnia of Villa Park has committed to the University of Pennsylvania for Softball. Sarah is a four-year varsity starter and has earned Trinity League Honorable mention in 2012, Trinity League Second Team and Offensive Player of the Year in 2013, and was named to the Trinity League First-Team and Offensive Player of the Year last season. Sarah is a four-year scholar athlete and a member of Peer Ministry, The California Scholarship Federation, Student Ambassadors and carries a 3.8 GPA. Sarah Cwiertnia.
Alexandra Heinen of San Clemente has committed to Boston University for softball. Alex is a four-year varsity player for the Eagles and is recognized for her catching fundamentals and natural leadership. For the past six years, Alex has volunteered at the Shea Therapeutic Riding Center and Special Olympics. Alex has a vested interest in film production, is involved with Santa Margarita’s Eagle’s Television Program and was voted the 2014 Homecoming Queen. Alex Heinen.
Hailey Archuleta of Yorba Linda has committed to Syracuse University for Softball. Hailey is a four-year varsity letterman, has been a member of a Trinity League Championship team and received the EAGLES award from her teammates, which stands for Excellence, Attitude, God, Loyalty, Ethics and Sacrifice. In addition to playing both corner positions, Hailey can also take the mound and play the outfield as well. Off the diamond, Hailey volunteers for Housing with Heart, an Orange County non-profit that provides services to low income families, seniors and those living with special needs. Hailey Archuleta.

Caroline Figueroa of Rancho Santa Margarita has committed to Loyola Marymount University for softball. Caroline is a four-year varsity starter and a team captain for the Eagles. Caroline has been named to the All-Trinity League second team as well as earned Honorable Mention. She is a two-year team captain that is known for one of the strongest arms in the league, in addition to her smart base running and versatility. Caroline is a four-year member of the California Scholarship Federation, an ASB member, the Head Commissioner of Athletics and has a 4.14 GPA. Caroline Figueroa.
Claire Archibald of Trabuco Canyon has committed to Iona College for Volleyball. Claire is a four-year varsity letterman who won a league title her freshman year, was named Co-Captain her junior and senior year, and earned First Team All-Trinity League her junior year. Off the court, Archibald is a Student Ambassador, involved in the Next Step program, and she is a member of the Peer Ministry and the Rotary Club. Claire Archibald.
Nick Meyer of Mission Viejo has committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for baseball. Meyer is a three-year varsity starter with range as an infielder, pitcher, and catcher. Last year, Nick was awarded 1st Team All-Trinity League honors as well as 3rd Team All-County honors, both at the catching position. As a sophomore, Meyer helped his team reach the quarterfinals in the CIF playoffs. Last season, Meyer was an integral part of Santa Margarita’s first ever CIF D1 Baseball championship after defeating Foothill High School, 3-1. This past summer, Nick was selected to participate in the 2014 Area Code games played in Long Beach as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers team. Off the field, Nick is involved with the Special Olympics and Ability Awareness for special needs children. Nick Meyer.
Nikki Doumas of Laguna Niguel has committed to the University of California, San Diego for Water Polo. Nikki is a three-year varsity starter and was named to the 2014 All-CIF and All-League First Team’s. As starting goal keeper, Nikki helped the water polo team earn the Trinity League Championship and the CIF Southern Section Division 2 Championship in both 2013 and 2014. Nikki is a member of the California Scholarship Federation, was recognized as a USA Water Polo Academic All-American and received the SMCHS Academic Award in Physics. Nikki Doumas.
Nico Houser of Santa Ana has committed to play Lacrosse at Wagner College. Nico is a three-year varsity letterman for the Eagles and was named first team All-Trinity League last year as a junior. Houser missed his sophomore season as a result of a broken leg suffered in a soccer game against Mater Dei, but has managed to bounce back. Despite missing his sophomore season, Houser has managed to compile 28 goals, seven assists, 28 ground balls and 35 points overall as a junior and added five points in two playoff games as his leg healed. Nico is active in his community where he serves as a youth lacrosse coach and looks forward to heading to the East Coast to compete with former Eagle teammates Wes Schuler at Manhattan College and Hayden Ruiz at Boston University. Nico Houser.
Abigael McShane of Coto de Caza has committed to Providence College for swimming. McShane is a four-year varsity letterman for the Eagle swim team and has been a member of three straight Trinity League championships teams in her first three years at Santa Margarita. As an Eagle, Abigael was a member of the 2014 CIF Division I championship team and has been on a girls’ varsity team that has a 23-0 dual meet record since her freshman year at SMCHS. McShane has recorded a CIF consideration time in the 500 free and has been a double Trinity League finalist in the each of her two individual league swims for the past three years. Last season, Abigael swam to top 8, championship final swims in the 200 free and the 100 backstroke. Heading into her senior year, Abigael ranks in the Top 40 all-time in school history in the 500, 200, and 100 free as well as the 100 yard backstroke. Abigael was a member of the school’s CIF Relay championship teams in 2013 and 2014, the first two times SMCHS has won this prestigious, 40-year-old relay championship meet. Abigael McShane.

Aaron Magazine of Coto de Caza has committed to Towson University for swimming. Aaron will graduate from Santa Margarita as one of its greatest distance swimmers as the 8^th fastest swimmer in school history in the 500 free and the 14^th fastest swimmer in the 200 free. Last season, Aaron qualified for the CIF Division 1 championships which is arguably the strongest and deepest high school championship meet in the United States. Aaron is a four-year varsity letterman, a rarity amongst the boys’ varsity swim team. In each of his first three seasons, Aaron has qualified for the Trinity League Championship final in the 200 and 500 yard freestyle events. Aaron was a part of the 2014 and 2013 Trinity League Championship teams that went a combined 15-0 in dual meets. Aaron Magazine.
Jerod Magazine of Coto de Caza has committed to Providence College for swimming. Jerod currently ranks as the 12^th fastest 500 freestyler in Santa Margarita school history. Jerod’s performance in 2014 led to his first CIF consideration swim and subsequently, his first swim at the CIF Division 1 championship. A three-year varsity swimmer, Jerod has been a member of the school’s back-to-back Trinity League championships in 2013 and 2014. Jerod was voted as a team tri-captain for his senior year and will look to lead the team to its 11^thleague title in the past 16 years. In addition to his 5 free ranking, Jerod ranks 15^th all-time in the 100 yard backstroke and 24^th in the 200 yard freestyle. Last season, Jerod placed 4^th in the 100 backstroke and 9^th in the 500 free. Jerod’s 9^th place finish at league finals earned him his first CIF qualification time and he became the first swimmer to qualify for CIF from the consolation race since the Trinity league began in 2000. Jerod Magazine.
Audrey Johnstone of Mission Viejo has committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for swimming. Audrey is a member of three straight Trinity League championships (2012, 2013, and 2014), the 2014 CIF Division 1 championship team and has been an important component of the most successful run in SMCHS girls’ swimming history. Audrey is a member of the 200 medley relay school-record-setting team and was named an NISCA All-American in that event. In addition, Audrey is also a member of the school relay records in the 6×50 freestyle relay and the 4×50 butterfly relay. Audrey has qualified to swim in six individual events at CIF in her first three years at SMCHS, three times in the 100 butterfly and three times in the 500 freestyle. Her 500 freestyle time ranks her as the 4^th fastest 500 freestyler in school history, and she is also the 4^th fastest 100 butterfly swimmer in Santa Margarita history. Audrey’s anchor spit time of 23.66 on the school record 200 medley relay places her as the 3^rd fastest relay swimmer in school history. Audrey Johnstone.
Sydney Franzen of San Clemente has committed to Rice University for swimming. Franzen currently holds the school record in the 500 free and is a member of the school record setting 4×100 freestyle relay, and 6×50 freestyle relay. She is a 3-time high school All-American and in 2014, earned All-American recognition as one of the nation’s top 100 swimmers in the 200 frees, 500 frees, and as a member of the 4×100 freestyle relay team. Sydney earned two individual All-American recognitions in 2013 in the 200 and 500 freestyles. In her first three years with the Eagles, Sydney qualified for six individual CIF appearances and has placed in the championship final (top 9) in four events the past two years. Sydney was a member of the 2014 CIF Division championship team, the first CIF Division I swimming championship in Santa Margarita school history and has already been selected as a team captain for the 2015 swim season. Sydney Franzen.
Katie McLaughlin of Dana Point has committed to the University of California, Berkeley for swimming. Katie will go down in Santa Margarita swimming history as its most accomplished swimmer. A U.S. Swimming National team member, Katie placed 2^nd at the U.S. Nationals this past summer in the 200 meter butterfly and went on to win the Bronze medal at the 2014 Pac Pacific Swimming Championships in Australia for Team U.S.A. Her time at the Pan Pacs set a Junior World Record in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:07.08. Katie owns four individual school records at Santa Margarita (50, 100, and 200 freestyles and the 100 butterfly) and is a member of the 4×50 freestyle and 4×100 freestyle relay records. In her first 3 years of high school swimming, Katie has won 5 individual CIF titles (100 butterfly in 2012, 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly in 2013, and 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly in 2014). In 2014, Katie was named a high school All-American in 6 events (50, 100, and 200 freestyles, 100 butterfly, and the 200 and 400 freestyle relays) and broke the national high school record in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 51.78. Katie was a member of the 2014 Santa Margarita CIF Division I championship team and has won three team CIF titles in her first 3 years of high school swimming. Katie McLaughlin.

Kaitlyn Merritt of Trabuco Canyon has committed to Stanford University for Track and Field. Kaitlyn is the owner of several pole vault records, including our SMCHS school record, Trinity League record and All-Time Orange County record of 13’09.” Nationally, Kaitlyn currently holds the National Freshman Class Record of 13’03”, and the National Sophomore Class Record of 13’08”. Kaitlyn is a three-time Trinity League Champion, three-time Orange County Champion, three-time CIF Champion, and won the 2012 California State Championship to become the first Santa Margarita Athlete ever to win an individual California State title. In addition to pole vaulting, Kaitlyn is also a member of both relays and participates in any open running event the team needs. Kaitlyn’s vault of 13’09” currently ranks tied as the fourth best female high school pole vault mark ever in the United States. Off the track, Kaitlyn is the President of the Gimme Shelter Club which helps feed the homeless at the Isaiah House once a month, she is a member of the California Scholarship Federation, an on-campus tutor, a link crew leader, student-ambassador, and carries a 4.86 grade point average. Kaitlyn Merritt.