Three from SK make college choices official

South Kitsap seniors Bri Smallage, left, Jackie Steiger and Aaron LaDeaux pose together on national signing day Wednesday at the high school. - Tim Kelly
Tim Kelly
South Kitsap seniors Bri Smallage, left, Jackie Steiger and Aaron LaDeaux pose together on national signing day Wednesday at the high school.

February 2, 2012 · 10:11 AM

On national signing day for high school seniors, a trio of South Kitsap seniors took part in the annual ritual of officially declaring where they’ll attend college and continue their athletic careers.

Bri Smallage, a standout goalkeeper on the Wolves soccer team, is staying closest to home and has accepted a scholarship to Seattle University.

“Bri is one of our hardest players in my whole career to replace here,” South soccer coach Julie Cain said at Wednesday morning’s ceremony.

Julie Steiger has committed to play basketball at Western Oregon University in Monmouth.

“To see her growth from the last couple of years has been amazing’” girls basketball coach Mike Hulet said. “She’s a team leader and a complete player, and I know she’s going to have a great career at Western Oregon.”

Aaron LaDeaux, a wide receiver and kicker for the SK football team, will be heading to North Dakota to play for the Beavers of Minot State University, an NAIA school.

“Hard work really does pay off,” said Wolves assistant football coach Cory Vartanian, a former college kicker at North Dakota State University who worked with LaDeaux the last two seasons. “Aaron earned this scholarship. He worked his butt off.”

 

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