South's seniors finally attracting attention

After a somewhat slow beginning to the college signing period, things are starting to pick up around South Kitsap.

Stephanie Olsen, the Narrows League Most Valuable Player last fall, has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for Division I Villanova while basketball star Adam Bennett is headed to Whitworth College in Spokane and C.J. Godfrey has signed with the Washington State track team.

“I’ve been non-stop smiles,” Olsen said. “It’s really awesome that this has happened.”

Olsen said she hasn’t been getting much attention from any colleges since her junior season and was surprised when a recruiter from Villanova approached her at a tournament in Las Vegas. A week later, she was in Philadelphia visiting the campus.

“I knew it when I got there. It just felt right,” Olsen said. “You take it as it comes, and this is right for me.”

Olsen said she will be expected to start immediately at setter for the team that placed third in the Big East last year. She will head out for Philadelphia in late July as practice begins on the first of August.

“I am so excited right now,” Olsen said. “I really clicked with all the girls on the team, and that’s really important.”

Olsen will receive a partial scholarship the first two years and will receive a full ride after that. She said she plans on majoring in communications with an eye on public relations.

Bennett signed with Whitworth last week, and will play basketball for the Division III school.

“I think it’s a really good fit for me, basketball-wise and academically,” Bennett said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

Bennett, who helped lead the Wolves to a second-place finish in this year’s Class 4A state tournament, will receive grants from the school for both athletics and academics.

Bennett, a first-team All-Narrows League selection, said he will see plenty of playing time his freshmen year and should fit in well with the young team.

“Adam is one of the finest young men we have recruited in recent years,” said Whitworth head coach Jim Hayford. “He has high academic standards and is a person with great character. Adam will help fill a low post position on the team that we lost to graduation this past season.”

Last season Bennett averaged 10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, which nearly match his career averages of 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. A three-year starter, Bennett was a second team All-Narrows League selection as a sophomore and an honorable mention choice as a junior.

Bennett said he will pursue a degree in business or international finance and may go to law school.

Godfrey signed with WSU and will run both cross-country and distance for the Cougars. He will receive some financial help but not much.

“I went with WSU because of the programs they offer there,” Godfrey said. “I like the running program there. I went for a visit and I really liked the coaching and I liked everyone there.”

Godfrey, who lead the Wolves to an eighth-place finish in state cross-country meet last year, was looking at Idaho but decided on WSU.

“I was looking at Idaho but they weren’t looking at me,” Godfrey said. “No one ever contacted me from Idaho so I kind of went in another direction.”

Godfrey said he will major in engineering.

South’s Clayton Hutchins and Chris Anderson have both been academically accepted at Eastern Washington and both will walk on to the football team, Hutchins said. Anderson had been expecting some kind of offer from Central Washington but that never happened.

Brent Nickerson is still waiting word from the University of Washington football program on his status. He wants to walk on but has not heard anything yet.

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