http://www.mcall.com/sports/highschool/ ... 0344.story
Signing Day a special day
February 7, 2008
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To get the juices flowing, there's nothing like a big football game in front of 10,000 screaming fans or a championship basketball game that has them hanging from the rafters.
Those special events are what garner the lion's share of attention when it comes to high school athletics.
But the most meaningful, most treasured moments are the ones held in a much more intimate settings, like the ones I witnessed on Wednesday morning.
In a small meeting room near the principal's office at Bethlehem Catholic, Linda McDermott beamed with obvious and deserved pride as her twins, daughter Kerry and son Mike, made their college futures known on Signing Day.
Kerry, a track standout, is headed to Cornell; Mike is set for the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he'll play football.
''They're both hard workers, great students and great athletes,'' Mrs. McDermott said. ''They've been a joy. They've been competitive with each other their whole lives, but in a good way. They've pushed and motivated each other to excel.
''As parents, we only expected them to do the best they can. If the best they could be was 'B' students, we would have accepted that, but they pushed each other to become 'straight-A' students and now they're both going on to some great places.''
This is the one day where the worlds of athletics and academics beautifully converge in the form of a dotted line that either earns deserving kids full scholarships, or, at least, a considerable discount off the ticketed price of a quality college education.
It's the day that all of the hard work on the field and in the classroom is rewarded.
The McDermotts, who live in Stewartsville, N.J., were happy to have a combined ceremony.
''It's great to share this with Kerry,'' said Mike, a 6-7, 250-pound two-way linemen at Becahi who who will play either on the offensive line or tight end. ''It's like a dream come true. We've always been good friends besides brother and sister. We both do track and she's been my running buddy. And we kind of went through this process together.
''There has been a little sibling rivalry, but it's helped us. We motivate each other. I used to get higher grades than her when we were younger, but she began booking down and passed me. My father [Bart] has always encouraged the two of us to compete, but in a good way.''
Kerry is ranked fifth in Becahi's senior class, Mike 13th.
Kerry is also the defending 2A state champ in the pole vault and won four District 11 medals last spring (pole vault, 300 hurdles, 4x400 relay team and long jump), but she's just as proud of her academic standing.
''It's something I really worked hard for,'' she said. ''That's why I'm going to Cornell. … for the amazing academics. And they have a very good track program.''