National Signing Day: Lady Marauders moving on

FLOWER MOUND - Last Wednesday was a busy day for the girls athletic department at Marcus as the Lady Marauders had nine athletes announce their collegiate intentions.

Among the players signing were athletes in softball, volleyball, basketball and golf.

Marcus' softball team, in particular, should be optimistic entering the season as the Lady Marauders had four players sign to continue their athletic and academic careers.

Signing for softball were Dani Warne (Texas State), Madison Heathington (Oklahoma Panhandle State), Kelly Johnson (Angelo State) and Hannah Null (Abilene Christian).

"It feels like such a relief just to be done and know where I am going," Warne said. "All the work has paid off and now we're looking forward to the season."

"We want to play as a team and play really well on offense because we already have Hannah pitching," Johnson noted. "We want to make playoffs and go far."

"All the way to state," Null added.

While each has made their decision, different paths were navigated before ultimately signing.

For some, like Null, the decision was easy in retrospect.

"I went to ACU on my first visit and didn't really know what to expect," she said. "I went to look at some others and I didn't think they really even compared. So I pretty much knew then where I wanted to go. I think it was the perfect fit for me."

Heathington, however, hadn't made a decision until late in the process.

"[Panhandle] was actually the last school I looked at," she said. "I was going to go junior college and this was the last school I looked it. I loved it and I'm glad it worked out like that. It worked out perfectly."

Others, like Warne and Johnson, are just happy to be playing.

"I'm excited and I'm ready to go play at the college level," Warne said. "It was my dream and I finally made it happen. It came down to last year. I was looking at Arkansas and OSU and some others but then when I went [to Texas State] it was the place I definitely wanted to be at."

"I just kind of found this school and when I was looking I kind of realized I couldn't pass on this opportunity," Johnson added. "I decided to go there and now I'm happy with my decision."

The softball team isn't the only Marcus girls program with lofty expectations.

The basketball team returns all but three players from last season's team and also picked up a big addition in move-in Alex Lapeyrolerie.

"The team is looking really good," said Sierra Bone, Marcus guard. "Out of all four of my years, I think this could be the best team."

Bone and Lapeyrolerie entered the season with clear minds after signing their respective letters of intent. Bone signed with Central Arkansas, while Lapeyrolerie will be headed to New Mexico.

"I'm really excited and can't wait to get on campus and start playing," Bone said. "Central Arkansas was looking at me the whole time throughout the process. I had other schools come in and out but it was really Central Arkansas the whole time. I went on a visit and fell in love with the campus and the coaching staff and teammates were amazing. It was wonderful. They really cared about me and that was what sealed the deal."

Lapeyrolerie also appreciated the attention she received from the Lady Lobos.

"I was getting a lot of offers from different schools," she said. "They were coming in but I wanted to make sure I went to a school where the head coach wanted me, not by a recruiting coordinator or anything. New Mexico was very personal to me. The head coach was awesome and we had a really good relationship for two years. The whole staff bought in and made me feel at home."

With Lapeyrolerie in the fold, and multiple all-district performers back, Marcus is optimistic as the year has gotten under way.

"This is my first year here, but with us practicing so hard this year, I think we can go really far," Lapeyrolerie said. "I've gotten to know everyone on the team and the coaches. They're really cool and nice. I love the staff. I think we're going to go further than they have in the past three years."

Lapeyrolerie will add to Marcus' vaunted defensive scheme. But the Lady Marauders are also hoping to crank things up offensively.

"Our defense is always going to be solid," Bone said. "Right now, we're working on relentless pressure on offense so we can be good on both ends of the floor. Last year, teams had to figure out how they were going to score on us. This year, we want them to figure out how to stop us. We only lost three girls from last year and we have a new addition, so we're excited. The whole crew is back. We have great chemistry and have known each other since the second grade."

While the basketball and softball players still have a final year of competition in front of them, volleyball players Regan McGuire and Michelle Toro signed just weeks after their season was completed.

"It's actually been kind of an easy transition," said McGuire, who signed with TCU. "We've had two weeks to adjust from the season ending and with club starting soon, you have to be ready to adapt quickly."

While academics were at the front of McGuire's mind, she was also was looking to continue at an established volleyball program.

"Academics come first, but that's a little harder for me than someone like Michelle," McGuire joked. "Volleyball was at the front for me. I was looking at a few other schools but TCU was close to home and close to my parents and grandparents. It was the perfect situation."

Toro, meanwhile, wanted to continue playing volleyball, but not at the expense of her education and opted on the University of Texas-Dallas.

"I was looking academically first ahead of volleyball so I didn't really have a school I was targeting as much," she said. "I knew I wanted to play volleyball, but academics were first. If there was a place where I could play and still have a high level of academics, I was good with that."

Like McGuire, Toro was pleased to be close to family.

"I like Dallas a lot," she added. "I don't have to be next to my parents, but it would be great to have them within range."

But before they continue in college, McGuire and Toro have other business to tend to.

"Top 10 people in my class, that's what I'm looking for," Toro said.

"I'm looking forward to club," McGuire added. "That's probably more competitive than even school ball. It goes through spring and in the summer is nationals. We had tryouts this weekend and tournaments start up in January."

Also signing from Marcus was girls golfer Hayley Dambold (Midwestern State).

Dambold has advanced to regionals individually the past two seasons.

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