The Samohi student body invaded the campus’ North Gym on Feb. 7, honoring some of the school’s finest senior student-athletes as they made their college decisions. Representing several different sports, nine of Samohi’s best signed on for the next step in their careers during a National Signing Day ceremony.
After an introduction from Samohi Athletic Director Coleen Davenport, the student-athletes ran through the Vikings tunnel typically reserved for football fare, arriving to a rousing ovation by hundreds of students, parents, staff and coaches. Each of the signees were lauded by their respective coaches before family members joined them for the official signing process.
A successful 2023 season for the Vikings football squad, which went 9-5 and went on a miraculous run to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division 9 championship contest, was aided by three of the signees. Moving on to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts is running back and linebacker Caden McCallum, offensive and defensive lineman Jayden Montanez committed to the University of California, Davis, and offensive and defensive lineman Ryland Hawkins will be playing for Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.
Vikings Coach Carter Paysinger spoke highly of the three, including team captain McCallum, who was recently named as part of the All-CIF Southern Section Division 9 squad and the All-Bay League team for his 2023 efforts. As the team’s bellcow back, McCallum ran the ball 288 times in 14 games, rushing for 1,604 yards and 24 touchdowns. In the receiving game, he caught 26 passes for 187 yards and 2 scores. McCallum was also active on defense, recording 108 tackles during the season.
Montanez, who Paysinger called a "beast on both sides of the ball," was also an All-CIF and All-Bay League selection in 2023. Along with his work on the offensive line, Montanez was responsible for a team-high in tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (4.5). Hawkins, an All-Bay League honorable mention, was another anchor on the offensive line and was noted as a team leader and "big reason" for the Vikings’ 2023 success by Paysinger.
Three of the other signees chose to stay in-state, those being girls’ soccer standout Cassie Bibby (University of Southern California), lacrosse leader Jasper Ford (Dominican University of California in San Rafael) and boys’ water polo record holder Darragh Flanders (Pomona Pitzer College in Claremont).
Flanders was applauded by his father and water polo coach Matt Flanders, who said the team and coaching staff were "really happy to see Darragh move on" to the next level. Flanders’ accomplishments include a 2022-23 NISCA Boys Water Polo All-American Second Team selection, as well as holding the record for most career goals in Samohi history.
Going out of state for school are girls’ volleyball star Emersen Werger (University of Denver), sailor Oliver Keeves (Tufts University) and baseball standout Bobby Munoz (Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota). Munoz was a three-year starter and leader for the Vikings, with coach Jordan Sigman saying he expects "some big things from him."
"His leadership, his will to win, his ability to hold others accountable and himself accountable were the keys to our success this [past] year … we’re super proud of him," Sigman said of Munoz.
Davenport took the time to thank student mentors such as coaches for their part in the student-athletes’ process.
"They have put in countless hours to work with all of you students to improve your skills, give you a good experience, [guide] you through high school, and I thank them for their hard work," she said.
