Wednesday was a special day for Palo Verde High School as 12 senior athletes signed their financial aid agreements with colleges. The Panthers athletic director, Joseph Aznarez, praised the hard work and commitment of both the coaches and athletes at the school.
One of the standout athletes was swimmer Max Carlsen, a four-time individual state champion who played a significant role in Palo Verde’s 10th consecutive state title win. Carlsen will be attending N.C. State in the fall, a 34-time ACC champion school. He shared his excitement, calling the day a dream come true and reflecting on how a record he achieved during his freshman or sophomore year motivated him to strive for the next level.
Another talented athlete, shortstop Ethan Clauss, secured a spot on the LSU baseball team after helping the Panthers clinch the state championship last season. Clauss expressed his disbelief at his achievement and his eagerness to showcase his skills at the collegiate level. Additionally, three other baseball players from Palo Verde – Brady Dallimore (TCU), Taylor Johns (Grand Canyon), and Andrew Suitor (Taft College) – also signed with their respective colleges.
Bishop Gorman also had multiple signees, including pitcher James Whitaker, who will be playing baseball for Northwestern. Whitaker, with a 3.53 ERA and 48 strikeouts, had a successful season. The school had a total of 13 athletes from five different sports signing on National Signing Day.
Other notable signees included Liberty wrestler Melvin Whitehead, a three-time state champion heading to Arizona State, and Liberty’s Natalie Collins, who signed to play women’s soccer at Boise State after scoring a team-high 16 goals during the fall season.
Foothill’s Tianna Hunsaker will be joining BYU to play women’s soccer after an impressive season where she ranked fifth in the state with 45 goals. The list of signees from various Southern Nevada schools showcases the talent and dedication of student-athletes in the region.
In addition to the athletes mentioned, schools like Centennial, Coronado, and Faith Lutheran had their own list of signees across different sports. The commitment and achievements of these young athletes reflect the strong athletic programs and supportive communities in Southern Nevada.
For more information, you can contact Jeff Wollard at jwollard@reviewjournal.com.
