Todd Rose | Daily Press Six Escanaba High School students signed to pursue athletics in higher education in the school library Monday. Front row, from left: Abby HIll, Connor Smale, Joey Kositzky and Lizzy Sliva. Back: Escanaba mascot Mo, Colin Hudson and Adam Willette.

ESCANABA — The Escanaba High School hosted a momentous day Monday as six Eskymos athletes signed their letters of intent to play sports at the collegiate level.

Abby Hill, Alma College, Softball

Abby Hill will continue her softball career next year at Alma College downstate.

A relationship between Hill and the Alma program stretches back several years prior to her official signing.

“I met the coach when I was an underclassman, and they were sending stuff for their camps and everything,” Hill commented. “Once I hit the middle of my junior year, they officially reached out and sent me a letter and said they wanted me to come play for them.”

Hill, though feeling a bit timid, is anxious to make the next move in her life.

“I’m kind of nervous, but I think it will be a good change, and it’ll be a good transition overall,” she said. “I’m just excited for the next step after high school. It’s going to be new and exciting. I can’t wait.”

In the classroom, Hill will be studying biology with hopes of attending medical school and becoming a surgeon further down the road.

Her love for the field stretches back to middle school.

“It was actually in junior high science we did the genetics unit, and that was super interesting to me,” she remarked. “So, when I got to high school and took biology my sophomore year, I was like, ‘this is what I want to do.'”

Hill, who noted her excitement and relief to have the signing made official, also thanked someone who has been alongside her for her whole life — her mother Sarah.

“She’s been really supportive throughout the whole thing,” Hill said.

Colin Hudson, Bay College, Basketball

Colin Hudson follows the footsteps of brother Carter to the next level of basketball as he signed to join the Bay College Norse next year.

“I’m feeling pretty good, and I’m excited for when the season comes,” Hudson said following his signing.

Aside from his brother, Hudson’s familiarity with the Bay program will help make the step to the college level a bit easier.

“Every transition is tough, but I know a lot of the guys at Bay, and I’ve been around the program,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a good transition. I’m really excited.”

Positionally, Hudson hopes to utilize his height — alongside tall teammates — to help the team make an impact on the court.

“I’m looking to maybe be a three,” he said. “We’ve got kind of a big team this year, so I’m looking forward to the size we bring to the table, and I’m excited.”

The choice of Bay College was helped by its location in Hudson’s hometown of Escanaba.

“It was a good fit,” he said. “I think I can contribute right away, play with a bunch of good guys and just have a good time.

“It’s the hometown. I’m excited to bring something to the hometown.”

Hudson — who is hoping to major in business — also voiced his thanks for those who have been with him on his basketball journey thus far.

“Shout out to everybody who has been by my side the whole way and everyone who’s been supporting me,” he said.

Joey Kositzky, St. Norbert College, Football

Joey Kositzky will bring his gridiron talents to the Green Knights of St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis. next year after he signed his letter of intent Monday.

The opportunity for Kositzky to join the program came after checking a box on his application.

When I was applying to colleges, I just decided, ‘Why not try and apply to St. Norbert,'” Kositzky said. “On the application, there was a point that asked your activities and if you wanted to do them in college. So, I put football in there and checked that box. Then, the coach contacted me and said, ‘Hey, you want to play football for us?’ And I said, ‘Why not?'”

With the signing now official, which he remarked felt ‘pretty good,’ Kositzky will join the Green Knights as a wide receiver while studying business.

Kositzky added that the transition from high school to college will be assisted by numerous factors at St. Norbert. He’s also hopeful for a solid class schedule.

“I think it’s going to be good. I think the coaching staff is going to be really helpful for us and all the more facilities that they have down there,” he said. “Just hoping to get some opportunities on the field and, hopefully, a good class schedule later in the morning. Maybe not so early.

“(I’m excited about) Just getting on campus, meeting all the guys, getting in the door with the football program and hopefully getting some opportunities there.”

Kositzky noted his appreciation for those who have supported him.

“(Thank you) to my mom and dad, my brother and all my family that have been there by my side,” he said. “And my coaches that have been supporting me and all my friends that have been in the crowd cheering us on.”

Lizzy Sliva, Bay College, Softball

Lizzy Sliva, with her signing, joins the Bay College Norse softball program next year.

“I’m very excited to move on past high school,” Sliva said of making her next step official. “It’s exciting to have everybody here supporting me and my decision to go play for the Norse.”

Several factors — including its location and a familiarity with coach Ross Rahoi and many familiar faces as teammates — made Bay the obvious choice for Sliva.

“Bay was always my go-to because it’s close by,” she said. “I did have another college, but it’s very far away, and I didn’t really want to go that far.

“I know like a lot more people here. I know some of my teammates that I played with in travel ball, they’re coming to be on this team, too. So, that exciting to have some more friends on the team with me.”

While her initial plans include joining Bay’s nursing program, Sliva looks to the sky for where she hopes to one day make a living.

“I’m going to start the nursing program, and I want to eventually get my PPL and become a pilot,” she commented.

While she has played catcher and outfield positions for the Eskymos, Sliva is unsure of what plans Rahoi may have for her as a member of the Norse. Regardless, she is “very excited to continue my career.”

Sliva expressed her thanks to those who have supported her softball career.

“Shout out to my parents for always supporting me in softball and my coaches and teammates for being there,” she said.

Connor Smale, Finlandia University, Basketball

With his signing, Connor Smale will accomplish one of his dreams in life as he joins the Finlandia University basketball team.

“I’m feeling really happy,” said Smale. “My whole goal was to play college basketball, and I accomplished that. So, I’m really happy.”

Discussions between Smale and inlandia stretch back two years to Smale’s sophomore year.

“They were talking to me my sophomore year, and they showed interest,” he said. “When I went there, they all welcomed me with open arms, and they’re all really nice people. That stood out, and it just felt like home.”

As for the move to Finlandia, “I’m nervous, but I’m also excited,” said Smale.

“I’m excited to get in the gym and just work hard. Obviously, it’s going to be a big step, and I’m excited.”

Smale will major in physical therapy, a passion that stemmed from an injury of his own that required rehabilitation.

“I think when I broke my knee a couple years ago, and I went to physical therapy, I just realized that it’s something I wanted to do,” he commented. “It’s a big part of my life. It changed my life, and I’m just really passionate about it after that whole experience.”

Smale expressed his gratitude to his supporters as well.

“Thanks to all my coaches and teammates and friends and family who has supported me over the past couple of year,” he said.

Adam Willette, St. Norbert College, Football

Like his Eskymos’ teammate Joey Kositzky, Adam Willette will join the Green Knights of St. Norbert College next fall as a member of their football team.

“I’m pretty excited,” Willette commented. “It’s just the next step of my life, and I’m really happy to do it down there in front of my friends and family.”

Willette marked his Escanaba football coach Dave Wilson as the person responsible for getting the ball rolling with the St. Norbert program.

“Mr. Wilson likes putting out people who he thinks can go to the next level, so I really appreciate Mr. Wilson for delegating that,” he said. “Then, I set up a visit. So, I went down there and really liked the campus and the culture, so I decided that’s where I wanted to go.”

On the field, Willette prefers to play in the trenches on the offensive line, primarily at either of the tackle positions. However, Willette will “go anywhere they need me to.”

As far as the move to the collegiate level, Willette commented, “It’s going to be interesting.”

“I’m going to need to work hard, and it’s not going to be easy,” Willette said. “But, I’m willing to do it. I love football. I love the sport and everything about it.”

Willette — who will be majoring in pre-law with plans to attend law school down the line — shared his thanks for father Dave and all of his supporters.

“(Thank you) to my dad, my entire family and to my coaches and friends and all who made it possible for me to be here today,” he said.