National letter of intent signing day on Wednesday was not only for high school football players, but also was the signing day for field hockey, soccer, cross country and track and field, plus men's water polo.
High school athletes may commit to colleges at any time, but the verbal commitments are not binding for the athlete or the school.
National letters of intent are an official agreement between the school to offer financial assistance and the athlete to attend if admitted.
The signing period began on Wednesday and continues through April 1. Athletes can sign throughout the period.
Bunn High girls track star Marisa Bellamy waited until Friday to sign so her family could attend her signing. She won the NCHSAA 2A track championship in the 100, 200 and 400 meters in 2011. She signed with South Carolina.
Durham Jordan's Alexis Perry served a red-and-white sheet cake at her signing. She celebrated signing with N.C. State, but the Falcons track standout said choosing her college had been a difficult process. She visited five college campuses.
"Making the final decision was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, because it's the next four years of my life," she said." In the end, it came down to where I thought I would fit in the best with the program. I'm really happy with it.
"I love the school. I love their program. The jumps coach (Chris Coleman) is an amazing person and I can't wait to work with him full time."
Three members of the 2011 NCHSAA 4A champion Leesville Road girls soccer team signed this week. Caroline Gentry will join her two football-playing brothers at N.C. State. Sarah Floyd signed with Appalachian State and Courtney Johnston committed to play at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Two of the top high school cross country runners in the country made very different decisions. Millbrook's Samantha George, the NCHSAA 4A girls champion, decided to attend N.C. State while Cary Academy's Thomas Graham, a four-time N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association champion, is going cross-country to Stanford.
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Nearby 2A prep softball rivals North Johnston and Wilson Beddingfield played the ultimate grudge match Saturday afternoon, double-time style. 
Holly Springs seniors Jenna Firestein and Kristen Krebs knew Saturday’s contest against Fayetteville Jack Britt would be their final home game as members of the Golden Hawks softball team. 
Green Hope’s perfect season is snatched away by Charlotte Hough in the final 12 minutes of the state final at N.C. State’s Dail Soccer Field in a 2-1 finish. 
The Holly Springs Golden Hawks softball team has had an exciting past week of playing close games. On Friday, however, the Hawks fourth close game in a week ended in a 3-2 loss to Britt, as the Buccaneers rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score and then won in the eighth to even the series at one game apiece. 
The Green Hope High girls soccer team is ranked No. 1 in the country, but won’t reach its goal unless it beats Hough in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A championships on Saturday.
Follow the game on our Twitter account, @prepsnow or get a Twitter feed at our high school blog, Preps Now. 
