Young athletes across the country signed their letters-of-intent to take their talents to the collegiate level this past week, and the south Wake area was no stranger to the commitment activity. Seventeen athletes from seven local high schools signed their letters during the early signing period.

For those 17, it was a day of excitement. Almost all had family and coaches on hand to join in the celebration of their accomplishment.

"It's just super exciting to know that my hard work has paid off a bit and now I've just got a bright future ahead," said Eric Brady, a baseball player from Green Hope who signed to play for Duke.

Only two of those that signed were fall sports athletes, meaning the rest have yet to start or complete their senior season of competition. Almost all of athletes from the winter and spring sports said it was a relief to get the formality out of the way so they can focus on their season without the added pressure of trying to impress college coaches to secure a scholarship.

"I think it's definitely going to help," Green Hope's Stephanie Hughes said.

Hughes is heading to East Carolina next year for swimming.

"I don't think they'll be as much pressure and I won't be thinking about it as much, and not thinking 'I have to do such-and-such time to go to ECU.'"

Out of the group, ten chose to go an in-state school, and several athletes said proximity played a huge role in their recruitment.

"I was looking in Georgia and Virginia too and they're both really far. So I was basically separating those two schools and [went with] ECU because it's close to home."

Even one of those heading out of state, Panther Creek's Earnest Ross, said having some family nearby factored into his decision. Ross will play basketball next year at Auburn, but will have some North Carolina ties making him feel welcome.

"What made Auburn different from all my other choices is the coach Jeff Lebo, with him playing at UNC and stuff like that," Ross said. "I've got family near there in Mississippi and Atlanta so I figured that was a comfortable decision for me and my family."

Ross was one of three players who signed to play division I basketball. Middle Creek had two players from its hoops team sign, with Garrius Adams heading to the ACC to play for the Miami Hurricanes, and Tom Tankelewicz heading to Charleston Southern.

"It's a dream come true," Tankelewicz said. "There's nothing better than that. It's been my dream since I was three years old, and it's finally fulfilled."

Two local women's basketball players, Athens Drive's Alyx Ingram and Cary's Kelsey Campbell, signed to play next year at Belmont Abbey. Interestingly enough, it won't be the first time the two have gone to the same school.

"We actually were best friends in elementary school and went to different middle schools," Ingram said. "It's cool that we'll begin and end school together."

The two will be playing for Susan Yow, sister of legendary N.C. State coach Kay Yow whose number is retired for the Wolfpack.

Green Hope had five commits from five different sports. In addition to Brady heading to Duke for baseball, the Falcons' Michael Marshburn (golf) and Hughes (swimming) are both heading to East Carolina, while Sarah Forgacs has signed to play softball for Campbell. Alyssa Adrian also committed to Pittsburgh for gymnastics.

Middle Creek had four commits. In addition to Adams and Tankelewicz, the Mustangs had softball player Heather Robb commit to UNC-Greensboro and Courtney Rousse commit to Richmond for golf.

For Rousse, this day was an impossibility five years ago, before she had taken up golf. But after only four years of playing, she secured an offer from a division I team right after her junior year ended in the 2007 state championships. It's a scenario that is rarely replicated.

"I put in a lot of dedication and time in tournaments and traveling. I had a dream when I first started that I wanted to do this and it means a lot. Especially to commit as a junior after only playing four years before that," Rousse said. "Now it's just preparing, it's working out, it's playing every day, it's getting my game ready so I can be top on the team hopefully."

Panther Creek had the next highest total of commits from a local school with three. The Catamounts' Jaleesa Wilson gets the honor of choosing the college farthest away from home, signing with Denver to compete in gymnastics. Joining Wilson is Taylor Womble, who will play lacrosse at Wingate, and Ross.

Signing her letter-of-intent to play lacrosse at North Carolina was Apex's Courtney McLaughlin, while teammate Sarah Fellows made official her intent to play at Ohio State.

From Holly Springs, Jordan Reaves signed to play volleyball at Campbell.