6 Hilton Head Prep athletes sign to compete at the college level

Jessica Post always loved the water, but had absolutely no sailing experience when she decided to give Hilton Head Prep’s newly formed sailing team a try.

“We started a team in my freshman year,” Post recalled. “I wasn’t doing anything that fall and decided it would be a fun thing to try out. And I just got hooked.”

On Thursday, she hooked a college opportunity when she signed to compete for Christopher Newport University in Virginia.

“That’s pretty exciting,” said Post, who was one of six Hilton Head Prep athletes to sign their papers to join collegiate teams next fall.

Also locking in their commitments were golfers Jack Foyle (College of Charleston), Christian Garruppo (McDaniel College) and Dylaney Day (Thomas University), along with tennis players Sam Fried (Mercer) and Alejandro Becker (Sewanee).

Though National Signing Day for those sports doesn’t take place until next Wednesday, next week’s spring break prompted the school to hold its signing ceremony ahead of time. The papers will be held until they can be returned next week.

“It’s nice to know I can play at the next level,” said Garruppo, who will play at the NCAA Division III level. “All the work I’ve put in will be able to go on for another four years, instead of having to stop like a lot of people do after high school.”

Foyle and Fried managed to land Division I opportunities, with Foyle joining a Charleston golf team currently ranked 52nd in the nation by Golfweek and coming off a win in last month’s Colleton River Collegiate.

“I never really thought I’d be going to such a prestigious D-I school,” Foyle said. “It’s just amazing to have the opportunity.”

Fried will join a Mercer tennis team that will have to replace three seniors next year.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 8:10 PM with the headline "6 Hilton Head Prep athletes sign to compete at the college level."