February 1 is a day that thousands of high school athletes across the nation wait for. Every year, it’s the date that marks National Signing Day, the time when gifted student-athletes sign their letters of intent to signal where they will play their sport at the collegiate level. Only the best put pens to commitment documents and this year North Atlanta is home to eight athletes who will continue to make their marks on the track, field, diamond and pitch.

Warrior signees are Bonnie Shea, soccer, Dartmouth College; Patrick Wilson, lacrosse, Berry College; Jackson Pearce, track, University of San Diego; Majeste’ Hansberry, football, Fort Valley State University; Jack Ferguson, baseball, United States Naval Academy; Hayden Dwyer, baseball, University of Cincinnati; Larkin De Laria, rowing, Trinity College; and Bryce Washington, soccer, Rutgers University.

It took years of hard work to reach their levels of skill, but they said the satisfaction of officially signing was worth the wait. “I was happy not only for myself but for the others who were signing as well,” said Wilson. “It was great to experience that with them.”

For some signees, the stress of signing day was magnified because they were recruited by multiple colleges to play. But interviewed Warriors said they felt strong about their decisions. “I picked Rutgers University because I loved the environment and the coaches I met,” said Washington.

With Rutgers, he said, an added bonus will be playing in the hyper-competitive Big Ten athletic conference.

This group of student-athletes leaves behind significant athletic legacies at North Atlanta. They have made their mark in high school and now are eager to move on to greater challenges and more lofty fields of play. “I can’t wait to be a part of Dartmouth’s team and community,” said Shea. “The program there has such a high level of competition. I’m just really excited to be a part of it.”

Pearce spoke for all of his fellow signees when he echoed a similar sentiment. “I am really looking forward to getting to compete at the next level,” he said.