Plum senior student-athletes set college plans

By: Michael Love
Saturday, February 10, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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It was another day to celebrate for Plum seniors set to continue their athletic pursuits at the collegiate level.

Last Wednesday marked the first day of the regular signing period for Division I and II football players to make their decisions final, and Mustangs quarterback and punter Sean Franzi put his signature down with Division II Edinboro in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

“I visited up there (Feb. 1), and as soon as I walked on campus, I felt that this is the place I wanted to be,” said Franzi, a three-year starter who threw 31 career touchdowns.

“Three of my former teammates, Kade Thomas, Logan Brooks and Reed Martin, are up there right now, and I can’t wait to join them. Talking with them and all the coaches, I felt that I was wanted, and I knew it was the right decision for me.”

Franzi said his main duties to start with the Fighting Scots will be as a punter. The Big East Conference first-team punter said he is excited to learn with Martin who earned Division II All-American honors as a punter in 2022.

The regular signing period for all non-football Division I and II sports began Nov. 8 and continues until Aug. 1.

Finalizing Division II decisions were Charlee Wastchak for lacrosse at Edinboro; Aiyana Adams for track and field at Goldey Beacom College in Wilmington, Dela.; and Tyler Yurisinec and Ethan Andrejeski, both of whom will be heading to Pitt-Johnstown to continue their soccer careers.

“I really didn’t know for a while if I wanted to pursue lacrosse in college,” said Wastchak, a defender who helped Plum girls lacrosse win a section title and advance to the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals in 2023.

“Then I started getting offers, and I starting to feel like this could be a reality. I’ve known Edinboro for a while, so it is cool that I will get to go there and play.”

Joining Franzi, Wastchak, Adams, Yurisinec and Andrejeski at the Plum signing ceremony were Pascale Olczak (Allegheny basketball) and Nate Kondas (Grove City football).

“This is a great day of celebration for me and a lot of my classmates,” Franzi said.

“We’ve worked so hard to get to where we are. It’s a lot of fun to share this with them and celebrate. I am so thankful.”

Yurisinec, a defender, and Andrejeski, a midfielder, were part of another strong run for Plum boys soccer to the program’s fourth consecutive section championship.

The Mustangs earned the No. 1 seed for the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs, but they suffered a 1-0 heartbreaker to South Fayette in the first round.

“I’m super excited for this opportunity at Pitt-Johnstown,” Andrejeski said. “It is definitely a big accomplishment and a special moment to celebrate with my family, friends and teammates.”

“It is really awesome I get to go up there and share the experience with (Ethan),” Yurisinec said.

Kondas, a Big East honorable mention center and second-team defensive tackle, will join a Grove City football team that celebrated one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2023.

The Wolverines won the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title, advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III championships, and finished 11-1 overall.

“It is awesome to be able to go up there and be a part of the future and everything they are doing,” Kondas said. “There’s so much excitement surrounding the program.

“I didn’t know I wanted to play (in college) until my senior season. I wanted to at least try because I didn’t want to regret not playing. I wanted to go for it. I love playing football. I love everything about it.”

All four Plum girls basketball seniors will be involved in athletics at the collegiate level.

Megan Marston, who eclipsed 1,000 career points in a game in early January, announced in the fall that she will be playing at Division III Case Western Reserve.

Olczak, Adams and Rayla Smith joined Marston in a senior night celebration Feb. 5, and the Mustangs earned a 61-49 victory to stay in the hunt for a share of the Section 1-5A title.

“It is exciting to take that next step forward,” Olczak said. “It is invigorating to know that it is all set for me, both athletically and academically.”

“I am overjoyed at the success that I have had,” said Adams, who plans to run the 400, 200 and 800 meters and throw the shot put this spring.

“I have really enjoyed my time here at Plum. I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

Smith, a three-sport standout, hadn’t signed her Division II letter of intent as of last Wednesday, but she said she will be continuing in lacrosse at Gannon.

“A lot of us (lacrosse) seniors this year are going on to play in college, and a couple people last year went, so it’s really nice to be a part of a program that continues to do good things and is recognized by college programs,” Smith said.

Marston was one of eight from Plum who were celebrated and recognized during the opening of the signing day period in November. That group included Isabella DiFrancesco (Davis & Elkins lacrosse), Allie Venanzi (Chatham lacrosse), Sophie Anderson (Frostburg State lacrosse), Ava Weleski (Robert Morris soccer), Jack Anderson (Washington & Jefferson baseball), Colin Watson (Cal, Pa. baseball) and Jack Tongel (Pitt wrestling).

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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