Signing Day, Part 1: Northwestern, Norwayne, Wooster athletes put pen to paper

Part 1 of The Daily Record's college signing coverage:

Northwestern's Olivia Amstutz (Ashland University, Div. II softball), Norwayne's Shelby Vaughn (Michigan State University, Div. I soccer) and Logan Dichler (Saint Leo University, Div. II baseball) Wooster's Grace Kostohryz (Northern Kentucky University, soccer) and Sam Jewell (Malone University, Div. II lacrosse) were part of the wave of college signings Wednesday in the Daily Record's coverage area.

For Amstutz, she will enter the spring as one of the area's top pitchers and now with her signing, it's all about relaxing and letting it go.

"It feels amazing," said Amstutz. "The stress of it while I've been playing, it's all gone. It feels good to be signed and knowing that I am going for another four years to continue the sport I love. The stress coming off my shoulders by signing tonight, that is going to help make my last season the best."

Nearby Ashland just felt like home for Amstutz.

"It's definitely the environment, I mean you walk onto campus, and everyone talks to you," said Amstutz. "The campus is beautiful; it really feels like home and everything about it made it worth going. When I started looking at colleges, I really wanted a place that felt like home when I got there. And Ashland is 100% that."

Amstutz plans on majoring in exercise science as she feels that her life experiences of rehabbing from injuries, will allow her to give back. It's something that has hindered her prep career but didn't stop her this past spring as she fired 89 innings, fanned 153 batters and posted 11-4 record. For her career, the Husky senior has posted a 22-6 record from the circle, struck out 264, twirled a 1.39 ERA over 181.2 innings.

"All my life I've had injuries and I've had physical therapy, time and time again," she said. "So, I know how tough that is as an athlete to think, 'Am I going to make it back as strong as I was before?' I feel that I can help young kids work through that and get back to where they want to be."

In Creston, Dichler, who has made a name for himself as one of the area's best catchers, he gets to live out a childhood dream of playing baseball in the South. Signing his letter of intent to Saint Leo University, nestled near Tampa, Florida, Dichler was excited.

"It's a huge stress reliever and I've always dreamed of playing in the South as a kid growing up," said Dichler. "Now I am excited to live out that childhood dream of mine."

Over his career, the Bobcat senior has hit .403, collecting 56 hits, driving in 46 runs and scoring 38. He has made a name for himself behind the plate, with a good arm, a quick and steady glove and an ability to handle his pitching staff.

Ultimately, it's working at continuing to get better that led him to find Saint Leo University, as he learned about from a friend who he was taking lessons with. Once he got there, Dichler felt Saint Leo was right for him.

"I loved everything about it, from the atmosphere and the campus was amazing," he said. "I felt really wanted, felt like I was a need and felt like I could grow as a baseball player. I am as ready to work with their catching coach Tony Caldwell, who played at the University of Auburn and the pitching coach. I think they can help me a out lot."

Dichler is undecided on a major but plans to do something in business realm. For now, he is ready to get his final season underway and to soak in all the memories.

"I am ready to have fun here in my last year," said Dichler. "I get to enjoy it all with my best friends and live in the moments that we have left."

Vaughn will go down as arguably the area's best player to ever play, right beside Wooster great Jen Philippon.

The Bobcat senior was simply a notch above the rest with her foot skills, powerful kick and an IQ for the game. She finished her career with 128 goals (third all-time), 14 assists and a total of 270 points (third all-time), while scoring more big goals in big games than anyone. It's no surprise she's playing at a high Div. I level at Michigan State.

"It's a great feeling to know that I accomplished one of my biggest dreams," said Vaughn.

As for the relief that comes afterwards:

"I am very relieved to keep moving forward in the process," she added. "This was the last step of making it official and now I can concentrate on moving there in January and getting started on my next goal. That is fitting in with the team and proving that I can help make an impact for the program."

Wooster had Kostohryz and Jewell sign their college letters in a ceremony at the school.

Kostohryz led Wooster to a share of the OCC title, putting together perhaps the best season of her career as a senior. She posted 26 career shutouts and 665 saves over 71 games that she started and finished throughout her four-year career.

Kostohryz made it official after her commitment earlier to continue her career at Northern Kentucky University.

"Putting pen to paper tonight was surreal," said Kostohryz. "I've always dreamed of being able to play Div. I soccer and signing my NLI tonight and officially accepting Coach Sheehan's offer made that dream a reality. Having verbally committed in August, so much stress was relieved, and I was able to enjoy my senior season with my friends.

"Knowing I'll be at NKU for the next four years is exciting and I can't wait to call Highland Heights my home and look forward to all that NKU soccer has to offer."

Jewell has excelled in lacrosse as a three-year letterwinner and is a part of the student-athlete leadership team. He signed his letter to continue his athletic career at Malone University.

Stay tuned for more college signing stories, including major signings at Hiland, Orrville and Triway.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Northwestern, Norwayne, Wooster athletes sign NLIs