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Sports

Five East Ridge Raptors Ink Collegiate Tenders

East Ridge holds signing ceremony for two football, three soccer student-athletes on Thursday morning.

As the sun rose over southeast Woodbury, five student-athletes from signed on the dotted line and made their collegiate commitments Thursday morning during a ceremony held in the ERHS Activity Center.

Raptor seniors Ezekiel Okeleye, Justin Woodbeck, Bianca Diaz, Lauren Reid and Leah Bicking all signed National Letters of Intent to attend schools from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Texas in front of a group of supporters during a celebratory breakfast.

"These student-athletes have become part of select company," East Ridge Activities Director Trent Hanson said.

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Woodbeck was the first to address the crowd, announcing that he would be signing with St. Cloud State University to play football for the Huskies.

"I want to thank my dad for helping out with the medical bills," he said. "I also want to thank my coach and teammates."

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Okeleye then proclaimed that he would be signing to attend Drake University to play football for the Bulldogs.

"It's been a long ride," he said. "There's nothing more warming than to have everyone here this morning."

Both Woodbeck and Okeleye were accompanied by Raptors football coach Mike Pendino, who noted that the pair were among just 4,500 high school football players to sign an athletic scholarship this year.

"I call them student-athletes because in today's day, academics come first," Pendino said.

Next to make an announcement was Raptors girls soccer player Diaz, who announced that she will take her talents to Houston, Texas, to attend and play for Rice University.

"Thanks to my family for supporting me all these years," she said.

Diaz's teammate these past two seasons, Reid, joined a long succession of players from the area who accepted scholarships to attend and compete for the University of Wisconsin.

"Without my teammates, I wouldn't be the soccer player I am today," the new Badger said.

The final East Ridge student to make her announcement was Bicking, who, due to regulations, was unable to play varsity soccer for the Raptors this past fall after transferring from after her junior year.

Despite not playing last season, Bicking was still offered and accepted a scholarship from Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Hanson read excerpts from the school's scouting report on her: "(She is) an exceptional player who understands the game well and has what it takes."

Bicking also thanked her coaches and parents before all five simultaneously signed their respective letters.

"We are very excited and proud of them as they move on from the halls of East Ridge," Hanson said.

A third East Ridge student-athlete, football star Dayo Idowu, was originally scheduled to be part of the ceremony to sign with the University of North Dakota.

However, according to Hanson, Idowu reconsidered his UND tender and will instead attend the University of St. Thomas next fall.

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