PHOENIX, Arizona, November 14. TODAY is the day where the top college-bound high school seniors across the country put their words into action: National Signing Day. Since the beginning of the college recruiting seasons, news of verbal commitments have rolled in. However, it isn't official until said recruit puts pen to paper, signing their letter of intent to the university and athletic program of their choice.
Needless to say, recruits aren't the only ones excited about their commitment. Twitter feeds are alive and abuzz with teammates and coaches congratulating the new additions to their programs, and welcoming the class of 2017 to the world of college swimming.
Without a doubt, the biggest recruit of the 2012 was five-time Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin. Franklin showcased her collegiate commitment last month, when she showed up to her Morning Swim Show interview decked out from head to toe in California gear. But it wasn't official until she signed the papers this morning.
Cal Athletics Tweeted the following about the event:
BREAKING: @franklinmissy is officially headed to Cal! Let's welcome her & the rest of the amazing class which totals 6 swimmers & 1 diver!
— Cal Bears (@CalAthletics) November 14, 2012
This Tweet was followed by Franklin posting a YouTube video talking about her official commitment to the Cal program:
RT @cal_video: Video Interview of @franklinmissy committing to @calathletics #Cal #GoBears youtu.be/XK79hekGHWM
— Cal Bears (@CalAthletics) November 14, 2012
Franklin's Colorado STARS coach, Todd Schmitz also Tweeted the following congratulations:
So proud of the Colorado STARS athletes signing to swimming in college today. #noexcuses #gobigorgohome
— Todd Schmitz (@starstodd) November 14, 2012
Franklin's former Colorado STARS teammate, and now Cal Golden Bears teammate, 2010 National Champion Caroline Piehl Tweeted out congratulations to the Cal class of 2017:
Happy signing day baby bears! @celina_li @kvredeveld1 @franklinmissy @ryan_f_murphy and all the other twitterless bears!!
— Caroline Piehl (@CarolinePiehl) November 14, 2012
However, Franklin wasn't the only one earning congratulations for her commitment. Number 6 recruit Chelsea Chenault and number 15 recruit Madison White, classmates and teammates at Carondelet High School, Tweeted out the following picture early in the day, visually displaying their commitments to USC and UCLA:
Signing day! From best friends to rivals! Fight on! Go Bruins! @swimswamnews twitter.com/seaCHELchenaul…
— Chelsea Chenault (@seaCHELchenault) November 14, 2012
University of Florida swimmer, and two-time Olympian Elizabeth Beisel was quick to Tweet out congratulation to all of the recruits signing at her alma mater:
Happy national signing day to our future gators 🔶🐊🔷 welcome to the family!
— Elizabeth Beisel ⚓ (@ebeisel34) November 14, 2012
Auburn head coach Brett Hawke took to Twitter to express his excitement at signing Pine-Richland High School's Kristen Murslack, who specializes in the breaststroke and medley events:
RT @kmurzz16 Officially committed! #wareagle @auburnswimming @demtigers
— Brett Hawke (@BrettHawke) November 14, 2012
This was followed by Murslack posting a picture signing the letter of intent to Auburn:
Officially committed to Auburn University! 😊 twitter.com/kmurzz16/statu…
— Kristen Murslack(@kmurzz16) November 14, 2012
Butler, Florida State University and Stanford also got in on the party, sending out congratulatory Tweets to their own committed recruits:
Happy to add 3 outstanding young men today in Andrew, Nolan, and Rene.Welcome to Butler.Now back to getting us better.
— Michael Lewis (@CoachMikeLewis) November 14, 2012
Congratulations Dominic Giordano and Chelsea Britt, whose NLIs have been received and are now FSU Seminoles!
— FSU Swimming/Diving (@FSU_Swimming) November 14, 2012
Happy national signing day everyone! #cardinalclass17
— Stanford Men's Swim (@stanfordmswim) November 14, 2012