Nine Wissahickon athletes sign letters of intent

LOWER GWYNEDD >> Darien Williams recalls his first days stepping onto the royal blue track at Wissahickon High School.

“I remember going to practice,” Williams says with a big grin, “and watching the top guys…”

And now, Williams leaves a legacy at Wiss that others will try to emulate.

The Trojan senior was one of nine student athletes who signed a letter of intent on Wednesday morning, at a special ceremony held at Wissahickon.

Williams, who holds multiple 200-meter school records as well as being a part of a school-record relay, is headed to Penn State University next year.

“I’m looking forward to being part of such a great team,” the senior said. “It’s the top, one of the best. When you have an opportunity to go, why not go for it?”

Another Trojan is headed to the Division I level, as Amanda Zlotnikoff takes her swim talents to Lehigh University.

“I’m really excited, really looking forward to it,” said Zlotnikoff, a Scholastic All-American selection. “The team is really close, which is something I was looking for. I really like the coach (Rob Herb) and Lehigh is an amazing school — the business school is really good and there’s a lot of opportunities.”

Opportunity was an underlying theme on Wednesday. This group heads to college with a variety of skills in a wide range of different sports and expertise.

Big Yondel Dudley, Student Athlete of the Month at Wiss and Most Valuable Player of the Wissahickon defense this past fall, will play football at Division II Shippensburg University. He’s also been a fixture in the throwing events for the undefeated boys track squad.

Samantha Mullin, an officer at the Delaware Valley Deutschfest — a regional competition for German students — will run track at Division III DeSales University while another Samantha — Samantha Scoma — will play field hockey at Division III Widener. Scoma is a member of the Academic All-State team.

Owner of a 4.0 GPA and captain of the track team, James Park will compete at Division III Dickinson College while two-time Suburban One League American Conference Singles Champion Ben Wolfe will play tennis at Division III Brandeis.

Distance ace Lotte Black will run Division 1 cross country and track for the University of Rhode Island. Black has represented Wissahickon at states both on the track and out on the cross country course.

And another football standout, Team Captain Michael Marino, will play at Division II Chestnut Hill College. Marino is finishing out his Wissachikon sports career on the baseball diamond, as the spring season enters its stretch run.
Next year will provide some nice, new challenges.

“I just hope to better my time and contribute to the team,” Zlotnikoff said, “and hopefully be on a relay and contribute there as well.”

The Zlotnikoff legacy at Wiss will be continued by Amanda’s younger sister, Carly, who will get to compete in the sparkling new Wissahickon pool that is currently under construction.

Amanda put the finishing touches on quite a career for the Trojans, setting team records in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke as well as a home pool record in the 100 back.

“It feels like it was worth it — all of those hours and the time…it’s worth it now,” Zlotnikoff said.

This graduating group of nine will be a tough act to follow. Like the runners he once idolized, Williams set a record-setting standard for the Trojans.

“I’m actually very happy,” he said. “I think I set a precedent for a lot of the younger guys to really push themselves.”