Long before the satisfaction of signing, student-athletes have to stay on top of their game throughout high school while actively seeking opportunities to earn offers from universities. Here are a few seniors who successfully navigated that process and secured collegiate opportunities before the Class of 2026’s National Signing Day on Feb. 4.
Natalie Keith
Senior Natalie Keith has come a long way since starting her softball career at the age of 9. After watching her older brother play baseball, she wanted to do something similar and picked up a bat. Now, she’s headed to the University of Arizona to compete in the Big 12 Conference.
As a part of the Batbusters travel ball program, Keith was exposed to a lot of collegiate opportunities, including camps hosted by various colleges.
“As soon as I went to [the University of Arizona campus], I realized that that was the place I wanted to go,” said Keith. “My junior year, [on] Sept. 1, they called me and told me they were interested, and then I committed in October of that year.”
During her four years as a varsity player, including two years as captain, Keith’s favorite memory is when her team made CIF in her sophomore year.
As captain, Keith has focused on setting a good example for the underclassmen.
“I hope that I show them that with hard work, everything’s possible,” Keith said. “As long as you put your best effort into things, the game will reward you.”
Keith is excited to move out of state and meet new people. Her advice for underclassmen? Find what you love and work hard on it.
Andrew Maksymowski
Senior Andrew Maksymowski didn’t choose swimming—grass allergies did. He was originally a golfer, but tested allergic to grass at a young age and had to switch to a non-field sport. Although swimming wasn’t his first choice, it wasn’t long before he fell in love with it.
Last year, Maksymowski was part of Northwood’s CIF-winning team, beating Santa Margarita Catholic High School, a powerhouse in swimming; it was Northwood’s second state swim title since 2018.
“Winning CIF state as a public school, we wanted to get it done again for the seniors, and we got it done,” Maksymowski said. “I’m really, really proud of that.”
During swim season, Maksymowski practiced for six to eight hours a day, with some workouts lasting up to five hours.
Next fall, Maksymowski will fight on at the University of Southern California with plans to major in business administration. He is excited to compete with elite swimmers from all over the country.
“Consistency is key, and the way to get better is just having a positive mindset,” Maksymowski said. “Stay prepared and be consistent.”
Jio Yoo
Senior Jio Yoo took a swing of her golf club, watched her dream soar and smiled as it landed perfectly in the hole. She officially signed with the University of California, Irvine on Nov. 6, where she’ll continue her golf journey while majoring in sociology.
Yoo began playing golf at 7 years old, transferred to Northwood from Portola High School during her sophomore year and quickly established herself as a leader. She qualified for CIF Individuals all three years at Northwood and became the girls varsity golf captain in her senior year.
“I hope I grow on how to interact more with multiple people in one group because [on the field], we really need to be together and stick together,” Yoo said. “After the rounds, we would go get drinks. Because golf is an individual sport, it’s better to have more team bonding, because we really can help each other out or connect.”
When choosing from a range of universities, according to Yoo, the most important factor was the golf coach, and she ultimately chose UCI because it felt like a good fit.
“High school is more fun, but college golf gets more competitive,” Yoo said, “so I feel that’s also really fun to compete with people that are in the next level. I’m really excited for that.”
