Today is a special day for athletes around the country. It is national signing day. Athletes around the country are choosing where to spend the next four years and coaches are waiting next to the fax machine for the next big commitment. Many high schools around the country welcomed in local camera crews this morning. Elder began its ceremony at 7:15 Am. The Panthers had five athletes to show off to the world. Football players signing were Nick Marsh, Jake Hilvert, AJ Burdine. Two golfers Brenan Walsh and Zach Wilmes also signed today. The five sat together at a long table in the Schaeper Center and signed letters of intent for their respective future schools. The ceremony began with the group photo of the five players sitting together. Then each athlete went down the line individually and signed their letter of intent. Each player than got a group photo with this family at the table. The two golfers took a photo together and the three football players also posed for snapshots together. Jake Hilvert played offensive tackle for Elder this year. He attended Visitation parish and played baseball, basketball, and football growing up. Jake decided to take his talents to Miami of Oxford. Don’t confuse him with Lebron James. Jake is getting a chance to fulfill a child hood dream. “This is life changing. Every kid growing up wants to be a football player, baseball player, or a basketball player, and I get a chance to do it,” said Hilvert regarding his signing day experience. Nick Marsh also hails from Our Lady of Visitation parish and played the other tackle for Elder’s offensive line this year. Nick is an outstanding student which along with his athletic talent gave him the opportunity to speak to Ivy League schools for football. After it was all said and done, Nick signed his letter of intent to play for the Brown bears next year. AJ Burdine will be heading out to Oxford with Hilvert next year. Burdine had more options than anyone for his college playing options. Burdine took a visit to Oxford and had a great time which led him to sign with the Red Hawks today. Burdine felt that it took forever to get to this point, but looking back thinks it came fast. “I get an opportunity to play college football and I’m going to make the most of it,” said Burdine on his play next year. Two golfers made a commitment to play next year. Zach Wilmes will be swinging the irons for Ohio Dominican University next year. Brennan Walsh signed his letter for the hometown Bearcats today. Brennan has been a varsity starter for four years and his worked his whole life on golf. Brenan is the only athlete of the five that will be staying in Cincy. “Knowing that it’s official, I’m staying home next year makes it sweeter,” said Brennan about going to the local Bearcats. The Panthers are well known for producing talented hard-working athletes, and thesefive certainly show it. It’s like Eric Wood said in his tweet to the commits, “Continue to show how hard we work when given a chance. That’s all we know as west siders.”