Signings highlighted by first-year player

Nick Christensen

Friday, Feb. 4, 2005 | 10:10 a.m.

Four local girls signed national letters of intent this week to play at the college level.

Bonanza's Mia Tofano signed with St. Mary's College in California, and teammate Kayla Bauder will play for Northern Arizona. Palo Verde midfielder Kayla Lambert signed on with Evansville, and defender Kalie McGuire will play for Idaho State.

Bonanza coach Gerald Kearney said that Bauder has been a key part of his team's success this year. She had played basketball in the winter season up to this year.

"Luckily for me she decided to play soccer. She's absolutely the most dominant midfielder in the whole state," Kearney said. "I think that's why we're a better team than we were last year."

Aside from the large group of players that signed with UNLV, three local football players signed with Division I schools on Wednesday. Cimarron quarterback Andrew Hatch signed with Harvard, Bishop Gorman linebacker Ryan Reynolds signed with Oklahoma and Green Valley safety Brett Johnson chose California.