When Valley football coach Troy Hill Sr. was in high school, the first recruiting trip he made was to see Frank Solich at Nebraska.
Hill, a cornerback, ended up signing with Pitt.
About 25 years later, Hill and Solich have met again under similar circumstances.
Troy Hill Jr., a 6-foot-5, 210-pound senior tight end at Valley, signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play for Solich, who is now coach of the Ohio University Bobcats.
Hill accepted a full scholarship. He also had offers from Akron, Eastern Michigan and New Hampshire.
"The whole family is really excited," Hill Sr. said. "Troy is in a great situation. He checked out the campus, and it was perfect for him. He can get a great education. Coach Frank Solich is an excellent coach."
Yesterday marked the opening of the NCAA signing period for football, soccer, track and field, cross country, field hockey and men's water polo, and it proved to be an interesting start locally.
Also signing with a Division I-FBS school was Kittanning linebacker Kent Walker (Kent State).
Walker, a 6-2, 235-pound linebacker, is a great story of perseverance.
After graduating from Kittanning in 2007, he enrolled at Hargraves Military Academy in Chatham, Va., and played for the prep school's post-graduate team for two seasons. He also boosted himself academically and earned a scholarship offer from Kent State.
Highlands quarterback/defensive back Jeff Sinclair (Robert Morris) and Kittanning offensive lineman Ryan Risch (Colgate) signed with Division I-FCS, formerly known as I-AA, schools.
Sinclair, the Valley News Dispatch Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 1,262 yards and passed for 1,222. He guided the Golden Rams to the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals.
Risch will take his tremendous size (6-5, 270 pounds) and blocking ability to the Patriot League, which has high academic standards.
Local Division II Slippery Rock football recruits were Fox Chapel lineman David Martin (6-7, 240) and Kiski Area wide receiver Jeff Jackson, who caught 52 passes for 1,174 yards. Knoch standout two-way lineman Henry Cypher is headed to Edinboro.
The area also produced two Division I women's soccer recruits. Freeport's Kayla Eckman signed with Ohio State, and Fox Chapel's Lily Feldman made a commitment to Vermont.
Eckman, who earned all-state honors, completed her career with a school-record 128 goals. She finished classes at Freeport in mid-January and will begin classes at Ohio State on March 30.
"It will definitely be beneficial," Eckman said. "I wanted to be there to get more into the mix and fit for the preseason. I wanted to be as ready as I possibly could."
Feldman earned all-section honors last season.
Fox Chapel also produced a Division I recruit in women's field hockey. Goalkeeper Morgan Hammer signed with Ball State, which is one of about 80 Division I programs in the country.
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Local high school athletes who signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play a college sport:
Football
Name -- High school -- College
Henry Cypher -- Knoch -- Edinboro
Troy Hill -- Valley -- Ohio
Jeff Jackson -- Kiski Area -- Slippery Rock
David Martin -- Fox Chapel -- Slippery Rock
Ryan Risch -- Kittanning -- Colgate
Jeff Sinclair -- Highlands -- Robert Morris
Kent Walker -- Kittanning -- Kent State
Soccer
Kayla Eckman -- Freeport -- Ohio State
Lily Feldman -- Fox Chapel -- Vermont
Kelsey Russo -- Fox Chapel -- California (Pa.)
Swimming
Kayla Joy -- Plum -- Edinboro
Field hockey
Morgan Hammer -- Fox Chapel -- Ball State
