Mostl high school athletes' long-term goal is to play their sport in college.

Only a few make it and even fewer receive scholarships for their participation. A dozen of them put their signatures on letters of intent last week at a signing ceremony at Parkland High School.

Four Trojan football players committed to colleges, including Mike Unger (West Chester), Tim Baranek (Lock Haven), Jarel Elder (West Chester) and Andrew Feuhrer (Stetson).

Four members of Parkland's highly successful swim team also signed with colleges last week, including Megan Polaha (Fordham), Harris Nagle (Marist), Christopher Strauss (IUP) and Abbi Walsh (Xavier).

Along with them, Austin Beidelman (basketball, Kutztown), Hannah Gombos (soccer, East Stroudsburg), Callie Krajcir (volleyball, West Chester) and Nick Hutchinson (soccer, Old Dominion) also announced their college choices.

"It's just rewarding," Hutchinson said of finalizing his academic and athletic future. "The hard work finally paid off. You remember all the practices and games it took to get here and it's nice to celebrate all that."

Hutchinson chose ODU because of its tradition as a perennial top-25 team and because of the school's dedication to its sports teams.

"I spent two weekends with the team," Hutchinson siad. "The coaches were really welcoming. The facilities are really nice. They have new everything. Every sport has its own separate facility."

Hutchinson leaves high school as a two-time Lehigh Valley Conference first team all-star. He earned All-Stat recognition last fall and was selected to play in an NCAA high school All American game in Alabama.

A center midfielder in high school, Hutchinson will move to center back in college.

Unger chose West Chester based on the no-nonsense approach of the team's head coach and the feeling he got when he took his visit.

"When I got onto campus I knew right away it was the right place," Unger said. "The feeling there was awesome. It's just a very strong family there."

Unger is a three-year starter on the Trojans offensive line. He played both ways as a sophomore. As a junior and senior he played only offensive tackle and started every game.

He helped lead a strong Parkland rushing attack this season as the team won league and district titles. He earned all-conference and all-state recognition for his season.

Polaha was drawn to her school of choice by her strong feelings for the team at Fordham and her fondness of New York City.

"It had a lot to do with the team and how my times fit in," said Polaha. "When I went on my recruiting trip I fit in well with the girls and the team."

Polaha holds Parkland's school records in 100-yard butterfly and 200 individual medley. She earned a state silver medal, the LVC Swimmer of the Year and the District 11 Outstanding Swimmer Award.

Elder heads to West Chester where he'll run behind Unger for at least a few more years. Both players started their careers in the North Parkland organization.

Elder ran for 1,156 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, earning All LVC honors at running back and defensive back.

Fuehrer chose Stetson University in Central Florida. A three-year letter winner, Fuehrer caught 16 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns last season while starting at wide receiver and safety.

Baranek moves on to Lock Haven after quarterbacking the Trojans to a successful fall season. He was the team's offensive Most Valuable Player and the first in school history to rush and pass for over 1,000 yards in the same season.

Beidelman also led his team to a district title, earning his second straight LVC All Conference selection in basketball. He also earned the Most Valuable Player Award at last year's Sportsfest.

Gombos excelled in soccer and basketball in high school. At East Stroudsburg she will compete on the Warrior soccer team next fall.

Gombos helped Parkland to two league titles, two district titles and was an All LVC performer. She leaves high school as the eighth-leading scorer in the history of the program.

Krajcir earned two state medals as a Parkland volleyball player. She helped the 2011 team to a state title and earned a runner-up finish last fall.

Nagle leaves the Trojan swim program after earning 12 district medals, two district golds, two All LVC selections and four years as a state qualifier. He holds the school record for the 100-yard breastroke.

Strauss heads to IUP after making it to districts all four years of high school and earning a trip to states three of those years.

Walsh is also a state medalist. After suffering a major shoulder injury she overcame that setback by swimming personal best times last winter.