PORT ANGELES — Thirteen more Peninsula College sophomores have signed national letters of intent, including three men’s basketball players and 10 women’s soccer players.
The women’s soccer team that won a sixth straight division championship, placed third in the Northwest Athletic Conference, and was nationally-ranked last fall, has signed 10 of its 13 sophomores to play at the next level.
That list includes five who signed Wednesday in a ceremony in the Pirate Athletic building.
Bianca Andrade of Forest Grove, Ore., is going to Division I Youngstown State in Ohio; Kai Mahuka of Waianae, Hawaii, will play at Division II Western Oregon; her twin sister Paige Mahuka will play at NAIA Sierra Nevada College; Karen Corral of Sparks, Nev., will see her next action at NAIA Graceland University in Iowa; and Peninsula’s star goalkeeper, Manaia Siania-Unutoa of Waipahu, Hawaii, also will play for the Yellowjackets at Graceland University.
Signing earlier this spring were Tori Hagen of Reno, Nev., at Division I South Carolina State; Lexi Krieger of Portland, Ore., at Division I Alabama State; Brenda Torres-Hernandez of Carson City, Nev., at Division II Palm Beach Atlantic in Florida; Tasha Inong of Pearl City, Hawaii, at Division II Cal Poly Pomona; and Michele Whan of Reno, Nev., at Division III Whitworth University in Spokane.
“This group has done everything they’ve been asked and more,” Peninsula head coach Kanyon Anderson said.
“I’m happy to see them headed off on their next adventure. I feel fortunate to have coached such wonderful people.”
Men’s basketball signees
The Peninsula men’s basketball team that won the North Division championship and was ranked as high as No. 2 in the NWAC, has had five sophomores sign to play at the next level thus far, including three who signed on Wednesday.
Malik Mayeux of Tacoma will join teammate Deonte Dixon at NAIA Ava Maria University in Naples, Fla. Dixon signed with Ave Maria in April.
Jeremiah Hobbs of Seattle will see his next basketball action at the University of Puget Sound, an NAIA university in Tacoma. Dimitri Amos of North Las Vegas, Nev., is headed for NAIA Mount Union University in Ohio.
Head coach Mitch Freeman had high praise for all three of the Pirates’ latest signees.
“Jeremiah had an amazing two years here at Peninsula,” Freeman said.
“He maintained a 3.6 GPA, was active in student government and was an invaluable part of our basketball program. We are sad to lose him, but we are very excited what the future holds for Jeremiah at UPS and beyond.”
The hard-working Hobbs averaged 5.6 points per game while shooting 56 percent from the field. He also pulled down 4.2 rebounds and tied with Amos for the team-lead in blocks with 22.
Amos averaged 10.9 points and 7.1 rebounds, most on the team, in his lone season with the Pirates. Against Everett on Jan. 16, he pulled down 21 boards to tie the modern school single-game rebounding record, previously set by Ray Munyagi in 2000.
“Meech only played one year, but in that year he had a profound impact on the success of our basketball program,” Freeman said.
“He will go down as one of the best rebounders in Peninsula College history.
“With all the success on the court he was still able to maintain a 3.4 GPA. We are proud of all his accomplishments on and off the court.”
The versatile Mayeux averaged 6.9 points and 6.7 rebounds his sophomore season. He also blocked 21 shots and dished out 37 assists.
“Malik is a great teammate and he would do anything for his team or and teammates to help them be successful,” Freeman said.
“By far one of the best position players with the skill set that helped us win 35-plus games in his two years at PC.”
In addition to Dixon, of Bremerton, signing earlier this spring, Ryley Callaghan of Port Orchard also signed April 13 and will play for University of Hawaii at Hilo.
