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Congratulations to Champion High School seniors Bella Meyer and Skylar Scarnecchia, who have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers in college! While both had previously committed verbally as juniors, a special signing ceremony held in the Pamela S. Hood Auditorium of Champion High School on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, made their commitments official.
Bella Meyer
Bella Meyer has known for over a year she would be playing softball for Youngstown State University starting with the 2024-2025 season, and now she can say it’s officially official! “It feels great to make it real,” she said with a big smile just before her signing. Meyer has been playing on the diamond since she was a little girl, first playing rec league, then spending the last nine years with travel teams. Her main position is shortstop, though she has seen some time in the outfield. Like most college commits, she says she chose her post-secondary destination because it “felt right.” Along with a family connection to the school, Meyer says YSU is close to home which makes it easy for family and friends to come see her play the sport she loves. “I’m looking forward to the higher level of competition and focusing on the sport full-time,” Meyer says. “This has been a long time coming and I would just tell others to remember why you stayed in the sport for so long to begin with. There are days when it will be draining but don’t give up. Always give one hundred percent, even when you feel like you can’t, do it for your younger self.”
At CHS, Bella also plays basketball, is a member of SMASH club, and is an honor roll student. At YSU she says she plans to major in psychology with hopes of becoming a sports psychologist. Congratulations Bella!
Skylar Scarnecchia
Signing day was a full circle moment for Skylar Scarnecchia, who can’t wait to get to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa to join their Adapted Athletics Wheelchair Basketball team! The opportunity to attend the Southeastern Conference (SEC) powerhouse school came about last summer after she attended a wheelchair basketball camp at the university. She had a successful camp and positive conversations with team coaches. When she discovered the school’s mascot was an elephant with the trunk up, she knew it was meant to be. “When I was sick [with cancer] my animal symbol was an elephant with the trunk up, it means good luck,” Scarnecchia explains. “When my parents showed me the entrance at UA and I saw an elephant with the trunk up, I just knew I was home.” Scarnecchia has been playing wheelchair basketball competitively with a team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania since her sophomore year. She gives a lot of credit to her coach for helping her develop a shot that she says is “coveted” in wheelchair basketball circles. In addition to basketball, Scarnecchia is also a member of the Champion High School girls' golf team, is an honor roll student, and participates in Champion Teens Care (CTC), Interact Club, and is a member of the Student Council. At Alabama, Scarneccia plans to study human development and family studies with a concentration in child life and hopes to become a Child Life Specialist who will work with hospitalized children and their families. She’s also hoping her time on the wheelchair basketball team will help her achieve her ultimate goal of making the National Paralympic team. “Whatever you put your mind to, you can do,” she says. “I’ve worked hard and I’ve doubted myself, but I never gave up and I’m so excited for what’s next!” Congratulations Skylar!