NOTES: Spring signing day lacks usual pizzazz

To borrow a line from T.S. Eliot, signing day has arrived not with a bang but a whimper.

The spring signing period for NCAA Division I and II schools starts Wednesday, and, unlike most years, it is expected to be quiet locally.

Bishop Gorman track and field standout Vashti Cunningham was the area’s top unsigned senior, but the world indoor champion in the women’s high jump opted to turn professional last month rather than sign a letter of intent.

That means a signing day void of celebrations and college decisions made on national TV.

Instead, commitments are expected to trickle in throughout the spring and summer, as a handful of unsigned boys basketball players draw late interest from schools at various levels.

The latest on that front is Bishop Gorman coach Grant Rice said guard/forward Byron Frohnen is scheduled to visit Texas-San Antonio this weekend. Also, Desert Oasis senior forward Aamondae Coleman was offered by Air Force on Sunday, according to Diamondbacks coach Ryan Fretz.

Meanwhile, several athletes signed with NAIA or junior colleges in recent days:

— Desert Oasis senior Andrue Aguilera with Grace University (Nebraska) for men’s basketball.

— Chaparral seniors Marcia Hawkins and Jade Hazelton to Southeast Community College (Nebraska) and Alexis Vanstory to Dawson Community College (Montana) for women’s basketball.

— Cayla Cooper (Durango), Tajanae Elliot-Davis (Las Vegas), Emma Gutierrez (Palo Verde), Kathy Hernandez (Tech) and Jaycie Johnson (Bonanza) to College of Southern Nevada for women’s volleyball.

— Rancho’s Lamont Traylor to Arizona Western for men’s basketball.

— Centennial’s Tanjanae Wells to Eastern Arizona for women’s basketball.

The signing period runs until Aug. 1 for all sports; the last day to sign for Division I basketball is May 18.

PENTSIL STEPS AWAY — Eldorado boys soccer coach Gerald Pentsil announced he is retiring after 28 years at the school.

Pentsil said he had a heart attack in February and has been out on sick leave since. He said his wife recently got a job in Tempe, Arizona.

“It just made sense to go ahead and retire,” Pentsil said.

Under Pentsil, the Sundevils were one of the area’s most successful programs, winning the Division I state title in 2013. Eldorado captured Sunrise Region championships in 2011 and 2013 and had a 34-match unbeaten streak that ran all of the 2013 season and well into the 2014 campaign.

Pentsil said girls coach David Ostler will take over the boys program.

PATRIOT GAMES — Liberty’s football team has taken on top opponents from Arizona, California and Hawaii in the past four seasons. This fall, the six-time defending Division I Sunrise Region champions will head to Texas.

Liberty is set to play at Austin (Texas) Westlake on Sept. 2 in a game that originally was scheduled to take place at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Patriots will be the first out-of-state opponent ever to play Westlake, the alma mater of NFL quarterback Drew Brees.

In addition, Liberty will play Sept. 23 at Corona (California) Centennial, the 2015 California Interscholastic Federation Open Division bowl game runner-up. The Patriots lost 60-42 when the teams met in California in 2013.

Prep sports editor Damon Seiters contributed to this report. Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ