Five Sussex Tech seniors sign letters of intent to play college sports

Five Sussex Tech seniors signed letters of intent to attend college and play collegiate sports during a press conference last Wednesday at the school. The five athletes are Anthony Andrews (Campbell University- wrestling), Alyssa Burris (Hood College- field hockey), Adrianna Heck (Notre Dame of Maryland University- softball), Jade Seefried (McDaniel College- wrestling), and Parker Wells (Bloomsburg University- football).

Sussex Tech head football coach Brad Ellingsworth said Wells, a Milford native, embodied trying something new and going at it with everything you’ve got. Wells started playing football during his sophomore year.

“It feels great. It’s something I’ve been wanting for a long time,” Wells said of the signing. “It (football) was different than any sport I’ve ever played, more physical and faster paced.”

Wells played soccer and baseball before giving football a try. He liked the Pennsylvania school because of the player-friendly feel and the coaching staff. He plans to major in marketing.

Burris, from Ellendale, played on the Ravens’ field hockey team for four years. “It’s been a challenge for me to learn and pick up the game,” she said.

Burris liked Hood’s campus and said the coaches were really welcoming. She will major in elementary education.

She is thankful for the support of her family. “They came to every one of my games,” said Burris.

Heck, from Seaford, liked that Notre Dame of Maryland is not too far from home, but is far enough. She will study radiological sciences at the school

“She consistently steps up when she’s asked,” Sussex Tech head softball coach Shannon Brown said of Heck.

“Our coaches are great and so is our team. We have a great team bond and a lot of talent,” Heck said.

Laurel native Jade Seefried said she never wanted to play sports until she began wrestling her sophomore year. “It’s fun and exciting and it’s fun to make history,” she said.

Seefried is part of a group of female wrestlers who helped pave the way for girls’ wrestling to become a new varsity sport starting next year.

“Jade has been a great asset to our program. She gets on the mat and she gives all she’s got,” said Sussex Tech head coach Eston Ennis.

Seefried said she loved the environment at McDaniel, which has a girls’ wrestling team. She will also major in psychology.

Seaford native Andrews is a two-time state champion and school record holder with 178 career wins.

“Campbell is getting a great individual, a great young man. When he came back from Campbell, he was convinced that’s where he wanted to go,” Sussex Tech head wrestling coach Scott Layfield said.

“It’s (college signing) like a weight lifted off my shoulders,” said Andrews. “It’s (being a Raven) been awesome. I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else. I love my coaches. I love the school.”

Andrews said his family pushed him to wrestle and go to the next level. His new home is six to six-and-a-half hours away from home, in North Carolina. He will major in mechanical engineering.