On Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, five Oakdale High School Mustang senior athletes signed national letters of intent to attend specific universities and play their sport of choice.

Kaylie Parola, who was the Valley Oak League’s Most Valuable golfer for the 2022 season after leading the Mustangs to the league championship, signed a national letter of intent to play golf at California State University at Chico. Parola, the daughter of Sara and Tim Parola, plans to major in physiology with the long-range goal of becoming a physical therapist. When asked what excites her most about what lies ahead, she explained, “Chico’s campus is really beautiful and I’m excited to be on the golf team with the girls.” Parola went on to say that she chose to be a Chico Wildcat because theirs is one of the better golf programs around. She also said she was ready academically to confront the rigor of a college education because she has “…taken plenty of Advanced Placement courses.”

The Mustang softball team produced two of the signers: pitchers Delainey Everett and Katy Thomasson. Everett, the daughter of Lindsey and Brandon Everett, will play for the Mississippi State University Bulldogs in Starkville, Mississippi. The reigning Valley Oak League Pitcher of the Year for the 2022 VOL champion Mustangs plans to major in education with the long range goal of being a high school physical education teacher and softball coach. Even though her senior season won’t start until the end of February, she says she doesn’t feel added pressure this season “…because I know where I’m going, which was my goal in playing softball in the first place.” She went on to say, however, that there is a bit more pressure on her because people now have higher expectations of her because she has signed. Everett had given a verbal agreement to play for Mississippi State at the beginning of her junior year. She says she does expect a culture change, “mostly from being away from home. I’m a homey person and don’t really go out and do stuff. It will be different being miles and miles away.” Everett says that what drew her to the Bulldogs was their coaching staff. But there was a deeper dimension: “It feels like Oakdale to me when I’m there. Obviously, it’s like 10 times bigger, but it’s that home vibe and culture and they are all there for one goal.” She also says that she will enjoy competing at a higher level.

Thomasson, the daughter of Dawn Thomasson, has signed to play softball for the NAIA Redhawks of Simpson University in Redding. Thomasson plans on majoring in psychology, with the long-range goal of either focusing on criminology or child development. “I have a lot of options,” said Thomasson. She says she’s excited about attending college in Redding, “It’s bigger (than Oakdale) but it felt the same.” Thomasson specifically says she was drawn to Simpson because of its small size (855 students according to the university’s website) and because she liked the softball team and its coaches. “I really like the atmosphere. And playing college softball has always been a dream. So it’s really exciting.” The Redhawks play in the California Pacific Conference. Thomasson says she feels less pressure at the onset of the 2023 season for the Mustangs. “I know where I’m going. So now I’m just out there to have fun, work hard, and finish the season with my teammates.”

Football star Mick Merzon, son of Spring and Trent Merzon, will attend the College of Idaho in the western Idaho city of Caldwell, playing football for the Yotes. The son of the former Mustang head varsity football coach will attend on an academic scholarship and plans on majoring either in kinesiology or political science, hoping to eventually earn a Ph.D. in exercise physiology and train high level college or professional football teams, or go into politics. Merzon is excited about being part of the “great academics” at the College of Idaho and has already been accepted into the college’s honors program. He says that he believes the faculty at Oakdale High School has prepared him for the rigors of college-level work. He also is enthused about the football coaching staff of the Yotes, and he really likes the town of Caldwell. “It reminds me of Oakdale: a small town, (with) a lot of great people, so I kind of felt at home there.” Football-wise, Merzon, who played quarterback for the Mustangs during his senior season, plans on playing at the receiver position, “probably in the slot, but wherever I can get on the field.” The 2022 Yotes, an NAIA team, went 8-2 under head coach Mike Moroski. “I really like their coaching staff,” said Merzon. But it is the academic structure of the college that most excites Merzon at this point. “I really like the structure of their honors program.” The college does not require the students to take general education courses. “You can get three minors and a major or a double major without having to take two years of general ed courses.”

Rounding out the five senior signers is cross country and track and field exemplar, Kassidy Fmura. The daughter of Melissa and Alan Fmura is the reigning Valley Oak League cross country champion and Sac-Joaquin Section Division III runner-up, and will be attending Stanislaus State University, following in the footsteps of two former outstanding Mustang runners, Caden Legan and Haleigh Humble, who, she says, “Really helped me develop into who I am today.” Discussing the 2022 cross country season, Fmura stated: “I had a lot of fun this season, growing my abilities and showing what I am capable of. I’d really like to thank my coaches and my family for pushing me to be my best.” Fmura is now excited about running at the next level anticipating her own improvement as a runner. “I’m excited about meeting new people, new experiences and the travel.” With the forthcoming track and field season where she will run the mile and two-mile events, Fmura, who plans on running both cross country and track and field for the Warriors, says, “I feel more pressure. I feel there is an expectation I have to live up to now ... (but) I feel like pressure is good.” Fmura says she feels academically prepared for college and chose Stanislaus State because it is close to home. “My family means a lot to me. Plus I can stay home and save a little money because college is expensive.”