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2B | THEPRESS.NET SPORTS AUGUST 15, 2008
Falcon star ready to shine in Reno
by Avi Burk
Staff Writer
Last week, Freedom High School’s 2007-08 female
Athlete of the Year, Kortnee Wiley, offi cially inked her
letter of intent to attend the University of Nevada at
Reno and play softball for the Wolf Pack in the upcoming
spring season.
Wiley, who helped lead the Falcons to the North
Coast Section championship this past spring, will be
receiving a 60-percent scholarship in her freshman
year and has the opportunity to earn a full scholarship
for her sophomore year.
Heading into her last weekend of ASA softball
this summer, Wiley didn’t have a scholarship offer from
a Division I school on the table, and she was mulling
over backup options such as San Francisco State, Sonoma
State and Los Medanos College. However, Wolf
Pack coach Matt Meuchel made a special trip to Huntington
Beach to see the standout outfi elder and second
baseman play, and came away impressed enough
to offer her a scholarship and a place on next year’s
team.
“It was a great relief,” Wiley said of Reno’s offer.
“My goal since I started playing ASA softball was to
earn a Division I scholarship and have a chance to
compete for a starting spot, and I’m receiving that opportunity.”
Wiley plans on pursuing a teaching credential at
Reno, and the school has already promised her a fi fth
year under scholarship to complete her credential.
Falcon head coach Jeff Jonas was full of praise
for his standout run-producer and thrilled that she is
receiving the chance to play at the highest level.
“I know I speak for the entire coaching staff and
Freedom High School in expressing how proud we are
of Kortnee,” he said. “Her hard work exemplifi es what
we’re all about and she genuinely cares for her teammates
fi rst, then herself.”
Wiley also made sure to thank Jonas for affording
her the opportunity to play some second base this season.
Her experience at the position will certainly come
in handy as she prepares for the upcoming season, as
she’ll likely be in the mix to earn the starting nod as the
Wolf Pack’s everyday second baseman.
Kortnee
Wiley, who
helped lead
the Falcons to
an NCS title as
a senior this
past spring,
signed her letter
of intent
to attend the
University
of Nevada
at Reno last
week, fl anked
by her father
Mike, left,
mother Kim
and Falcon
coach Jeff
Jonas.
Photo by Avi Burk
Although Wiley admits that she’ll miss the camaraderie
she experienced as a member of the Falcons,
she also recognizes that the closeness she developed
with her high school teammates and coaches will benefi
t her as she progresses to the next level: “It gives me
the confi dence of knowing how it feels to be close with
my teammates and to compete at the highest level.”
Wiley is the second Falcon star to sign with Reno in
the past year, joining star pitcher Branden Petrangelo,
who signed his letter of intent to play baseball last fall.
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