July 27, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

PHOTOS: Four St. Margaret’s High School athletes commit to play for college teams

St. Margaret’s athletes from left Yuki Bannai, Cami Cassinelli, Parker Hogan and Cameron Shirangi made their college commitments this week. (Photos courtesy St. Margaret’s Episcopal School)

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School officials announcd this week that four student-athletes from the Class of 2020 committed to play intercollegiate athletics next year during the spring national signing period.

Seniors Yuki Bannai, Cami Cassinelli, Parker Hogan and Cameron Shirangi will continue their academic pursuits, as well as play their respective sport.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo:

Because schools are not in session because of the coronavirus pandemic, there was no signing ceremony.

“We were holding out hope that we could share this moment in the Hurlbut Theater as is our custom at St. Margaret’s. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that will happen. Although it was not the ending any of our seniors wanted, I’m so incredibly impressed with their selfless perspective and poise,” said Director of Athletics Patrick Bendzick.

“This extraordinary group of four has clearly shown that they are ready to take on anything the world throws at them, and we are proud to call them Tartans.”

The athletes:

Yuki Bannai, Pitzer College: Bannai, a three-year varsity member of the Tartans golf program and 2020 team captain, has committed to study at Pitzer College and play golf at NCAA Division-III Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont.

Bannai led the Tartans to a league championship in 2019 and finished No. 41 out of 116 in the CIF-SS individual regional that same year. At the club/amateur level, Bannai finished No. 1 at the SCPGA Toyota Tour Cup Qualifier, No. 2 at the SCPGA Players Tour at Arrowood, No. 5 at the SCPGA Players Tour, No. 6 at the AJGA Under Armour Qualifier and tied for No. 19 at the Inland Empire Amateur Championships.

He volunteers his time with Youth Musicians of Orange County, participating in food distribution for the needy and trash cleanups at Doheny Beach. Bannai plans to major in international political economy at Pitzer.

Cami Cassinelli, UC Berkeley: Cami Cassinelli, a member of the Tartans 2019 SoCal Regional Champion soccer team, has committed to study and play soccer at NCAA Division-I UC Berkely.

She was a mainstay defensively for the Tartans, with a rare combination of speed, toughness, composure and determined work ethic.

At the club level, Cassinelli was a member of the 2018 and 2019 ECNL National Championship teams. In her free time, shei has volunteered with Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano for the past four years. Cassinelli intends to major in psychology at Berkeley.

Parker Hogan, UCLA: Parker Hogan, a member of St. Margaret’s four-time league champion football program, has committed to study and play football at NCAA Division-I UCLA.

Hogan a wide receiver and cornerback for the Tartans was named first-team all-league and was a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Awardee in 2019.

Hogan volunteers his time with St. John’s Episcopal School’s summer programs. He ntends to major in economics at UCLA.

Cameron Shirangi, Pitzer College: Cameron Shirangi, a five-time varsity letterman, has committed to study at Pitzer College and play football at Pomona-Pitzer.

Shirangi, a placekicker for the Tartans, was a first-team all-league and third-team All-Orange County selection in 2019. He was 50 for 51 in point-after attempts and five for five in field goals on the season.

Shirangi was also a member of St. Margaret’s soccer program and an accomplished player at the club level. He volunteers his time with Special Camp and Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano. The football player intends to major in management engineering at Pitzer College.

Source: St. Margaret’s High School athletic department

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