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  • El Toro High athletes set a school record as 24...

    El Toro High athletes set a school record as 24 athletes who committed to various universities on signing day on Wednesday February 1, 2017 in Lake Forest . (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Carsen Negrete signed to Gonzaga University for baseball on signing...

    Carsen Negrete signed to Gonzaga University for baseball on signing day. El Toro High set a record number of 24 athletes who committed to various universities on signing day on Wednesday February 1, 2017 in Lake Forest . (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • El Toro High baseball players Noah Fluman, (SanDiego State University)...

    El Toro High baseball players Noah Fluman, (SanDiego State University) from left, Jake Jackson (University of Nevada, Reno), Carsen Negrete (Gonzaga University), Sam Gick (University of California, Los Angeles), and Kenneth Oyama (Loyola Marymount University) are among a record number of 24 athletes who committed to various universities on signing day on Wednesday February 1, 2017 . (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Family members crowd to take photos of 24 El Toro...

    Family members crowd to take photos of 24 El Toro High athletes. The school set a record number of 24 athletes who committed to various universities on signing day on Wednesday February 1, 2017 in Lake Forest . (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Family members crowd to take photos of 24 El Toro...

    Family members crowd to take photos of 24 El Toro High athletes. The school set a record number of 24 athletes who committed to various universities on signing day on Wednesday February 1, 2017 in Lake Forest . (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Coaches and 24 El Toro High School athletes pose for...

    Coaches and 24 El Toro High School athletes pose for a photo after signing. El Toro High set a record number of 24 athletes who committed to various universities on signing day on Wednesday February 1, 2017 in Lake Forest . (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Both Kyleigh Burton, left, and Carmany, foreground right, Jones, right,...

    Both Kyleigh Burton, left, and Carmany, foreground right, Jones, right, are headed to Concordia University in Irvine for soccer as family and coaches help celebrate on signing day. El Toro High School set a record number of 24 athletes who committed to various universities on signing day on Wednesday February 1, 2017 in Lake Forest . (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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LAKE FOREST – El Toro senior Ali Lawson worked hard throughout her high school volleyball career, hoping it would lead to this moment.

Lawson officially signed to continue her volleyball career at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, Wednesday at El Toro High.

“It was really exciting,” she said. “I’m excited for the next four years there.”

Her signature is the culmination of nearly five years of work on her craft. Lawson, a three-year varsity libero for the Chargers, had a chance to see the campus during a club volleyball tournament while she was in eighth grade.

She fell in love with the campus, the atmosphere, the environment. While other schools reached out to Lawson during her high school career, she waited, hoping to hear from SMU.

“I just remember the girls who took us on the tour, they were so enthusiastic about it…that stood out to me,” Lawson said. “I knew that was where I wanted to go.”

Lawson was one of 24 seniors at El Toro who signed their national letters of intent to continue playing their respective sports in college. This year’s class represented a record number for the Lake Forest school, which began ceremoniously celebrating National Signing Day five years ago.

Student athletes were given red-carpet treatment in the school’s gym, introduced one-by-one and allowed an opportunity to thank parents, coaches and school administration.

Before heading into the gym, an outdoor ceremony allowed the student athletes to celebrate with their peers.

“Today is not just a one-day thing,” Armando Rivas, the school’s first-year athletic director told the kids during the ceremony, “but it’s a four-year process.”

For some like Lawson who already had her dream school in mind, the journey represented a goal accomplished. Others, like Blake Young had barely begun his journey in lacrosse by the time Lawson had found her path.

Originally a baseball player, Young was introduced to lacrosse in the seventh grade. A defenseman, Young honed his skills through the next five years and found an opportunity to continue his playing career at the University of Nevada, Reno.

“I’ve dedicated myself over every summer and winter playing as much club ball as I can to get to this level,” Young said. “It’s definitely paid off, all the hard work, the long hours.”

Baseball and water polo represented the largest percentage of El Toro athletes signing.

El Toro baseball coach Mike Gonzales looked on as six players in his program signed their national letters of intent, while water polo coach Justin Johnson, who coaches both boys and girls water polo, saw five athletes confirm their commitments.

“It’s the commitment of the kids. They love it, they love playing water polo,” Johnson said. “It’s validation for me as well, that the stuff I’m doing is right.”

Jessica Rodriguez, a four-year girls varsity water polo player who helped the program achieve two South Coast League titles and a CIF-Southern Section Division 2 championship, said team chemistry was what has led to the program’s success.

She signed with George Washington Univiersity and will head to Washington, D.C.

“I’ve wanted to go back East and I like the city,” she said.

Of his six seniors, Gonzales said he knew they were talented when they came in as freshman, and knew that if they worked hard, they would be able to obtain a scholarship.

Left-handed pitcher Sam Glick originally thought an Ivy League school was where he would go, but as his baseball skill set developed, he began exploring options on the West Coast. He signed with UCLA.

“In the end, it was between Duke and UCLA,” Glick said. “Duke was a really good academic school…but UCLA was always an amazing option. They’re also a good academic school and that’s what I wanted.”

Second baseman Josh Zamora, who along with teammate Jake Jackson signed with Nevada, said seeing so many of his teammates get a chance to play at the collegiate level is special.

“It’s amazing, especially from freshman year, just seeing everyone grow,” Zamora said. “You just kind of feed off each other in the sport. It’s the ambiance that helps everything.”

Contact the writer: npercy@scng.com