"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">GULF

SHORES, Alabama — A group of six Gulf Shores senior athletes signed

letters of intent in front of a packed GSHS school library on

Wednesday morning.

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Chris

Tilley, Brandon Silvers, Tyler Stargel, Michael Hanich and James

Duggan signed to play college football, while soccer standout

Sophie Simantel signed with Auburn in what Gulf Shores High

principal Dr. Ernie Rosado called a "great moment" in the school's

history.

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">"Since

we opened in 1999 we have never had this many sign like this,"

Rosado said. "I have been in this library for a lot of signing

ceremonies and I have never seen this many students sign at one

time."

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Tilley,

a wide receiver who also runs track and field for Gulf Shores,

signed with the University of North Alabama.

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">"The

coaching staff and the tradition they have up there were major

factors. The national titles and winning records and the history,"

Tilley said. "They have had some junior college guys transfer in.

I'm not sure how many receivers they have coming back next season,

but that's not a big deal to me. If they want me to redshirt and

put on some more weight that's fine. But if I have a chance to get

in there and play I would definitely get in there and do my

best."

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Silvers,

a two-year starter at quarterback for the Dolphins, picked Troy

University as his college destination.

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">"It is a

dream come true," Silvers said. "I have been going up to Troy since

I was a little boy. My uncle played there in 1984 when they won the

Division II national championship and that's where I have always

wanted to be."

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">

Simantel, who plans to study exercise science and pursue a career

in physical therapy, said she always dreamed of playing soccer for

the Auburn Tigers. 

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">"I have

always wanted to play at Auburn and they welcomed me with open

arms," Simantel said. "From the coaches, the team and my friends

and family it was great to have them be so welcoming and

supportive."

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Stargel

picked Georgia Tech, where he plans to pursue a master's degree in

business administration.

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">"It was

a really easy decision with the academics they have," Stargel said.

"I just felt at home there. It is all about family there. The coach

who recruited me, coach Kelly, made it a really easy decision for

me. I had other interest from Auburn and Mississippi State but I am

happy with Georgia Tech. I feel at home there."

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Hanich,

a nose guard, signed with Huntingdon College.

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">"They

were one of the first schools that had interest in me," Hanich

said. "It was a big surprise, a gift from God. It is good to know

that God has helped me throughout this whole time."

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Duggan,

an offensive guard, signed with Birmingham Southern.

"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">"It was

a tough decision. I thought about it for a long time," Duggan said.

"Birmingham Southern has a great academic program, which is what I

was mainly looking for. Sports are just a plus. For what they have

given me and how well they have treated me I can't ask for anything

better. I feel like I made the right choice."