(Photo by Tanvi Jeurkar/The Talon)

From left to right: OPHS seniors Joely Chadwick, Karisma Lewis, and Diana Sorrondo sign their recruitment offers.

For many student-athletes, the culmination of all their hard work comes in the form of recruitment offers from colleges. The date upon which Division 1 basketball student-athletes can begin signing offers is Nov. 12, 2025. To commemorate this event, Oak Park High School holds an annual Signing Day event in which athletes ceremonially sign their letters, giving friends and family an opportunity to celebrate this accomplishment.

During this year’s Signing Day, three OPHS athletes were recognized, all varsity girls basketball players: seniors Karisma Lewis, Joely Chadwick, and Diana Sorrondo. 

Lewis, who has officially committed to the University of California, Santa Barbara, is proud of her accomplishment after years of hard work. 

“I was really excited [for signing day], because I’ve been doing this whole AAU thing for my whole life, basically,” Lewis said. “So to finally make a decision and commit to a school officially, getting to the end of my high school seasons and everything; it’s a really big step. So I’m really proud of myself and excited.”

An added bonus for Lewis is the fact that she gets to remain in-state, at an already-familiar school environment.

“I’m really excited because I get to stay home with my family,” Lewis said.  “My mom and my coach and my brothers and everything have never missed a game. So it feels really nice to have that big support. I’m also really excited to play with Coach Renee. I’ve known her since I was a baby, so [UCSB] was like, really like a second home. She’s like a second mom, so I’m going to someone that I trust and that I know and will believe in me and support me through everything.”

Though she plans to go out-of-state, Sorrondo, who is committed to Southern Utah University, is excited about her surroundings for the next four years.

“I think a big reason why I committed to Southern Utah was the environment,” Sorrondo said. “I really like the area and the coaching staff and also my teammates.”

Chadwick, who has committed to Kenyon College, is looking forward to joining an already-successful team.

“I met the coach a while ago, so I feel like we have a good connection,” Chadwick said. “And I think the team I’m walking into, they’re definitely doing good already this season, so I’m pretty excited to see how I can aid the team and to see where we go next season.” 

Though there are bittersweet emotions associated with Chadwick’s last season, the team is as strong as ever, and the season is sure to be as well. 

“It’s definitely a little sad to think I’ve been here for four years and this is the last one,” Chadwick. “But we have a really good team. I’m surrounded by a lot of cool people, so I’m excited and I think it’ll be good.”