Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Joined by his coach, Kevin Young, Timberline senior Aaron Ware signs his letter of intent to Washington State University on Wednesday, the first day recruits are allowed to officially join their colleges.

Signed, sealed, delivered

Ware leads group of area signees

GAIL WOOD, THE OLYMPIAN

Three years ago, Anthony McCarty gave up soccer to concentrate on football, a sport he did not even play until the ninth grade.

On Wednesday, Shelton's 6-foot-4 wide receiver signed his letter of intent to play college football at Eastern Washington, making good on his dream of playing NCAA Division-I football.

McCarty is one of four South Sound high school players who received college football scholarships Wednesday.

Timberline's Aaron Ware signed with Washington State as a defensive end and Chehalis' Sawyer Smith committed to Portland State as a quarterback.

Olympia's Tony Volponi, a two-time All-Narrows League choice as an offensive lineman, signed with Boise State.

Two weeks ago, Eastern Washington coach Paul Wuff visited McCarty's home, offering a scholarship. McCarty accepted the next day.

On his recruiting visit in January, McCarty talked with Richmond Sanders, a River Ridge graduate playing football at Eastern.

"He just told me how much he likes it," McCarty said. "Washington State offered me a walk-on spot, but this was for sure."

McCarty caught 24 passes for 327 yards and six touchdowns last season and earned first-team All Narrows League honors. He ran back a punt 90 yards for a touchdown to set a school record.

Last June, Eastern Washington coaches offered Ware a scholarship while he was at their football camp. Ware decided to wait.

"I really wanted to play Pac-10," Ware said.

Washington State assistant coach Mike Levenseller offered Ware a scholarship in December, shortly after Ware made a campus visit. As part of the recruiting pitch, Ware wore a Cougars jersey with his name on the back as he stood in Martin Stadium.

"He's relentless," Levenseller said Wednesday about Ware. "His motor is always going. You don't always find that motor in linemen and Aaron's got it. He's got a great upside."

Ware figures he will have to put 35 pounds on his 235-pound, 6-foot-5 frame.

"The thing about Aaron is he's real competitive," Timberline coach Kevin Young said. "He wants to compete on every down."

Ware also was offered a scholarship by Idaho but no other Pac-10 school showed interest.

"I don't look at who's recruiting him, we look at tape of the kid," Levenseller said. "And we liked what we saw. He moves very well for a big man."

Ware was also sold on WSU's season.

"Idaho finished 1-10 this year and WSU went 10-2," Ware said. "I was also impressed with WSU's coaches and their facilities. I wanted a chance to play Pac-10."

Alex Pittelkau, North Thurston's all-time leading rushing, was still uncertain Wednesday about his future. Two weeks ago, Levenseller talked with Pittelkau, offering him a walkon spot at WSU, but no scholarship.

Pittelkau has taken recruiting trips to Central and Western Washington, but neither school offered a scholarship. Southern Oregon has offered a partial scholarship.

"I am and I'm not surprised," Pittelkau said. "Everyone was always giving me the size factor. I figured I wasn't going to get looked at by Pac-10 schools because of my size."

Pittelkau is 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds. A three-year starter, he rushed for 1,300 yards as a sophomore, 2,055 as a junior and 1,120 as a senior. He scored 34 touchdowns as a junior and 28 last season.

"I don't think size should be a factor," Pittelkau said. "If a person has the will to give it their all on the field, then that's what should matter most."

For related stories go to the Local Sports section.

South Sound signees

- Aaron Ware: Timberline lineman, to Washington State.

- Anthony McCarty: Shelton receiver, to Eastern Washington.

- Tony Volponi: Olympia lineman, to Boise State.

- Sawyer Smith: Chehalis quarterback, to Portland State.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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