TOLEDO—Five athletes from Toledo Notre Dame Academy (NDA) signed to play college basketball, swimming and volleyball in front of the entire student body Nov. 16.

Michelle DeHenning is to play volleyball at Ashland University, Rachael Dzierzak is to swim at The Ohio State University, Jocelyn Uchic is to play volleyball at Clarion University, Lisa Urbanski is to play volleyball at Owens Community College and Catherina Wells is to play basketball for The University of Toledo.

Five athletes from Toledo Notre Dame Academy signed to play college basketball, swimming and volleyball in front of the entire student body Nov. 16. (Photo courtesy of Toledo Notre Dame Academy)

Michelle DeHenning is to be a setter for NCAA Division II Ashland University, Ohio, where she plans to study graphic design. Her scholarship is valued at approximately $30,000 a year. A captain for the Eagle volleyball team her junior and senior years, she received numerous honors. She earned senior year First Team, All District and First Team, All TRAC Conference honors, junior year First Team, All City and Second Team, All District, and sophomore year Second Team, All City and Honorable Mention, All District. She was All Academic — TRAC Conference.

Off-season, Ms. DeHenning plays for the Toledo Volleyball Club (TVC) and has been part of its national team for five years. She has been captain of that team for the past four years and was on the watch list for the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Under Armour Girls’ High School All-America volleyball athlete to compete in the Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition.

She has been involved in Pep Club and volunteered at her former elementary school Toledo St. Joan of Arc.

Rachael Dzierzak is to swim for The Ohio State University where she plans to study architecture. She earned a scholarship valued at 15 percent of tuition and books. She has qualified for State her last three years and placed in the top ten. In the 100 breast stroke she was third freshman year, second sophomore year and second junior year. In the 200 individual medley she was ninth freshman year, 10th sophomore year, and eighth junior year. She has been coach’s pick for Most Valuable Swimmer for three years in a row. She has also been a district qualifier for three years and helped the Eagles to sectional and district championships.

She swims for the Greater Toledo Aquatic Club and was a USA Swimming Scholastic Academic All-American.

She is a gifted artist who designed the 2011 NDA Christmas Card. She is in art and math clubs. She has also played softball for the Eagles all four years. She is a volunteer cross country coach for Perrysburg St. Rose School and gave swim lessons for the blind.

Jocelyn Uchic is to play outside hitter or defensive specialist in volleyball for Division II Clarion University in Pennsylvania where she plans to study biology or pre-med. She has won numerous honors. She received the 2011 Senior Scholar Athlete Award and was CYO Outstanding Athlete. She was junior year Honorable Mention, All City and sophomore year Second Team, All City. She was All Academic – TRAC Conference.

She played for TVC on the 17-Minzuno National Team for 2011 and in 2010 was 17-Black National. She was awarded two Triple Crown Standout Athlete invites to the 2011 Tri-State Big South Junior Olympic qualifier. She was selected to participate in the 2011 Tri-State Elite charity event “Best in Ohio vs. Best in Pennsylvania.”

She has consistently been on the NDA honor roll and involved in the Big Sis/Little Sis and French Club. She served at the Toledo Our Lady of Lourdes Soup Kitchen and was a CYO volleyball coach for Toledo St. Joan of Arc. She started the volleyball “secret Eagle” program.

Lisa Urbanski is to play for Owens Community College as a defensive specialist or a libero. She will receive approximately half tuition and a book stipend each year. She plans to study medical imaging. She was All Academic — TRAC Conference. She earned senior year Honorable Mention — TRAC Conference and junior year Honorable Mention — All City. She was an Eagle captain.

She plays for the TVC and was on its national-level teams for five years, which qualified her for the national tournament four out of five years.

She played basketball for the Eagles her freshman and sophomore years and was team captain. She is on the NDA honor roll and has done volunteer work at Sunset Village Home.

A point guard for the Eagles for four years, Catherina Wells is one of the top women’s high school basketball players in the state and will play for the University of Toledo. Her junior year, Ms. Wells was All State, Third Team, All District, First Team, All City, First Team and WTVG-13ABC Athlete of the Week. As a sophomore she was also All State, Honorable Mention and All District and All City, Second Team.

In addition to playing basketball, Ms. Wells has been involved in the Latin club and African American club, is a Sunday school teacher at Bethlehem Baptist Church and helps at Eagle basketball camps.