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Ferrell signs with Spartans

Photo

Photo by Kyle Bursaw

Edgerton's Brooke Ferrell, follows through on a shot at University Ridge in Madison.

EDGERTON — Allyssa Ferrell took pen in hand and signed on the dotted line in an Edgerton High School conference room and became an official member of the Michigan State University women’s golf team at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.

As the ink dried on the official Division I athletic scholarship letter of intent, Ferrell joined fellow modern-times Crimson Tide D-1 recruits Steve Stricker (golf), Rose Fox (basketball), Paul Janus (football) and Darin Haugom (baseball).

“You are a Spartan. Congratulations,” Tide golf coach Steve Zartman said to Ferrell before going off to fax the contract to East Lansing, Mich.

There were congratulations all around. Wearing MSU T-shirts, Ferrell flashed a smile and her parents, Brad and Leslie, stood relieved. Allyssa’s sister, Brooke, a freshman and Crimson Tide golf teammate, took pictures.

“Now we can relax,” Allyssa’s mother said. “After July 1, the e-mails and the phone calls started coming.’’

As the signing day approached, Ferrell was hit with a last-chance barrage of phone calls from recruiters.

“A school from Florida called, and the Oregon Ducks called,” Ferrell’s father said. “They were just trying to follow through.’’

Ferrell never wavered. It was Michigan State all the way.

“I knew from my unofficial visit (to Michigan State) that I said I felt like I belong here,’’ Ferrell said. “It’s a good fit for me.’’

Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll has coached the Spartans since 1997.

With the fall season complete, Michigan State was ranked fifth in the Golfweek and Golfstat rankings. The Spartans feature four players ranked in the top 100, including Middleton High School graduate Lindsey Solberg at No. 83.

“I’ve talked to (Solberg) and some other girls on the team,” Ferrell said. “I can’t wait to get there.’’

Ferrell was named the 2009 Player of the Year by the Wisconsin High School Golf Coaches Association. She also was a first-team all-state selection for the third straight year.

Ferrell qualified for the Division 1 or 2 state tournaments all four years of her varsity career and never finished lower than fourth.

Ferrell’s golf career began when her father took her to the driving range when she was 3 years old.

“She started playing with my clubs,” her father said. “She became my playing partner when she was 8, and one day she beat me, and then it was on.’’

It will be on again for Ferrell next fall at Michigan State.