SIGNING DAY: Emotions flow for local, area athletes <...

On the most anticipated day of the year for most high school players, National Signing Day once again showed the depth of northeast Georgia sports and elicited plenty of emotions from athletes around the area. Here is a look at some of the thoughts and experiences of the athletes who signed college scholarships in a variety sports as they shared them with us at Accessnorthga.com on Wednesday: (EDITOR'S NOTE: We also recorded every interview conducted and will present a video compilation of responses next week.) Carli Broome, Banks County, cross country -- Emmanuel College "I was a great day. I didn't think when I started I would have this chance. I picked Emmanuel because it was a small school and reminded me of home." Major: Physical and Health Education Kaitlyn Duncan, Banks County, basketball -- Furman University "I actually signed in November but I was so excited when I did and to know that I had my school paid for. I picked Furman because it was a little smaller." Major: Undecided Austin Venable, Banks County, basketball -- Presbyterian College "It's just been an amazing day. They had a great atmosphere and it just felt like home. Now I can just focus on playing the rest of the season." Major: Education Kaitlyn Stewart, Banks County, softball -- Truett-McConnell "It's been a dream of mine since I was a little kid and things just fell into place. Truett really felt like home to me. It's just been an amazing day for me." Major: Early Childhood Education/Psychology Will Ledford, Banks County, football -- Air Force Academy "It was crazy because Air Force didn't get involved until last week. It was just an opportunity I couldn't turn down. It's a dream come true to be able to play football in college." Major: Engineering Elliott Raiford, West Hall, wrestling -- Appalachian State "I really liked the coaches and the whole atmosphere. It was a hectic process but there's a little bit of relief now that it's over." Major: Computer information Katie Kirkland, West Hall, soccer -- Southern Wesleyan "I watched my friends sign last year and it's something I wanted to be able to do this year. I always wanted to play college soccer and now I have the chance. It was kind of nerve-wracking to sign it but fun also." Major: Business Madeline McCarthy, Flowery Branch, soccer -- Piedmont College "It's just been an amazing day but I am glad it's over I was looking at Valdosta State and North Georgia but I just really liked the feel at Piedmont plus it is close to home." Major: Nursing Cade Minton, Flowery Branch, soccer -- Truett-McConnell "I'm just glad it's all over. It was a pretty stressful process. I had two other schools I was looking at but I went on a visit to Truett to look and then I just loved the team and the layout and just felt it was the right place." Major: Pre-Med Sydney Cleveland, North Hall, basketball -- Georgia College "It's always been a goal of mine to play college ball and now I have that chance. I was just so excited to this done." Major: Math Kensi Gillespie, North Hall, basketball -- Brenau University "I always wanted to play basketball in college and I am big on family so I wanted to be close to home. Brenau is accredited with what I want to major in so that's how I decided. It was a crazy day overall and I'm glad it's over." Major: Athletic training Lincoln Hewett, North Hall, baseball -- Gordon State College "It's was a pretty exciting day. I want to play pro baseball and I thought going the JUCO route gave me the best opportunity. I had a lot of people helping me get here so that means a lot to me." Major: Business Jonathan Hughes, Flowery Branch, baseball -- Georgia Tech "It's been a big relief to get this over with. It's a big accomplishment for me to know I was able to get something like this. Now I can just concentrate on the season. The hardest part was trying to make a decision when you have a lot of good choices. I just loved the Tech staff and the whole setup there." Major: Undecided Stephen Skeggs, Flowery Branch, baseball -- Emmanuel College "It felt great and a little surreal when I was signing. The process was stressful and fun at the same time. I really like Emmanuel because it's not a big school." Major: Business management Marq Kilcoyne, Flowery Branch, baseball -- Erskine College "It was a crazy process with a lot of visits. But it was a lot of fun also. I really liked the coach and they offered me a great deal. I'm excited about it." Major: Business management Jazmin Penado, Gainesville, soccer -- Piedmont College "This was a dream come true for me. It's the best day I've ever had in my life. My parents played a big role in me being here right now. I felt at home at Piedmont and wanted to stay close to home if I could." Major: Exercise science Luke Maddox, Gainesville, baseball -- Mississippi "The whole process was a lot of fun visiting schools and things but I am glad its over. It was great to sign. I had some other offers but I really liked Ole Miss." Major: Undecided Harrison Styles, Gainesville, baseball -- Maryville College "It's been an exciting day. It's also a relief to sign and get it done. I had a chance to go to some bigger schools but I wouldn't have been anle to see a lot of action for a couple of years. I'll get to play right away at Maryville, which is what I want to do." Major: Business Lawson King, Gainesville, golf -- Western Carolina "One of my teammates from last year -- Jackson Bishop -- is at Western and I'm just glad to get the opportunity to play with him again. It felt great to know that all the hard work I've put in paid off." Major: Finance Nathan Williams, Gainesville, golf -- Georgia State "I've been playing a long time so this just feels great to be able to play in college. It was awesome signing that paper. I really liked the staff and the environment at Georgia State. I'm looking forward to playing there." Major: Undecided Kayla Street, Gainesville, softball -- Georgia Highlands College "I was nervous all day. It was very emotional for me because I didn't think I would get to this point. It's an amazing feeling." Major: Physical Education Haley King, Chestatee, tennis -- Oglethorpe University "The whole signing was so unreal for me. I didn't see myself being able to get to this level. Oglethorpe is where I wanted to go to school and then to get a scholarship to play tennis is just unbelievable." Major: Communications Joel Munoz, Johnson, baseball -- Georgia Highlands College "You work hard for this and then to see it happen was very amazing. I didn't have a real stressful experience. I really liked the feel of the college and decided that's where I wanted to go." Major: Undecided Chris Howard, Riverside Military, football -- East Tennessee State "To me the whole process was more fun than stress. I liked all the visits. I liked the staff and the program. I've been wanting this for a while so it felt good to sign." Major: Business accounting Jejuan McCalston, Riverside Military, football -- Johnson C. Smith University (N.C.) "I'm from North Carolina so this allows to go back where me family is. It was a hard process with the tests and things but it felt good to see the hard work pay off. It's a real good fit for me." Major: Accounting Avery Cagle, Riverside Military, football -- Akron University "It's a dream come true. I visited other places closer but (Akron) felt like home to me. It was an amazing day." Major: Education Brandon Grant, Riverside Military, football -- Maryville College "It makes you feel good that people are interested in you. But it's crazy with the emails, the texts, the calls. It was great to sign but I'm glad it's done." Major: Malik Faulk, Riverside Military, football -- Santa Barbara City College "I grew up in California so I was looking for some places out there to go back where my family is. It was a little stressful because early the only places looking at me where up north. It felt real good to sign and be close to my family." Major: Sports medicine Kelly Kahlert, Flowery Branch, softball -- North Georgia "The whole thing was a little crazy but fun and cool at the same time. But I'm kind of glad it's over. I really loved the atmosphere at North Georgia." Major: Business administration Katie Hall, Flowery Branch, volleyball -- Toccoa Falls College "I never thought I would be here. It's very exciting to get to see your goals and dreams come true. I'm very humbled.." Major: Biology Cole Ford, Flowery Branch, football -- McKendree University "The whole thing was very fun, very stressful, and I'm glad it's over. But it's also good to know all your hard work paid off. I just fell in love with the campus and feel I'm at the right place." Major: Business Caden Cooper, Flowery Branch, football -- McKendree University "I've been playing since I was six and a lot of work went into get here. It's nice to know it paid off. I just had a lot of stress lifted off when I signed. It felt great." Major: Economics/finance Cooper Harrison, Flowery Branch, football -- Tusculum College "To me it was very chaotic and crazy but a great weight lifted off my shoulders I didn't think I would ." Major: Zack Smith, Flowery Branch, football -- Tusculum College "It's just the best feeling in the world. It's very humbling. I didn't think I would have this opportunity. Just unbelievable." Major: Undecided Juan Soto, Johnson, cross country -- Emmanuel College "It felt like a dream. It was tough to make a decision at first. Now I get keep doing what I love to do." Major: Biology Katie White, Lakeview Academy, volleyball -- Birmingham Southern "I'm just grateful and humbled. It was stressful and I didn't think I'd be here. Birmingham Southern had everything I wanted so I'm glad it worked out." Major: Undecided Jennifer Mullican, North Hall, volleyball -- Shorter College "It was a great feeling. I liked the school and took a visit and they offered me a spot." Major: Sports management/Sports medicine Makayla Ellis, North Hall, cross country -- North Georgia "It's kind of a relief. It really felt like the right place for me. It was exciting." Major: Nursing Ty Powers, North Hall, swimming -- Tennessee "The process was more on the fun side for me. It was a hard decision but I loved the coaches and the atmosphere at Tennessee. It's great now that it's over." Major: Undecided Kali Turner, East Hall, softball -- North Georgia "I always wanted to go to North Georgia. It's a real relief to have this over with." Major: Occupational therapy Josie Coker, East Hall, softball -- Piedmont College "It was very stressful for me. I wasn't sure what would happen. It's just a great feeling to know where I'll be the next four years." Major: Business Chelsea Dale, East Hall, softball -- Brenau University "It wasn't too stressful for me. I wanted to go into nursing and play close to home so this was a perfect fit for me. Very excited." Major: Nursing Matthew Pruitt, Chestatee, football -- Georgia Tech "I had some offers from Wofford and some other places but I really wanted to go to a great engineering school closer to home. I'll be a prefered walk-on with the opportunity to earn a scholarship at one of the best schools. I'm very excited for this chance." Major: Engineering Patrick Schmidt, Gainesville, football -- Birmingham Southern "I wanted to play college ball since I was little and it just feels like a great accomplishment for me to get this chance. They were the first school to offer and I took a visit and loved the school and the environment." Major: Mechanical Engineering

SIGNING DAY: Emotions flow for local, area athletes <b> (VIDEO) </b>