Student athletes pose for a group following the 2015 PIAA spring NLI signing ceremony. Nearly 60 signed letters of intent to play for colleges and universities across the nation. Brien Ing | SL

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WAIKIKI — For Kamehameha senior Rachel Ogasawara, signing her National Letter of Intent Wednesday morning was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

Ogasawara, a catcher on the Warriors' softball team, was one of 59 student-athletes that put pen to paper at the Signing Day event that was put on by the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance in front of a standing-room-only crowd at the Waikiki Elks Club. There were also signees for volleyball, soccer, football, track and field, swimming, basketball and baseball.

After signing with Washington, Ogasawara was all smiles as she posed for pictures with friends and family in her purple Huskies hoodie. She will be studying sports medicine and hopes to be a physician some day.

"It was a huge relief because now I know where I'm finally going," said Ogasawara, who was a first team All-Hawaii selection last season. "I'm just really happy because it's my dream to go to the University of Washington."

One thing she really likes about the Washington softball team is the family atmosphere that they have.

"I really connected to the coaches and the team," she said. "I also have family up there and it's close to home so it's the best of both worlds."

Even though Ogasawara is in the final stages of the recruiting process, she can't help but feel nervous about the next chapter in her life.

"Honestly I'm kind of scared — but they say if your dreams don't scare you, it's not big enough," said Ogaswara. "Hopefully everything follows through and I'll be set."

Another standout softball player that signed her letter of intent was Punahou's Krystin Wong. The senior shortstop will be studying biochemistry at Columbia University in New York.

"I never thought that I would be here signing to play at an Ivy League college, but I guess things have a funny way of working out," she said. "I worked really hard for this so it feels good that it's all paying off and I'm really proud to go to Columbia.

While most athletes that go on to the next level have played their respective sports from a very young age, Wong only started to play softball in seventh grade. She credits former Punahou coach Mike Okimoto's help in developing her skills.

"No one really worked with me and put in the time because I started in seventh grade compared to other people that started when they were toddlers," said Wong. "Coach ‘Oki' worked with me, saw something in me and never gave up on me. He's here today and a lot of thanks goes to him."

Wong hopes to follow the pre-med track to become a cardiac surgeon one day.

Also signing her letter of intent Wednesday morning was Mililani's Kanoe Morihara, an all-Hawaii girls soccer selection this year. The senior defenseman helped the Trojans win their first state title since 2002 and will play for Whittier College.

"I think it just gave me a lot of confidence and made me feel like I can actually play at the next level," Morihara said on her final season as a Trojan. "It just made me appreciate the game more and I felt like I couldn't leave it behind in high school. I think just through my senior year I just grew more passionate (about the sport). Just seeing my friends a year ago doing it and playing soccer in college, I felt like I could do it too."

One of the hurdles that Morihara has had to overcome in her preps career was a knee injury. Her experience bouncing back from it played a hand in her decision to study kinesiology.

"I hurt my knee a few years ago and I went to physical therapy and I really liked how my physical therapist knew what to do for me to get better," she said. "I just like helping people and the body really interests me."

Former Kealakehe and Cal track and field sprinter Francesca Weems was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. She graduated from Kealakehe in 2011 and is now a Sports Anchor and Reporter for Hawaii News Now.

LIST OF SIGNEES

BASEBALL
Trey Yukumoto, Leilehua - California State University Eastbay

BASKETBALL
Jerrilynn Maluyo, Leilehua - Colorado Mesa University

FOOTBALL
Cade Brittain, Punahou - Lake Forest College
Mackenzie Crowley, Leilehua - University of Redlands
Alexander Kidani, Punahou - Chapman University
Jerrod Mose, Punahou - University of Redlads
Johnny Richardson, Punahou - Lewis & Clark College
Tane Tuifua, Saint Louis - Dixie State
James Copelan, Campbell  - Valley City State University

SOCCER
Ronald Bartenstein, Iolani - Pacific University-Oregon
Roschel Dizon , Mililani - Treasure Valley Community College
Kailey Hifumi, Punahou - Pacific University
Shandy Hopeau , Kapolei  - Taft college
Alyssa Tanigawa, Castle - Chaminade University
Ryan Yoshida, Iolani - Pacific University
Tiana Young-Mauchly, Mid-Pacific - Northwestern Oklahoma State
Kanoe Morihara, Mililani - Whittier College
Robyn Peiler, Mililani - Taft College

SOFTBALL
Lindsey Kalehua Ah Soon , Kamehameha - Pace University Westchester NY
Kailie Alama, Aiea - Pierce College
Danielle Antolin, Saint Francis - University Of Hawaii at Hilo
Kiana Burnett, Kamehameha - College of Southern Nevada
Christine Hipa, Kamehameha - Cal State Univ Bakersfield
Katelyn Mahelona, Kamehameha - Salt Lake Community College
Rainelle Matsuoka, Kaiser - Chaminade
Rachel Ogasawara, Kamehameha - University of Washington
Chloe Pojas, Leilehua - Marymount California University
Kailee Russell, Unviersity High - Missouri Valley College
Krystin Wong, Punahou - Columbia University
Nashlynn Anguay, Campbell - Chaminade
Kayla Higuchi, Aiea  - Chaminade university
Kaitlin Santos, Saint Francis  - Midland College

SWIMMING
Leilani Herrera, Kapolei - University of Northern Colorado
Makoa Alvarez, Campbell - Pacific University

TRACK AND FIELD
Cassidy Apo, Kamehameha - Saint Martin's University
Kai Hoshijo, Kamehameha - Seattle University
Percie Lyons, Kalaheo - Radford University

VOLLEYBALL
Savannah Baldomero, Kapolei - Casper College
Codie Conching, Kamehameha - Whitman College
Karley Tepoerava De Mello, Kaiser - College Of Southern Idaho
Silerolia Gaogao, Moanalua - University of Montana
Briana Halemanu, Kaiser - Casper College
Sydney Kealohi Hao, Kailua - Western New Mexico University
Kaylen Higa, Punahou - Willamette University
Ashelyn-Lorraine Jones, Roosevelt - College of Southern Idaho
Markayisha Masani, Unviersity High - Jackson State University
Airel Miyasaki, Mid-Pacific - Saint Johns University
Janell Molina, Roosevelt - Taft College
Tiare Mahealani Pescaia, Kamehameha - Hawaii Pacific University
Annikah San Nicolas, Kapolei - Lewis & Clark College
Casady Saole-Teixeira, Moanalua - Larimie County Community College
Lacey Satele, Saint Francis - New Mexico Miliary Institute
Taylor Takeda, Kamehameha - Dowling College
Luana Thompson, Maryknoll - University of Antelope Valley
Shandlynn Willing, Kalani - Southwestern Oregon College
Sierra Yuen, Kamehameha - University of California, Santa Cruz
Kellie Hirotsu, Punahou  - University of San Francisco
Raelynn Leong, Kailua - University of Antelope Valley CA
Jazmayne Williams, Farrington - Mount Hood College