Avonworth Celebrates National Signing Day with Four Student-Athletes Committing to the Next Level

Avonworth Athletics proudly celebrated the First National Signing Day of the school year on November 12, recognizing four outstanding student-athletes who officially committed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. Family, friends, teammates, and coaches gathered to honor their achievements and support them as they take the next step in their journeys.

Cooper Scharding — Seton Hill University (Baseball)

Cooper Scharding will continue his baseball career at Seton Hill University, where he plans to major in Business/Finance. A dedicated student-athlete with a 4.33 GPA, Cooper is a four-year varsity letterman in both baseball and football. He helped lead Avonworth to WPIAL Championships and PIAA State Runner-Up finishes in both sports in 2024. Cooper’s accolades include being named a PA All-State Pitcher, WPIAL Baseball MVP, and earning All-Conference honors in both baseball and football.

Elliette Stieving — University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (Soccer)

Elliette Stieving has committed to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, where she will continue her soccer career while studying Radiologic Science. With aspirations of becoming a Radiation Therapist, Elliette is excited to further both her academic and athletic goals. Avonworth celebrates this milestone and congratulates her on her achievements.

Carson Franc — Washington & Jefferson College (Baseball)

Carson Franc will continue his baseball career at Washington & Jefferson College and plans to major in Finance. A key contributor to Avonworth’s 2024 WPIAL Championship and PIAA State Runner-Up baseball team, Carson will return as a three-year starter for the Lopes in 2026. Throughout his high school career, he has been recognized as a Post-Gazette All-Section Pitcher, All-Section Infielder, and HSSN Player of the Week.

Sam Cavanaugh — Bucknell University (Swimming & Diving)

Sam Cavanaugh has signed to continue his athletic and academic career at Bucknell University, where he will join the Bison Men’s Swimming and Diving Team while pursuing a degree in Engineering. Sam is a three-time All-State swimmer, earning a gold medal in the 200 IM at the 2025 WPIAL Championships and silver medals in the 200 IM and 500 Free at the 2025 PIAA State Championships. He holds multiple Avonworth school records, is a Junior Nationals qualifier, and was named to the 2025 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Team for his performance in both the classroom and the pool.

Avonworth is proud of Cooper, Elliette, Carson, and Sam. Their dedication, commitment, and leadership have made a lasting impact on their teams and our school community. We look forward to following their success at the next level.
Congratulations, Lopes!