Porterville stars commit to D-I schools

So many schools, so many choices.

So what did Porterville water polo All-Star Coriann Snyder do?

“Eenie meenie miney moe,” Snyder said.

The finger landed on Long Beach State University, where Snyder will lend her services next season if all goes to plan.

She certainly had her pick of the litter: San Jose State, Loyola Marymount, San Diego State, Hartwick College (central New York) — all top-20 water polo programs interested in the reigning EYL MVP.

Though Snyder enjoyed a visit with the coach and players on the 49ers’ campus, she said the ultimate deal-breaker was playing for Long Beach State coach Gavin Arroyo -— a two-time member of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Water Polo team.

“I know I’m gonna get really good coaching and I think that was definitely a pull,” she said. “The academic program is big there, too.”

Snyder, who plans on studying and teaching education, racked up 108 goals in her senior year for the Division II Valley runners-up Panthers. The total is third-most in school history despite playing limited minutes during mostly blowout games.

Snyder helped prolong Panther dominance a year after Kimber Methvin led with 140 goals and left for San Jose State — Snyder’s second choice.

“I like how well Kimber’s doing coming off the bench,” she said, “and I could see myself doing the same thing.”

But Long Beach is offering tuition and $5,000 toward housing — too much to turn down for Snyder, who originally didn’t think she’d play sports in college until she realized her potential while playing last summer in the Junior Olympics and Olympic Development programs.

“I’m always looking for more competition and ways to make myself better,” Snyder said. “I can just see myself doing that at Long Beach.”

While Snyder is heading south, fellow Panther standout Nate Jessup is going north to play for Fresno State’s men’s golf team.

Bulldogs golf coach Mike Watney was excited about his two newest additions of Jessup and Murrieta-native Keenan Nelson for the fall season of 2010.

After Jessup helped lead the Panthers to a spotless 16-0 record in his junior season (including 12-0 EYL), he continued dominating in junior tournaments during the summer and was named as the Fresno Bee’s top golfer in 2009.

Jessup shot a 73 in his second go-around at the SCGA Southern California Championships in Murrieta, proving his mettle when it counts.

“Nate has shown the ability to take it deep in tournaments,” Watney said in a statement. “His handicap is plus-1.5 and his GPA is 3.86. That is a great combination in a student athlete. Nate will be fun to watch as a Bulldog.”

Porterville High counselor Jeanni Buzzelli has watched Jessup blossom throughout his high school career and as a student.

“Many students look up to Nate and (he’s) respected by his peers and teachers alike,” she said. “This young man has a great future and we are all excited for him to branch off and excel at Fresno State.”