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Appleman and Berg among six Alleman athletes to sign with SAU

DAVENPORT, Iowa – The St. Ambrose University sports information office Thursday announced that six Rock Island (Ill.) Alleman High School student-athletes have signed letters of intent to continue their athletics career at St. Ambrose University.

At a press conference held at Alleman High School, John Appleman and Scott Berg signed with St. Ambrose to continue their football careers; Megan Marlier signed to continue her softball career with the Queen Bees; Megan Heller signed with the Queen Bees to continue playing golf; Shane Shemek and Marcus Simpao signed with the Fighting Bees to continue their track/cross country careers. The six were among 24 student-athletes who signed letters of intent to different schools on Thursday.

Appleman and Berg join the team after a stellar four-year career with the Pioneers, which included a trip to the Illinois Class A state football playoffs this past fall. Both will join a St. Ambrose football program that has won four of the past five Mid-States Football Association crowns.

“We always love to get local guys. This is where we always start our recruiting, and we think that there is good football here in the Quad-Cities, on both sides of the river,” St. Ambrose football coach Todd Sturdy said. “I think they fit exactly what we are looking for as student-athletes. They are kids who are committed to being the best person, best student, best athlete they can be, and those are the type of kids we want.”

Both players are happy to be playing close to home and look forward to adding another title to the Fighting Bees collection.

“This is going to be great. It’s around home, and that’s one of the reasons that I am going to St. Ambrose,” Appleman said. “When football was over here, I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue playing, but now I am really excited. Plus I get to play with my best friend, Scott.”

Added Berg, “We had a great thing in high school, but we now get to move on to bigger and better things. I think it will be a great experience.”

Alleman football coach Dave DeJaegher feels that both players could help the Fighting Bees reach their goal.

“It’s great. I think a lot of coach Sturdy’s program,” he said. “St. Ambrose is getting a couple of great players. They will do well over there.

“It’s rewarding as a coach to see your kids develop their skills enough to play at the next level. I am very proud of these kids.

Marlier, a standout pitcher for the Pioneers, has posted a 16-2 record as of May 5, which has helped guide Alleman to a 22-6 overall record overall. Marlier will join a Queen Bees squad that is in its first season under coach Bridget Murphy.

“’It’ll be fun. I will be right across the river, and my parents will be able to come watch me play,” Marlier said. “That was a big thing that I was kind of looking at when I looked for a college.”

Alleman softball coach Jay Hatch is thrilled to see Marlier continuing her career.

“It’s nice when the kids go to a school close enough so we can see them play,” he said. “Continuing on at the college level is a good thing, and I think it’s a great thing for her.”

Heller decided to continue her career on the links with the Queen Bees after a stellar career with the Pioneers. The fact that she is continuing her career is what has her excited.

“I am looking forward to playing at St. Ambrose and being able to fill my dream of playing in college,” she said. “I wanted to stay close to my family because they have been my biggest support. They’re my motivation to do well.

“I am really excited because I knew once I ended my senior career that my last round, I was really upset, and I couldn’t end there.”

Shemek and Simpao will join the Fighting Bees program fresh off an Illinois Class A cross country state championship. Both admitted that St. Ambrose was the logical choice to further their careers.

“It’s far enough that its so close to home, but it’s close enough that it’s easy to go home whenever you want,” Shemek said. “A lot of my friends are going to be going there, and I think that they have nice facilities.”

Added Simpao, “It’s nice that my family will be able to come watch the meets, and if I want to see them, I won’t have to drive that far.”

St. Ambrose cross country coach Dan Zeimet feels that both additions will be a perfect fit for the university.

“It’s nice to get not only local kids, but kids from a program with their success,” Zeimet said. “Both those guys are not only talented athletically, they are top of the line character wise. They are both welcome additions to the program.”

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