Cattanach to sign with Armstrong Atlantic

from Naples News

FORT MYERS — One of South Fort Myers High School's elite three-sport athletes will be headed to college for a sport that she never played at the school.

Emily Cattanach, a standout for the Wolfpack in golf, basketball and track, has committed to play soccer at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga. She made her decision on Wednesday and is expected to officially sign a letter of intent on Monday afternoon at South.

Cattanach will join an Armstrong Atlantic program that is coached by former Barron Collier standout Eric Faulconer. Armstrong Atlantic plays in Division II's Peach Belt Conference.

Cattanach visited Armstrong Atlantic in January and came away impressed with the school's programs that she's interested in (physical therapy and pre-med) as well as the soccer facilities.

"Both of those put together, it felt like the best fit," said Cattanach.

The center midfielder started her club soccer career with Fort Myers-based Florida Premier about seven years ago. The past two years she has played for coach Eric Miles on the Naples Sharks.

Cattanach has other ties to Collier County. She was born in Naples, and her father, Patrick, is the general manager at The Golf Club at Del Webb in Ave Maria.

Cattanach has been a starting guard on the Wolfpack's basketball team for the past four years and is in the midst of trying to help the team return to the Class 4A Final Four.

Despite excelling on the court -- she scored her 1,000th career point on Jan. 16 -- Cattanach said that when it came time to look at colleges, she had no preference which sport she would pursue.

"I was looking at soccer and basketball, but it didn't matter which one," she said.