Countryside duo makes it official

Shortly after watching punter Pete Kontodiakos sign a national letter-of-intent to play for Colorado State next season, Countryside coach John Davis approached Pete's father John.

"I wish I could trade places with him. This is really special," Davis said to the elder Kontodiakos. "When you go up there and watch him come out of the tunnel for the first time, if you don't cry, you aren't alive."

Kontodiakos, a 6-foot-1, 190 pounder who was named first-team All-American by USA Today and rated the No. 1 punter in the country by prokicker.com, signed with the Rams Wednesday at a ceremony in the Countryside media center. The senior, who made an official visit to Colorado State last month, picked the Rams over New Mexico.

"The (Colorado State) coaching staff came over to my house, and we talked about my opportunities for next year," Kontodiakos said. "I have the opportunity to start as a freshman. That's a big deal."

Meanwhile, Richard Shockley, a running back/linebacker for Countryside this season, also signed at the same ceremony, inking a commitment to NAIA Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. At 6-foot, 205 pounds, Shockley will play wide receiver for the Hawks next season.

"It's been a stressful couple of months," Shockley said. "But once it's all over, it's worth it. I'll probably relax now for the first time in a while."

Shockley visited Dartmouth, Princeton and UConn before deciding to attend Quincy.

"I was kind of nervous going up there because it's in a small city, but when I went up there I had a great time," Shockley said. "I loved everything about the school. I was just positive that's where I wanted to go."

(Photo: Countryside punter Pete Kontodiakos (Colorado State), left, and running back/linebacker Richard Shockley (Quincy University) share a handshake Wednesday, moments after signing with their respective universities.) 

-- BRYAN BURNS