Six Mars Area High School seniors signed letters of intent to continue their sports careers at the college level: 

Ellie Coffield signed a letter of intent to join the Panthers Women’s Soccer Team at the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.), where she plans to major in nutrition science.

Coffield is a four-year member of Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team, which won the 2020 WPIAL Class 3A Girls Soccer Championship Title as well as the 2019 PIAA and WPIAL championship titles. In her freshman and sophomore years, Coffield was also a member of the Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team that won the 2018 PIAA Championship Title.

At Mars Area High School, Coffield is a member of Enrichment Club, French Club, National Honor Society and Student Council. In the community, she volunteers for youth soccer camp, youth basketball, youth ministry, and offering memory care services at St. Barnabas Health System.

Gracie Dunaway signed a letter of intent to join the Boilermakers Women’s Soccer Team at the Purdue University (West Lafayette, Ind.), where she plans to major in fitness, health or nutrition.

Dunaway is a four-year member of Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team, which won the 2020 WPIAL Class 3A Girls Soccer Championship Title as well as the 2019 PIAA and WPIAL championship titles. During her freshman and sophomore years, she was also a member of Mars Area High School’s Girls Varsity Track & Field Team.

In the community, Dunaway volunteered as a coach at a Quick Skills Soccer youth camp.

Madeline Gagnon signed a letter of intent to join the Seahawks Women’s Triathlon Team at the Wagner College (Staten Island, N.Y.), where she plans to major in biology.

Gagnon is a member of the Mars Area High School Swimming & Diving Team as well as the Get Fit Families Elite Triathlon Team. She is a USA Triathlon All-American and qualified to compete for Team USA at the 2020 World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, but the event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Mars Area High School, Gagnon is a member of German Club, German National Honor Society, Interact Club, Key Club and National Honor Society.

Theodore Ruffner signed a letter of intent to join the Seahawks Men’s Baseball Team at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (Wilmington Island, N.Y.), where he plans to major in coastal engineering.

Ruffner is a catcher for the Mars Area High School Baseball Team, which advanced to the PIAA playoff in 2018 and the WPIAL playoffs in 2019; and, he has also played for Youngstown Class B Baseball 18U and Pittsburgh Diamond Dawgs teams.

In addition, as a running back on the Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Football Team, Ruffner surpassed 4,000 career rushing yards, earning 1,570 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns this season alone. He was selected to receive the 2019-2020 Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy.

At Mars Area High School, Ruffner is a member of Enrichment Club, German Club, German National Honor Society, and National Honor Society.

Megan Smith signed a letter of intent to join the Purple Eagles Women’s Swimming & Diving Team at Niagara University (N.Y.), where she plans to major in chemistry.

Smith competes in the 200-Yard Individual Medley (IM), 400-Yard IM and 100-Yard Breaststroke as a member of the Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Swimming & Diving Team. In 2020, Smith earned seventh place in the 100-Yard Breaststroke and eighth place in the 200-Yard IM at the WPIAL Girls Varsity Swimming Championships.

At Mars Area High School, Smith is a member of Class Council, Enrichment Club, French National Honor Society, National Honor Society and Student Council. In the community, she teaches swim lessons at Luck Fins Swim Company.

Jonathan Wetherholt signed a letter of intent to join the Mountaineers Men’s Baseball Team at West Virginia University (Morgantown, W.Va.), where he plans to major in finance.

Wetherholt is a four-year member and current shortstop for the Mars Area High School Baseball Team, which advanced to the PIAA playoff in 2018 and the WPIAL playoffs in 2019.

At Mars Area High School, he is a member of Chess Club, German Club, German National Honor Society and National Honor Society.

For more information, contact the Mars Area High School Athletic Office at (724) 625-9380.