The Kennedy Cougars and Linn-Mar Lions will be leading the parade of college commitments this week.

The winter signing period begins Wednesday for many college-bound athletes, although prep athletes who are heading to NCAA Division III schools will not be signing letters-of-intent since D3 colleges do not offer athletic scholarships.

Kennedy High School plans to hold a ceremony at 2:55 p.m. Wednesday in the school cafeteria to honor the following college-bound athletes:

• Shaun Beyer, University of Iowa, football
• Dalles Jacobus, University of Iowa, football
• Tyler Dralle, Coe College, football & baseball
• Carly Langhurst, Iowa State, soccer
• Anna Frerichs, Iowa State, soccer
• Sydney Hayden, Northern Iowa, soccer
• Linden Runels, Carnegie Mellon, soccer
• Cameron Stump, Simpson, golf
• Paige Timmerman, Luther, softball
• Logen Rodriguez, Wisconsin-La Crosse, wrestling

Linn-Mar High School plans to hold a ceremony at 3:45 Wednesday in the Media Center to honor these athletes and their college commitments:

• Jenna Ajram, Chicago State, soccer
• Daniel Gorsich, Benedictine College, football
• Claire Larson, Missouri-Kansas City, soccer
• Jack Ramsey, Drake, soccer
• Jake Sevcik, Saint Ambrose, golf
• Max Thrune, Kirkwood, golf
• Jordan Webb, Marquette, soccer
• Ryan Wyant, Kirkwood, baseball

Jalen Rima of Prairie and Isaiah Nimmers of Washington, two of the best football players in the Metro area last season, both plan to sign with the University of Northern Iowa.

Joe Constant of Xavier has signed to play football at Iowa Central Community College.