The national signing day is always filled with excitement and perhaps a little trepidation as high school seniors put their name on the dotted line with the college of their choice.

It's exciting because it marks the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, but it's also a little frightening at times because of the great unknown that awaits them.

Only four-year colleges that offer athletic scholarships require a national letter-of-intent, so the fall signing period that began Wednesday does not include the dozens of Metro student-athletes who will attend NCAA Division III colleges in the Iowa Conference and elsewhere. The fall signing period also does not include football players, who can sign their letters in February.

A total of 14 Metro athletes plan to sign during the fall session, according to the high schools as of noon Wednesday.

Here is the list:

LINN-MAR

Calvin Greeve, University of Minnesota, swimming
Alexis Kelsey, Northwest Missouri State, softball
Lauren Mercil, Clarke, soccer
Olivia Montague, Wisconsin-Parkside, basketball
Sarah Renner, Georgia State, volleyball

XAVIER

Kayla Torson, Nebraska-Omaha, volleyball
Adam McDermott, North Dakota, basketball
Calvin Winker, Missouri Western State, basketball
Erin Drahozal, Upper Iowa, softball

KENNEDY

Connor Koberg, Iowa State, golf
Zach Daniels, Iowa, baseball
Stephanie Botkin, Washington University, basketball

MARION

Abby Phillips, Iowa State, volleyball
Amanda Sahm, Gardner-Webb, volleyball