HEADED TO ATHENS — Big Red senior Sena Smith signed her letter of intent to play softball at Ohio University on Wednesday during a signing ceremony at Route 22 Sports Bar. Joining Sena, center, during the signing were, from left, Nan Smith, Gena Smith, Sean Smith, Debbie Smith, Erica Smith and Jan Sayre. - Andrew Grimm

For Big Red softball standout Sena Smith, signing her letter of intent to play softball at Ohio University was a long time coming.

Having committed to the Bobcats program more than a year prior, finally being able to make it official surrounded by family, friends and teammates packed into Route 22 Sports Bar Wednesday evening was a surreal ending to the anticipation for Smith.

“It’s amazing, I’ve been waiting for this day since I first verbally committed,” she said. “Me and my friends talk about it all the time, I knew the time was approaching, but it’s almost surreal that it’s here. I feel great, I’m happy and blessed.”

According to Smith, it was the welcome she felt in Athens that made the difference in wanting to be a Bobcat.

“On Day 1 coach (Jenna) Hall made me feel welcomed and a part of a winning culture,” Smith said about what made her decide on the Bobcats. “I know she’s there to push me to be the best I can be.”

Present to celebrate with her were most of her Big Red teammates, travel ball teammates and coaches from both programs.

“It means everything,” Smith said of having a lot of her teammates there. “I had friends from travel ball come from over an hour away and everyone from school cleared their schedules to make sure they could come. I think it shows how great our culture and chemistry is.”

Smith was a key part of Big Red’s state final four run in 2023 and hopes her senior season will also feature a trip to Akron before she heads to OU, where those Akron trips will be for MAC Conference play rather than the state tournament. Big Red will be motivated in the spring after falling in the district tournament last year.

“We have some unfinished business for sure,” Smith said. “We have a strong group of seniors and the junior class is even stronger. We’re hoping we can make it back there and hopefully finish what we started.”

For her high school coach, it was a proud moment.

“When your kids sign to move on and do great things, you get a sense of pride because you work with them for so long,” Big Red head softball coach Gus DiMarzio said. “Sena has been with me for so long, third grade, fourth grade … I’ve watched her grow into a wonderful young lady and a great softball player.

“I think the most rewarding thing is to see a kid work as hard as she has and see it pay off. She has been so driven towards this point that, to see her get here, is unbelievable. It’s really great.”

Smith was actually the second member of the team to sign on Wednesday as her teammate Paige Matteson filled out her own paperwork to go to Fairmont State’s softball program earlier in the day.

Coupled with other program products going to the collegiate level in recent years, notably Jules King who’s now at Marshall, and the successes on the field, the program is looking up.

“It’s Big Red, Steubenville High School is just a wonderful place,” DiMarzio said. “Whether it’s academics, athletics, arts, everything is great, but it’s really great to see your program grow and see your players achieve high success.”