As a sophomore, Paige Demetriades watched Christine Streisel fulfill a dream when she announced that she would continue her track and field career at Duke University.

Two years later, the Tamaqua senior has joined a prestigious list of javelin throwers that includes Casey Wagner (2008, South Florida), Allison Updike (2010, Georgia) and Streisel (2013, Duke) as athletes to take the next step and compete at a Division I school.Yesterday, Demetriades followed in the footsteps of her predecessors when she made a verbal commitment to continue her track and field career at Pittsburgh University."I'm really excited to continue this tradition of excellent javelin throwers that we have at Tamaqua," said Demetriades. "From Casey (Wagner) to Ally (Updike to Christine (Streisel)…hopefully I can be the next in that long line. It's very exciting for me."Though accomplished and talented in her own right, Demetriades admitted that she wasn't sure if she'd have such a ceremony, like Streisel and those that have come before her did."I talked to Christine about this a lot and I actually came to her signing my sophomore year," she said, "and (assistant coach) John (Kotchmar) said, 'You'll do this one day,' and I told him there was no way that would happen."So it's kinda cool to see it come full circle like this, and I'm really thankful for all that they've done."When it came to picking a school, Demetriades left her options open, with Pitt far from a sure thing."I never had a dream school in mind," she said. "For me, it was just about trying to find the right school one that wanted me to throw for them and also had good academics, and I found everything in Pitt."I actually started looking at them late in the process, and I wasn't sure if I should go (on a visit) since I'm not a big fan of the city. But once I got to check it out I really loved it and was so surprised. It just kinda worked out."Demetriades has shown steady progress over the last two years, placing second at the District 11 Class AA meet as a sophomore with a throw of 124-2 before winning gold in the event last year with a toss of 132-2.Both results qualified her for the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University, where she took 20th as a sophomore after throwing 103-4 before placing 19th as a junior with a heave of 110-6.The growth is something Tamaqua head coach Tom Kanger attributes to natural ability and an enhanced sense of self, which have come together to put Demetriades in position to have her best season yet as a senior."She was athletic, even as a freshman. But I think her confidence level has gone up every year, and that's the biggest thing for her now," said Kanger. "And you can see that progression in her throws, and she's just continued to improve each year."While obviously an elite javelin thrower, Kanger was quick to point out that Demetriades has been an asset to the team in more ways than one."Paige is special. She's done so many things for our girls team," he said. "She's been a very good pole vaulter for us...she's run the 400 for us. She's done everything we've ever asked of her."And academically, she was the student of the month at the beginning of the school year. She's a package deal."After coming back from an early season injury, Demetriades has excelled on the basketball court for the Lady Raiders, averaging 8.9 points per game, which leads the team.Demetriades, who is undecided about her major, will receive partial financial assistance during her freshman season.