Eighteen WHS seniors gathered Monday afternoon in Cafeteria B for a National Signing Day ceremony. The ceremony recognized last Wednesday’s National Signing Day, when students signed their official letters of intent to participate in collegiate athletics.
“When you look at a group like this—all these kids that are signing to move on—it’s not just a couple sports,” athletic director Sandra Mamary said. “That just kind of exemplifies that our philosophy, or our vision, is proving true.”
The 18 student-athletes posed together in front of the Westfield athletics banner, then posed for photos in groups corresponding to their specific sport. Finally, they took pictures with their families and any friends in attendance.
(For a full list of committed WHS athletes, take a look at the commitment list)
The sport most represented in the ceremony was boys lacrosse, which is sending four athletes to Division I programs. Trey Brown is headed to the University of Maryland, the reigning national champion, and Ryan Waldman will suit up for Cornell University, which lost to Maryland in last year’s title game. Daniel Hazard and Dylan Wragg committed to Lafayette College and Robert Morris University, respectively.
“We have a great school of athletics here,” Waldman said. “It feels really good to be recognized.”
Lily Dickerson, a Quinnipiac University commit, represented the girls lacrosse team at the ceremony. Georgetown University commit Barnes Blake and Skidmore College commit Tate Esler represented the boys golf team.
The girls soccer team is sending two athletes to Division I programs and one to a Division III program. Chiara Cosenza will attend the Naval Academy, and Emma Kelesoglu will attend Hamilton College. Alyssa Martinez is headed to Rutgers University, a program one year removed from a Final Four berth. “Playing college soccer is obviously something I’ve wanted to do since I was little,” Martinez said.
The boys soccer team will send two athletes to Division III schools in upstate New York. Noah Fischer is committed to Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Ian Schultz will further his career at Ithaca College.
The girls basketball team will send two athletes from its Group 4 championship team to Division III schools on the East Coast. Annie Ryan will attend Tufts University, and Paige Gorcyzca will attend Stevens Institute of Technology.
The boys cross country and track and field team produced two Division I commits: Liam Maurillo and Daniel Cortese will remain teammates next year at Davidson College.
Wrestler Michael Murphy is committed to the University of Virginia, and swimmer Lauren Lane is off to Loyola University Maryland.
“We all put so much work into this,” Mamary said. “And when it all clicks and comes together, you can’t ask for any better.”
