Story and photographs by: Olivia Ary ’18
On April 11, 14 Regis Jesuit senior girls celebrated signing their letters of intent in the Steele Center. Girls division athletic director John Koslosky opened the ceremony and introduced different coaches throughout the presentation. The athletes signing represented the sports of basketball, track and field, lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, swimming, and volleyball. They were joined by family, friends, coaches and administrators.
Senior Katelyn Martin’s mother sets up balloons for her table. Martin will attend Regis University in the fall to play NCAA Division II soccer. Martins mother states that they “are very excited for Katelyn to play soccer and believe she will excel at Regis University. Her energy, drive, and competitive spirit will be assets to the team and will carry her far.” Martin is currently the goal keeper and one of the senior captains for the Regis Jesuit varsity soccer team.
“She is fun, crazy, a tough kid, and she brought a big physical presence to the team,” head basketball coach Carl Mattei says about senior Olivia Ayers, who will continue her basketball career at Loyola University in New Orleans. Ayers helped lead the girls basketball team to the state championship game this past season.
Head girls basketball coach Carl Mattei embraces senior Noelle Cahill on April 11 during the signing day celebration. He describes Cahill as a “hard worker, studious, and fantastic.” She will continue her academic and athletic career at the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. At Regis Jesuit, Cahill played varsity volleyball in addition to basketball.
Senior lacrosse player Mariah Daley hugs her coach during signing day celebration on April 11. Coach Ames states that “when [she] think(s) of Mariah, [she] think(s) of leadership, heart and openness. She’s quiet in a way- humble and hardworking. It really shows on and off the field.” Daley has played lacrosse at Regis Jesuit for all four years, and will continue next year at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, where she will study biology as a pre-medical degree.
Regis Jesuit students, parents and faculty gather in the lower level of the Steele Center after the to celebrate the 14 girls who signed their letters of intent on April 11. Attendees enjoyed cookies, cupcakes, popcorn, and a variety of cakes provided by the families of the students who signed. Junior Ellie Hill says her favorite part about signing day is “Seeing the seniors decked out in their college gear and seeing their smiles when their coaches talk about them.” Hill witnessed two of her teammates (Olczak and Templin) from the swim team sign letters. Many of the friends of the girls were also sporting college gear from different schools signees will be attending next fall.
14 female athletes from the class of 2018 pose for a picture after signing NCAA letters of intent on April 11. From left to right: Olivia Ayers, Mara Driver, Kayla Carmen, Katelyn Martin, Noelle Cahill, Maya Fair, Hannah (?) Lester, Mariah Daley, Maria Albery, Hadley Templin, Lauren Olczak, Liz Koch, Erin Pendleton, Kylie Davis.
Varsity soccer coach Will Cropper talks about senior goal keeper Katelyn Martin. He states that “it’s always a blessing to get a keeper. But even more of a blessing is to get a player with born leadership and skill. We count our blessings and hope to get goalies with her talent.” Martin will attend Regis University in the fall, where she will continue her soccer career and study health and exercise science .
Head Regis Jesuit swim and dive coach Nick Frasersmith speaks about future Fairfield University swimmer Lauren Olczak. “Lauren’s the kind of girl that no matter what you throw at her, she’s gonna take it and ask for more. She’s like an energizer bunny, you throw her in the water and she just keeps going,” Frasersmith. Olczak will study biochemistry and English.
14 Regis Jesuit senior athletes prepare to sign NCAA letters of intent in the Steele Center on April 11. These athletes represent 7 different sports, and will be attending schools all over the country to continue their academic and athletic careers.