25 SHP STUDENT-ATHLETES COMMIT TO COLLEGIATE SPORTS
Gators to compete in 12 sports across 18 different colleges/universities.
For the 10th time in 11 years, Sacred Heart Prep will send 18 or more student-athletes to play at the intercollegiate ranks. The Class of 2019 boasts 25 student-athletes—the second most number in school history—who will be representing 12 different sports.
“I couldn’t be happier for or prouder of this terrific bunch of student-athletes. Their stellar work both inside the classroom and in their respective athletic program has led to this significant, transitional place in time.” said SHP Assistant Principal for Athletics Frank Rodriguez of this group who will be continuing their athletic pursuits next year in college.
Nearly one-third of the 2019 class comes from SHP’s storied Water Polo programs. Two members of the 2018 WCAL Champion Girls Water Polo team will compete at the next level as Nellie McAdams will join the ultra-competitive Big West Conference as a member of the UC Davis Aggies, while Madeline Johnson will travel across the country to play for renowned head coach and West Coast native Larry Sanders at Villanova.
Nearly one-third of the 2019 class comes from SHP’s storied Water Polo programs. Two members of the 2018 WCAL Champion Girls Water Polo team will compete at the next level as Nellie McAdams will join the ultra-competitive Big West Conference as a member of the UC Davis Aggies, while Madeline Johnson will travel across the country to play for renowned head coach and West Coast native Larry Sanders at Villanova.
Six members of the 2018 CCS Open Division Champion Boys Water Polo team will compete next fall on the West Coast. Walker Seymour, Andrew Churukian, and 2018 CCS Water Polo Player of the Year Larsen Weigle will head down the road to compete with the 2018 national runner-up Stanford Cardinal. Will Riley (UC San Diego) and Kyle Ballack (Claremont McKenna College) will play in Southern California along with Xavier Marco, who will join forces with older brother J.C., a ’17 SHP grad, at Pepperdine.
Pitcher Nate Fleischli will join Seymour, Churukian, and Weigle on the Farm as a member of the reigning Pac-12 Champion Stanford Baseball team. Yianni Gardner will continue his baseball career at Oberlin College in Ohio, while Reece Lindquist will stay in California and become a member of the 2017 Division III National Champion Cal Lutheran Kingsmen.
PAL-Bay Division Utility Player of the Year John Willard will hit the gridiron next fall for the reigning SCIAC Champion, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags. Fellow classmate Grace Johnson will join Willard (and Ballack) at Claremont McKenna College as a member of the defending SCIAC Champion Women’s Lacrosse team.
Two more members of the 2018 WCAL Champion SHP Girls Lacrosse team will become Ivy League rivals when Ingrid Corrigan joins the Columbia Lions by way of Barnard College, and 49ers Cal-Hi Sports Spring Scholar Athlete Emma Briger does the same at Princeton.
Tommy Barnds will join Emma at Princeton and team up with SHP grad Jack Crockett (SHP ’18) on the Men’s Lacrosse team. Fellow lacrosse standout Cody Weibe will be joining the 2019 NESCAC Champion Tufts Jumbos, who are currently the #1 seed in the Division III NCAA Tournament.
The WBAL’s Most Valuable Runner, Max Cluss, will also be competing in the NESCAC Conference as a member of the Middlebury Track & Field and Cross Country teams.
Garrett Pinkston, who led the the SHP Boys Volleyball to it’s first SCVAL championship in program history, will continue his volleyball career at the UC Santa Cruz. Ally Polverari made some history of her own, becoming the first SHP grad to compete in collegiate Women’s Beach Volleyball, earning a spot at Texas Christian University. Teammate Alexa Bartlett will continue her career as a member of the Swarthmore Women’s Volleyball team.
Gaby Ma of the reigning 10-time WBAL Champion SHP Girls Swim Team will join Bartlett at Swarthmore, while teammate Megan Ross will swim at the University of San Diego. 2018 WBAL Boys 500 Freestyle champion Christian Schroeder will join the swim program at the University of the Pacific in the fall.
Finally, WBAL Singles Champion Lindsay Lynch will head just a few miles south to join the Santa Clara University Broncos Women’s Tennis team.
“They all will be missed but their imprint on SHP athletics will remain. We are very excited for what is in front of them and look forward to their continued success at the next level.” concluded Rodriguez.
In the photo...
Back Row:
Missing:
In the photo...
Front Row:
Max Cluss, Xavier Marco, Yianni Gardner, Larsen Weigle, Andrew Churukian, Emma Briger, Grace Johnson, Megan Ross, Gabby Ma
Back Row:
Ally Polverari, Lindsay Lynch, Nate Fleischli, Garrett Pinkston, Cody Wiebe, Ingrid Corrigan, John Willard, Tommy Barnds, Kyle Ballack, Reece Lindquist, Christian Schroeder, Walker Seymour, Madeline Johnson, Alexa Bartlett
Missing:
Will Riley, Nellie McAdams
Sacred Heart Schools Atherton
Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, SHS is a Catholic, independent, co-ed day school for students in preschool through grade 12
