Next year, when the Class of 2016 heads off to college, 18 students will go on to compete in NCAA Division 1 sports. Three boys and 15 girls have decided to pursue their favorite sport at the Division 1 level, and on November 12, students, families, and coaches gathered around as these amazing athletes signed letters of intent to make their commitment official.
This is the largest group of student athletes committed to Division 1 sports ever, and coaches especially are incredibly proud.
“This is a truly special senior class,” said Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach William Becker.
From Becker’s team, five seniors are committed to play D1, an impressive number.
“It is the biggest group to graduate from the team in one season and easily the most talented,” Becker said.
He and his co-coach, Christopher Conley, have worked with these girls for years, and they are very excited to see what more the girls will achieve in the future.
“Mr. Conley and I feel extremely fortunate to get to work with such a hard-working, talented, and good-natured group,” Becker said.
Of the five seniors playing Division 1 next year, Molly Bent, one of the team captains, is committed to play at the University of Connecticut next year, which has been the NCAA national champion for the past three years.
In addition to the amazing performance of the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team, three members of the girls’ varsity crew team are also committed to Division 1 schools. Two, Lillian Blouin and Elizabeth Tarrant, are committed to Syracuse University. They are both ecstatic to continue being teammates through college.
“We have not only been teammates but really close friends and pair partners for four years,” said Tarrant. “To be able to go on to the next level with her is going to be so fun.”
Tarrant attributes much to her Tabor coaches, Michael Bentz and Emily Chandler. Chandler coached the girls’ crew team during Tarrant’s freshman and sophomore years, after which Bentz took over.
“They prepared me in the best way possible – they made me love the sport,” said Tarrant. “They gave a passion that has fueled my work ethic and desire to be the best I can be.”
This sentiment is shared among many of the committed athletes who claim that their coaches have been a major part of their success and growth as an athlete.
Athletes from many other programs, including soccer, baseball, ice hockey, field hockey, and lacrosse, are also committed to Division 1 colleges. Everyone – from coaches to teachers to the athletic directors to fellow students – is proud of the accomplishments of these 18 seniors and look forward to watching their continued success for the next four years.
List of Committed Athletes:
– Jeremiah Adams – University of Oklahoma – Baseball
– Maggie Ahearn – Providence College – Basketball
– Molly Bent – University of Connecticut – Basketball
– Lily Blouin – Syracuse University – Crew
– Araion Bradshaw – University of South Carolina – Basketball
– Hannah Dawicki – St. John’s University – Soccer
– Liz Dognazzi – High Point University – Soccer
– Abby Ellis – Union College – Ice Hockey
– Lauren Feeney – Northeastern University – Field Hockey
– Katie Goncalo – College of St. Rose – Basketball
– Woodard Hooper – College of William and Mary – Field Hockey
– Molly Little – University of Vermont – Lacrosse
– Rachel Moore – Boston College – Ice Hockey
– KK Price – George Washington University – Crew
– Mike Ryan – Union College – Ice Hockey
– Shannon Ryan – Boston College – Basketball
– Elizabeth Tarrant – Syracuse University – Crew
– Ben Taylor – Brown University – Ice Hockey
By Madeleine Gregory
