Seniors at Manhasset Secondary School gathered at the Ed Walsh Field on Nov. 18 to sign their National Letter of Intent to the colleges they verbally committed to and will attend in the fall. Twenty-six athletes were with their families to participate in the signing and photo-op. Some of these athletes were not able to play this past spring due to the pandemic and their current seasons are still in limbo as to when or if they will play, but this was a day to celebrate.
“Today was a celebration of sorts,” Manhasset Athletic Director Jim Amen said. “I don’t know what else we could do, we might be able to do something in the warmer weather, so to speak. It’s hard, you know, kids are missing a lot of things, but the school is trying to provide as much as possible for them and we’ll see what happens.”
Manhasset has been one of the few school districts to employ intramurals for their students, as varsity and junior varsity cannot play right now. Intramurals got some good reviews by the coaches participating and at the very least, it’s something students can do that is somewhat normal for a change.
(Photos courtesy of Manhasset Public Schools)
However, the water is a bit murky when it comes to these college-bound seniors taking the field or court in a Manhasset uniform again. Currently, no school sports are being playing in Nassau County despite New York State allowing school sports to be played under certain conditions. Nassau County has a target date of Jan. 4 to start the winter sports season, but it’s unclear if that will actually happen.
“I don’t know yet, you have to take it one day at a time because we don’t know what’s happening now with the winter sports, which supposedly might start Jan. 4, but we’re not sure,” Amen explained. “Then the spring sports are supposed to start in March 1. State says March 1, but [Nassau] says, April 22. So maybe by the time the spring comes, I’m trying to be optimistic, but I think with regards to the COVID-19 and the uptick in certain areas now. We’re at the begging call of the governor as to what he wants to do what he wants to allow.”
For the 26 athletes who signed their letter of intent, their future endeavors are much clearer than their short term. Amen realizes that too, they are not just going to be playing at the next level, but also preparing for a future at some of the most notable academic schools in the country.
“I think the most important thing is if you look at the schools that they are going to, they’re all very impressive schools, all high academic schools,” Amen noted.
The following seniors will be playing in college next year:
· Ava Balacek – Johns Hopkins University, Lacrosse
· Mackenzie Beil – University of Pittsburgh, Lacrosse
· Angeline Caamano – Georgetown University, Track & Field
· Tyler Chang – Bates College, Lacrosse
· Kaitlyn Clarke – Cornell University, Crew
· Blaze Conlan – Muhlenberg College, Lacrosse
· Rory Connor – Colgate University, Lacrosse
· Jordan Gangaram – Amherst College, Lacrosse
· Nolan Garcia – Marquette University, Lacrosse
· Grace Gately – Villanova University, Lacrosse
· Alex Giacobbe – Amherst College, Lacrosse
· Patrick Jarvis – Princeton University, Baseball
· Henry Kolyer – Swarthmore College, Lacrosse
· Emma LoPinto – University of Florida, Lacrosse
· Jack McCusker – Washington and Lee University, Wrestling
· Marco Motroni – Middlebury College, Track & Field
· Teddy Mouhlas – New York University, Baseball
· Andrew Moy – Swarthmore College, Baseball
· Aidan Mulholland – University of Michigan, Lacrosse
· Daniel O’Neill – American University, Cross Country
· Francesca Raimondi – Villanova University, Swimming
· Megan Reilly – Villanova University, Lacrosse
· Ellie Taylor – Columbia University, Lacrosse
· Emma Toes – Hamilton College, Lacrosse
· Jake Tolentino – Georgetown University, Lacrosse
· Raymond Ye – Emory University, Track & Field
