Applauded by friends, family and the school community, seven Byram Hills High School students signed up to play on sports teams at colleges including Georgetown and Columbia universities in the National Signing Day celebration.
The annual day in early February marks a celebratory inking of letters of intent to accept athletic scholarships and other offers to play on teams at colleges across the country. The Byram Hills students agreed to join sports programs in soccer, basketball, fencing, crew and golf.
“Today we recognize seven amazing athletes representing five different sports,” high school Coach Matt Allen told the 200 supporters filling a section of the bleachers for the ceremony in the school’s upper gymnasium. “They are each well-rounded, intelligent and hard-working young men and women who will undoubtedly represent Byram Hills to the greatest of their abilities.”
The scholar athletes and the schools they will attend are:
Jack Beer, soccer – Georgetown University, Hoyas
Sylvie Binder, fencing – Columbia University
Emma Fruhling, soccer – Ithaca College, Bombers
Matt Groll, basketball – Franklin & Marshall College, Diplomats
Steven Max, crew – University of California, Berkeley
David Noel, soccer – Eastern Connecticut State University, Warriors
Ally Steffen, golf – University of Richmond, Spiders
One by one, the athletes were called to a dais decked in Byram Hills Bobcats colors of red and blue, where they signed their symbolic letters. Rob Castanga, the district Athletic Director, thanked the friends and family members for attending, and for supporting the athletes.
“It does take a family,” he said. “There are a lot of people involved in helping these dreams come true.”
