Fall Signing Day highlights strength of Cheshire Academy Athletics
A dozen Cheshire Academy Cats on Thursday, Nov. 14, committed to play for colleges and universities at Fall Signing Day, an achievement less than 20 percent of high school athletes reach in most sports across the nation.
The depth of the talented group – from Cheshire’s Varsity Baseball, Varsity Softball, and Girls’ Tennis, Soccer, and Lacrosse teams – shows that dedication and hard work, combined with Cheshire’s winning mix of challenging academics and high-level athletics, make CA scholar-athletes desirable recruits who excel on the field and in the classroom. Ten of the 12 are headed to Division I and II universities.
“Nearly eight million students participate in high school athletics in the U.S. and about 530,000 move on to become NCAA athletes,” said Director of Athletics James McCarthy. “About 14.4 percent of high school lacrosse players go on to play in college and that percentage drops to just 4.8 percent for tennis. It’s pretty rare and it’s a real accomplishment.”
Fall College Athletics Signings
Thursday’s signings included:
Baseball
Garrett Snyder ’25 of Unionville, CT – University of Notre Dame
Tyler Stone ’25 of Hamden, CT – Virginia Tech
Dan Margolies ’25 of Cheshire, CT – Clemson University
Chase Mendela ’25 – Bentley University
Jason Brucato ’25 of Cheshire, CT – Clarkson University
Softball
Kaleigh Durkin ’25 of North Branford, CT – Seton Hall University
Girls’ Tennis
Cristiana De Vivo ’25 of Durham, CT – Salve Regina University
Girls’ Soccer
Izzy Medeiros ’25 of Wolcott, CT – Drexel University
Kaelyn Reinhard ’25 of Cheshire, CT – Pace University
Girls’ Lacrosse
Azaria Naccarato ’25 of Kingston, NY – Central Connecticut State University
Kylie Rosen ’25 of Stratford, CT – Longwood University
Kiersten Reardon ’25 of Kensington, CT – Springfield College
Each student signed his or her contract Thursday, Nov. 14, posing for photos with excited friends, coaches, and their families. While several Cheshire seniors have already committed to teams, many others will decide from offers across the country in the coming months.
The new recruits join a legacy of Cheshire athletes who have gone on to play at the college level. For example, 17 of 24 of the 2023-24 Cats Varsity Baseball team committed to college teams, and running back Jaden Shirden, who came to Cheshire Academy for a postgraduate year in 2020, signed with the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League earlier this year.
“We’re extremely proud that these student-athletes are fulfilling their dream of becoming a college athlete today,” McCarthy said at signing day. “It’s a testament to their talent, dedication and perseverance. We’re thrilled that our coaches, school community, and athletic programs are able to provide these wonderful opportunities and experiences.”
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View photos from Fall Signing Day.
Learn More About Cheshire Academy Athletics.
