SSHS Student-Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

The countless hours dedicated to fine tuning their skills, bodies and crafts has finally paid off for eight student-athletes.

Eight South Side seniors recently signed their National Letters of Intent, which commits them to play their respective sport at their future Division I or II colleges for the 2011-12 school year. By voluntarily signing their letters, the eight seniors are awarded both scholarships and financial aid. 

For these student-athletes, it marks the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and the fruition of a lifelong childhood dream. Rockville Centre Athletic Director Carol Roseto said she knows how rare it is for a high school to graduate such incredible athletes on a yearly basis.

"Everyone aspires to play college athletics, but only less than two percent actually obtain any form of scholarship," she said. "Whenever we have a college scholarship signing, it's necessary to promote this as an amazing accomplishment."

In all, South Side had five athletes earn Division I lacrosse scholarships: Kelsey Gregerson (Hofstra), Emily Considine (Syracuse), Jackie Cifarelli (Ohio State), Dana Ahern (Lafayette) and Bryan Gerrato (Naval Academy). Megan Lonergan (Queens College) earned a Division II basketball scholarship and Michael Hayes (Queens University of Charlotte) and Michael Firestone (Franklin & Marshall) both received Division II lacrosse scholarships.

"Signing my letter meant so much to me, I was nervous and excited at the same time," Gregerson said. "I never thought I would have this moment of playing college lacrosse, it's been a dream of mine for a long time."

For most of these athletes, they've played alongside their teammates since grade school, and though they said it will be difficult to move forward without them, they are looking forward to forming new bonds at their future colleges.

"The thing I will miss most is my teammates, I've played with some of these girls since third grade," Gregerson explained. "Moving on is a simple thing, but what it leaves behind is hard. I'm looking forward to being a proud member of the Pride and to make close friends like I had on my high school team."

Some of these athletes have dominated lesser competition during their last few years at South Side, but with the jump to the collegiate level, they will face far more elite talent than ever before.

Cifarelli, who will be playing at the highest level in one of the nation's toughest conferences — The Big Ten Conference — said she knows that it will be tough to earn playing time as a rookie.

"I'll have to fight real hard to get in the starting lineup as a freshman," she said. "Second to competition, the conditioning and training aspect will be difficult. I will have a minimum of three hours a day lifting, strengthening and game playing."

With the quality of student-athletes that South Side continues to churn out, there is little doubt that next year's incoming freshman class will continue to make the high school's athletics department proud.

"There is no better reflection on the school and the Rockville Centre community as a whole than to have successful, visible and caring young ladies and gentleman that are willing to do what is best for each and every program," Roseto said. "There is a solid tradition and high expectations for our student-athletes that has been established. The students pride themselves on achieving this status."