Student-Athletes Sign Intent Letters to Play College Sports

Hamden Hall student-athletes participated in the first of two National Letter of Intent signing days last week as five seniors took pen to paper to commit to playing college sports with NCAA-member schools.

Molly Anderson committed to DI Bryant University, Jackson Benigni committed to DII Stonehill College, Alex Divincentis committed to DI Marist College, Chase Lilly committed to DII Saint Anselm College, and Justin “LJ” Pezzolesi committed to DI University of Hartford.

Senior May Cervone signed her letter of intent this week with the University of Hartford, but had to miss last week’s official signing day due to a scheduling conflict. May and her teammates on the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team traveled to Vermont Academy to play in the New England Class D tournament.

Following a second National Letter of Intent Signing Day on Feb. 5, 2020, more than 20 percent of the Class of 2020 will have committed to playing college athletics at the Division I, II, and III levels, according to Head of School Bob Izzo. Division III commitments to date include: Shannon Rhone, St. Lawrence University; and Alessandro Horvath-Diano, Zachary Giugno, and Samuel Lovejoy, all at Connecticut College.

Mr. Izzo thanked the seniors’ parents and families for their commitment to Hamden Hall and noted that their decision to enroll their son or daughter at ultimately led to the day’s outcome. “It’s your decision that made it possible for these students to be in this position moving forward,” he said.

Families, friends, and classmates filled Swain Library in support of the signings as did the seniors’ various coaches, including Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach Sean Doherty.

“As someone who has been involved with Division I athletics for years, I know how hard it is to get one of these letters. It’s huge. So spell your names right,” joked Coach Doherty.

Field Hockey Coach Emily Anderson, who also teaches Grade 1 at Hamden Hall, said it’s been an honor coaching her sister, Molly Anderson, for the past three years. “She embodies what a student-athlete should do.”

Having worked with three of the students on a daily basis and taught all but one, Varsity Lacrosse Coach and history teacher Kevin Warnock maintained that all six seniors “follow the mission of the school every day.”

Athletics Director David Doyle commended the student-athletes for their efforts both on and off the field.

“Thank you for the way you’ve represented yourselves and this school,” said Mr. Doyle. “Being a student comes before being an athlete at Hamden Hall, and we believe we’ve prepared you well.”