Maroon and White Celebrates Spring Athletes

With Graduation Day around the corner, the Class of 2016 says a few more goodbyes every day. Last class, last exam, last week of senior options, last match on the field as a Raider. The spring seasons have come to a close with tearful losses in sectionals. While those athletes continuing their careers on the next level in college will have four more years of camaraderie, team apparel, and bonding, there is nothing quite like wearing your Raider uniform to school on game day. There will be no more homecoming games, Raider Pride week, or pep rallies. For those playing on the club level in college, an era has come to a screeching halt. College no doubt has great adventures in store, but there is nothing like high school athletics, having your friends and family cheer you on. Mom and Dad may not make it to residence hall intramural matches next year.

Tuesday's Maroon and White honored student athletes. Michaela Nicholas will play lacrosse at Franklin and Marshall College. Her brother Stephen Nicholas will play football at F&M. Andrew Liskin will play football at Ithaca College. Michael Rolfe will play football at University of Pennsylvania. Elliot Graham will play lacrosse at Skidmore College. Lindsay Kramer will play basketball at Washington University in St. Louis. Fazl Shaikh will play soccer at Middlebury College. Eryn McDonald will play soccer at Dickinson College. Ethan Raff will play football at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Brendan Knaack will play football for Alfred University. will play football at Ithaca College. Kristine Fink will play volleyball at Michigan Tech. Scottie Berridge will swim for Columbia. Her teammate Bebe Thompson will become her competitor at Yale. Josh Hendell will swim at Dartmouth. Hailey Thornton will run track at U Albany. Gillian Lubin will playlacrosse at Wesleyan University. Eliza Brosgol will play lacrosse at Haverford College.

The final Maroon and White event honored those student-athletes who have played a sport during every single season, three seasons for four years. Ethan Raff played football, wrestled, and competed in Track and Field. Maggie DesRosiers, Josh Klein, James Cotter, Matt Brotman, and George Crowley ran cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. Stephen Nicholas played football, hockey, and lacrosse. Kayle Waterhouse played tennis, basketball, baseball on the boys team, and softball. Teddy DeLorenzo played football and baseball and wrestled.

This year's recipient of the Nonie Knopp award is Stephen Nicholas. He is praised by all his coaches as the "go-to" guy. He is counted on by all his teammates and regardless of the team's performance he does not let them down. On the turf or on the ice, he is a natural leader and younger players look up to his calm demeanor in high-pressure situations.

Jake Nathanson, ski team manager and Varsity golfer, received the Elizabeth Timberger Memorial Award for his contributions off the slopes helping keep the ski team organized and have their events run smoothly.

Michaela Nicholas received the Nina F. Mooney Award for her outstanding leadership, sportsmanship, and worth ethic as a Varsity Field Hockey and Lacrosse star and captain.

The Peppers Awards one male and one female student-athlete that excels in the classroom, in their sport, and in the greater community. This year, Michael Rolfe and Sydney Bernstein were honored for their athletic talent, notable academic performance, and contributions to youth programs in their sports.

The seniors look forward to finding a new community within their colleges that will provide the same spirit and sense of belonging that the Raiders teams did. They will continue to display the Raider values of commitment, pride, and tradition in sports or otherwise next year.