After numerous years of unwavering commitment and dedication, three NHP seniors have committed to pursuing their respective sports during their college careers. Entering senior year typically means the last season of sports for senior athletes; though, for Sarah Minnelli, Mikela Montes, Ava Orbon and Jason Torres, it means preparing to continue their athletic journeys at the next level.
Sarah Minnelli is committed to playing Division II Lacrosse at Molloy University, Mikela Montes is committed to playing Division III Lacrosse at SUNY Canton, Ava Orbon is committed to playing Division III basketball at Mount Saint Mary’s and Jason Torres is committed to playing Division II Baseball at Molloy University.
With a multitude of experiences of both successes and failures, these fellow athletes have learned many lessons about their respective sports over the course of their high school athletic careers.
“A lesson I learned is that lacrosse is not only about skill, it’s about mental toughness, too. You should never have a negative mindset. Mental toughness is key for staying focused while under pressure and tired and it helps you overcome tough challenges during games,” Minnelli said.
“A lesson that has stuck with me since I was a little kid was to always have good sportsmanship. My dad taught me to put into perspective the game for all and not getting full of yourself as it will mess up your mindset,” Torres said. “This has driven my love for the game and appreciate it every time I step out onto the field.
The experience of balancing both academics and athletics at NHP can vary greatly from the experience of being a student-athlete at the collegiate level. This gives opportunities for self-discovery, new experiences and building upon strength to face challenges.
“I expect to improve my skills with a four-time championship-winning team, meeting new people, and getting deeper into criminal investigation studies. I am most excited to play lacrosse at a college level and make new friends,” Montes said.
This accomplishment is not just for the students; it is also for the coaches who were there to see them build their way up. The coaches have expressed immense pride in witnessing the recognition of their athletes for their talents.
“You take a kid like Jason Torres and you coach them for so long and watch them grow. You don’t get kids like Jason very often as a coach. It makes my job a lot easier as a coach, because he works so hard at what he does and the extra time that he puts in is definitely an example for other kids in the program,” varsity baseball coach Mr. Rotondaro said.
“Both girls have a love for the sport that is admirable. They are committed to getting better every day and committed to being good teammates. Sarah leaves her heart on the field every game. She plays with such passion and determination to win and be the best lacrosse player that she possibly can. Mikela is so dedicated to her craft of being a goalie. She pushes through times of adversity and never shies away from getting one percent better at all times,” girl’s lacrosse coach Ms. Dolan said. “Through my time at NHP we have used the saying ‘Hold the Rope’ that Coach McKeough taught me. Both of these ladies never fail to hold the rope for each other, me and their teammates.”
The recruitment process is known to be overwhelming. Years of focus on athletics and academics have led up to this moment. The athletes shared their experiences navigating this challenge while celebrating their commitment.
“The recruiting process definitely was a mix of emotions. Some days there was excitement and hope, having the thought of playing at the next level, the possibility of new opportunities, and the idea that all my hard work might pay off. But at the same time, there was a fair amount of nervousness. It’s also a bit stressful because there’s pressure to balance school, practice, and thinking about playing at the next level,” Minnelli said. “In the end it’s all excitement now and having mixed emotions throughout the process made me grow both as a player and as a person.”
“The recruiting process was truly a challenge. Reaching out to different coaches, having them come to your baseball games and talking face to face with them was definitely a hard experience. During the process, I was extremely nervous that I was not going to get into the college I was originally looking to go to,” Torres said. “Thankfully, I was awarded the opportunity to play baseball and further pursue my academic career at one of my top choices.”
As college applications are ongoing, more NHP college-bound athletes are expected. The athletic director Mr. Kostkowicz gives his thoughts on these commitments and advice to younger students who may be inspired to pursue a sport at a divisional level.
“You have to look at what fits best for you. There’s competitive athletics at all three levels in college and you have to look at what you want to do. Do you just want to be on a Division I team where you may never play or is playing time important to you? Then you might need to look at maybe stepping down to a Division II where you will be able to contribute more in the game,” Mr. Kostkowicz said. “So know your level, be honest with yourself and understand that it comes with hard work not only in athletics, but also academics.”
