On Wednesday five Greenwich High School seniors set to play NCAA Division I athletics next year were honored in a signing ceremony attended by coaches, parents and friends.
The five athletes were: Gianluca Bianchi for Track at Princeton University, Sean Cowie for football at Bryant University, Belle Bordier for Rowing at USC, Sophia Neitzell for Lacrosse at the US Naval Academy and Whitaker Grover for Diving at Yale University.
“There’s nothing like student recognition,” said principal Ralph Mayo. “This however is a very special recognition. These young adults have worked extremely hard to earn a Division I scholarship. People start out in sports thinking they’re going to get this, but this is very rare.”
Mayo urged the student-athletes to enjoy their time playing their sports in college. “Enjoy the process. Not everybody can do it. You’re like one percent of high school graduates getting a scholarship to a college,” he added.
Mayo said to have had 18 athletes at a signing ceremony back in November, plus the five on Wednesday was amazing.
Mayo thanked parents and the athletic department, which he noted was the largest in Connecticut if not the state.
“Sometimes things get lost when you get big. Not here, and especially with our current Athletic Director,” he said with a nod to Peter Georgiou.
Mayo said he had played Lacrosse in college, and made lifelong friends.
“It’s like another job. School work is a job, and going to practice is going to be like going to a job, but have fun with it. Enjoy it.”
