The Future For Senior Student Athletes and College Signing Day

Every year a new group of seniors feels the stress of college applications and decisions. For a select group of athletes, however, this process holds additional stress, as they intend to pursue their respective sports in college. These seniors endure a draining season of communicating with different coaches and putting together highlight tapes in their attempts to continue their athletic careers. Senior Michael Sheskey, who is committed to Williams College in Williamstown, MA, for football, explains: “The recruiting process was a long and frustrating process, but it is just all about sending out your information.  It opens up new and better opportunities to exceed at the next level. In the end, it gave me a chance to play at the next level at a really good school, so it’s all worth it.” 

Likewise, senior Ben Whitman will continue his baseball career at Nichols College in Dudley, MA. Whitman traveled from showcase to showcase this summer in order to get in contact with coaches. To stay in baseball mode before the upcoming season, Whitman said he continues “hitting and fielding, to keep [his] play up,” ensuring he maintains the same level of commitment he demonstrated in the showcase process. Whitman sees signing day as a way to recognize his efforts and those of his fellow student-athletes, especially considering “the fact that there is a very small percentage of people that play a sport in college,” explained Whitman. 

To recognize these SHS students and their commendable hard work, the idea of hosting a college signing day has been discussed by SHS Athletic Director Scott Paine. Paine said he wants a big event “promoted in the district and throughout the community by social media.” Envisioning each student-athlete wearing a piece of attire from their chosen school, Paine hopes to get a picture of each student signing their commitment letter. While a major aspect of a signing day involves recognizing student-athletes and their achievements, Paine anticipates the event could act as a model for younger athletes in Scituate. Noticing the vast influence of the student-athletes, Paine wants younger students to know that “attending SHS and playing sports provides you many opportunities to continue in college.” Additionally, Paine hopes to spread the message that “students do not need to leave SHS and go to private school to play a sport in college.”  

For this senior class, Paine’s message seems to be ringing true, as the number of committed student-athletes has already reached double-digits with many more decisions left to be made.

Class of 2022 seniors who have already committed to athletics at the collegiate level includes the following students:

Grayden Harris: Skidmore College (Baseball)

Brian Hixson: Wheaton College (Swimming) 

Connor Stone: Elmira College (Baseball)

Keegan Sullivan: Trinity College (Football)

Thomas Svenson: Curry College (Football)

Chris Sullivan: Massachusetts Maritime Academy (Lacrosse)

Evan Nelson: Allegheny College (Tennis)

Ainsley Routh: Hamilton College (Swimming)

Brooke Pierotti: University of New England (Soccer)