College signings: 27 Seacoast student-athletes choose their schools for 2024

Twenty-seven high school student-athletes across from Seacoast New Hampshire and southern Maine have committed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.

Here's a look at the most recent standouts, with Portsmouth, St. Thomas Aquinas, Winnacunnet, Exeter, York, Marshwood and Oyster River represented, who have made their college choices known.

If you are a student-athlete who has committed to play a sport at the college level and haven't been featured, please email sports editor Jay Pinsonnault at jpinsonnault@seacoastonline.com to be included in our next batch of student-athlete college commitments.

Timmy Avery, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, baseball, Endicott College

Avery, a three-year starting middle infielder for the St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team, will take his academics and baseball skills to Endicott College next fall.

Endicott is a Division III program in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

“The campus (Beverly, Massachusetts) is very nice,” said Avery, who has played club baseball with the Seacoast Pirates. “It’s nice to not have to worry about applications and figuring out where I want to go.”

Hannah Clark, Plainfield High School, women's swimming and diving, University of Minnesota

Clark attended Rye Elementary School and Hampton Academy until moving to Indiana after the seventh grade to live with a host family and train for swimming and diving.

Four years later, Clark signed her letter of commitment to compete with the University of Minnesota women’s swim and dive team. While at Minnesota, Clark also plans to train and, hopefully, qualify for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Clark was looking at many Big Ten schools, but ultimately chose to sign with the Golden Gophers.

“I always wanted to compete at that level,” Clark said. “(Wenbo Chen) is the best diving coach in the world. He and I really hit it off. I knew instantly that Minnesota was the place for me. Diving in college has been one of my goals for as long as I can remember.”

Ryan Dempsey, Exeter High School, men’s lacrosse, North Greenville University

Dempsey, a Stratham resident, always felt he had the potential to be a decent lacrosse player. However, it wasn’t until he started to excel on the field during his sophomore year that he started to believe that playing in college was a possibility.

Recently, Dempsey, a midfielder, committed to North Greenville University, a Division II program in Tigerville, South Carolina.

“As soon as I stepped onto the campus, it felt like a place where I could truly develop my lacrosse skills and grow academically,” Dempsey said. “The academic program is incredible. There are so many opportunities to work directly with professors. Everyone seems engaged and passionate about what they’re doing, whether it’s in the classroom or on the sports fields. The location is perfect for me, lots of things to do around the university and perfect weather. And, most importantly, the college's lacrosse program is amazing and led by an amazing coach.”

Dempsey has played club lacrosse for both 4 Leaf Lacrosse and the New England Raiders.

“This is a huge weight off my shoulders, honestly,” Dempsey said. “Making this decision was probably one of the biggest choices I've had to make in my life so far, and now that it's done, I feel like I can breathe easier. There's a sense of calm knowing where I'm going to spend the next few years of my life, and excitement too. The stress and uncertainty of where I'd end up, the financial aspect has all been put behind me. But now, with this decision made, I can focus on finishing high school strong and enjoying my last few months here before starting that new chapter.”

June Doerr, Winnacunnet High School, women’s golf, Merrimack College

Doerr, a Hampton Falls resident, had a stellar four-year career on the Winnacunnet golf team. Once a Warrior, always a Warrior, as Doerr will continue her academic and athletic career next fall at Merrimack College, a Division I program in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

“I chose Merrimack College because it has a strong academic and athletic program,” said Doerr, who placed second in this fall’s NHIAA individual girls championship. “I have also heard really great things about Coach Malcolm, and overall, it was the best fit for me.”

Doerr cast a wide net in searching for her college choice.

“I was looking all around the country, and I really felt like Merrimack gave me the best opportunities for both Division I golf and academics for my field of study,” said Doerr, who plans to study business and entrepreneurship.

Doerr’s desire to play golf beyond high school started before she arrived at Winnacunnet.

“The opportunity of attending a golf camp at a college, and experiencing the camaraderie of the women’s golf team inspired me to work towards my goal,” said Doerr, who will receive athletic and merit scholarships at Merrimack.

Anna Doughty, York High School, women’s lacrosse, Bentley University

After a successful three-year career at York, and playing club with Maineiax Lacrosse the past four years. Ahead of her final season at York, Doughty has committed to play at Bentley University, a Division II program in the Northeast-10 Conference. It is based in Waltham, Massachusetts.

“I knew Bentley was the right school for me because it allows me to play the sport I love most while prioritizing my academics, which was a balance I was looking for,” Doughty said. “The job opportunities that the school offers after I graduate are something that really caught my eye, and the fact that I'll be staying in New England makes me excited as well.”

Doughty was also considering Trinity College and Amherst College.

“Bentley first got in touch with me this summer after I attended a prospect clinic on campus,” Doughty said. “My recruiting process was pretty quick. I committed only a few weeks after visiting the school and meeting my coach for the first time that day.”

It was during Doughty’s freshman year at York when the idea of playing lacrosse at the collegiate lacrosse first began.

“I knew I still had a lot of work to do to improve my game and ability, but I had grown to love the sport so much that I wanted to do whatever I could to ensure that this happened for me,” said Doughty, who plays attack and midfield. “I have my coaches at both Maineiax and York to thank for my improvement over the past few years.”

Doughty is looking forward to her final season with the Wildcats this spring.

“I am extremely happy to be done with the college recruitment process because the not knowing was very stressful,” she said. “I am so excited about attending and playing at Bentley next year, and I could not see myself going anywhere else.”

Cary Drake, York High School, cross country/track and field, Northwestern University

Drake burst onto the scene at York High School as a freshman, and quickly started to build her four-year resume in both cross country and track and field.

Drake has led her teams to four consecutive state champions, sweeping her junior year with Class B state titles in cross country, winter track and spring track, and then leading York to a second straight cross country championship this past fall.

With just winter and spring track ahead of her at York, Drake now knows where she will be spending her collegiate years – Northwestern University, where she will remain a Wildcat.

Northwestern, located just outside of Chicago, competes in the Big Ten Conference. Drake was considering a number of other Division I schools. Her final two schools came down to Northwestern and Dartmouth College.

“Northwestern was the right school for me because it is the perfect combination of high-level academics and very competitive athletics,” Drake said. “I can grow as a person in all aspects of my life. I also loved the team the moment I met them on my visit. The (campus) environment in general (was great), and Lake Michigan was a huge bonus as well.”

Northwestern first reached out to Drake last February.

“Even though I had been running competitively since sixth grade, I never thought that I might be able to run in college until my sophomore season of cross country when my times improved a lot,” Drake said.

Drake signed her National Letter of Intent in front of her family, friends, teammates and coaches inside the York High School gymnasium.

“I feel a huge stress relief,” Drake said. “I had been talking to coaches for about (18 months). It was a very exciting process, but it was also tiring at the same time. I’m looking forward to soaking in my senior year and getting ready for college.”

Mike Ellis, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, men’s lacrosse, Wheaton College

Ellis was considering a handful of colleges where he wanted to continue his academic and lacrosse careers.

The Exeter resident, ultimately, chose Wheaton College, a Division III program which competes in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference. The school is in Norton, Massachusetts.

“The immediate sense of community I felt the moment I stepped onto campus for the first time (was what made Wheaton the right place for me),” Ellis said. “The quality of the academics were also a big factor for me in making my decision.”

Ellis, a midfielder who played club for 4 Leaf Lacrosse, was also looking at Emmanuel College, Clarkson University, Hartwick College, Western Connecticut State University, and Carthage College.

“I would say I thought I had the talent (to play in college) at the end of my junior season and then summer club ball reinforced that,” Ellis said. “This is dfinitely a massive stress relief. A lot of my classmates right now are all pretty stressed out trying to find the right school for them but I knew ahead of time, so it made the whole process a lot easier for me.”

Noah Fitzgerald, Marshwood High School, baseball, Salve Regina University

Fitzgerald’s aspiration to play college baseball started at a young age.

“Playing at the college level was always a goal of mine, well before I was in high school,” said Fitzgerald. “I knew from when I started playing at the age of 8, that’s what I wanted to do."

Fitzgerald, a Southwestern Maine Activities Association first-team all-state selection last year, recently committed to Salve Regina University, a Division III program in Newport, Rhode Island, which plays in the New England Women’s & Men’s Athletic Conference.

“Of all the schools I looked at, all were outstanding educational options, so I couldn’t go wrong with any choice,” Fitzgerald said. “But location was also a big factor for me and Salve is a place I knew I could feel at home and succeed. The baseball program was also a great fit, with the competitive level of play. The coaching staff had similar approaches to what I’ve worked with over the years.”

Fitzgerald, who has played club baseball with the Seacoast Pirates, was also looking at Saint Anselm College, Wheaton College, Endicott College, and Pace University.

Jennifer Frost, Winnacunnet High School, field hockey, Franklin Pierce University

After four years of playing at Winnacunnet, Frost will take her academic and athletic skills to Franklin Pierce University.

“I loved the feel of the small campus as well as its view of Mount Monadnock and Pearly Pond,” said Frost, a Seabrook resident who has played club field hockey with Seacoast United for five years. “I also really liked the team environment. It seems like a tight-knit community. I’m excited to further my field hockey career there at a higher level.”

Franklin Pierce is a Division II program in the Northeast-10 Conference.

“(Playing in college) became a goal for me towards the end of my freshman year, and I began my recruiting process with tournaments/clinics my sophomore year,” said Frost, who plans to major in political science and follow a pre-law path.

Shea Graham, Winnacunnet High School, women’s lacrosse, University of Cincinnati

Graham, from a young age, always dreamt of playing lacrosse at the collegiate level. When the Hampton resident arrived at Winnacunnet in the fall of of 2021 those dreams intensified.

“I began taking it more seriously and was really committed to getting recruited,” said Graham, a three-year starting midfielder for the Warriors.

The final five schools on Graham’s preferred college destination included the University of New Hampshire, Holy Cross, Marist, Virginia Commonwealth and the University of Cincinnati.

In the end, Cincinnati, a Division I program in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) won out.

“I was invited on a recruiting trip and I was able to watch a football game and meet all the girls on the team,” said Graham, who will receive an athletic scholarship and plans to study pharmaceutical sales. “It was an amazing environment, with an awesome coaching staff and team. I fell in love with it right away.”

Graham, who has played club lacrosse for the New Hampshire Tomahawks for the past seven years, was a Division II all-state second-team selection in both her sophomore and junior seasons.

Lilli Hammond, Marshwood High School, women’s soccer, American International College

Hammond was a Maine Class A first-team selection, now the Marshwood standout will take her skills to American International College, a Division II program in the Northeast-10, next year. American is in Springfield, Massachusetts.

“I developed a great connection with the coach immediately, and after attending and viewing some matches, I felt I could fit the team dynamic and contribute to it,” Hammond said. “The school itself is also known for my intended major (international business) which was huge for me.”

Hammond was also considering Saint Anselm College, Saint Leo, Florida Southern College and Saint Peters. Hammond will receive both merit and athletic scholarships.

“Playing in college has always been a goal for me,” said Hammond, who has played for Seacoast United for two years. “I wanted to be a part of a team and continue my education.”

Maddie Karsonovich, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, women’s soccer, Virginia Military Institute

Karsonvich, who played for Seacoast United for 12 years, has had the goal to play soccer at the the collegiate level ever since she could remember.

Next fall, Karsonvich’s goal will be realized when she plays for Virginia Military Institute, a Division I program in the Southern Conference.

“I am able to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering with a focus in aeronautics, while playing soccer at the top level and participating in Air Force ROTC,” Karsonovich said. “Not only that, but through my interactions with the coaches and players, I fell in love with the tight-knit community at VMI.”

VMI first reached out to Karsonovich the summer going into her junior year at St. Thomas Aquinas.

“When I committed, as much as a relief it is to have the college application process behind you in a way, I knew that I must maintain focus on keeping up my grades and training for the ROTC physical requirements/next level soccer.”

Cam Keaveney, Exeter High School, baseball, Northeastern University

Keaveney felt the opportunity to play college baseball all came together for him this past June. He was contacted by Northeastern University after seeing him at the Lynn Invitational Showcase this past summer.

Northeastern, in the heart of Boston, is a Division I program in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Keaveny said “great academics, great baseball and coaching staff/culture and location” were all reasons he chose Northeastern. He was also looking at Merrimack, the University of Maine, Dartmouth, UConn, Endicott and Wheaton.

“It’s a big stress relief,” said Keaveney after his commitment. “I feel very fortunate to have been offered this opportunity.”

Clara Knab, Exeter High School, women’s track and field, Bucknell University

Knab was a sophomore when she helped the Blue Hawks win the Division I girls spring track state championship. It is then when she started looking at competing at the collegiate level.

Knab committed to Bucknell University, a Division I program in the Patriot League over other schools, including Tufts University, University of Vermont, and Lafayette College.

“I chose Bucknell because of the rigor of the academics, the positive and supportive team culture, and the stability of the program,” said Knab, who runs the 400 and 800. “It feels amazing to have a guaranteed spot on the team and in the Class of 2028 at an incredible university where I know I'll be able to thrive.”

McKayla Kortes, York High School, softball, Merrimack College

Kortes, a two-sport standout athlete, helped bring the York High School softball team a Class B state championship last spring.

Kortes, also an all-conference basketball player, would love to finish her high school career with back-to-back softball titles before taking her skills to the collegiate level.

Kortes was considering Saint Peter’s University in New Jersey, Providence College and UMass-Lowell, before deciding to commit to Merrimack College.

Merrimack, a Division I program, currently competes in the Northeast-10 Conference, but is moving to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference next year. “As soon as I stepped on Merrimack's campus for a college visit I could tell that it was the school for me,” Kortes said of the North Andover, Massachusetts-based school. “I am most excited about the academic opportunities there are for me. I was looking to go into education and their school was the first to stand out. Their internships and career (opportunities) after graduation sealed the deal for me.”

Kortes has played club softball for Granite State Elite for the past three years, and first got on Merrimack’s radar from a prospect camp in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. “Ever since I was little and started to play travel (softball) I knew I had a passion and natural talent for the sport,” Kortes said. “I knew I wanted to compete at the highest level. I, along with help from my coaches, teammates, and family, have pushed myself since then to get here. My dad was the biggest push in my life. He has never given up on me even in my worst moments. He has given me every opportunity to succeed.”

Megan Leahy, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, women’s lacrosse, Mercer University

Leahy, who began playing for 3D Lacrosse in the third grade, thought about playing college lacrosse ever since she was a little kid.

“It was my dream,” said Leahy, a Portsmouth resident. “However, I faced a couple of injuries that made the dream seem unrealistic. Sophomore year is when I started to feel as if I could accomplish lacrosse in college.”

Leahy will play at the Division I level at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.

“The school is in the South and has the right program that I want to study,” said Leahy, who has played attack at St. Thomas but looks to move to the midfield in college. “The team culture is amazing and truly a sisterhood.”

Leahy was also looking at High Point University, Florida South College and UMass-Lowell.

Margaret Montplaisir, Portsmouth High School, women’s basketball, Saint Michael’s College

With her fourth-and-final season playing basketball for the Clippers on the horizon, Montplaisir now knows where she will be playing basketball in her post-high school career: Saint Michael’s College, a Division II program in Colchester, Vermont.

“Right when I stepped on campus I fell in love with the school,” Montplaisir said. "It’s in a great location and the campus is beautiful. The coaches are such great people and made me feel so welcomed. Saint Michael’s also plays in a very competitive conference (Northeast-10) so I knew the team and competition will be at a very high level.”

Montplaisir wanted to attend college close to home, and also looked at Southern New Hampshire University and Franklin Pierce University, among others.

“I enjoyed visiting and learning about all those schools but ultimately Saint Micheal's was the perfect fit for me,” she said.

Saint Michael’s first reached out to Montplaisir last May after an AAU tournament in New Jersey.

Montplaisir started playing AAU basketball in the third grade, and played five years with the Seacoast Thunder. She also played for the MCW Starz.

“I always had dreams of playing basketball at the next level,” Montplaisir said. “I think seventh grade is when I first started to really think I had the ability to play at the next level. When high school started, I really started to pursue that goal and reach out to schools. I figured out location, level of play, and joined a travel team that would give me the exposure I needed.”

With her college decision made, Montplaisir can now focus on her final season with the Clippers.

“Finally committing to a school was such a big relief,” she said. “The recruiting process is a super long, hard journey, but knowing that it ended with me getting a scholarship to an amazing school made it all worth it.”

Claire Mosher, Exeter High School, women’s swimming and diving, American University

Swimming in college has always been a huge goal of Mosher, who has known since she was young that she wanted to swim after high school.

“It really became realistic for me at the beginning of middle school when I decided to take (swimming) even more seriously,” said Mosher.

Mosher will take her academic and athletic skills to American University, a Division I program in the Patriot League.

“American was one of my top schools throughout the entire recruiting process and I fell in love with it when I first visited the campus,” Mosher said. “The team and coaches immediately made me feel at home and the various academic opportunities for students being so close to Washington, D.C., really drew me to the school.”

Mosher, who was also looking at the University of Vermont, and Holy Cross, swims for SOLO Aquatics and has been swimming for 12 years.

She also has placed in the top 10 in New England in several events over the past seven years, and holds the Exeter school record in the 100-meter butterfly.

“Having the recruiting process behind me has been a huge stress reliever and has allowed me to enjoy my senior year as well as swimming without the added pressure of choosing a school,” Mosher said.

Delaney Nadeau, Oyster River High School, women’s golf, Monmouth University

Nadeau capped her high school golf career by placing third at the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association girls championship at Scottish Highlands Country Club in Salem.

Now, she turns her attention to the collegiate game and that will be at Monmouth University, a Division I program in West Long Branch, New Jersey, competing in the Colonial Athletic Association

“My goal for as long as I can remember has been to play golf in college,” Nadeau said. “I think I always knew that was a possibility if I put my mind to it and worked hard.”

Nadeau visited many schools, but “fell in love” with the campus, the people, and the golf program at Monmouth.

“There seems to be a good balance between academics being the priority while still being able to focus on growing my athletic abilities,” Nadeau said. “The location is also big because having grown up on the Seacoast I realized I didn't want to lose that.”

Nadeau, with this decision behind her, said she’s much more relaxed on the golf course.

“It's been great so far for both my golf game and in terms of school,” she said. “I'm so much more relaxed on the golf course and feel like I'm able to just play without stressing about being recruited. It's also been great to be able to focus more on my schoolwork and less stressing about college applications.”

Erika Parker, Marshwood High School, field hockey, Wagner College

Parker will continue her field hockey career next year at Wagner College, a Division I program in Staten Island, New York, and competes in the Northeast Conference

“I chose Wagner because it's a new and growing program with a lot of potential,” said Parker, who was a Marshwood captain and team MVP this past fall. “I love the coaching staff, team culture, and location.”

Parker also considered Fairfield University and Merrimack College.

“It was always my dream to play for a Division I program, but I started taking it seriously sophomore year,” said Parker, who will receive both athletic and academic scholarships from Wagner.

Parker was a three-time Southwestern Maine Activities Association (SMAA) all-conference selection and has played for Seacoast United for the past eight years.

Savanna Ritz, Exeter High School, women’s soccer, University of North Georgia

Ritz made the decision in her freshman year at Exeter that she wanted to do everything in her power to play soccer at the collegiate level.

“I love soccer with all my heart and I knew that I wanted to continue on and play in college to prove to myself that I can do anything if I put my mind to it,” said Ritz, a Stratham resident. “After I made that decision, I began taking soccer very seriously. I was training every day, going to the gym, and watching films. Doing anything and everything I could to make my dreams a reality. I worked so hard and never gave up.”

Ritz, ultimately, commit to the University of North Georgia, a Division II program in the Peach Belt Conference.

“As soon as I stepped on campus I knew it was the right school,” Ritz said. “Everyone there was so nice and eager to help with anything from school to my personal life. It felt like I had found my home away from home. My coaches are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met, and my teammates whom I will be joining in less than a year are amazing athletes, I could not ask for a better group of women to play with and grow with throughout my college years.”

Ritz, a goalie who has played club soccer for Seacoast United since 2019, was also looking at VMI, Naval Academy, West Point, and the Air Force Academy.

“Ever since I made my decision to play college soccer, and found the school I loved I have never been more relieved,” Ritz said. “The recruitment process is a challenge and you have to learn to deal with a lot of adversity and stress, but it was all worth it.

Avery Romps, Portsmouth High School, women’s basketball, Saint Anselm College

Romps comes from a basketball background and started making her own name in the sport from an early age.

She started playing AAU basketball at an early age, and quickly realized that basketball was her main sport.

It was in the eighth grade when she started to pay a little bit more attention to her development to be the best player she could be.

”I began to take it more seriously and came to a realization I wanted to be better than the average player,” Romps said. “That’s when I joined the New England Crusaders and started traveling the country to bigger tournaments. This allowed me to challenge myself against other players and get exposure from college coaches.”

That exposure led to a handful of schools that showed interest in Romps, including Bentley, Adelphi, Southern New Hampshire University, Saint Anselm College, and Saint Rose. She also talked to the University of New Hampshire, UMass-Lowell, Sacred Heart and NJIT.

In the end, Romps decided to continue her academic and athletic career close to home at Saint Anselm, a Division II program in the Northeast-10 Conference.

“Saint Anselm’s was right for me because of the high academic standards and the environment,” Romps said. “The campus is beautiful; the coaches and players were very welcoming, and I felt an immediate bond with them.”

Saint Anselm first reached out to Romps at the start of her sophomore year, and offered a full scholarship this summer.

“The college process is not easy, it's a long process,” Romps said. “To finally commit and be done is such a relief. There was a lot of pressure to perform, be noticed and make the right decision. To know I will be attending a school I love and to play at the next level is very exciting.”

Dejah Rondeau, Exeter High School, softball, Merrimack College

Rondeau gave a verbal commitment to play softball at Merrimack College during her junior year at Exeter, but made it official last week.

“I haven’t had to think about the college process for a year now,” said Rondeau. “That made my junior and now senior year now open to take in all of the memories with no stress.”

Rondeau was also considering Boston University and Stonehill before committing to Merrimack, a Division I program which is making the move from the Northeast Conference to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

“The amazing student life and food on campus along with amazing people (my coaches – Coach Schwager and Coach Anderson) who will surround me (made Merrimack the place for me),” Rondeau said.

Rondeau, a catcher and utility player for the Blue Hawks, played a year of club softball with Seacoast United, and another with New Hampshire Prospects.

“When I stayed after practice to practice more and to always get the last rep, and always end on a “make” I realized how dedicated to the game I really was,” Rondeau said.

Asia Saffie, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, women’s volleyball, University of Scranton

For Saffie, playing volleyball beyond high school was more about her “passion and love for the sport” than her individual talent.

“That pushed me to continue playing,” said Saffie, a Rochester resident.

Saffie will play next year at the University of Scranton, a Division III program in the Landmark Conference.

“Scranton had always been on the top of my list for schools I wished to potentially get recruited at,” Saffie said. “I loved seeing the dynamic and encouragement of the team through watching their games online. The campus felt very safe which was an important aspect to my decision. The coach and everyone at the clinic, as well as the tour, were all so amazing which initially solidified it for me. They also had both majors I was deciding on which was obviously great as well.”

Originally, Saffie narrowed her choice of potential schools around the states of Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, but, eventually felt being in Pennsylvania would be a good compromise.

“I got in touch with the coach by sending out my recruitment e-mail as well as my highlight reel,” said Saffie, a libero. “I soon got a reply about their upcoming clinic which I then attended and met the coach.”

Saffie said, with her commitment, she can now enjoy the rest of her senior year at St. Thomas Aquinas.

“It’s such a stress reliever knowing that I am already in and don’t have to worry about applying to colleges anymore,” Saffie said. “I see everyone else stressing about college right now, and I am so thankful to have been given this amazing opportunity.”

Tanner Smith, Exeter High School, men’s lacrosse, Saint Anselm College

Smith was planning on doing a post-graduate year next fall, but things changed last spring when a member of the Saint Anselm coaching staff approached his mom during a state semifinal game and expressed an interest in Smith joining the program.

“After taking a campus visit, I realized that (Saint Anselm) is where I wanted to go,” said Smith.

Smith, an East Kingston resident, was looking at schools across all three divisions, but Saint Anselm proved to be winner based on its “good criminal justice program and good community feeling to the school.”

“I really like the coach and some of the players that I met,” Smith said. “I also like how close to home it is."

Smith, a defenseman, started playing club lacrosse in the fourth grade with Houlagan Lacrosse, and also played with the New Hampshire Tomahawks.

“I always wanted to (play college lacrosse) even since I was little, but I realized it was possible and really started working for it when I was in middle school,” Smith said.

Ryan Whiting, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, men’s tennis, Dickinson College

Whiting will continue his academic and tennis careers next year at Dickinson College, a Division III program in the Centennial Conference. The school is in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

“Dickinson was the right school for me because it offered the perfect balance of athletic and academic challenges,” Whiting said. “I also wanted to go to college in a different part of the country.”

Whiting, a Stratham resident, was also considering Gettysburg, Holy Cross and Bentley.

“Now that the decision is behind me, this is something I'll always be grateful for,” said Whiting, who trains at both Manchester by the Sea and Spark Tennis and Fitness Club in Andover, Massachusetts. “Having everything behind me has allowed me to enjoy time with friends and have a great start to my senior year.”

Owen Williams, Exeter High School, men’s lacrosse, Jacksonville University

Williams has played club lacrosse for the New Hampshire Tomahawks for four years, and has one year left playing with the Blue Hawks.

Now, Williams knows where he’ll play his college lacrosse – Jacksonville University, a Division I program in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Williams, who plays midfield and attack, was also considering Drexel, Monmouth, Merrimack, Wagner, and Hofstra.

Williams said the Jacksonville coaching staff separated itself from the other potential schools.

“Knowing where I'm going to college and not having to go through the whole process is definitely a stress relief,” Williams said.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: College signings: 27 Seacoast student-athletes choose schools