Pictured: Middletown High’s 17-strong group of student-athletes who will go on to participate in their sports at the next level. Seated, from left: Anetta DelPrado, Tyah Pettaway, Nyasia Dailey and Nayda Farnsworth. Back row, from left: Mason Neumann, Zach Krantz, Dan Lapham, Manny Neale, Ryan Quinn, Alex Foligno, Drew Strickland, Gabe Boily, Elijah Wilborn and Joao Oliveira. Also honored but not pictured: Terrence Jackson, Shadae Bushay and Michaela De Los Cientos. (Photo by Paul Augeri)
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Middletown High celebrated a group of 7uture college and prep school athletes during a ceremonial signing day Friday in the school’s gymnasium.
Nine of the 17 will go on to play baseball, basketball and soccer. Three will compete for NCAA Division I programs, while a fourth will join the dance team at Division I Central Connecticut State.
The full list of Blue Dragons on their way into the world of college athletics:
Tyah Pettaway, basketball, University of Bridgeport (NCAA Division II). Pettaway was an All-State selection and the Blue Dragons’ leading scorer (18.6 ppg)
Shadae Bushay, basketball, University of Bridgeport (NCAA Division II). Bushay, along with Pettaway, was a catalyst in the Dragons’ 20-win season and first state tournament semifinal appearance under longtime coach Rob Smernoff. Bushay averaged 15.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.2 steals per game.
Elijah Wilborn, basketball, South Kent School. The 6-foot-8 Wilborn averaged a double-double in his final season at MHS.
Andrew Strickland, swimming, Wagner College (NCAA Division I). Strickland swam the breaststroke and sprint freestyle at MHS.
Nyasia Dailey, track, Quinnipiac University (NCAA Division I). During the indoor season, Dailey was the CCC’s champion in the 55 meters.
Ryan Quinn, baseball, Anna Maria College (NCAA Division III). Quinn, an outfielder, was recently named All CCC-South Region.
Mason Neumann, baseball, Dean College (NCAA Division III).
Dan Lapham, baseball, Eastern Connecticut State (NCAA Division III).
Nayda Farnsworth, rowing, Colgate University (NCAA Division I). Farnsworth was a captain and coxswain of the boys varsity boat this spring.
Alex Foligno, soccer, University of Hartford (NCAA Division III).
Gabe Boily, lacrosse, Bishop’s University. Lacrosse is a fall sport at Bishop’s, a liberal arts school in Sherbrooke, Quebec, from where Boily’s parents hail and first four-year member of the MHS varsity program who will go on to play in college.
Joao Oliveira, soccer, Albertus Magnus (NCAA Division III). Oliveira was an All CCC-South Region selection as a senior.
Zach Krantz, swimming, Southern Connecticut State (NCAA Division II).
Manny Neale, football, Western New England (NCAA Division III).
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Terrence Jackson, football, Anna Maria College (NCAA Division III).
Anetta DelPrado, soccer, Anna Maria College (NCAA Division III).
Michaela De Los Cientos, dance, Central Connecticut State.
While I congratulate all Sr’s that are moving on to play in college, there is an air of settling for mediocrity. Most of these kids are playing DIII and the ones that are playing so called DI are really only labeled that and really should be DIII. I will bet that only 10% of these kids will get any kind of play time or see action. I wish MHS would push these kids to try to do better, go for the DI or DII. Why lower the bar and settle. Are the kids confidence so low that’s all they believe they can achieve? Also, these DIII players are not on any scholarships. I don’t blame the kids so much but if they are really that good then push them to be even better, by the school, by the parents, etc. If you fail by trying at least you tried. Kids NEED to know failure is OK.