Senior athletes ready to make a splash in their collegiate careers (Spring 2024)

Blind Brook High School seniors Sydney Goldberg and Neelam Govindaraj have a few things in common, they are both graduating in June and are athletes. Mostly, they both love spending time by the water — Sydney in the pool, and Neelam rowing on the water.

Their passion for the water will continue in college as the two recently signed to swim and row at the colleges of their choice —Sydney at Lafayette College and Neelam at Georgetown University.

Surrounded by their family and friends, the two signed their collegiate letters of intent during a special ceremony in the Blind Brook High School library.

“I’ve heard her happy place is the pool,” said Athletic Director Kim Saxton before introducing Sydney to those gathered.

“I chose Lafayette because I felt welcomed by the swimmers and coaches and the community as well as the academics,” Sydney said, adding that her fondest memory of swimming was when she and her team realized they qualified for states.

“That was definitely an inspirational moment for us,” Sydney said.

According to Ms. Saxton, the swimmer has been in the pool since the age of six months. Throughout her athletic career, she has swum for the Empire Swim Team for 10 years and the merged swim team since her sophomore year at BBHS. She’s been named All-Section and All-League, and she qualified for the states in two relay events. This year she served as captain of the varsity swim team.

For Neelam, he has been rowing since he was 12 for Greenwich Crew in Greenwich, CT. He’s been awarded the Most Valuable Athlete in his Novice Crew during his freshman year. That same year his u17 boat won the gold medal at the Head of the Charles in Boston, Mass. He’s the recipient one gold and two silver medals while with Greenwich Crew. This past summer his team rowed in the Henley Royal Regatta in England. Naleem served as captain of the team during his senior year.

Naleem said he chose Georgetown for the balance of athletics and academics rigor and for the opportunity to live in the nation’s capital.

“It’s been a dream of mine,” he said of living in Washington, DC.

Before the photo ops began with family and friends, Ms. Saxton offered one more congratulations to the two athletes.

“Signees, you are now among the empowered men and women to go on to college and play in the sport that you love,” Ms. Saxton said. “We congratulate you all and wish for nothing but success in all you do!”

 

Several athletes signed their letter of intent earlier this year (January 2024)

Michael Berman Annunzita was the first to sign his letter amongst applause from the crowd. He will be attending Clark University where he will play lacrosse.

Will Jaffee will be attending SUNY Geneseo, where not surprisingly, he will join the track and field team.

Seth Low decided to play lacrosse at Muhlenberg College.

Andrew Rogovic shared his athletic talents with the BBHS Baseball team, and he hoped to do the same as part of the team at Northeastern University.

 

Student-athletes look ahead with spring signing event (May 23)

Blind Brook High School seniors Halle Greaige, John “JP” D’Inverno and Corey Piller have a few things in common: they are graduating next month, they all played sports, and they would love to have their families come watch their games next year as they begin their collegiate athletic careers.

April 25 was a big day for the three student athletes who gathered for a celebratory signing event for their respective schools. Family, friends, and teammates gathered in the BBHS library for the big reveal.

Halle announced she would be attending SUNY Purchase and will be playing D-3 Softball and Basketball as a Panther.

“I loved that it wasn’t far away,” she said of the school located one town over. She enjoyed meeting her future teammates and coaches, adding, “I have found my team.” 

Halle said that she began playing softball at BBHS, after having played baseball for years. At the time she was the youngest member of the Varsity team as a seventh grader but was made to feel welcome right away. She still keeps in touch with many of her older teammates. She knows next year she will be the youngest again as a freshman, but she said she has been in that position before and has no reason to feel nervous.

“I’ve never felt more ready,” she said.

John has committed to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., where he will be playing football. The Pioneers play in the Division 1-Football Championship Subdivision.

“It’s a close school, and I want my family to come to my games,” he said as to why he chose SHU. “It’s been one of my dreams forever and where I want to be.”

Beating Rye Neck last year, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished in two seasons, he said, was amongst his favorite memories of playing football at BBHS.

“That game really kicked it off for us. We beat them, we destroyed them, and we just kept moving forward,” John said of what he’ll remember from his BBHS playing days. “We felt different, and the program felt different,” he said following that particular game.

In a few months’ time Corey will become a Blue Devil at Central Connecticut State University, located in New Britain, Conn. He will be a member of the track and field team.

“It’s close, so they can come watch me,” Corey said of his parents and sister attending his meets.

Corey said he will always recall fondly the bond he made when he joined track and field last year as a member of the relay team that went on to set a high school record. 

“It’s something special,” he said.

“We congratulate you and wish you nothing but success in all that you do,” Athletic Director Kim Saxton said after thanking and congratulating the parents for all the support they showed their children.

 

Signing Day: BBHS Athletes have made a decision (January 2023)

Athletes at Blind Brook High School are used to seeing red, white and blue — on their uniforms and in the stands. When a group of athletes walked into the library on Jan. 31, the space was awash in orange, blue and white, a change that represented their future. It was signing day and for a select group of athletes, the change in colors now represented where they would attend college.

The athletes gathered in the library with their family, friends, teammates, and coaches for the special celebration.

Athletic Director Kim Saxton welcomed everyone and noted that along with the athletes, the parents should be congratulated as well for seeing their son or daughter through the past four years and supporting their accomplishments.

“You have waited with patience to attend the college or your choice,” she told the athletes.

“We are thrilled to honor all of you today,” she said.

Nili Sprecher was the first to sign on the proverbial dotted line. She will be attending the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where she will play Division 1 squash there for the Cavaliers.

“I chose it for the team atmosphere and the coach and staff there,” Nili said.

When asked to share her favorite memory from her athletic career, she referred to a match she played in the British Junior Open in England.

“I got to play in the British Open and play for the United States,” Nili said.

With a swipe of his pen, Nico Gonzalez made his choice official. He will be a Diplomat, playing soccer at Franklin & Marshall College, a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III school in Pennsylvania.

Nico said he was looking for a Division III school that was close to home. He said when he visited the campus, he felt comfortable there and liked what he saw.

“I really liked the coaches and staff and the team culture,” he said of the athletic program.

He said he will always remember the “bonding moments” he had through the years with his soccer teammates.

For Ethan Taerstein, he committed to Colby where he will play lacrosse for the Mules.

“I wanted to challenge myself on the field and in the classroom,” Ethan said as to why he chose Colby College, a D-III school located in Maine. He said to that the team culture he saw on a visit was also a motivating factor.

He said his favorite part of playing lacrosse at BBHS was when he was a junior during Senior Day. 

“I was a junior at the time, but it was just great to support our seniors,” he said of a favorite high school athletic memory.

In the fall Alyssa Trokie will be off to SUNY New Paltz where she will play tennis as a Hawk in the D-III program.

She met the head coach at a tennis tournament and decided to explore the school further.

“It’s a nice community to start my college career with,” she said of what her research revealed to her.

"Definitely this year, we got to sectionals” Alyssa said as to her fondest memory of playing tennis at BBHS.

The team, she said, ended up making to the second round.

“Signees, you are now among the select few who have committed to go off to a school of your choice,” Ms. Saxton said. “Thank you for your talent and character at Blind Brook High School.”

The ceremony concluded with those gathered taking photos and enjoying refreshments, including a selection of blue, white and orange cupcakes.