The seniors on Peddie’s athletic teams have begun to wind up their final spring season at Peddie and many student athletes will continue their athletic careers in college. The committed athletes of the Class of 2017 have represented Peddie in a myriad of sports.  Whether it be on the field, in boats, on the courts, the track, or in the pool, Peddie athletics has given several athletes the opportunity to grow and achieve.

“Act[ing] like a professional both in the classroom and on the field is a hard feat, but I feel ready to be a student athlete,” Grant Conaghan ’17, committed to Rutgers University’s men’s soccer team, said.

Steven Torre ’17, committed to Molloy College’s Division II men’s basketball team, believes that Peddie athletics has prepared him for the next level of his sport by making him stronger and more skilled as a player, but also through helping him mature as a student athlete in general.

As a Division I athlete committed to Boston College’s women’s rowing team, Emily Wagner ’17 expressed her gratitude for the guidance of her coach, Barb Grudt.

“We’re lucky at Peddie to have some of the most knowledgeable coaches who are truly invested and involved in our sports, and are willing to help us reach whatever level we desire within and outside of our sports,” Wagner said.

Varsity football running back and captain Keshon Farmer ‘17 is currently Peddie’s single season rushing touchdown holder with 22 touchdowns in 8 games.

“Peddie has opened up so many opportunities that have literally set my life up,” Farmer said. He will be continuing his football and pre-med career at the United States Naval Academy.

“The upperclassmen of our sophomore year recognized our abilities and potential and helped us understand our worth,” said Brendan Mulligan ’17, a division I soccer athlete committed to Lafayette College. “This year we may have had Peddie’s best soccer team yet, or at least Coach McClellan says so. It is very rare for Peddie to have a starting 11 with 7 or more Division 1 commits and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of it.”

Aidan O’Neill ’17, a lacrosse commit to Denison University’s Division III team, believes that the life lessons and leadership experience he has gained from playing for Peddie has been “nothing short of priceless.”

“Learning how to bounce back and have a great practice after suffering a loss is a lesson that extends far beyond the realm of the lacrosse field,” O’Neill said. He also commented on how he has been incredibly lucky to have played alongside such amazing people.  

“Although [my] work is only just beginning, Peddie has set me up for the future really well so far,” Conaghan said.

The Division III committed Peddie athletes include Nick Coury (Franklin & Marshall College) for crew, Bruce Edwards (Ursinus College) for basketball, Nick Filosa (Trinity College) for crew, Aidan O’Neill (Denison University) for lacrosse, Drew Washington (UMass Boston) for softball, Oliver Watkins (Hamilton College) for soccer, Katie Hensler (Washington & Lee University) for swimming, Josh Etukudo (Bard College) for basketball, and Advaita Kadiyala (University of Rochester) for basketball.

Peddie’s Division II committed athlete is Steven Torre to Molloy College’s for basketball.

The student athletes committed to Division I programs across the country are Zachary Barnard (University of Albany) for football, Caitlin Barrett (Brown University) for lacrosse, Jadan Blue (Temple University) for football, Samuel Bray (United States Naval Academy) for swimming, Grant Conaghan (Rutgers University) for soccer, Sean Dailey (Rutgers University) for soccer, Laolu Daranijo (Drexel University) for soccer, Noah Dehond (Clemson University) for football, Alex Encinar (University of Western Ontario) for swimming, Keshon Farmer (United States Naval Academy) for football, Jared Fitzgerald (Indiana University) for swimming, Lauren Herrington (United States Naval Academy) for lacrosse, Noel Hijazi (Sacred Heart University) for football, Brendan Mulligan (Lafayette College) for soccer, DJ Palmer (Yale University) for soccer, Thomas Rayam (Boston College) for football, Martin Ssessanga (Lafayette College) for soccer, and Emily Wagner (Boston College) for crew.