By Kaylie Doherty
It’s that time of year again. Seniors are winding down their high school careers and are preparing for their futures ahead. Some are going off to work, to travel the world, or to venture off to college. For those who are going to college, a select few are pursuing college athletics.
College athletes need to be able to balance many aspects of their lives; school work, practices, games, friends, and other activities they plan on pursuing. College athletes also need to make some sacrifices in order to play in college. Sometimes those sacrifices are staying in on a Friday night because of a Saturday game, or waking up at 6am for morning practice.
Regardless, athlete, who are passionate about their sport, don’t think of 100 squats a pure torture, but as a step to jumping higher, which leads to hitting harder.
Westborough has produced many stellar athletes who are playing all different sports at various colleges and levels. This year Westborough student athletes, Sean Ragan, Gianna Scioletti, and Charlie Katz are going off to play college sports for the next four years. Their success as Westborough Rangers has prepared them for their future as an Eagle, a Pioneer, and an Owl.
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Sean Ragan
One of Westborough’s most promising athletes is Sean Regan, 18, a senior at Saint John’s. Ragan is committed to play offensive line on Boston College’s football team next year. Ever since he was young, Ragan had a passion for football, “I’ve been a BC football fan ever since I can remember. So, obviously my current situation is truly a dream come true.”
Ragan then adds, “Plus my dad also played at BC as a tight end, so he is beyond proud of me.” So, Baldwin Eagle blood runs in the family.
Playing football at a Division I school is a huge accomplishment because the NCAA reports that, “only 6.5% of high school seniors advance to playing college football, and only 2.5% end up play in Division I.”
You can bet that Ragan’s number one fans are his family. They have supported him throughout the years, by driving him to practices, traveling hours away to games, and even washing his sweaty football uniform. You can be sure that the Ragan family will never miss one of Ragan’s games.
For all college athletes, balancing school, sports, and friendships is a tough challenge, but for Ragan, he seems to have his work under control. “Everyone knows that the task of creating a balance between school, sports, and friends is not an easy one. However, it’s important for me to do so. I’ve got to give 110% when I’m at practice, in class or studying.” After all of his work is completed, however, he plans to spend the rest of his time hanging out with friends and relaxing.
As a member of a team, an athlete already has automatic friends. For Ragan, he is looking forward to “meeting new people and creating new relationships throughout my college career. Plus many of my friends will always be around me, whether it’s on the field or in the weight room.”
Not only is Ragan looking forward to playing on the field, he is just as excited, “for all of my family members to come and watch me do something that I love.”
Playing a college sport is definitely challenging, but it is also a very rewarding experience. Ragan says, “I’m looking forward to see how much I can push myself to reach my fullest potential in college.” With the help of his football coaches, his loving family, the support from his friends, and his determination to be the best he can be at whatever he sets his mind to, Ragan has what it takes to be a successful college athlete.
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Gianna Scioletti
Senior Gianna Scioletti, 18, had a very different approach to her Division I volleyball career than Ragan. Westborough High School head coach, Roger Anderson, saw Scioletti’s height and knew she should be playing volleyball. However, after years of playing lacrosse, basketball, and field hockey Scioletti was unsure if she should switch field hockey for volleyball.
Scioletti was still deciding over whether to play field hockey or volleyball come the fall of freshman year even after the week long recreational summer camp run by Coach Anderson. With much deliberation, Scioletti finally chose to play volleyball and “it was definitely the right choice.” And starting that fall Scioletti made the junior varsity team.
With the help of Coach Anderson and the 12 other assistant coaches, Scioletti went from barely being able to serve the ball over the net her freshman year, to hitting her way to the state championships her sophomore and senior years.
Coach anderson comment, “We’re excited for Gianna to continue her playing career in volleyball in college and for her to move forward with the skills and the tools that she learned here and apply them in a new setting.”
Scioletti committed to Sacred Heart College in February 2015. She is most excited about “getting to know and becoming good friends with the team and the other sports teams at the school.” Scioletti will be playing as a middle hitter or even a right side for the Sacred Heart Pioneers.
To prepare for her college season, Scioletti play on the top 18’s SMASH Volleyball team. This high level team pushes its players at practice, and competes against some of the top competition in the United States. With only 3.9% of high school volleyball player making it to the college level, Scioletti is definitely one of few dedicated players to live out their dreams.
Aside from volleyball practice, Scioletti knows her school work will take up a lot of her time as an elementary education major; “balancing them will definitely be a difficult task. Some days will be harder than others.” She is confident that she will juggle all her responsibilities in college similarly to how she juggled them in high school.
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Charlie Katz
For Charlie Katz, nothing could be better than walking onto campus freshman year and instantly having 40 friends by your side. Katz has committed to Keene State and plans on playing Division III lacrosse in the spring.
Katz has played midfield for the Westborough Rangers and hopes to further his skills as a midfielder at Keene State University. Katz says that he “loves lacrosse and wants to be able to play at the highest level I could play at.”
With countless hours of practice and watching game tape, Katz knows how important it will be to keep his school work under control and “will try my best to keep a good balance between school, lacrosse, and my social life.” Unlike Reagan and Scioletti, Katz has the fall to find a good balance with his studies and friends before lacrosse starts in the spring.
Currently in season, Katz is tearing up the turf with a 3-1 record. Katz is very effective as a dodging midfield; he almost always burns his defender and really opens up looks for the offense. Teammate David Beliveau says, “Katz has great field vision so he makes incredible passes.” The Rangers will miss Katz’s athleticism and extremely fast shot, but Keene State will be getting an aggressive player who works harder than anyone else on the field.
Katz’s speed and agility allows him to play with the top 6.9% of high school athletes playing division 3 in college. Westborough fans can’t wait to see how Katz senior season will end and can’t wait to see what Katz’s future holds.
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Westborough has molded its prospective players into dedicated and hard-working student athletes. Clearly Ragan and Scioletti have a tough upcoming fall with it being their first year at college, their workload, their friends, and their practices. Westborough High School and St. John’s have prepared these three outstanding athletes for this next step in their lives.
With only a small percentage of high school athletes making it to college sports, Westborough is extraordinarily proud of the success these athletes have accomplished. They really are a talented group of student athletes they managed to study hard to receive good grades and practice hard to be able to play at these competitive colleges.
Katz, “can’t wait to be around like-minded people,” Ragan’s college career “is a dream come true,” and Scioletti simply, “can’t wait for next year.”
