Senior Zach Alerte comes across as so humble and unassuming that you might think he had no active role in any of the marvelous accomplishments listed on the outstanding resume that he will take from St. Ed’s to one of several elite colleges that are currently under consideration.
Of course, these things don’t happen by accident. It takes the right person in the right setting at the right time.
“This is my seventh year at St. Edward’s and the school has given me a lot,” Alerte said. “I have had opportunities in academics, athletics and extracurriculars.” What he didn’t say was that he excelled in all three areas, but this young man is not given to exhaustive hyperbole.
Alerte was a pillar on the varsity soccer team for four seasons through high school and became one of the best cross country runners when he “picked up” that sport as a sophomore. But soccer was his true passion and it will be his legacy as a Pirate athlete.
“I started playing soccer when I was 3 or 4 years old and began to play competitively in third grade,” he said. “In middle school I played soccer and lacrosse, but lacrosse wasn’t my main sport. I continued playing soccer in high school and we had some good teams and good seasons my first three years under coach (Bill) Keating. Then finally this past year (under Chris Callaghan) we actually had a good run in the playoffs. We won the district and it was just a great season all-around.”
In keeping with his style and personality, Alerte often subordinated his role for the betterment of his team. He was a leader on defense and his stats could have been gaudier had he been on attack. More importantly, his coaches certainly recognized his value to the cause. As a junior Keating described him as one of his two best players. Callaghan called him part of the spine of the team this past season.
If Alerte continues with either soccer or cross country in college, it will have to be as a walk-on or with a club team. He genuinely starred in those sports at St. Ed’s, but now other priorities will be at the forefront.
A conclusion like that usually follows when you have already been accepted at Harvard. He also has applications in at Yale, Brown, Princeton, Miami and Florida. He is uncertain about a major, with history currently leading the pack.
“I have been interested in just about every different kind of subject,” Alerte told us. “I didn’t have any favorite per se. I am attracted to history, and to some degree math and science. I would say they have all been equal in terms of my interest.
“Some subjects come relatively easier than others. For example, history – I just seem to have a good memory for it. I didn’t have to put in as much time for that as I did for other subjects that were much more difficult. My freshman year I took biology and it wasn’t as interesting. Trying to memorize that information was a bit tougher so I had to put in some extra time.
“Definitely during my freshman and sophomore years I had trouble with time management. These past two years I realized that I can do the sports and do the academics. I had to learn to prioritize and become more organized. I had to set up a plan for myself.”
That plan included plenty of extracurricular clubs that enhanced his skills and interests in certain areas. He was the captain of the Academic World Quest team and wants to pursue issues relating to human rights and human trafficking. Four years with the Mu Alpha Theta Math team fostered discipline in problem solving. He joined the Model U.N. as a sophomore, where he learned the finer points of debating world issues.
That just scratches the surface, as do two awards worthy of mention. He was the recipient of the Peter Benedict Scholarship as a junior. It covered all expenses for that year and represents the most prestigious honor for a student at St. Ed’s.
This month Alerte was informed that he was one of 4,000 candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program. His reaction was typical.
“I really didn’t apply for it, but I was kind of selected, I guess. I really didn’t know much about it until a few weeks ago. I heard that it’s based on SAT and ACT scores. Eventually it will all be whittled down to 161 students. I believe it all happens sometime in April or May.”
If it “happens,” Alerte will be presented with the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a White House ceremony in June.
