The scene last week at St. Ed’s Waxlax Center for the Performing Arts was very likely unprecedented when seven student-athletes committed to pursue and enhance their passions for sports on the college level. The official signing ceremony was conducted before an audience comprised most notably of family members and the entire high school student body.
Academic Dean/Director of College Counseling Michele Sternberg kicked off the proceedings with an impressive fun fact. The number of students at the signing table represented 12 percent of the entire senior class.
Lacrosse was the honorary sport of the hour with Catalina Pratt, Raleigh Cooper, Ryan Bird, Sam Cardosi and Luke Jayne inking on the dotted line. Pratt and Cooper were introduced by girls coach Rick Cassara. Bird, Cardosi and Jayne were mildly roasted by boys coach Doug Bailey.
Coach Scott Mohr knew a while ago that Ryan Niederpruem was a candidate to play golf in college. Kylie Oakes rows with the Treasure Coast Rowing Club for coaches Stefanie Falkner and Mitchell Gordon.
All of these accomplished athletes have crafted and demonstrated high degrees of excellence in high school, with plenty of analytical data and post season awards to back that up. The lacrosse players have one more spring season to go with the Pirates. While the varsity golf season is over, it is only a snippet of the total time anyone serious will spend on the course. And serious club rowing has grown into a demanding, worldwide enterprise.
Cardosi and Jayne are co-captains for one more season with the No. 1 goal of leading the Pirates to a fourth straight district championship. After gradation they will reunite at Florida Tech. Bird is a co-captain designate as well. He is committed to Lees-McRae College in North Carolina.
The 2019 boys lacrosse team was ranked 12th in the final state-wide poll. The obvious ascendancy of this program is expected to continue through the 2020 season. The girls team has not been left behind as evidenced by a 28-10 record playing an independent schedule since Cassara took over three years ago.
Cooper will head for the picturesque hills of eastern Tennessee and play for Sewanee/University of the South. Pratt committed to Queens University in Charlotte, N.C. Both achieved All-Area status last season and the team looks well positioned for a third consecutive double-digit win campaign in 2020.
Niederpruem was on the varsity golf team for four seasons. His game improved steadily over that span as he eventually demonstrated the ability to shoot under 80 on a consistent basis. Most recently he qualified for the regional tournament in October.
“Our strong senior leadership was led by Ryan Niederpruem,” coach Mohr said. “He was our best scorer in most of the matches. He worked his tail off and it really paid off for him, and for us. It’s really a pleasure as a coach to see that come to fruition for a young athlete.” Niederpruem will tee off for his next school team at McDaniel College in Maryland.
Kylie Oakes found immediate success when she joined St. Ed’s rowing team as a freshman. As a total novice she was paired in a double with a veteran senior. The tandem made it all the way to national level competition.
The rowing program at St. Ed’s was disbanded, but Oakes continued to row for the Treasure Coast Rowing Club.
Since then she has participated in state, national and international competitions, teaming with a variety of crew configurations. She has competed in Canada and Japan and was selected for the US Junior National Team.
The next school challenge for Oakes is the rowing team at Stanford University.
St. Ed’s Director of Athletics Jeff Lamscha has been with the school for over 30 years, long enough to amass 300-plus wins as the varsity girls soccer coach. He was elected to the Pirates’ Athletic Hall of fame in 2014, and is always a good source for perspective.
“This was an exciting event,” Lamscha said. “This is the most signings since I’ve been AD. I don’t remember any others being that large. Seven athletes for a small school like ours is remarkable.
“You can only achieve success if you have solid coaches that teach and mentor, solid backing and support from parents, and dedicated student-athletes taking advantage of their opportunities. Fortunately we have all three.
“I can’t express how proud I am of all seven and what they have done. I’m confident they will all accomplish great things as they go forward after this year.”
