Students Sign National Letters of Intent

At St. Mary's Ryken we are committed to excellence in the classroom as well as on our fields, court and other competitive arenas.  Last year 99% of our graduates chose to attend a college or university. Our 2018 graduating class had 32 student-athletes who continue to play their sport at the collegiate level.  In November, St. Mary's Ryken recognized eight student athletes who are taking advantage of the early signing period for the National Letter of Intent (NLI).

Wei-cheih (Louis) Tang (Boys Basketball) is originally from Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.  He came to SMR as a junior and earned his varsity letter. Last season he earned the Most Promising Award and was named Honorable Mention All WCAC.  Louis was a member of both the U16 and U17 Taiwanese National Teams, helping the U16 team to a second place finish in FIBA Asia in 2015. He has been on the President's List Honor Roll all 5 possible quarters at SMR.  Louis will attend the Virginia Military Institute (VMI).  VMI is a NCAA Division I School located in Lexington, Virginia

Kaela Dothard (Girls Basketball) and is the daughter of SMR Girls Basketball Assistant Coaches BeeJay and Sarah Dothard. She lettered her junior year at SMR after transferring in from another school. Last season she was Honorable Mention All-County. She made the Principals List Honor Roll twice and the President's List honor roll twice at SMR. Kaela will attend the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut a NCAA Division I School. The Hartford Hawks are a member of the America East Conference.

Abby Burke (Girls Lacrosse), daughter of recently inducted SMR Athletic Hall of Famer Jimmy Burke, is a three-year letterman on the SMR girls lacrosse team going into her senior year. She earned 1^st Team All County and Honorable Mention All-WCAC her sophomore year in lacrosse. She also earned three varsity letters in girls soccer earning Honorable Mention All-WCAC in soccer her junior year. She has made the Principal's List honor roll 8 times and the President's list honor roll for 2 quarters. Abby has signed an NLI to compete in Lacrosse at Wingate University a NCAA Division II school in Wingate, North Carolina. The Wingate Bulldogs are a member of the South Atlantic Conference.

Kyleigh Cox (Girls Soccer) is a four year letter winner in soccer and also lettered in track her freshman year. She was named 2^nd team All-WCAC this past season. She has made the Principal's List honor roll 10 quarters and the President's list once. She has signed an NLI with NCAA Division I's Longwood University women's soccer team. The Longwood Lancers compete in the Big South Conference. 

Gabbi Leach (Girls Soccer) is a four-year letter winner in soccer and served as captain this past season. Gabbi was named Most Promising Award winner her Freshman Year and was named Honorable Mention All- County and Honorable Mention All-WCAC. Her sophomore year she was named Honorable Mention All-County and 1^st Team All WCAC. Her Junior Year she was named 1^st team All-County, County Player of the Year and 1^st Team All WCAC. Her senior year she was named 2^nd Team All-WCAC.  She made the Principals List one quarter and the Presidents List the remaining 12 quarters. She is a member of the National Honor Society. Gabbi has signed an NLI with NCAA Division I Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers recently moved conferences to the Sun Belt Conference.

Jessica Limerick (Field Hockey) is a four-year letter winner in Field Hockey, lettered once in girl's basketball and twice in softball going into her senior season. Her sophomore and junior seasons she was named Honorable Mention all WCAC and was honorable mention all County her junior year in softball. She was named 2^nd Team all WCAC in Field Hockey this past season. She has made the Principal's List honor roll for 10 quarters and made the President's List once. Jessica has signed a NLI to play Field Hockey at NCAA Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Redhawks are members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Brandon Pierpont (Boys Lacrosse) lettered last year in lacrosse after transferring to SMR for his junior year. Last season he earned Honorable Mention All-WCAC and First Team all-County. He has made the President's List honor roll all 5 quarters he has been at SMR. Brandon has signed an NLI with NCAA Division I High Point University. The Panthers play in the Big South Conference.

Ryan Summy (Boys Lacrosse) is a three-year letter winner in lacrosse heading into his senior year. He was named Honorable Mention All-County as a junior. He has made the Principals List Honor Roll 11 times and the President's List once. He will also be attending High Point University.

Congratulations to all of the St. Mary's Ryken National Letter of Intent fall signed student-athletes!