Four Cavalier Athletes Sign to Play Collegiate Athletics on Fall Signing Day

 

Christ Church Episcopal School celebrated the successes of four of our senior athletes yesterday, November 13^th, during a signing ceremony. Family, friends, and school officials gathered to watch Arthur Bishop, Nathan DePiero, Micah Finotti, and Rafe Reynolds sign letters of intent. Arthur will be swimming at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, Nathan will be swimming at Brown University in Providence, RI, Micah will be playing lacrosse at Birmingham-Southern in Birmingham, AL and Rafe will be playing golf at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC.

 

Athletic Director Molly Miller thanked family, coaches, administration, teachers, friends and teammates for their support both in their athletic endeavors and in the classroom as they have helped to shape each of these seniors into the students, athletes and people they are today. Molly expanded on each individual, sharing quotes from both teachers and coaches.

 

Arthur Bishop has been at CCES since the first grade and is described by his teachers as “positive and helpful to other students.” One teacher noted: “Arthur’s dedication to the learning process is outstanding, even in the most challenging of exercises.” Another teacher emphasized his ability to take risks, commenting that Arthur “walks with confidence, happiness, and creativity.”

 

Arthur has been a competitive swimmer since he was seven years old and began swimming year-round at the age of 10. He will graduate CCES with multiple state championships as well as school records as a member of both the 200 medley relay and 200 yard free relay teams. Molly went on to share the words of Coach Matt Jacobssen who called Arthur “a born leader and one of the most coachable swimmers he’s ever met.” Additionally, he called Arthur “someone who is beloved by his teammates and respected by his competitors.”

 

Nathan DePiero started at Christ Church in 9^th grade and has made an impact both in the pool and in the classroom. Nathan is a National Merit Semi-finalist and his teachers describe him as one who possesses “a high level of curiosity, who asks thought provoking questions and has a constant desire to try new and innovative ways of solving problems.” One teacher commented: “Nathan is always looking to push the discussion further and find applications for the content that pertain to his life or current issues.” Another teacher noted that Nathan’s “natural interest in the subject matter and all things technical make him a student that is a pleasure to teach.”

 

Nathan has been a member of the swimming program at CCES since he started at the school freshman year and has been a competitive swimmer for the past nine years. He will graduate with several state championships and holding four school records: two with Arthur and their respective relay teams and two others in the 200 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle. Molly continued with Coach Jacobssen’s thoughts: “Nathan is, simply put, the best male swimmer to ever come through CCES. He’s versatile, humble, and a great teammate who leads through example. It has been a pleasure to coach him.”

 

Micah Finotti has been at CCES since the 6^th grade and a member of the lacrosse team for the past six years. His teachers comment: “it is evident that when Micah sets his sights on a goal, when he is interested in the subject matter or has built relationships with teachers, we see the best of Micah.”

 

Molly shared the words of Coach Joe Cummings who had the following to say about Micah: “I am thrilled to see Micah take the next step in his career by playing lacrosse at Birmingham-Southern University. Micah had a vision for competing at the next level and I am excited he has the opportunity to see that vision come to reality. Through hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to his craft, Micah put himself in a position to be recruited to the next level. Micah handled the recruiting process with great poise and maturity, and I have enjoyed watching him grow over the past year and a half as he pursued his vision for playing college lacrosse.”

 

Rafe Reynolds is a 13-year vet, having attended CCES since Primer. One teacher noted: “his positive attitude is one that sets the tone in class. He is eager to learn and has a fun-loving personality.” His personality has been evident in his Journalism class where his segment, “Rafe’s Rants” has quickly “climbed to become a fan-favorite, demonstrating his ingenuity, sense of humor, and professionalism as a journalist.” Rafe is also a member of the leadership program where he remains a “solid contributor and role model for younger student athletes.”

 

Rafe has been a member of the CCES golf team since 7^th grade, making him a five-time state champion. On the course, he “demonstrates great leadership in his role as captain.” Coach Kristen Rooke shares that Rafe “excels at golf in particular because he is a great mixture of a thinker and a feeler as a player. He works on all aspects of his game, including the physical and mental sides.”

 

Congratulations to Arthur, Nathan, Micah and Rafe on all of their accomplishments at Christ Church and all those to come in this next chapter! While they will soon be competing for different teams, they will always be Cavaliers to us! Go Cavs!

 

Click here for the full album of pictures from athletic signing day.