Nine CCES Student-Athletes Sign Their Letters of Intent

Christ Church Episcopal School celebrated the successes of nine senior student-athletes today, April 12th, during a signing ceremony. Family, teammates, coaches, and school officials gathered in Rooke Theater to watch Yasmene Clark, Constantine Gandis, George Lowe, Kevin McCarthy, Lauren Monday, Maggie Rogers, Mary Earl Varat, Colin Williams, and Woods Windham sign their letters of intent. Yasmene Clark will be playing basketball at New York University in New York, New York, Constantine Gandis will be playing football at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, George Lowe will be playing lacrosse at Capital University in Bexley, Ohio, Kevin McCarthy will be playing lacrosse at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, Lauren Monday will be playing soccer at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, Maggie Rogers will be playing soccer at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, Mary Earl Varat will be playing field hockey at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, Colin Williams will be playing lacrosse at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and Woods Windham will be playing basketball and soccer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Director of Athletics, Molly Miller, welcomed the family, coaches, administration, teachers, friends, and teammates of these seniors and thanked them for their support in both athletic and academic endeavors. Miller went on to expand on these nine students, sharing thoughts from their teachers and coaches. 

Yasmene Clark is described by her teachers as determined, hard-working, goal-oriented, and well-rounded. She is the “epitome of mental toughness and tenacity, generous with her time and talents, and community oriented.” Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach, Ja’Net Vicks, says, “Yasmene’s passion for basketball is evident in the hard work she puts in, both on and off the court. She always puts her teammates first and never wants to let them down.” Vicks recognizes the “tough obstacles” Yasmene has overcome during her high school career, but believes “it has only made her stronger and ready for this next stop.”

Teachers describe Constantine Gandis as kind, supportive, personable, and intelligent. He is known for his “comedic precision and impressive dance moves.” He is a friend to all who know him and is “100% himself” no matter the environment. Varsity Football Head Coach, Quin Hatfield, calls Constantine “a competitor who works at his craft with sharp focus and diligence.” Hatfield notes, “Constantine knows how to handle pressure and remains poised in crucial situations, a key trait that great kickers must possess. I can’t wait to see him elevate the special teams’ play at Presbyterian College.” 

George Lowe is described by his teachers as charming, funny, and a “positive participant in class.” He is an “ambitious entrepreneur” who has put in hard work, both on and off the field, to get to where he is today. Varsity Boys Lacrosse Head Coach, Joey Porchetta, calls George “the hardest working guy on the team.” Porchetta and Adam Baitsell, Lowe’s former CCES JV Lacrosse coach, consider George a testament to the power of “hard work paying off” as they have watched George develop into a “lockdown, hard-nosed defensive midfielder.” They are both confident he will continue to own that role at Capital.

Words that come to mind when teachers were asked to describe Kevin McCarthy are committed, reliable, competitive, respectful, and quick to encourage. He is the type of student that teachers wish they had in their classroom more often. Varsity Boys Lacrosse Head Coach, Joey Porchetta, calls Kevin “a complete two-way midfielder” and says, “at times, I don’t know if he likes to play offense or defense more.” Porchetta notes that Kevin “does so much for the team” in all facets of the game, making him “a great player to have.” He says, “Kevin loves the game and it’s easy to understand why he was voted captain by his peers.” 

Teachers describe Lauren Monday as “confident, responsible, respectful, and caring.” It can be hard to join a school as a junior, but Lauren is known for her joy as she jumped into the CCES community seamlessly, “eager to build relationships with her peers and teachers.” Varsity Girls Soccer Head Coach, Ashley Seeley, says, “Lauren has made a huge impact on our success these past two years.” Seeley calls Lauren “unbelievably talented” and describes her “no one can beat me” attitude, which has allowed Lauren to stop some of the best strikers from scoring. Seeley knows Lauren “is going to do great things in college and in life.” 

Teachers describe Maggie Rogers as the kind of student that always has a smile on her face and “a kind word for those around her.” She pushes herself in the classroom, “seizing every opportunity to learn, apply new knowledge, and better herself.” Varsity Girls Soccer Head Coach, Ashley Seeley, calls Maggie “the rare player that coaches dream of having on their team.” Maggie has been captain for two years and “shows up to every practice and game with a positive attitude and always gives 110%.” Seeley says, “Although we will replace her position next year, we will not be able to replace her leadership and what she has done for this program.” 

Mary Earl Varat is described by her teachers as “a leader who is both confident and determined.” She is known for her positive presence in the classroom, whether it be learning from a challenge or being a supportive peer in a group. Varsity Field Hockey Head Coach, Lauren Dailey, calls Mary Earl “extremely resilient,” noting all the “hard work and determination” she has put in to reach her goals. Dailey says, “I have seen her make sacrifices over the years to continuously learn, get better, and grow as an athlete. I feel very proud of this huge accomplishment and know she will be a great addition to the team at Roanoke.” 

Teachers describe Colin Williams as attentive and a good listener, always “contributing positively” to the classroom environment. Colin is known for how he “cares deeply” about issues that impact others and welcomes opportunities for open dialogue. Varsity Boys Lacrosse Head Coach, Joey Porchetta, calls Colin “an absolute beast” and a player that always pushes his teammates to be better. Porchetta says, “Colin has the ability to single-handedly impact a game” with multiple CCES lacrosse records. He will compete hard in practice, but at the end of the day, “as his teammate, you are very grateful that he is on your team.”  

Woods Windham is described by his teachers as detail-oriented, respectful, kind, and humble. Woods is known for his depth of character and maturity, traits that allow him to step into leadership roles naturally and make big plays when his teams need it. Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach, John Butler, calls Woods “a warrior – the driving force that made our teams so good.” Butler says, “He is a truly special man. MIT has landed a great one and I’m happy to see him continue his greatness at the collegiate level.” Varsity Boys Soccer Head Coach, Anthony Esquivel says, “Woods has more than earned this opportunity to continue his playing career at MIT. He has proven himself to be a true student-athlete champion and will no doubt be successful in the years to come.”

Congratulations to these nine student-athletes for all of their accomplishments, both athletically and academically. CCES will always be cheering for you and looks forward to witnessing all the things to come in these next chapters. Go Cavs!

For more photos from the ceremony, please click here.