Students from West Hartford’s Conard High School made public their commitments to college athletics on Nov. 19, 2025.

By Ronni Newton

With family, friends, teammates, and coaches in attendance, five members of Conard High School’s Class of 2026 participated in College Commitment Day on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, officially indicating their plans to continue their sports at the collegiate level.

The students who participated in Wednesday’s celebration, and the sports they plan to continue include:

• Freja Morris – Field Hockey – Union College
• Gracie Lowney – Fairfield University – Swimming
• Kayla Lowney – University of Saint Joseph – Swimming
• Paige Lopes – Emmanuel College – Soccer
• Annabel Tracy – Lacrosse – Salisbury University

“This is always one of our most exciting days of the year, where we get to honor amazing student-athletes as they make their commitment to move on to continue their crafts at the collegiate level,” said Jason Siegal, West Hartford’s athletic director. “This is the culmination of many, many years of hard work, long days, long nights, long weekends – and we just could not be more proud of all of you.”

Conard Principal Jocelyn Tamborello-Noble said it was “especially powerful to see a group of amazing young women here representing Conard so well.” She said the skills they have developed as student-athletes will stay with them throughout their lives.

Multiple coaches were also in attendance and congratulated the students they have coached – several of whom are multi-sport athletes as well.

Girls swim coach John Smachetti noted that in the four years that the Lowney sisters have been on the Conard team, the record is 30-1-1 in dual meets – and 3-0-1 against crosstown rival Hall. They won four CCC West titles as well, and came in third in the Class LL meet this season. “I don’t believe there’s been any other girls’ team whose four-year record has been that impressive,” he said.

Both Kayla and Gracie have earned accolades at the conference and state levels.

“I think the most important thing Kayla is going to bring, other than her swimming skills, to Saint Joes – she always smiles at practice,” Smachetti said.

Gracie has amassed a long list of accomplishments for Conard, including All State honors the past two seasons. “This year at the State Open she was on the podium for all four of her events – four events is the max a swimmer can participate in,” said Smachetti. She also broke a 19-year record as part of the 400 Free Relay, also set records in the 200 and 100 Free, and set a new record in the 100 Backstroke, the first Conard female swimmer to break the one-minute threshold.

Field hockey coach Sara Witmer said Morris has put in work and dedication that has really distinguished her as a team leader. “Her ability to distribute the ball is unrivaled in the CCC,” Witmer said. “She set the team record in assists for the past two years,” and is a great teammate, she added.

Coach Heather Russell has coached Lopes in soccer and lacrosse, and has also had her as pre-calculus student at Conard – and is a neighbor and family friend. “From so many angles I can undeniably say that Paige is a hard worker in all areas,” Russell said. “Athletics are about hard work, the support you receive and the support you provide your teammates – and along the way because of the bond of hard work and literal sweat and tears, they provide you with a chosen family,” she said.

Multiple coaches spoke about Tracy – a four-year, three-sport athlete (soccer, indoor track, and lacrosse) – including girls lacrosse head coach Meg Cersosimo, who has known her family for decades and known Annabel her whole life.

Back when Tracy was in elementary school on the sidelines of games decked out in Conard gear and cheering, Cersosimo recalled thinking, “I cannot wait until she’s here.” And then, she said, she blinked.

“You are kind, you are caring, you are committed, and you are determined. You are a gifted athlete, but above all else you are a great teammate,” Cersosimo said, who has the ability to see her teammates in a way that others cannot, and to see their successes and celebrate them.

Tracy has been an all-conference player, and Cersosimo said she is happy she gets her for another season. “Your athletic ability is going to propel you at Salisbury, but it’s who you are at the core that is gonna define you,” she added.

James Redman, who coached Tracy in indoor track, praised Tracy for her commitment. And Cersosimo’s father, Rob – an assistant girls lacrosse coach who not only coached Annabel but also coached and taught Tracy’s parents when they were at Conard – also praised her athletic ability and who she is as a person. “You are an outstanding lacrosse player … but you are the greatest young person, and that’s most important,” Rob Cersosimo said.

Until last year, students planning to attend Division I or II colleges or universities signed national letters of intent, but now students at Division I, II, and II are able to accept offers of athletic aid, which are a combination of scholarship and financial aid monies, and are also permitted to earn money through the NIL (name, image, and likeness) program.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.