Seven more Kingswood Oxford seniors, including two from West Hartford, have committed to playing sports at the collegiate level. 

The seven KO seniors who plan to play sports in college are (seated, L to R): Rachel Maselli, ice hockey, Nichols; Matt Goldman, baseball, Salve Regina; Mick Hains, track & field, Boston College; Nicole Demers, ice hockey, Endicott; Olivia Shea, tennis, Dickinson College; Andre Jett, football, Bowdoin; and Jacob Appleton, tennis, UConn. Head of School Dennis Bisgaard and Athletic Director Debbie Fiske (standing) offered congratulatory remarks at the event. Photo credit: Kristen Weldon.

Submitted by Michelle M. Murphy, Kingswood Oxford School

Seven more Kingswood Oxford seniors celebrated their plans to play college sports at a standing-room-only event on May 6, 2016.

This makes a total of 19 seniors, out of the 96 students in the Class of ’16, who intend to continuing their playing careers in college. In November 2015, Holden White ’16 signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Wake Forest University. And in February 2016, another 11 seniors – including four more D1 commits – announced their plans to play college sports.

Head of School Dennis Bisgaard and Athletic Director offered opening remarks, reminding the students that they were among a relatively small percentage of high school seniors nationwide who were skilled enough to play sports in college – and congratulated them and their parents on the hard work that got them to this moment.

West Hartford residents included in the most recent group of students making commitments are:

Michael Hains ’16 – Boston College, Track & Field
A three-sport athlete, Mick Hains – the son of Michael and Tracy Hains of West Hartford – excels in Cross Country, Swimming, and Track & Field, and served as co-captain of the XC and Track teams. A four-year Varsity runner, Hains competes in the 800, 400, 200, and the 4×400, but ecxels in the 800: In 2015, he was the Founders League and New England Champ in that event. His personal best time is 1:58.70. Hains was also All New England in XC for the past two years. A member of Cum Laude and the Shield & Dragon Executive Committee, Hains is also Senior Prefect.

“Mick has led the cross country and track teams by setting a great example of excellence; his dedication to training is second to none,” said Coach Scott Rodilitz. “He is a true student of the sport and he follows through on the lofty goals he sets for himself.”

Olivia Shea ‘16 – Dickinson College, Tennis
Three-sport athlete Olivia Shea was called “a team player in the truest sense of the word” by The West Hartford Press in April 2016, when it named her one of the “Rising Stars” among West Hartford high school students. A four-year Varsity member and co-captain of the Tennis and Swim teams, she also played Volleyball.

The daughter of Brian Shea and Sheri Slobin Shea of West Hartford, she started every Varsity tennis match since freshman year and is a key player on this year’s still-undefeated team, as well as the 2014 New England championship and the Founders League championship teams in 2014 and 2015. Undefeated in singles and doubles as a sophomore and undefeated in doubles as a junior, Shea has won more than 90% of her singles matches at KO. Shea is also active outside of sports: she’s a Senior Advisor, an Executive Committee member of Shield & Dragon tour guide, a member of Voce Novissima and student government, and a volunteer with Team Tobati and Camp KO.

“Olivia is a winner,” said Head Varsity Girls’ Tennis Coach Ron Garcia. “She is a tremendous competitor who hates to lose and loves to compete. She has been a wonderful Wyvern and will be missed tremendously.”

The other college-bound student-athletes celebrated last week are:

Jacob Appleton ’16 — UConn, Tennis
The son of Peter and Deanna Appleton of Farmington, he took his first tennis lesson when he was three years old; today, he’s the #1 ranked player in CT in the Class of ’16 and the #4 player in New England. He joined KO’s Varsity tennis team in Upper Prep and has been co-captain for three years straight. Playing #2 singles for past three years, he was undefeated as a junior; at #1 doubles, he and his brother William Appleton ’18 won the doubles title at this year’s KITT.

Although he’d originally wanted to go to college in the South, Appleton fell in love with UConn — and will continue a family tradition there: His paternal grandfather was captain of the UConn tennis team. “Jacob has worked incredibly hard to become one of the better players in New England,” said Head Boys’ Varsity Tennis Coach Andy Krugman ’86.

Nicole Demers ’16 — Endicott College, Ice Hockey
A classic three-sport athlete, Demers also plays Field Hockey and Softball; she was a two-year co-captain for both Ice Hockey and Softball. (And, she played Varsity Soccer as a senior, as well.)

The daughter of Bob and Linda Demers of Avon, the defenseman was one of the top players on the KO team; in fact, in a 5-4 OT win over Newton Country Day this season, she scored 4 of the team’s 5 goals (and assisted on the 5th). Demers is also a leader off the ice: She is a Prefect; on the Shield & Dragon Executive Committee; and is one of the two seniors on the Citizenship Committee. “Nicole has been a pillar of strength for the hockey team not only in the way she plays the game, but also through her leadership on and off the ice,” said Head Girls’ Ice Hockey coach John Hissick.

Matt Goldman ’16 — Salve Regina University, Baseball
The son of Jonathan and Mary Frances Goldman of Newington, Goldman transferred to KO as a sophomore and hit the ground running, playing Varsity Baseball for the next three years. An honor roll student, he also plays tenor saxophone in the Jazz combo and was named jazz combo and was named outstanding soloist in KO’s ensemble at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival in February 2016. “Matt shows up every day with great energy and a positive attitude,” said Varsity Baseball coaches Steve Cannata and Ryan Radmanovich. “He’s one of our hardest workers, and is dedicated to the game of baseball.”

Andre Jett ’16 — Bowdoin College, Football
The son of Medina Jett of Windsor and Andre Jett of Collinsville, Jett was a co-captain and four-year member of the Football program. A linebacker, he also played Lacrosse and was on Track & Field, but a shoulder injury junior year sidelined him for a period and continued to nag him this year. An honor roll student, he has traveled three times onTeam Tobati service learning trips.

“Andre was the vocal leader of our football team: He knew exactly how to motivate our team and he did it the right way,” said Head Varsity Football Coach Jason Martinez. “His charismatic personality and his selfless attitude made Andre a very good team captain and an excellent role model to the underclassmen. He has battled adversity time and time again, and he never let those challenges change him as a person. He remained grounded and focused the every step of the way, and I admire him for that — in fact, the entire team admires him.”

Rachel Maselli ‘16 — Nichols College, Ice Hockey
A four-year defenseman on the Varsity Ice Hockey team, Maselli is the daughter of Tony and Theresa Maselli of Burlington. In addition to playing hockey, she plans to pursue a college major that will further her interest in an international business career, which was sparked by the three weeks she spent in Australia last summer as part of a cultural exchange program.

“Rachel has a fierce competitive streak that is unmatched and translates on the ice to her opponents,” said Head Varsity Ice Hockey Coach John Hissick. “College hockey has been a goal of Rachel’s for more than three years, and she’s worked at the game and her skills to become the player she is today. She brought a lunchbox-work mentality to practice every day, and was the team’s most vocal cheerleader. Earlier this year, Nichols Coach Will Brown told me: ‘I am thrilled to have Rachel’s presence on our team and in our program next fall.’ For my part, I am thrilled she is realizing her dream.”

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