Oak Park and River Forest High School held its final signing day ceremony of the year on Feb. 5, honoring 17 standout athletes as they officially begin the next phase of their athletic careers.
The event, held in the South Cafeteria, drew a near-capacity crowd of students who came to support their peers. With commitments spanning eight different sports, the event highlighted the hard work and dedication of this year’s graduating class.
“It was awesome to see how far my peers have come as student athletes, and I was so proud of everyone reaching the next level,” said senior commit Julia Mattiace.
At the Division I level, Elyssa Hasapis, Brady Green and Bryce Richards will take their talents to St. Josephs, Bucknell, and Marquette, respectively, competing at the highest collegiate level in softball, baseball and soccer.
For many, their next chapter will be at prestigious liberal arts colleges, where athletics and academics go hand in hand. Liam O’Connor and Julia Chang, both exceptional runners, are headed to Williams College and Grinnell College. Volleyball players Phoebe Shorney and Gaby Towns will join competitive programs at Claremont McKenna College and Colby College. Ava Gallagher and Rosie Ondrla, both field hockey players, will continue their journeys at DePauw University. Gloria Hronek will take the field for Carleton College softball.
Other athletes are set to compete at institutions known for their STEM and research programs. Luke Fougere will play lacrosse at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Mattiace, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology softball commit, will balance her athletics with one of the most rigorous academic environments in the country.
Meanwhile, Peter Farren (New York University), Timmy Leark (Maryville University), Abby Cockerill (Emerson College), Genevieve Simkowski (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater), and Scarlett Simkowski (Edgewood College) are heading to institutions with strong fusion of academic and athletic programs.
Ondrla started her freshman field hockey career during Varsity’s second place run at state, setting the tone for her tenacity in the sport. “Being around those girls at practice taught me what it really means to work hard and see your efforts pay off,” Ondrla said. “I started on the JVA team, but I knew I had to fully commit myself to the sport if I wanted to play at the same level as the older girls.”
Ondrla offered gratitude to OPRF, explaining that, “I learned more than just how to better perform in my sport; I learned a lot about team dynamics, leadership skills, and how to regulate emotions in high pressure situations.” After a high school career garnering an all conference award and captaining her team, Ondrla is excited to transfer her passions in field hockey to her new Depauw community.
Mattiace said she is also looking forward to her career in college athletics. “I’m most excited to play for a group of supportive, highly qualified female coaches and alongside some of the kindest and most hardworking young women I’ve ever met,” she said. “The MIT softball community is truly unmatched.”
