Cameron Goz Sports Editor Signing Day has come and gone, and a select few of Apex’s senior athletes pledged to continue their ascension in their sport in college. Easily the most committing came from the swimming with four swimmers pledging to their colleges. Both male swimmers, Brian Legarth and Brandon Medins, signed to Washington & Lee University. Ashlyn Butkowski will join the Minutemen at UMass Amherst, Katie Godlewski will be attending St. Bonaventure University, and Morgan Montgomery will attend the University of Vermont. Three lacrosse players also finalized their college choices: Tommy Deluca will join the Cavaliers at the University of Virginia, Jack Hayden will play at Hampden-Sydney College, and Dylan Wolford will attend Westminster College. Concerning other sports, Kaley Barts will take her golfing talents to Catawba College, while Abigail Veit will join the Western Carolina Catamounts' volleyball team. Ben Highfill will play baseball at Liberty University and the lone softball player to sign was Julia Cerasi, who will be attending Meredith College. Apex’s class of 2016 athletes are a strong group who certainly deserve to play their respected sports at the next level. Official Press Release TAC TITANS swimmer Morgan Montgomery has verbally committed to swim for the University of Vermont. She plans to study nursing at one of the oldest schools in the nation. Montgomery excels at backstroke, and helped the TAC TITANS women’s 400 Medley relay come in 16th place in the USA Swimming Jr. Nationals competition this summer. She is excited to keep practicing and competing this year before she heads out next fall to train with Women’s Swimming & Diving Head Coach Gerry Cournover and his staff in Burlington. Although Morgan is a Vermont native, she moved to Raleigh at 3 years old and started swimming in Raleigh’s popular summer league when she was only 4. “She began swimming year-round at age 8 and never looked back,” her mom says. Combining high grades and elite swimming is challenging, but Montgomery’s dedication as a student-athlete has been key to her success all along. Founded in 1791, UVM’s education is so highly regarded, it’s considered a “public Ivy league” school. After Montgomery’s official visit, she knew this was the right place for her, "I fell in love with everything about the school and town. Burlington is such a cool place. I'm so excited that I get to study and do what I love with an amazing team and group of coaches next fall. Go cats go!!" Grace Fendrick Features and Web Editor Senior volleyball player Abigail Veit verbally committed to Western Carolina University (WCU) on full athletic scholarship. She is excited to be a part of the Honors College and entrepreneurship program. Veit has played volleyball at the national level since she was only fourteen years old. In late June of 2014, Veit and her club team, Triangle Volleyball Club, traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in the AAU Junior Nationals, one of the largest national tournaments in the country. Winning second place in the Open division, the highest of the divisions at the tournament, her team broke a historic record, achieving the highest placement of any North Carolina team in the history of AAU. In addition to volleyball, Veit thoroughly enjoys the outdoors, specifically kayaking and hiking, which she will be able to continue in the mountains at WCU. Her advice to other students is, “Don’t say you want something unless you’re willing to work for it.” Grace Fendrick Features and Web Editor Many showed off their school spirit during Peak Week 2015. Both students and faculty members flashed back to the past on Hippie Day, followed by a sneak peek into the future on Senior Citizen Day. On Tourist Day, a group of vacationers started off the one day “staycation” with an early morning luau. There was no shortage of patriotism for the U.S. of A. on Red, White, and Blue Day. The best day by far was Friday, Black and Gold Day, which was full of sparkles and excitement. For members of the Homecoming Court, Peak Week started a bit earlier. On Wednesday, September 9 the final ballots came out. Homecoming Princess Olivia Hair remembers hearing her name in the announcements while in Spanish class with Homecoming Queen Alexandra Stanford. Hair continued saying, “I looked over at her and she was like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ and then she heard her name, so we were both really excited.” Homecoming King Andrew “Gibby” Gibson recalls seeing his name on the ballot saying, “I just really appreciate everyone that voted for me because you hadn’t won anything at that point. It was really cool that people think enough of me to put me in the top ten.” Before all of the festivities began, the ladies of the Court met up at the then unknown Homecoming Queen’s house to decorate posters for the parade, and all too soon it was Friday. The morning can be summed up in two words: glitter explosion. It was all over the floors, desks, backpacks, and people. Everyone, whether it be underclassmen, upperclassmen, or faculty, were excited to be sporting their spirit wear. At the beginning of fourth period, the pep rallies began. Click "Read More" to get a recap of the pep rally, parade, and game and much more (including lots of pictures)! Official Press Release TAC Titans swimmer Ashlyn Butkowski has verbally committed to swim on a four-year scholarship for the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She plans to study kinesiology in preparation to go on for her doctorate of physical therapy. Having just turned 17 last month, this distance freestyler is excited to keep practicing and competing this year before she heads out next fall to train with Women’s Swimming & Diving Head Coach Bob Newcomb and his staff in Amherst. Swimming for Apex High School and the TAC Titans simultaneously have helped prepare Ashlyn for the rigor she’ll face in college, although her mom jokes that she isn’t so sure her NC native is prepared for the weather in the Northeast. “She’s going to have to buy a whole new wardrobe just to keep warm!” She started swimming in the popular Raleigh area summer swim league at just 4 years old but didn’t take up competitive swimming until age 7. “You would never have known at four that she would someday be a competitive swimmer,” her mom says, “she really only swam to be with her friends.” |
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