There was a lot of lighthearted banter in the Grubbs Gallery on Monday afternoon as four of Williston Northampton School’s top athletes gathered for ceremonies to highlight their college commitments.
Andrew Liu, Ryan Richmond, and John “Marshall” Rizutto signed National Letters of Intent with Assumption College, Bentley University, and Edinboro University, respectively. George “Curt” McLeod was also recognized for committing to Cornell University.
“Read the fine print—make sure!” yelled one teammate as Mr. McLeod inked his name. The football player grinned; the paper he was using was a prop for the ceremony.
Mr. Rizutto, a fellow football star, also got a ribbed, with teammates reminding him not to lose the ceremonial signing pen.
“It’s your special pen, Marshall!” “Marshall, don’t lose that pen!” they called.
With a spring downpour soaking the fields outside, the gallery space filled with a crowd of teammates, dorm mates, and friends, who posed with the honorees and snapped pictures with their phones.
All four seniors expressed excitement with their choices, sporting hats and shirts from their chosen schools, and using such glowing terms as “the perfect place,” “the most promising future,” and “reminds me of home.”
“I chose to commit to Bentley because of what the school had to offer me,” Mr. Richmond noted. “It not only has a great basketball legacy, but has a prestige in the field of business.”
Mr. Richmond, who had made some key plays in the basketball’s march to a Class A championship in February, had brought along a basketball, which was added to the table display alongside a Bentley shirt.
“What do you think the average height in here is?” asked one of the bystanders as lanky basketball team members moved into place behind Mr. Richmond for a photo.
“6’4”?” guessed one of the lacrosse players, who was there to support Mr. Liu.
“Probably like 6’3”,” confirmed Coach Michael Shelton, head of the boys varsity basketball team.
By then, the students were rearranging themselves again, this time as an extended “Conant family”—and those around the table were waving everyone in.