Standing: Cullen Coleman, Robert Fox, Jonathan Suero, Alana Jones, Charlotte Price, Juliette Grasso, Isabel Stronski; seated, Shane Regan, Laura Baine, Elizabeth Friedberg, Olivia Friedberg, Sena Selby.

 

College-Bound Athletes Honored by Rye Country Day

 

BY LEIF SKODNICK

 

When he gets on the football field for Northwestern University, Rye Country Day School senior Cullen Coleman won’t be punishing defensive backs. A video of the Wildcats runner stiff-arming his way past two Montclair Kimberley tacklers during a 57-yard touchdown pass play garnered 17,000 views on Twitter last season. Northwestern plans to play him at outside linebacker.

 

“But,” he said with a smile, “if I get an interception, we’ll see what happens when I’m going to the endzone.” Off the field, he’s considering studying industrial engineering or business.

 

Coleman was one of 12 graduating seniors, who will be continuing their athletic careers in college, honored at a January 24 breakfast.

 

The other 11 seniors planning to play in college are Robert Fox, Columbia University, Track and Field; Jonathan Suero, Muhlenberg College, Baseball; Alana Jones, Wesleyan University, Basketball; Charlotte Price, Middlebury College, Lacrosse; Juliette Grasso, Fairfield University, Soccer; Isabel Stronski, Brown University, Track and Field; Shane Regan, Skidmore College, Basketball; Laura Baine (Wesleyan University, Lacrosse; Elizabeth Friedberg, Cornell University, Field Hockey; Olivia Friedberg, Cornell University, Field Hockey; and Sena Selby, Claremont McKenna College, Tennis.

 

“I’ve loved playing tennis at Rye Country Day,” said Selby. “Having that team spirit at school helped, and I made a lot of friends that I wouldn’t have made otherwise.” She played both singles and doubles in high school and hopes to continue playing both at Claremont McKenna.

 

Headmaster Scott Nelson had high praise for these student/athletes. “They have all been wonderful ambassadors for the school and have contributed a great deal on the field, while also maintaining a high level of achievement in a rigorous educational environment.” He added, “Most of them are going to college to play one sport, but played two or three sports here, and made great contributions in all of them.”

 

Among the multi-sport athletes are Olivia and Elizabeth Friedberg, who will take their sister act to Cornell University next year. At Rye Country Day, they played field hockey, ice hockey, and golf.

 

“I committed early, at the end of my freshman year,” Olivia said. “I wasn’t sure if it was going to be the right choice, but I’ve never second-guessed my decision.”

 

“I wasn’t totally sure I was going to play at Cornell,” said Elizabeth, who plans on studying business at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration. “I ended up choosing to play field hockey with Oliva because we play so well together that I didn’t want to miss out on that opportunity.

Standing: Cullen Coleman, Robert Fox, Jonathan Suero, Alana Jones, Charlotte Price, Juliette Grasso, Isabel Stronski; seated, Shane Regan, Laura Baine, Elizabeth Friedberg, Olivia Friedberg, Sena Selby.