Erin Suter faced a not-so-easy decision when it came time to choose a college.
A standout swimmer, the recent Central Bucks East graduate also was committed to pursuing a pre-med track in college. Fitting swimming into a rigorous academic schedule would be a challenge.
Suter gave serious consideration to Providence and Northeastern but would not compete in swimming at either. Lafayette and Franklin & Marshall offered her the opportunity to swim, and in the end, she found what she believes is the best of both worlds at Franklin & Marshall.
“When I met the team for the first time, everyone just felt like a family, and the coach was very supportive of me and is a person that puts academics first,” Suter said of F&M coach Joe Acquaviva. “He was very conscious of that and said I’d be able to complete my academic studies, especially on a rigorous track like pre-med along with swimming. He was very avid about mental health and taking days for yourself, and that said a lot to me about his core values.”
Suter was one of 11 Central Bucks East seniors recognized on Tuesday, June 6, for committing to compete in collegiate sports. Four members of the football team – Patrick Keller, Matt LaBouliere, Liam Powers and Ethan Shine – were recognized.
Keller will play football at Temple University this fall. He also considered Albany, Delaware, Ithaca and West Chester.
“I chose Temple because of how close to home it was as well as the feel I got from the staff when I visited,” said Keller, who plans to major in sports, tourism and hospitality management. “They made me feel like I was going to be comfortable there and I could be the best I can be.”
LaBouliere – a first team All-District One volleyball player who earned honorable mention all-state recognition – will be continuing his football career at the United States Coast Guard Academy where he will major in cyber systems.
“For most of high school, I told myself I wanted to do volleyball, but for a couple of months before the football season, I said, ‘I’ll just keep the door open, see what it can get me,’” LaBouliere said. “I talked to my coach, and he helped me out.”
Powers, who is undecided on a major, will continue his football career at Penn State University. He also considered Temple, Fordham and St. Francis.
“I chose Penn State because of the good family atmosphere I felt every time I was up there, and it’s going to set me up for my future too,” Powers said. “I started playing football when I was in kindergarten, and it’s something I always loved. I grew up around it – my dad played football, my brother played football, and just going to my brother’s games, I always knew it was something I wanted to do.”
Shine – a two-way star who rewrote the program’s record books – will play football at Robert Morris University where he will major in business/finance and economics.
“Just the community at Robert Morris – it’s the second biggest school in Pittsburgh and the second biggest school in terms of land in Pennsylvania,” Shine said. “The business school is good, and I want to be successful and get a job after college.
“Since probably first grade, I always wanted to be in the NFL. Maybe I won’t make it to the NFL, but just playing four more years of football has always been a dream for me.”
Three recent grads – Amelia Alfiero, Carly Byrne and Alisa Cufone – will continue their cheer careers at the collegiate level.
Alfiero, who will double major in environmental science and public policy, chose Bloomsburg from a final list that also included Bucknell and Brandeis.
“Bloomsburg is a really pretty campus, and it looks like the college you imagined,” Alfiero said. “Specifically, the cheer team – everyone is so nice. I’m used to a very competitive cheer program where friendships aren’t awarded points, but at Bloomsburg, they actually have on the scorecard – five points for being nice to everyone. That is exactly the environment I’m looking for.”
Byrne, who will major in accounting, will also be competing at PSAC rival Shippensburg. She also considered Penn State.
“I probably wouldn’t have cheered at Penn State,” Byrne said. “I didn’t want to cheer at a big school, and Ship just felt right.
“I hadn’t really decided to cheer in college until a couple of months ago. I ultimately decided I didn’t want that part of my life to be over.”
Cufone will continue her cheer career at Boston College where she will major in biochemistry on the pre-med track. She also considered Boston University, Northeastern and Pace Western Reserve.
“I love the city, and my mom went there as well, so it’s nice to stay close to home,” Cufone said. “They are really good for my major, so everything worked out.
“I never really thought about doing it in college until this year. It’s something that I love to do and the environment is something I love to be around,”
Dylan Walker – a first team All-SOL defender – will continue his soccer career at Penn State Abington where he will major in business.
“I was considering a few schools for academics like James Madison and main campus Penn State,” Walker said. “Soccer-wise, I was talking to Immaculata, Gwynedd Mercy and Penn State Abington.
“It wasn’t my plan to play soccer until Penn State Abington. I really like the campus, and I like the opportunity that I could stay close to home while I’d still get the college experience. I’ll be in a position where I’ll be able to get some good playing time from the start.”
Alessandra Schuster will continue her track and field career at St. Joseph’s University where she will major in environmental science. She also considered Pitt and Drexel.
“Honestly, I just really liked the campus,” Schuster said. “Plus, I also got a spot on the roster for the track team.
“Last year I was on the fence about (competing in track at the next level), but it started to become a reality once I started hitting the times that I wanted. That was the deciding factor, and I don’t think I was ready to let it go yet.”
Luke Christmas initially made a verbal commitment to play lacrosse at Widener University but found a better fit at Ursinus College.
“At Ursinus, they make it so you go in undecided (on a major) until your second semester of your freshman year and then you can decide or you can wait until your sophomore year,” Christmas said. “I started playing lacrosse in third grade. It was something really new to me.
“Actually, a friend’s dad introduced me to lacrosse and said I’d enjoy it a lot, so I gave it a shot. It took me a while to get into it as much as I am now, but as I played it more, I realized how much more and more I loved it.”
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