Molly Gross never imagined that rowing would become an important part of her future when the Central Bucks West senior was asked by a friend to go with her to a rowing camp.
“At first, I did not want to go, and then I was like – ‘I guess I’ll just do it for fun,’” Gross said. “I ended up really liking it, and I stuck with it. I realized it was something I wanted to do competitively.”
Gross will have that opportunity when she continues her rowing career at Washington College where she will major in biology. She also considered Monmouth and Fordham.
“As soon as I got to the campus, I had a connection with it because it’s on the water,” Gross said. “For biology and environmental science there are a lot of opportunities for research. I also had a connection with the team and coaches.”
Gross was one of 12 West seniors recognized on Wednesday, Feb. 21, for committing to compete in their sport at the collegiate level. Also recognized were four members of the Bucks’ SOL National Conference championship football squad.
Jaden Barone will continue his career at Wagner College where he will major in script writing/movies. He also considered Pace and Ursinus.
“It’s back home – I used to live in Staten Island,” Barone said. “I love the school, and I grew up watching the school play. I practiced on that field when I was little, and I just knew it was the right choice when they called.”
It’s a happy ending for the senior defensive back.
“My junior year I got hurt,” Barone said. “It was a hard time for me. I knew I had to step it up (this year), and I just fell in love with the game again.”
Jack Fleisher battled injuries in both his junior and senior year but never lost sight of his goal to play collegiate football. He will continue his career at Springfield College, choosing the Massachusetts school from a final list that included Misericordia, Wilkes, Lebanon Valley, Ursinus, Union and Ithaca.
“The brotherhood there was off the charts – something I’ve never seen on any visit I went to,” said Fleisher, who will major in business. “The coaches were really nice. Everything just felt like home.”
Hayden Mulligan will continue his career at West Chester University where he will major in business. The first team All-SOL National offensive lineman also considered Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine.
“I went for my official visit, and it felt so much like home,” Mulligan said. “They have a new coach (Duke Greco), and he coached at Del Val, and he was really successful there. He’s a good guy, so that definitely helped.”
Cooper Taylor, a first team all-league defensive back as a junior, found himself behind center when three-year starting quarterback Ganz Cooper was lost for the season to an injury. He earned first team honors at that position and will take his talents to Washington and Lee University where he will major in business.
“When I went to Washington and Lee, it just felt like home,” said Cooper, who also considered Amherst and the University of Rochester. “From the moment I started playing football back in third grade, I’ve always wanted to play in college.
“I realized I’m not (blessed) with size, and I accepted that grades and academics were more important than the sport, so I decided to play at the best academic institution I could, and I took the steps to make that happen.”
Abby Rogers has committed to play ice hockey at Liberty University where she will major in elementary education. She also considered Delaware and West Chester.
“I really felt at home there,” Rogers said of Liberty. “I have always wanted to compete at the highest level I could get to, so I just really pushed myself over the years. My family supported me along the way with whatever I wanted to do.”
Bowen Gugger will major in kinesiology and play basketball at Juniata College. He also considered Gwynedd Mercy and Scranton.
“I talked to the coach, and it just felt natural,” Gugger said. “It didn’t feel like it was forced or over-recruiting.
“I grew up watching guys like Collin MacAdams and Teddy Spratt graduate and go on and play college basketball, and I always knew I wanted to do that.”
Griffin Blokker, Jackson Lombardi and Richard Newell will continue their soccer careers at the next level.
Blokker, who will major in nursing, chose Bethel University in Minnesota from a final list that included Whitworth University, Seattle Pacific, St. Martin’s and King’s College.
“In the end, they let me do nursing, and that was a big thing for me,” Blokker said. “I really liked the campus, I liked the coaches, everyone on the team was kind, and it’s a high level of play there.
“I have wanted to play in college since I started club soccer. My end goal was to play in college, no matter what level it was.”
Lombardi chose Moravian University from a final list that included Catholic University and St. Joseph’s.
“I really liked the campus,” said Lombardi, who is undecided on a major. “My parents have always told me I was a very competitive kid, and I think playing in college is the next level of competitiveness.
“I wanted to have fun while playing and also compete, so I thought D3 was a good place to be.”
Newell, who will major in education, chose Pfeiffer University from a final list that included Washington College, Monmouth, Bryant and Marywood.
“It really fit me best, and the coaches were great,” Newell said. “I went on a couple of visits – all the players were super nice, and it was a great atmosphere.
“My dad played soccer when he was in college, so I wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
A dancer her whole life, Madelynn Massey did not start cheering until her sophomore year but quickly fell in love with the sport and will continue her cheer career at St. Joseph’s University where she will major in pharmacology.
She also considered the University of Delaware and Towson.
“I love the environment at St. Joe’s,” Massey said. “I like that it’s not quite in the middle of the city but just outside of it. I actually went to a cheer clinic there, and the people were super nice. I just enjoyed it.”
Cayden Wertz will continue his baseball career at Ursinus College where he will major in business. He also considered Lycoming.
“I thought Ursinus was a better fit,” Wertz said. “I took a tour of the campus, and I just liked it a lot better. I really liked the coaches.
“From middle school, I really liked baseball, and I wanted to pursue it as long as I could.”
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