Ty Wilkin always thought he’d be playing basketball at the collegiate level. Until, that is, golf entered the picture.
“When I started to play golf competitively, I fell in love,” the recent Quakertown graduate said. “During my freshman year, I thought I could practice a lot and get better, and I did just that.”
As a junior, Wilkin, who continued to play basketball, made the decision to pursue golf at the next level, committing to Bloomsburg University where he will major in accounting.
“I am continuing to practice to be able to play in matches in September,” said Wilkin, who also considered York College and St. Joseph’s University. “I selected Bloomsburg not only to play golf but for their business program. Their business program is well known, and they have a massive alumni association to help me get internships and other opportunities in the future.”
Wilkin was one of 15 Quakertown seniors recognized on Wednesday, May 31, for continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level.
Sydney Bishop’s new home this fall will be Stetson University where she will continue her cheer career while majoring in biology on the pre-med track. She also considered Drexel, The College of New Jersey and Monmouth University.
“I chose Stetson for the campus, the biology program as well as the scholarship I received and a spot on the cheer team,” Bishop said. “My new coaches this year really saved me. I was starting to hate cheer; however, the coaches showed me the love and passion I have for this sport.”
Kayra DeVries and Risa Palmer-Kusiak will continue their cross country and track careers at the collegiate level. DeVries will be attending Messiah University where she will major in civil engineering.
“I chose Messiah for its great academic program and athletics,” DeVries said. “I started thinking about competing in college last year. The recruiting process started in the spring of 2022 when I started receiving letters. Later, I reached out to coaches at schools I was interested in.”
Risa-Palmer, who will major in exercise science (applied), chose Houghton University from a lengthy list that included 10 other schools.
“I chose Houghton for its science honors program, its distance team and coaching staff and also its music program,” Risa-Palmer said. “I did not think I wanted to run in college until I started cross country. The team and camaraderie we had made me want to continue.”
Will Dickson will continue his track and field career at the University of Scranton where he will major in finance.
“They have a strong business program and track program, and I also liked the campus life,” Dickson said. “I knew I wanted to continue running in college from all the people I have met and experiences I have had in the program. I know running in college will complete my college experience.”
Maddie Kalinowski will continue her soccer career at Lebanon Valley College where she will major in actuarial science.
“They have a great actuarial science program along with a great soccer program,” Kalinowski said. “I started seriously thinking about playing soccer in college my junior year of high school.
“Coach (Frank) Carrozza had an interest in me from the start of my process, which helped me with my decision.”
Four members of the football team – John Eatherton, Nick Laudenberger, Vinny Pellegrini and Michael Richino – will continue their careers at the collegiate level.
Eatherton chose Ithaca where he will major in business management. He also considered Holy Cross.
“They have a great football program, a great campus in a great area, and it’s close to family,” Eatherton said of Ithaca. “I always thought about playing college football since I was little.
“It really took into effect my junior year when I had a couple of small D3 schools reach out to me, and that kind of set it that this is really what I was going to be doing.”
Laudenberger will continue his football career at King’s College where he will major in business
“It’s a great education and coaching staff,” Laudenberger said. “I wanted to play football in college ever since I was in QMFA because I liked playing the sport.”
Pellegrini chose Delaware Valley University from a final list that included Widener, Wilkes, Ithaca and Susquehanna.
“It’s close to home, so I can have my friends and family at all the home games, and the atmosphere fits what I wanted,” said Pellegrini, who will major in turf management. “The recruiting started in my junior year coming off the amazing season that we had. I didn’t start thinking about playing in college until I had schools reaching out to me.”
Richino will also continue his football career at King’s where he will major in criminal justice.
“I chose King’s for the family bond they have in their football program,” Richino said. “I thought of playing college football about (three) months ago when a couple of friends talked me into playing. It started with me asking Coach B (George Banas) how to start the entire process.”
Connor Ellmore will continue his ice hockey career at Penn State Harrisburg where he will major in business. He also considered Alvernia and Kutztown.
“I’ve always been a fan of Penn State, and I like their business program,” Ellmore said. “I’ve loved hockey and played it my whole life. I only decided to play in college last year.”
Carolyn Sipprell will continue her basketball career at Thomas Jefferson University where she will major in business.
“The team and the coaches are great, and I’m excited to be part of a successful program,” Sipprell said. “I’ve always been involved in athletics since a young age, and I couldn’t imagine my life without a sport somewhere on my schedule.
“My parents and basketball coach (Brittany Bamford) started asking me about being a college athlete, so I began thinking about it. I was mainly a soccer player, but basketball eventually became my favorite, so that’s the sport I chose to pursue at the next level.”
Chris Parrillo will continue his baseball career at DeSales University where he will major in sports and exercise psychology. He also considered Ursinus, Muhlenburg and Centenary.
“I played summer tournament baseball for the Avengers and Pride of the Diamond,” Parrillo said. “Some of our tournaments were showcases where scouts and coaches showed interest in me playing for their school.”
Mya Hibsman will continue her lacrosse career at Seton Hill University where she will major in criminal justice.
“I connected with the team,” Hibsman said. “I liked the location, the coach, the school, the Division II athletic opportunity and the academic programs.
“I started thinking about playing in college when I was in middle school. My recruiting process started with my travel program my sophomore year.”
Olivia Litvinchuk will continue her rowing career at Temple University where she will major in business with a minor in sports management.
“After speaking with other universities, I felt the culture of the team and reputation of the business program fit with my personal goals,” Litvinchuk said. “It has always been a goal of mine to continue as a student-athlete at the collegiate level.
“After swimming for 12 years, I explored the opportunities rowing offers me as the strength and technique is transferable. I had the opportunity to explore rowing with other universities – Rutgers and Michigan State. Within one day of visiting with the Temple crew, I knew I had found my home with their program, team and coaching staff.”
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