East Hampton Athletes Will Compete in College

Field hockey runs in Emma McGrory’s blood, so it’s no surprise that the three-sport standout announced that she will take her talents to the field at Stonehill College on National Signing Day.

She and seven other East Hampton student-athletes who have committed to the colleges of their choice were recognized during a ceremony at the high school on November 14.

“It feels like a huge relief,” McGrory said of her commitment. “I have put a lot of time and dedication toward field hockey, and I’ve always enjoyed being surrounded by people who have the same passion as I do. I love to be able to practice field hockey and continue to get better each and every day.”

The senior midfielder actually didn’t start playing field hockey, though, until she was in seventh grade. Growing up, she’d tried out soccer, basketball, softball, track and field and dance, and joined the field hockey, basketball and lacrosse teams the same year. She signed on for the field hockey team after friends of hers said the middle school team needed more players.

At the time, she liked the idea of giving the sport a shot because her aunt, Terry Kix, a two-time All-American, had won two national field hockey championships playing for the University of Connecticut. Kix went on to be an assistant coach there for five years before becoming head coach at the University of Maine for 12, being America East Coach of the Year four times and named Northeast Region Coach of the Year once.

Oddly enough, Stonehill head coach Danielle Aviani and assistant coach Mia Borely both played at the University of Maine.

“When my aunt found out I was playing, she had become involved in my college search process, which started very early compared to most people,” McGrory said. “She’s helped me with the recruiting process and funnily enough told me to look at Stonehill, though we found out the connection with the coaches after. I loved the campus and the sense of community within the team, and I love the coaches and the girls I met. Coach Danni really wants to build the program, and I want to be a part of it.”

East Hampton head coach Nicole Ficeto also aided the student-athlete early on, having her join travel teams that competed in showcase tournaments that put her in front of many college coaches.

“I ultimately decided that I really wanted to continue to play in college, despite how much work it would take,” McGrory said. “I’ve learned that nothing comes easy, and you have to put the work in constantly. I cherish the integrity and grit the sport has taught me, and I will continue to take it with me to the college level.”

Senior starting pitcher Katie Kuneth said sports instilled in her similar values. She currently plays for the Bonackers softball, volleyball and basketball teams, and decided to sign a letter of intent to play softball for SUNY Geneseo.

“I think there’s something really special about the fact that our community is so big on little league,” said Kuneth, who started T-ball at 4 years old before joining East Hampton’s 11-and-under little league team that made it to the state championship. “I still find myself in love with the sport because there is always something new to learn. It challenges you physically and mentally, because there is an infinite number of situations to train for. I could never find myself bored in softball. It’s been a consistency throughout my life, and I’m really grateful for that.”

For track and cross country standout Ryleigh O’Donnell, running has also always been a constant. The Emory University-bound senior completed her first 5K when she was 7 years old, and said running quickly became an addiction.

“I continued to do local 5ks with my family and friends until it was time to choose a sport in middle school, and since I had been good at running with the local races and junior lifeguarding and because my dad also ran cross county when he was in school, I thought it might be something fun to try,” O’Donnell said. “I did grow up playing softball, too, starting with t-ball, then little league, middle school and travel ball, but after my first cross country season, I fell in love with it. My freshman year was my last year of playing softball because after much thought and consideration, I realized that running was the sport for me and the one that I truly wanted to focus on.”

She said signing her letter of intent gave her a feeling like no other.

“I have never really felt anything like the happiness I felt while sitting in the chair and signing in front of family, friends and coaches,” O’Donnell said. “I remember my sophomore self wondering if I was even going to get the opportunity to sit in that chair … It was just a feeling of pride for all of the hard work that it has taken to get to this point and a feeling of love for my parents and coaches because none of it would have been possible without their support.”

Boys lacrosse team member Charlie Corwin said he felt similarly. The senior midfielder and Dickinson College-commit said he first put a stick in his hand when he started to walk, and began playing in kindergarten.

“Playing for the South Fork team and representing East Hampton has meant a lot to me, especially since there was a decline in lacrosse in East Hampton when I was growing up,” Corwin said. “The creativity that playing lacrosse allows you to have and how fast-paced the game is really drew me to it, and it was very exciting to sign, especially to be able to do it with some of the guys I’ve been playing with my whole life.”

Senior Jack Cooper was one of them. The Providence College-bound midfielder has competed alongside Corwin since kindergarten.

“Combining schools to make up the South Fork team gave us an opportunity to play, and I’m so thankful for that,” Cooper said. “I fell in love with lacrosse because I was always an active kid. Lacrosse gave me the ability to never stop moving. I loved how fast the game moves.”

Senior Luke Castillo said he, too, was a very energetic child.

The longstick midfielder and defender grew up playing tennis, soccer and baseball, and he wrestled. Once realizing baseball wasn’t the sport for him, he shifted his focus to lacrosse full-time.

“I was instantly captivated. Lacrosse was the best way for me to get rid of that energy and that’s why I gravitated to it over any other sport,” said Castillo, who will play for Salve Regina University. “It was also a big relief for me singing my letter of intent because in that moment all my hard work paid off — I got to play my favorite sport in college. I also felt a sense of fullness by making my parents proud because they’ve invested so much time and money into my lacrosse career.”

Thinley Edwards, on the other hand, took a unique route. He only started playing lacrosse in ninth grade, having grown up playing basketball and swimming. He thought the sport all of his friends were playing looked interesting, and decided to give it a try.

“As soon as I picked it up and started playing, I fell in love,” said the senior faceoff specialist bound for Oberlin College. “Everything about the game — the pace, the scoring, and just the culture in general — drew me in. But signing the letter of intent seemed so surreal because just a few years ago I barely knew how to play.”

He credited Cooper for teaching him everything he knows.

“This sport has meant everything to me,” Edwards said. “It’s a place where I can feel very comfortable and pushed me to limits that I never knew I could achieve.”

Cooper said something he takes with him to the next level is to never to show an opponent your fatigue, something he said he heard from a former wrestling coach.

“Never let them know that you’re tired,” he said. “You can be tired after the game is over.”

“I’ve learned from the sport that working hard will translate into your play,” Corwin added. “And from my coaches and my teammates, I’ve learned how to be a good person and try to be a leader on and off the field.”

Melina Sarlo said she’s also learned from her time on the girls lacrosse team to always make sure everyone feels included.

The senior midfielder said the atmosphere at Hofstra University was right up her ally.

“The school isn’t too far from home and the academic opportunities are never-ending,” Sarlo said. “With lacrosse, I always found joy in the simple things like passing with a friend, finding and using new skills and the opportunities for more improvement made me want to continue at the next level.

Kuneth said coaches, teammates and the sport have taught her how important it is to try your absolute best every day. She also considers herself competitive academically, so pairing Geneseo’s programs with the current three-time conference championship-winning team made it the choice for her. O’Donnell said it was Emory’s solid running teams, coupled with the school’s longstanding science program, that sealed the deal.

“It checked all of those boxes, but I didn’t care much about that stuff until I actually saw the school,” O’Donnell said. “I was a little hesitant, because I knew Georgia was a bit far from East Hampton. But once I stepped foot on that campus, I knew I was at home. A big thing that I have learned from my time on the East Hampton cross country and track teams, and training over the summer for lifeguarding, is that hard work does pay off — you just have to have the right attitude and drive to get the work done. I will continue to work hard and do whatever I have to improve as I move into the next level of academics and athletics.”