WARWICK – On Wednesday, four Warwick Valley High School students signed National Letters of Intent, a form completed by student-athletes that indicates their commitment to play sports for an NCAA college or university. All four students signed letters for Division I schools, the highest level of intercollegiate athletic competition.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Leach opened the event by sharing how excited he was for each of the athletes. “We’re proud of you. Not only because of the records you’ve set or the teammates you’ve been, but the young men and women that you have become. That includes being scholars here in our district, and making sure that you have the skills and the disposition to excel on and off the field.”
Jesse Abramson singed his letter to swim for Fordham University of the Atlantic 10 Conference. “Jesse is the most accomplished swimmer in Warwick history, and right now, he’s arguably the top swimmer in Section 9,” said Coach Woodward. “He’s one of the top swimmers of the state! This is my thirty eighth year of coaching, and I’ve never seen a high school athlete this committed to their sport.” Jesse plans to major in business with a concentration in finance.
Shelby Spencer signed her letter to compete in Cross Country/Track & Field at Campbell University, a Big South Conference school in North Carolina. “Shelby has continued to improve this season, really buying into the workouts, and she’s close to qualifying for States,” said Coach Candia. “She’s got a lot more great indoor and outdoor races to go, and I know she’ll step up at the next level. The Big South Conference is getting a great one.” Shelby has earned both a National Merit and athletic scholarship, and she plans to study political science and legal studies.
Julia Singh signed her letter to attend and run track for the University at Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference. Julia is also a capable field athlete, with a triple jump of more than 33 feet. Julia is a longtime volunteer coach for Warwick Youth Track Club and Warwick Recreation. “Julia is an incredible track and field athlete and it’s been an honor to see her evolution as a runner, from when she was in the rec program as a kid, to seeing her compete now at such a high level,” said Coach Thomas. “Her focus and work ethic are hard to match, and she always encourages her teammates and pushes them to do better.” She is receiving the Academic Pride of New York scholarship, and chose Buffalo for its materials science engineering program.
Drew Borner signed his letter to attend and play football for the Wagner College of the Northeast Conference, located on Staten Island. Drew was recruited by assistant coach and special teams coordinator Jim Munson to play kicker, place kicker, and punter. Warwick’s Coach Sirico lauded Drew for his outstanding Wildcats career stating, “He had 10 touchbacks in the 2022 season and has scored 70 career points, which is a lot for a kicker!” Drew will major in business marketing.
This is the second such signing event for Warwick Valley High School this year, after six students signed back in November.
