The date April 15 was an important 24 hours in the lives of Sewickley Academy seniors Chase D’Antonio and Blake Wilmot.
Both student-athletes signed letters of intent that day, D’Antonio with Haverford and Wilmot with Denison.
D’Antonio will continue his soccer career with the Fords; and Wilmot, a kicking specialist at Moon last fall, will continue his football career with the Big Red.
“This year, Sewickley Academy will see at least three student-athletes continue their career at the college level with the potential to add one more in the near future,” athletic director Mike Scerbo said.
“Blake’s commitment is very special as it marks the first athlete from our co-op with Moon to pursue football in college. He will do a tremendous job as a kicker next year while getting a valuable education. Chase was a highly sought-after recruit on the soccer field, and I am excited he was able to find a place that allows him the opportunity to continue high-level soccer while also pursuing a tremendous education.
“Marcus Zhan will continue his swimming career at Cal Tech in the fall. Another athlete that benefited from a co-op situation, Marcus will have an outstanding career as both a student and athlete.”
Haverford, located eight miles from Philadelphia, is a member of the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference, which is composed of 11 private colleges with teams located in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and Virginia.
The 5-foot-10, 155-pound D’Antonio was a three-year starter on the pitch at the forward or wingback positions for Sewickley.
“During my recruitment process, I cared just as much about the school itself than the soccer program,” D’Antonio said.
“Haverford was a school I was interested in before I even knew I wanted to play college soccer.
“Their rigorous academics, strong ties to community and amazing campus were my top three reasons to go there. I am grateful to attend an amazing school and be a part of such a strong soccer program. Since it is a liberal arts school, Haverford has some very diverse strengths. I am planning on looking into their stem and social science opportunities.”
D’Antonio, 17, competed in lacrosse as a freshman and sophomore and switched to track and field as a junior and senior.
“My greatest (high school) memories come from the people I played with,” D’Antonio said.
“As a freshman, I looked up to my upperclassmen, and as I grew as an athlete and a person, I got to experience what it is like to be a teammate and a leader.
“Coming from a small school, that team can feel like a second family. You get to become part of a special group of guys who all have the same goal. The memories you make on that journey mean more in the end than winning.”
D’Antonio said he had interest from colleges at all three levels.
“Before committing I was considering many schools,” he said. “There are so many great schools out there, so I had to reach out to many programs. But Haverford felt like the right place.
“The recruitment process is hard. Give it all of your effort and it will pay off. One thing that helped me was being open to many schools. You learn things from each program that you agree or don’t agree with. Those qualities will guide you to the right place in the end.”
Along with Haverford, Centennial Conference members consist of Bryn Mawr, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, John Hopkins, McDaniel, Muhlenberg, Swarthmore, Ursinus, Bryn Mawr and Washington.
Denison, Wilmot’s college choice, is located in Granville, Ohio, about 35 miles east of Columbus, the state capital.
The Big Red compete in the NCAA Division III North Coast Athletic Conference along with Allegheny, Case Western Reserve, DePauw, Earlham, Kenyon, Oberlin, Ohio Wesleyan, Wabash and The College of Wooster.
Wilmot also considered attending the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy and Case Western Reserve.
“I chose Denison because it gives me the opportunity to compete at a high level while also allowing me to push myself academically,” Wilmot said.
“I really connected with the coaching staff and felt like it was a place where I could develop both as an athlete and as a person.
“I plan to major in pre-business, likely focusing on global commerce or finance, while also studying public policy.”
Wilmot, 18, is a 6-foot, 198-pound kicking specialist who is looking to continue his kicking career with the Big Red.
This past year was his first playing football at Moon. Wilmot was a four-year varsity starter for both soccer and lacrosse.
“Scoring in the playoffs for the soccer team at Moon’s Tiger Stadium and celebrating in front of my football poster was a full-circle moment for me,” Wilmot said.
“Two other highlights include signing day with my longtime friend Chase D’Antonio and the Maryland trip we had this year for lacrosse.
“I’m very grateful for the support and dedication from my coaches, teammates and community throughout my career.”
Over the past decade, more than two-thirds of Denison’s sports programs have achieved NCAA national rankings, postseason tournament appearances, or championship meet qualifications.