Eight Colonie Central High School athletes signed their National Letters of Intent at a ceremony on Thursday, April 24.
Three track stars made their college choices known. Girls pole vaulter Kara Snyder selected Villanova, distance runner Jordan Johnson picked Stony Brook and Zach Bell signed with Merrimack.
Snyder has been Section II’s leading pole vaulter the past three years, but she said she’ll have to step up if she wants to be part of Villanova’s starting lineup.
“Before I graduate (Colonie), I want to clear 13 feet. And walking in, I’d like to clear four meters, which is 13 feet, 1 inch,” said Snyder. “I think I’m right there at 12 feet, 6 inches. I just have to tweak a couple of things before nationals (in June).”
Johnson will run track and cross country at Stony Brook, which is a member of America East.
“I love it. It’s a great place there,” said Johnson. “Coach (Andy) Ronan and coach (Jason) Hedman have a great program.”
Johnson said the only downside is he won’t be able to continue running with his younger brother, Jake, who is also a standout track and cross country athlete.
“He’s my best friend. We do everything together,” said Johnson.
Boys lacrosse player Khyan Gaddy will be joining his cousin, Chris West, at Southern New Hampshire University this fall. Gaddy and West are among the top five scorers for Colonie this season, with Gaddy netting eight goals and six assists and West posting 14 goals and five assists through the first eight games.
“We’ve been playing together for three years,” said Gaddy. “He knows what I’m going to do out there, and I know what he’s going to do.”
“It’s a good feeling,” said West, who signed with Southern New Hampshire earlier this year. “It’s going to feel more like home.”
Ben Contento will continue his baseball career at St. Bonaventure next season. The senior pitcher has a 2-1 record with a 2.58 earned run average and 17 strikeouts in three starts, and he’s been productive at the plate with a .515 batting average including eight doubles and nine RBI.
Contento said St. Bonaventure’s campus in a small southwestern New York town appealed to him.
“It’s a very beautiful place. I like how the university is very secluded, and you can see the mountains from the baseball field,” said Contento.
Football and wrestling standout Austin DiCerbo signed to play only football for Assumption.
“I’ve thought about wrestling in college, but the weight loss and the whole wrestling-in-college thing was a whole other matter,” said DiCerbo. “I like playing football.”
DiCerbo added that he’s hoping to become a starting lineman at Assumption in his freshman season.
“Being a four-year varsity starter for football, I feel I know what it takes,” said DiCerbo.
Soccer star Paolino Curto and boys lacrosse player Sean Ryan also announced their college choices at the ceremony. Curto signed with Siena College, while Ryan will play for the University of Tampa.
Curto said staying close to home was important when he made his choice.
“Having my parents come to the games is going to be very important to me,” said Curto.