Wednesday, November 13 marked a milestone in the lives of six NC athletes. With three varsity lacrosse and three varsity volleyball seniors committing to various colleges, NC’s Arena hosted the first fall signing day, providing the students with deserved recognition.
As family and friends filled the gymnasium, sporting college gear and pride, the room became palpable with admiration for the players’ exceptional victories in their respective sports. Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Matthew Williams began the morning with warm greetings and appreciative comments regarding his delight in this accomplishment for the individual students and NC’s athletics program as a whole.
“[Signing day is] very exciting. That’s what we ultimately want our kids to have — the best opportunity to better their lives and to get free money for education through athletics. It is what I definitely strive for as an Athletic Director. We have four signing days this year, and we’ll have a lot in the December period. I imagine we’ll have 10+ [students] in that one. And then, we will definitely have more in the last two [signing days] as well. Typically we have anywhere from 25 to 35 student athletes that sign a year. It’s just very amazing to see that for them and their families,” Williams said.
After Williams welcomed family and friends to the exciting event, he invited varsity volleyball team (34-16) coach Stephen Sansing to praise and relay anecdotes about each of the volleyball signees. Starting with middle hitter Carys Sanabria (10), Sansing articulated the player’s achievements throughout her high school career, such as her astounding 500 kills and 300 blocks. Additionally, Sansing expressed his pride in Sanabria, explaining how she has ushered in a new modern era of volleyball, where players have begun to reach new heights in their skill. The senior team captain’s triumphs, as well as her varsity status since freshman year, demonstrated her rightful commitment to Alabama A&M University.
Following Sanabria, Sansing recounted the victories of outside hitter/defensive specialist Sarah Boyle (7) and setter/right side Olivia Boyle (15). The twin duo, whom Sansing had known since fourth grade, obtained outstanding feats during their time on the NC team. From Sarah’s record of 1000 digs to Olivia’s 500 kills, the unstoppable sisters proved their dominance as team senior captains and ultimately exhibited exactly why Florida International University (FIU) displayed interest in their skills.
After Sanabria and the Boyle twins received their flowers from Coach Sansing, Head Lacrosse Coach Kyle VanKauwenberg (VK) delivered heartwarming remarks about the first round of NC lacrosse commitments. Donte Wagner-Kleine (2), a long-stick midfielder for the team, first took the stand. Dissimilarly to the majority of collegiate players, Wagner-Kleine did not take up lacrosse until his freshman year. Quickly, he proved his commitment to mastering a new sport — and appropriately earned VK’s title as one of the hardest workers on the team. Wagner-Kleine’s steadfastness earned him his spot with Emmanuel University’s lacrosse team.
Attacker and offense leader Andrew LaPierre (15), who committed to North Greenville University (NGU), received kind accolades from Coach VK about his love and devotion to lacrosse. From starting in the junior Warriors program to blossoming during high school, LaPierre stands as a top scorer on the team, as he attained over 100 career points for NC during his time on varsity. With his quick shot and protective techniques of playing, LaPierre found his own unique brand of playing lacrosse and will take it with him to NGU in the fall of 2025. Lastly, Coach VK recounted the journey of Zach Afalla (3), another student who began on NC’s junior lacrosse team. As one of the quickest and agile players in the varsity lineup, Afalla earned a reputation as a heavy offensive initiator early in his career. Coach VK anticipates that Afalla will attain over 150 career points before graduation, and provide a fresh, energetic vibe to Hampton University during his college years.
“[Signing Day] made me feel really proud of [Wagner-Kleine, LaPierre and Afalla]. I’ve played the sport with Andrew and Zach [for a long time], since like seventh grade, and then Donte throughout high school, and it makes me very hopeful for their future when they’re playing lacrosse in college. They know what they want to do and they’re succeeding in their lives,” magnet senior and midfielder Carter Sams (16) said.
After each individual player received their accolades and applause, the families and friends in the stands could take photos and further congratulate the student-athletes. Amidst constant smiles and boisterous laughter, both the NC volleyball and lacrosse organizations showed immense support for their teammates. With their loved ones by their side, the first six athletic commitments from NC helped to usher in the first wave of future post-high school success for the Class of 2025.
The Chant wishes all of the athletes luck with their future endeavors. Stay tuned for personal features on each NC student who commits to college-level sports in a new column, “NC Commits.”
