Deerfield is proud and excited to honor 44 student-athletes who have committed to continuing to compete in their respective sports at the college level. This year, the Athletic Department held several ceremonies to celebrate these student-athletes. In total, the Big Green recognized 53 student-athletes who will be competing at the DI, DII, and DIII collegiate level next year.
“These young student-athletes recognized represent what is so special about schools like ours. Their involvement in community life and commitment to doing their best is a big part of what makes our school life here at Deerfield so successful.” said Athletic Director, Bob Howe.
We look forward to watching these student-athletes compete at the next level and continuing to support them in their pursuits! Best of luck!
Click here to view photos from our May celebration
Students continuing to play collegiate athletics include (Click here for the program):
Dylan Presnal – Stetson – Baseball
Jackson Mannix – Union – Basketball
Billy Lahart – Bates – Basketball
Kaleb Robinson – Sarah Lawrence – Basketball
Ericka Ekhator – Wesleyan – Basketball
Anya Shevzov-Zebrun – Tufts – Field Hockey
Zykeem Sims – Monmouth – Football
Sharif Legree – Assumption – Football
Justin Masella – Colby – Football
Jake Gallehdari – Johns Hopkins – Football
Ian Crosby – Denison – Football
Meghan Halloran – Williams – Hockey & Lacrosse
Jenna Greenbaum – Colby – Hockey
Hannah Swinerton – Rhodes College – Lacrosse
Harry Gahagan – Williams – Lacrosse
Aiden Day – Oberlin – Lacrosse
Jackson Caputo – Brown – Lacrosse
Tommy Hale – Brown – Lacrosse
Uno Wait – Cornell – Lacrosse
Luke Crimmins – Princeton – Lacrosse
Jordan Crissy – Princeton – Lacrosse
Jonathan Donville – Cornell – Lacrosse
Griffin Thomas – Yale – Lacrosse
Jared Strauss – Williams – Lacrosse
Reid Shilling – Amherst – Lacrosse
Thomas Dale – Bucknell – Lacrosse
Luca Basile – Holy Cross – Rowing
Freddie Johnson – Harvard – Rowing
Gordon Johnson – Princeton – Rowing
Will Sanford – Dartmouth – Rowing
Dani Michelson – Penn – Rowing
Lily Fauver – Dartmouth – Rowing
Robby Dewey – Bates – Squash
Rob Parker – Amherst – Squash
Danny Finnegan – Navy – Squash
Maddie Chai – Harvard – Squash
Mimi deLisser – Cornell – Squash
Cameron Munn – Penn – Squash
Bobby Meyer – Amherst – Swimming
Will Hrabchak – Cornell – Swimming
Ellie Uhl – Boston College – Diving
Carl Grant – Tufts – Tennis
Scott Danforth – Trinity – Tennis
Felicia Renelus – Brown – Track & Field
Students honored earlier this year include:
Ireland Miessau – Rhode Island – Softball
Dallas Hobbs – Washington State – Football
Brandon Scott – Central Connecticut – Football
Hunter Long – Boston College – Football
Matt Donovan – Fordham – Football
Kathryn Grennon – William & Mary – Lacrosse
Ted Sullivan – Denver – Lacrosse
Brian Davis – Delaware – Lacrosse
Bubba Fairman – Maryland – Lacrosse
Learn more about these student-athletes:
Ericka Ekahtor – Wesleyan – Basketball: A native of Wakefield, MA, Ericka Ekhator arrived at Deerfield as a postgraduate student after a successful career at Middlesex School. Although sidelined with an injury at the start of the basketball season, Ericka found a way to make an impact as a leader from the bench. Once she was able to get back on the court, Ericka supplemented her ability to lead vocally with her ability to lead by example. Ericka’s strength and power as a post player made her a force to be reckoned with, and she earned all-league honorable mention honors at the conclusion of our season. We are grateful for all that Ericka added to our program this season and to all the intangibles that she added to the Deerfield Academy community off the court. We wish Ericka the best of luck as she heads off to play basketball at Wesleyan University next year. Go Cardinals!
Felicia Renelus – Brown – Track & Field: A four year member and two-time captain of Deerfield’s Track & Field team, Felicia has led the way for us for four years through her work ethic and commitment to the team. Though she has recently defined herself as one of the best long jumpers in NEPSTA—breaking Deerfield’s school record three times along the way—Felicia has also been a stalwart member of our 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams since her 10th grade year. Since last season, Felicia has also scored points in the javelin, another testament to her commitment to helping her team score points however she can.
Luca Basile – Holy Cross – Rowing: Luca comes to the Deerfield community from Harvard, MA as a post-graduate student. Prior to his time at Deerfield, Luca was a member of the Bromfield Action Boxborough rowing program. While with Bromfield, Luca enjoyed great success at the regional and national level, a career that was highlighted by winning a national championship at the 2015 US Rowing Youth National Championship Regatta in Sarasota, FL. In 2016, Luca captained the Bromfield crew to a 6th place finish at Nationals. So far this year, Luca has helped the Deerfield 1V4+ race out to a strong start to the season as the crew looks to continue building speed in the lead up to the NEIRA Championships on Saturday, May 27.
Freddie Johnson – Harvard – Rowing: Freddie arrived at Deerfield as a freshman from Hobe Sound, FL and found his way to the boathouse in the spring of his first year. From that front, he has developed into an pillar of the program. As a sophomore, Freddie was a member of the 2V4+ that earned a 4th place finish at the NEIRA Championships. He followed up that effort as a junior by stroking the 1V4+ to a gold medal at the NEIRA Championships and a 3rd place finish at the US Rowing Youth National Championships. That summer, Freddie joined Community Rowing Inc., a club program based in Boston, MA. With CRI, Freddie won a Club National Championship in the Men’s U19 4+ and added a silver medal finish in the Men’s U19 8+. Freddie wrapped up that summer by winning the Men’s U19 8+ at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. As a captain in his senior year, Freddie has returned to the stroke seat of the Deerfield 1V4+ and helped his crew race out to a strong start to the season as the boat looks to continue building speed in the lead up to the NEIRA Championships on Saturday, May 27. Next year, Freddie will join the Harvard Men’s Lightweight Rowing Team.
Gordon Johnson – Princeton – Rowing: Gordon came to Deerfield as a freshman from Greenwich, CT. After spending a season rowing at Brunswick School, Gordon quickly made an impact at Deerfield as he helped pace the 2V4+ to a bronze medal finishing at the 2014 NEIRA Championships. The following year, Gordon assumed the stroke seat of the 1V4+ and led that crew to the 2015 NEIRA championship. Three weeks later, they raced to a 3rd place finish at the US Rowing Youth National Championships. After spending the summer training and racing with the US Rowing High Performance team, Gordon helped the Deerfield 1V4+ repeat as 2016 NEIRA champions and US Rowing Youth National Championships bronze medalists, this time as a team captain. Following Nationals, Gordon traveled to the US Junior National Team Selection Camp and was eventually named the stroke seat of the US Junior 8+. The summer wrapped up at the Junior World Rowing Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands where Gordon helped his crew to a silver medal finish, just .03 behind the world champions from Germany. Gordon has returned as a team captain for his senior year and helped his crew race out to a strong start to the season as the boat looks to continue building speed in the lead up to the NEIRA Championships on Saturday, May 27. Next year, Gordon will join the Princeton Men’s Heavyweight Rowing Team.
Dani Michelson – Penn – Rowing: Dani came to Deerfield as a freshman from Irvine, CA and joined the rowing team that spring. After learning the ropes in that first season, Dani took charge of the 3V4+ during his sophomore year. He helped that crew race to a 4th place finish at the 2015 NEIRA Championships. Following that effort, Dani moved into the coxswain seat of the 1V4+ and three weeks later, guided that boat to a bronze medal result at the US Rowing Youth National Championships. As the coxswain of the 1V4+ as a junior, Dani continued to develop his skills and proved essential to the success of the crew as they repeated as NEIRA champions before finishing up the year with another 3rd place finish at Nationals. So far this year, Dani continues to guide the 1V4+ as they work to build speed in the lead up to the NEIRA Championships on Saturday, May 27. Next year, Dani will join the Penn Men’s Heavyweight Rowing Team.
Will Sanford – Dartmouth – Rowing: Will came to Deerfield as a freshman from nearby Amherst, MA and spent his first spring on the lacrosse fields. As a sophomore, he decided to try his hand at rowing and quickly took to the sport. Despite being a novice, Will worked his way into the 2V4+ and helped that crew finish 4th at the 2015 NEIRA Championships. He returned as a junior and earned a seat in the 1V4+, proving himself to be a critical member of the crew that went on to win the 2016 NEIRA Championship before later adding a 3rd place finish at the US Rowing Youth National Championships. In his final season at Deerfield, Will has helped his crew race out to a strong start to the spring as the boat looks to continue building speed in the lead up to the NEIRA Championships on Saturday, May 27. Next year, Sanford will join the Dartmouth Men’s Heavyweight Rowing Team.
Lily Fauver – Dartmouth – Rowing: Lily Fauver arrived on campus as a new sophomore from Bedford, NY, inaugurating a three-year defining role in the Girls’ Varsity Rowing Program. Migrating from the basketball court in the winter season, where she was a three-year key varsity player and co-captain, to the boathouse in the spring, her natural gifts and quick-study approach landed her a seat in the girls’ second boat (G2) as a novice; that boat achieved a silver medal finish at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships (NEIRA). In her second season, now a member of the First Varsity boat (G1), Lily and her teammates earned third place and a bronze medal at NEIRAs. Lily currently maintains her seat in Deerfield’s G1, whose undefeated record thus far puts them in contention for a bid to the USRowing Youth National Championship in June. Through her three seasons on Deerfield’s team, Lily became no stranger to hard work and commitment. Aside from her impressive rowing accomplishments, Lily will always be remembered for her endearing sense of humor, willingness to be “on” at all times, and ability to be comfortable being uncomfortable. She will continue to build fast boats on the Connecticut River for the next four years as she travels upstream to attend Dartmouth. Go Big Green, Lily!
Anya Shevzov-Zebrun – Tufts – Field Hockey: Anya Shevzov-Zebrun of Amherst MA began her career at Deerfield Academy in the fall of 2013. She was one of two students to make the varsity field hockey team as a freshman and was a four year contributing member of the program. Moreover, Anya co-captained the team her senior year. Anya is a true scholar athlete; she excels in the classroom and on the athletic field because of her stellar work ethic and commitment to success. Anya grew tremendously as a player in her time at Deerfield Academy, and was an offensive force on the left wing for us, using her speed and strong stick skills to eliminate the top defenders in the league. Anya led the team in goals as a junior and was named a Western New England All Star that year. Upon graduating this spring, Anya will take her talents to Tufts University, where she is committed to play field hockey. We will greatly miss her leadership and athleticism on the field next fall and wish her the best of luck in her college career as a Jumbo!
Jackson Mannix – Union – Basketball: As a two-year leading scorer and senior captain, Jackson has been our guiding light both with his leadership and high standard of play.
Billy Lahart – Bates – Basketball: Billy battled through illness and injury during his post-graduate year to emerge as our toughest competitor and an important leader in the locker room.
Kaleb Robinson – Sarah Lawrence – Basketball: Kaleb, a post-graduate, is a highly skilled point guard with the flair for the dramatic moment. His 30-foot buzzer beater secured our biggest win of the season over Philips Andover.
Meghan Halloran – Williams – Hockey & Lacrosse: Meghan Halloran is a 4-year senior, and 2-year captain, from Darien, CT. A standout athlete, Meghan led the Varsity Hockey team both on and off the ice with her commitment, competitive edge, and team first attitude. One of our most naturally talented players, Meghan counted for a large proportion of our offense during her Deerfield career, but was also one of our key players on the penalty kill. Most importantly, however, Meghan embodies a true student-athlete, balancing an incredibly rigorous course of study with three Varsity sports, proctorship, and other extracurriculars like Big Brothers Big Sisters. She has made an enormous impact on the Deerfield community, and will surely do the same next year at Williams College.
Jenna Greenbaum – Colby – Hockey: Jenna Greenbaum is a 4-year member of the Varsity Hockey team from Amherst, MA. After missing most of her sophomore year with an injury, Jenna emerged as a force to be reckoned with during her final two seasons. A powerful skater with great vision and a knack for finding the back of the net, Jenna was a huge part of the program’s turnaround over the past two years. Aside from hockey, Jenna also played JV field hockey, ran track her Senior year, and serves as a proctor in Mather. She will undoubtedly go on to do great things at Colby College next year.
Carl Grant – Tufts – Tennis: Carl arrived at Deerfield as a sophomore and made an immediate impact on the tennis team, playing #3 singles and #1 doubles during his rookie season and #1 singles and #1 doubles the last two years. After recording an 8-2 record at singles as a junior, Carl has earned a reputation as one of the top players in the NEPSAC, and he has backed that up with a strong senior season (where he also serves as team captain). He will continue his career at Tufts University, ranked 16th nationally in the latest Division 3 standings.
Scott Danforth – Trinity – Tennis: Scott arrived on campus as a freshman in the fall of 2013 and has been a contributing member of the varsity team for all four years. He has contributed at every spot in the lineup, starting at #6 singles and #3 doubles as a freshman and eventually moving up to #2 singles and #1 doubles this year. Scott has served as a captain during his junior and senior seasons, contributing valuable leadership on and off the court. He also has the distinction of being the final link to emeritus coach Jay Morsman ’55, who retired after Scott’s freshman year. Scott will play at Trinity College (CT), a member of arguably the strongest tennis conference in Division 3.