Country Day Celebrates College Signings and 12-Season Athletes

In the North Gym of the Leonard Family Athletic Center, five more Cincinnati Country Day School student-athletes announced their college commitments. Surrounded by family members, teachers, staff, coaches, teammates, and the entire second-grade class, they shared this exciting milestone with the school community.

Elijah Guttman will play football at Elon University; Zach Pavlisko will continue his baseball career at Hanover College; Bryce Snell has committed to Mount Vernon Nazarene University for basketball; Lee Thomas will join the football team at Wittenberg University; and Nickiah Walker will play volleyball at Oberlin College.

“Today, your dreams come true,” said Dennis Coyle, athletic director. “You have earned the opportunity to continue to play a sport you love in college. All your hard work, all the traveling, all the sacrifices, all the long hours of practice and training – it finally pays off.”

Dennis continued, “Be prepared, and know that being a college athlete will challenge you – you must continue to work hard, develop your skills, and persevere. As you move on from CCDS, please remember that your coaches, teachers, and classmates will be cheering you on from afar.”

After the five seniors announced their college commitments, six seniors were recognized as “12-Season Athletes” – an impressive distinction awarded to those who played a sport during every athletic season of their high school careers. Ryan Coyle (Evendale), Elijah Guttman (Amberley), Jossi Johns (New Richmond), Catherine Monroe (New Richmond), Jack Monroe (New Richmond), and Maria Steppe (Sharonville) all earned this honor.

 

“We believe it's a special experience for students to be multisport athletes, and at Country Day, we try our best to make that possible,” said Greg Ross, associate athletic director for Upper School. “The academic rigor is intense at this school, and our students are typically involved in a lot of extracurricular activities in addition to sports. The fact that these six students were able to compete athletically in 12 seasons across their high school careers is a huge accomplishment and is a testament to their dedication.”

Below is the complete list of Country Day student-athletes who have committed to playing a sport at the collegiate level:

Ethan Argus (Loveland): Golf – Kenyon College
Ryan Coyle (Evendale): Football – Centre College
Teagen Davis (Loveland): Lacrosse – Otterbein University
Elijah Guttman (Amberley): Football – Elon University
Zach Pavlisko (Maineville): Baseball – Hanover College
Bryce Snell (West Chester): Basketball –  Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Lee Thomas (North Avondale): Football – Wittenberg University
Nickiah Walker (Roselawn): Volleyball – Oberlin College
Kenzie Zimmers (Symmes Township): Soccer – Lincoln Memorial University

Photo Captions:

Top photo, Spring Signing Day (from left to right): Bryce Snell (West Chester), Zach Pavlisko (Maineville), Elijah Guttman (Amberley), Nikiah Walker (Roselawn), Lee Thomas (North Avondale)

Second photo, 12-Season Athletes (from left to right): Maria Steppe (Sharonville), Jack Monroe (New Richmond), Catherine Monroe (New Richmond), Jessi Johns (New Richmond), Elijah Guttman (Amberley), Ryan Coyle (Evendale)