Sacred Heart is a community made up on students from a variety of backgrounds, who have a variety of interests and talents, and many of these students take part in our SHA Athletics. Although many play sports here at the high school, there are always some extremely gifted seniors, who take their athletics talents beyond the SHA fields, to the higher collegiate level. This year we have four such seniors who have already signed to play at their respective colleges. These four are: Mia Celentano, Eva Cuevas, Charlotte McCarthy, and Clare McCurley. These girls are not only talented athletes, but are involved all around SHA, and will go on to do amazing things not at college but beyond.

Mia Celentano, of the Class of 2021 has signed to play lacrosse at Western New England University. Western New England University is located in Springfield, MA. Mia has played lacrosse at SHA for all her four years at the varsity level, while also being a team captain her junior and senior years. Besides lacrosse, Mia has also played field hockey and ice hockey here at SHA, being on the varsity level all four years. For field hockey she was a team captain her seniors year, and an assistant captain for ice hockey her senior year as well. In addition to athletics, Mia has been involved all throughout the SHA community, such as Peer Connection and Student Council. When reflecting on her time with SHA athletics Mia says, “I could not have imagined being where I am today without SHA athletics. The sports programs at Sacred Heart have shaped into the player I am today and I hope that I’m able to share similar experiences with my college team next year.”

Eva Cuevas, of the Class of 2021 has signed to swim at Grinnell College this upcoming school year. Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa. Since the age of nine, Eve has been swimming competitively, has swam at SHA for all four years of her high school career at the varsity level. She was a swim and dive team captain this year as a senior. In addition to swimming, Eva is also part of the outdoor track team, and joined the indoor track team this year. Besides, swim and track, Eva gives back to community as well by being a Yale Girls Science Investigations (GSI) volunteer, spending helping to educate and encourage girls’ passion for science. She intends to take this love of science further by majoring in biology in college. Looking back on her time at SHA Eva says, “Athletics here at SHA have given me amazing friendships and have taught me many valuable lessons that I hope to take into college. I’m looking forward to attending and swimming for Grinnell College this fall, where I hope to continue learning from my teammates!”

Charlotte McCarthy, of the Class of 2021 has signed to sail at the Coast Guard Academy. The United States Coast Guard Academy is located right in Connecticut in New London. At Sacred Heart, Charlotte has been a stellar athlete starting with being on the varsity indoor and outdoor track teams from her freshman year, and being a varsity diver her junior and senior years. She was also the captain of swim and track her senior year. However, out of school Charlotte is an extremely accomplished sailor, and will be taking those talents with her to college. She has been sailing for her whole life, racing sailboats with her family out of Milford, CT. In addition to smaller sailboats, Charlotte has sailed dinghies and bigger boats. As she moves forward into the next phase of her life, Charlotte has great appreciation for her time at SHA saying, “SHA Athletics has taught me how to give 110% and work hard for my goals.”

Clare McCurley, of the Class of 2021 has signed to play field hockey at Roanoke College. Roanoke College is located in Salem, Virginia. Clare has been a part of the Sacred Heart field hockey team since her freshman year, and has been playing on the varsity level from sophomore year, being a field hockey team captain her senior year. In addition, Clare has also been on the SHA lacrosse team for her four years, again being a varsity player from sophomore year onwards.  She’s not only active on the field however, Clare is an extremely active member of our school community being the Student Council Executive Board President in her senior year, after being the Exec. Board secretary her junior year. Clare’s also involved with our musical being a part of stage crew, and is also the president of the Shark Club, and part of key club. Now that her time with SHA Athletics is coming to an end, Clare is excited to move forward but also reflect on her time here, saying, “I am so unbelievably excited to be able to continue playing the sport that I love next year on the Roanoke Field Hockey team, but I truly will never be able to forget the people that I met and the lessons I learned from SHA athletics these past four years.”

These four girls are extremely talented both in their respective sports, and in their communities. As they move on to the next part of their lives they’ll build upon all these talents and learn many new ones. While our Sacred Heart Academy family will miss them, we know they are going to amazing things in this new chapter!