Charlotte Latin School celebrated the collegiate athletic commitments of eight students on November 8, 2023. This talented group of athletes included four girls' lacrosse players, three swimmers, and one baseball player. Family, friends, coaches, teachers, and other supporters packed the Black Box to honor the their accomplishments. CLS Athletics holds three collegiate athletic commitment recognition events during the school year and will be recognizing additional students in February and April. Read on to find out more about each of our November honorees and the journey that led them to their respective colleges. 

 

Ellé Collier - Rollins College Women's Lacrosse As a sixth grader, Ellé was less than a year into her lacrosse career when she was asked to play goalie in a middle school tournament. She jumped right in and dedicated herself to learning as much as she could in the days leading up to the tournament. After one of those games, the opposing goalie complimented Ellé and asked how long she'd been playing. Ellé responded something like, "Seven days or so." Looking shocked, the girl exclaimed, "You're going to be good!" And yes, through all of her hard work and perseverance, Ellé has turned out better than good.   Some of the features Ellé was hoping to find in her college search were heat and proximity to the beach. Of course she sought strong academics and a successful lacrosse program, but she really wanted to find those attributes in Florida. When she discovered a school that is small in enrollment but had a large, walkable campus, it felt similar to Latin. Then she met the team, watched them practice, and had lunch with the freshmen. Everything about it felt right to Ellé, so she'll be soaking up the sun in Winter Park, Florida as she studies and plays lacrosse at Rollins College next year. Congratulations Ellé!

 

Aidan Hill - University of Tennessee Men's Swimming A summer league swimmer at age seven, Aidan made the commitment to year-round training when he was ten, and he hasn't turned back. He says it's the excitement of achieving a best time that makes all the hours of hard work pay off and keeps him motivated. It's also an inherent competitiveness that is evident in tight races. Aidan gets his hand on the wall first when it matters most. With his drive, his work ethic, and the foundation he's built with years of hard work, Aidan's potential is unlimited.    As someone who has been cheering for his mom's alma mater his whole life, Aidan was thrilled to find that the school he supports wasn't just an option for him – it was a great fit. He feels at home on the campus, the coaches are welcoming, he meshes well with the current swimmers, and there are numerous benefits for student-athletes that will help him achieve his goals both in and out of the pool. We look forward to following the next part of his journey as he belts out Rocky Top at the University of Tennessee next year. Congratulations Aidan!

 

Ardyn Henry - University of California, Berkeley Women's Lacrosse Ardyn has spent her high school career mastering the two skills that can change the direction of a game: the eight meters and the draw. In fact, the draw is her favorite part of the game. Ardyn thrives on the feeling of jumping over an opponent to snag the ball out of the air. Her relentless study and practice, combined with her dedication to building strength, have made her unstoppable and have undoubtedly been a huge part of our program's success.   Following her goal to study biomedical engineering, Ardyn sought out the best engineering schools that also offered an opportunity to play lacrosse. She was drawn to a campus she describes as diverse and unique, a culture she calls incredible, and new leadership that looks to establish something special in the lacrosse program. Ardyn is excited to be heading across the country to become a California Golden Bear at Berkeley. Congratulations Ardyn!

 

Natalie Massardo - Furman University Women's Lacrosse Originally a competitive gymnast, Natalie credits her brother, Alex, for putting a lacrosse stick in her hand and getting her hooked on the sport. She's gained lifelong friends, a sense of purpose and something to work toward, the satisfaction of earning success, and a feeling of being grounded when things are unsettling. Natalie's appreciation for the sport shows in the way that she plays defense. It's a style of play that is perfectly suited for the collegiate game, with her physicality, speed, and intelligence. Combined with her fierce competitiveness, Natalie has become one of the best defenders in Charlotte.   She says lacrosse culture is unlike anything else and she feels lucky to be a part of it. Natalie found some kindred spirits on her future team during a campus visit that impressed her with the academic offerings, the intense culture around sports, an enthusiastic coaching staff, and the chance to stay in the south. In fact, she'll only be about two hours away, as Natalie heads to Furman University next year. Congratulations Natalie!

 

Evie McMahan - University of Virginia Women's Lacrosse In ninth grade, after only two years in the sport, Evie decided that she wanted to play lacrosse in college. Ever since then, she has dedicated herself to making that goal a reality. What she has accomplished in such a short amount of time is remarkable, and she's done it through relentless hard work, continuous study, seeking out information, and good, old-fashioned practice. Although her impact on the field is undeniable, it's the way she uses her knowledge and skills to help her team get better. Evie is always sharing and teaching, with her peers, her younger sister's team, and her coaches. Our appreciation for her contributions is immeasurable.   With a plan to study business and play lacrosse, Evie set out to find a college that was strong in both and ultimately found what she describes as a perennially competitive lacrosse program, a great team culture, excellent academics, and abundant resources for student-athletes. We have no doubt that Evie will continue her dogged pursuit of learning  in the classroom and on the field at the University of Virginia next year.    Congratulations Evie!

 

Ivy Monk - University of North Carolina Women's Swimming A summer league swimmer from age five, Ivy got hooked on the thrill of adrenaline that came with relay team wins. Her love for the sport continued to grow and she soon joined a year-round team. Ivy appreciates all that swimming has provided, including the friends made, travel to new places, and lessons learned through years of working hard towards her goals. Ivy is a patient, kind, and caring teammate, who has a voice that people listen to.   A lifelong Tar Heel fan due to her mom's legacy and other family connections, Ivy says she fell in love with Carolina in a new way when she visited as a recruit. In addition to the academic and athletic offerings, it was the team culture she experienced there that resonated. Unknowingly, lvy created a full circle moment when she agreed to swim for Coach Mark Gangloff, who brought me to Missouri as one of his first recruits early in his career. Ivy is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the UNC family and we look forward to following all that she will achieve at the University of North Carolina. Congratulations Ivy!

 

James Peters - The College of Wooster Baseball The growth James has shown from his Middle School years on one of our travel teams to now mirrors the development in our program that he helped initiate. James and a few teammates embraced year-long strength and conditioning and have set an example that has changed the CLS baseball culture for the better. His dedication outside of school workouts to improve his pitching, strength, flexibility, and nutrition is impressive and rare in a high school athlete.   James began his baseball journey at age five, was playing travel ball by age eight, and learned to love the game when he focused on pitching at age eleven. He enjoyed having an impact on each play and found he was pretty good at getting outs. As he sought out schools, he was drawn in by the architecture of a campus in Ohio, where he attended a class he found engaging, met members of a winning baseball team, and found opportunities for an active social life. He plans to study economics while he continues to play on the diamond as a member of the Scots of The College of Wooster. Congratulations James!

 

Wiley Spinner - Northwestern University Men's Swimming Childhood asthma may be credited with Wiley's swimming career, who started club swimming with Dynamo in Atlanta at age six in an effort to improve his lung capacity. Clearly, he stuck with it, and says he has valued the competitive outlet, the friendships forged in the pool, and the support and guidance he has received from coaches. Wiley hasn't just received support, he's given it. He has an intuitive sense of when to be a leader or a follower, a friend or a counselor, a competitor or participant.     Wiley had two very specific criteria for potential colleges: One, to have an elite academic curriculum, and two, a swim team that could compete on a national level. When he discovered impressive athletic facilities, academic resources, a supportive coaching staff, and a rich team culture in a stunning lakeside setting located near family that lives outside of Chicago, he says it was a no-brainer. We know he'll be putting his brain to work, though, as he continues to excel in the classroom and the pool at Northwestern University next year.  Congratulations Wiley!

Click here for the full event album.