Charlotte Latin School celebrated the collegiate athletic commitments of six students on November 13, 2024. This talented group of athletes included two girls' lacrosse players, two swimmers, and two baseball players. 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. 

 

Avery Booker - Queens University Baseball Baseball is embedded in the Booker family, and young Avery grew up watching his uncle play collegiate games with the Gastonia Grizzlies in the summer. His Uncle Evan grew up playing Little League and high school baseball with Hawks head coach Daniel Cooke, so the family connection continued at Latin. Avery says the sport has taught him that there is no such thing as perfection, and there is always something to improve on. He models that for younger players with a maturity beyond his years, a quiet leadership style, and productive bat – hitting 8 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home runs last season.   The opportunity to continue his baseball career is not something that Avery takes for granted. He's grateful to have found a supportive coaching staff at a school that has a strong business program, in a location that allows his family to attend games, within a vibrant, growing city that has a lot to offer, both during and after college. We are looking forward to seeing what Avery's senior season with the Hawks has in store before he drives up Providence Rd to join the Royals as a student-athlete at Queens University next year.   Congratulations Avery!

 

Norvy Clontz - University of California, Berkeley Men's Swimming Introduced to the sport through swim lessons as a toddler, it's evident that Norvy feels at home in the water. He started swimming for a club team as a seven-year-old, and discovered that he enjoyed getting best times…and he really enjoyed winning. As a freshman in his first meet on the varsity team, Norvy swam the 200 free against some tough, older competitors. Not only did he win the event, he was within two seconds of breaking the school record. As impressive as the swim was, it was his reaction that caught our attention. Norvy pumped his fist in the air before slamming it into the water in a celebratory splash. It was exuberant and joyful, and it created palpable energy around the pool.   Norvy predictably broke that record later in the season, and has lowered it each year since. He holds four spots on the school record board, and three on the state record board. As a junior, he was considered one of the top ten recruits in his class nationally and he placed 13th in the 400-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June. With many options to choose from, Norvy says the amazing academics, exceptional coaching staff, and legacy of success were what led him to choose the University of California, Berkeley. Congratulations Norvy!

 

Lila Connor - Georgetown University Women's Swimming A summer league swimmer at age seven, Lila made the commitment to year-round training when she was eleven – a change she says her dad enthusiastically supported because he was tired of going to dance recitals. He is also a former swimmer for the Tar Heels, so that may have had something to do with it. As Lila progressed, she learned to lean on her teammates to motivate her through difficult practices and found that sharing those challenging moments forged great friendships. She also discovered that being part of the team at CLS deepened her school spirit and provided one of her favorite Latin memories: breaking the 200 medley and 400 free relay records with her best friends at states.    Throughout her recruiting process, Lila was focused on finding a school that would set her up for success after graduation, while giving her the opportunity to continue to swim. She was impressed by the instant connection she felt with her future teammates, who genuinely love their experience as student-athletes, and the way the coaches showed great care for the wellbeing of their swimmers. The feeling of a college town in close proximity to DC was also a big draw that led to Lila's choice to compete for Georgetown University next year.   Congratulations Lila!

 

Brayden Hampton - Fairmont State University Baseball As a five-year-old, Brayden enjoyed watching baseball with his parents, and their favorite sport quickly became his favorite sport as well. He says what he enjoys most about baseball is the way it is a team sport, but also an individual sport in many aspects. Brayden was part of Charlotte Latin's original youth rec teams that developed into the current Talons program. He enrolled in Latin in the ninth grade after talented senior catcher Christopher Ronek graduated, and we needed Brayden to start. As green as he was, Brayden played in 14 games that year, displaying a mental toughness that has grown as he's developed into the anchor the team needed behind home plate.   With an interest in architecture and hopes of continuing to compete in baseball, Brayden had two distinct factors guiding his college search, but it may have been the location that ultimately sold him. Described as a "cozy hilltop campus" where winding, clear rivers cut through the green hills and mountains of Appalachia, Brayden loved the views and the fishing prospects he discovered in Fairmont, West Virginia, where he'll be a member of the Fighting Falcons and an architecture major at Fairmont State University.   Congratulations Brayden!

 

Riley Milligan - St. Bonaventure University Women's Lacrosse Initially a two-sport athlete playing soccer and lacrosse through elementary school, Riley made an early impression as a middle school student in club lacrosse. Driven by a desire to be the best, she eventually honed in on lacrosse as her primary focus. By the time she came to Latin in tenth grade, she had developed into a skilled facilitator whose unselfish play sets her teammates up for success. Riley stepped right into Latin's lacrosse program as if she'd been there forever. She is a player of few words, but her actions speak volumes – leading the Hawks in assists with more than 100 in just two years and earning All-Conference and All-Observer honors as a junior.   What Riley loves the most about lacrosse is the team and the way that each individual helps one another, which ultimately lifts up the entire group. She credits her teammates for her success throughout her years of lacrosse, so it makes complete sense that the deciding factor in her college search was team culture. On her first visit to campus, she felt an immediate connection with the girls on the team, and met with coaches who made her feel valued. Riley is heading north to New York to play for the Bonnies at St. Bonaventure University.   Congratulations Riley!

 

Reese Morgan - Temple University Women's Lacrosse Reese followed her older sister into the sport of lacrosse, picking up her own stick in kindergarten. As she grew, she found lacrosse to be a sport that allows you to be tough and aggressive, while also encouraging creativity. Reese is a hard worker who has put in the extra time to make herself a better player, and her commitment to focusing on the draw has been a great asset for our team. She had 47 draw controls last season while playing lockdown defense and scoring 49 goals, earning All-Conference and All-State honors.   When evaluating her college choices, Reese was hoping to find a place to build meaningful relationships likes the ones she's enjoyed throughout her lacrosse career. She was struck by a strong sense of belonging when she first visited the Temple campus, a feeling that was solidified when she met her future teammates and coaches. The location in a major city, one that is close to family, was also a draw for the chance to explore new places and be exposed to job opportunities. Latin head coach Nikki Williams knows Reese's future coach well, and says Reese will fit perfectly into their system when she moves to Philadelphia next year to play for Temple University.   Congratulations Reese!