Charlotte Latin School celebrated the collegiate athletic commitments of seven student-athletes on November 12, 2026. This talented group included three swimmers, two baseball players, a golfer, and a field hockey player. Family, friends, coaches, teachers, and other supporters gathered in the Belk Gym to honor their accomplishments. CLS Athletics holds three collegiate athletic commitment recognition events during the school year. This year, the November initial national signing date fell on Veterans' Day, so the Hawks honored those that have served in the U.S. armed services on Wednesday and gathered one day later to celebrate the athletic achievements of their peers. A second event will be held on February 3rd, and a final signing day ceremony will take place April 29th. Since 2008, Charlotte Latin has averaged 16.5 commitments per year, or roughly 12% of the senior class. Read on to find out more about each of our November honorees and the journey that led them to their respective colleges. 
 

Peyton Booker - Queens University of Charlotte Baseball Peyton is the middle child of three boys in a family where sports are pretty much a way of life. Between his parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, there may not be another family that spends more time at ball fields than the Bookers! Whether he's on the field working to improve his game or putting in extra time in the Strength Center, Peyton is always looking for ways to get better.   He started playing at age four, following the family tradition, and eventually learned the valuable lesson that hard work pays off. Peyton really came into his own during his junior season. He earned a starting role in the infield, and midway through the season, established himself as our number one pitcher. On the mound, he threw 42 innings, finishing with a 4-2 record and an impressive 1.80 ERA. The highlight of his season had to be his performance at Charlotte Christian, where Peyton tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout to lead the Hawks to a 2-0 victory over one of the best offenses in the state. It was an outstanding performance on a big stage and a moment that really showcased the competitor Peyton has become. With plans to study business management and an inclination to stay close to home, Peyton didn't have to look far for a perfect opportunity to play college ball. He will once again be following family footsteps as he joins his brother, Avery, from the Latin class of 2025, in representing the Royals at Queens University.   Congratulations Peyton!

 

Maria Champion - Texas A&M University Women's Swimming Swimming was one of many sports for young Maria, who dabbled in dance, basketball, soccer, and other activities, before eventually deciding that her time was best spent in the pool. It's there that she learned the value of hard work and discipline, which she says set the standard for how she lives her life. Maria enjoys the banter and the laughs with teammates, and the opportunities the sport has afforded her to travel and form friendships with other swimmers across the country. Something else the sport has taught her is perseverance. Maria made an immediate impact when she joined our team last year, but suffered several setbacks with injury and illness. Through resilience, dedication to the team, and all-out grit, Maria made her way back to competition form in time to finish in the top five in all eight of her championship events. She credits the support she received from family, the loyalty and love of friends, and the hard work from coaches, with getting her through, but specifically appreciates her parents for long nights and extra encouragement. Maria's college decision was swayed heavily by a strong sense of community built through deeply-rooted tradition. She says it was evident in all of the students, swimmers, coaches, faculty and staff she met during her visit, where being the 12th Man means being ready to serve others through selfless, unwavering support for the team. She is excited to join the sisterhood that made her feel right at home in Aggieland, where she'll continue her pursuit of excellence at Texas A&M University. Congratulations Maria!

 

Tyler Dugan - Colgate University Men's Swimming Before the Dugans moved to Charlotte in 2016, Tyler was a baseball player and a golfer, but he wasn't passionate about either. After neighborhood friends convinced him to join their summer team, Tyler quickly realized he had found his sport. He enjoys the challenge of continuously working to improve his skills and his times, but it's the camaraderie between teammates that he loves the most. That is evident in his relationships with his fellow Hawks. He joined the Latin community in ninth grade, but it seemed that everyone already knew who he was and was happy to see him. Tyler is easygoing, quick with a smile, and always in the middle of the action at team events. In the pool, his versatility has been a huge benefit to the team, having scored in the top five at both the conference and state championships in sprint freestyle, backstroke, individual medley, and even once swimming the breaststroke leg of the medley relay. He shares a piece of the CISAA record in the 200 freestyle relay with Thomas Greathouse '27, David Sammons '28, and class of Harrison Short '26. Tyler entered the recruitment process with an open mind and discovered several schools that impressed him. He's considering a major in economics, or possibly pre-law, and wanted to find a swimming program that would allow him to strike a good balance between academics and athletics. One visit to a picturesque campus in a quintessential college town in the middle of New York was all it took for Tyler to make his choice. The setting, the supportive student-athlete culture, the interactions with coaches and future teammates, all pointed him toward New York where he'll compete for the Raiders of Colgate University. Congratulations Tyler!

 

Thomas Greathouse - George Washington University Men's Swimming His swimming journey began at seven years old, when his mom signed him up for the neighborhood's summer league. Thomas was skeptical. He says swimming was unlike any other sport he had tried so far, and in his words, he was really, really bad. He must not have been that bad, because he won a race in his first meet, got a taste of recognition and success, and was instantly hooked. He's been training and competing with increasing intensity ever since, crediting his parents for pushing him when he needed it, his friends who make the hardest days brighter, and coaches who have supported him throughout his swimming career. On the Latin team, Thomas earned legend status as a freshman when he accepted a challenge presented by his upperclassmen teammates to swim butterfly for the entire race of his 500 freestyle. Determined not to be last, he finished fourth in a time of 6 minutes and 4 seconds, to raucous cheers from his fellow Hawks. Thomas holds a spot on the Latin and CISAA record boards as part of the 200 freestyle relay, and he took first place in seven out of eight of his conference and state championship events last year. During his college search, Thomas was drawn to urban environments and was specifically looking for opportunities in international business. When he found those elements, combined with a high-level swimming program that welcomed him with kindness, he thought he had found the right fit. Walking around the compact campus, exploring the sights of DC, and spending time with his future teammates confirmed his choice to compete for the reigning Atlantic 10 conference champions at George Washington University. Congratulations Thomas!

 

Cooper Holland - NC State University Baseball A multi-sport camp at the YMCA introduced Cooper to baseball when he was just four years old and he went straight into playing in the South Charlotte league, which was the only one that allowed kids under five to play. As he continued playing through the years, his parents kept checking in, asking if he wanted to continue; showing their support, but never pushing. Cooper always had tremendous talent and potential, but like many young athletes, he had to learn to manage the emotions that come with being a competitor. There were times when his frustration would get the best of him, and if he felt he had let his team down, his helmet might go sailing across the dugout. Over time, he has grown, matured, and learned how to handle adversity – both physical and mental setbacks. His junior season featured one of his most memorable games, when he thew a no-hitter against Ravenscroft, recording 15 strikeouts. It was a special performance and a great example of what Cooper is capable of when everything comes together. Last summer, Coach Cooke had the opportunity to coach Cooper outside of school at the North Carolina State Games All-Star event.  It was incredibly rewarding to watch Cooper compete at such a high level against outstanding talent, and Coach Cooke was proud of Cooper's  growth, both as a player and as a young man. Cooper's college decision was not intuitive. He grew up as a fan of Clemson and Florida State, actively rooting against his future school. Thankfully, he kept an open mind, visited campus, and found he really liked it. He plans to study accounting in the Poole College of Management while continuing to compete for the Wolfpack at NC State University. Congratulations Cooper!

 

Margaret Piasecki - Georgetown University Field Hockey Originally drawn to field hockey in fifth grade just to be with her friends, Margaret says as soon as she got used to constantly bending over, she started to love the sport. Although she was drawn in by the supportive field hockey culture, she quickly became obsessed with the flow of the game. Her obsession paid off, as Margaret won Varsity Field Hockey Player of the Year as a sophomore, and she hasn't looked back. A tour de force on the field, she's a three-time All-Conference, three-time All-State, and likely three-time All-Observer honoree, who is also a National Field Hockey Coaches' Association Scholar of Distinction. Tough, determined, and funny, Margaret inspires her teammates through her accomplishments on the turf, her efforts when no one is watching, and her performance in the classroom. Margaret is grateful for everything her family did to support her: Creating a mini hockey field in the backyard, traveling to tournaments, training with her, and being amazing fans at her games. When she made the decision to pursue collegiate field hockey, Margaret already had identified her top choice. She plans to study government, so she was attracted to DC, and the highly prestigious programs in international relations, public policy, political science and law. She was also happy to discover a close-knit, fun team atmosphere that felt familiar; one that sets high standards, but supports one another and enjoys jokes and laughter. We look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish in college, and beyond, as she heads to Georgetown University next year.   Congratulations Margaret!

 

Graham Wagner - Virginia Tech Men's Golf Although he grew up around the golf course, Graham considered himself a baseball player until life circumstances changed his trajectory. First, he had an injury that sidelined him from the diamond, and second, the golf course became a safe haven during the COVID-19 pandemic. He started playing competitively around fifth grade, and found that the connections made with people he met through golf were some of his most meaningful relationships. At Latin, Graham joined our team as a freshman and had to crack a lineup that had just won a state championship. That is not an easy thing to do, but Graham did it right away and has held his spot ever since. Steadfastly playing in the shadows of a group of older teammates who claimed the headlines, quietly earning All-State, All-Conference and All-Observer honors. Last spring, he finished third in the state, completing a Charlotte Latin sweep of top-three individuals and propelling the team to a fourth consecutive title by a school-record 33 strokes. Graham knew where he wanted to go to school from a young age, because both of his parents played sports there and he grew up as a fan. But knowing where you want to go to school and earning a spot on a Division I golf team are two very different things. Graham's diligent preparation, commitment, and consistency on the course paved the way to Blacksburg, where he will continue to compete as a Hokie for Virginia Tech. Congratulations Graham!

 
Click below to see images from the event: