Three Star HHH Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

Congratulations to three students in Half Hollow Hills on their college acceptances and athletic Letter of Intent signings. These scholar athletes will be playing football, soccer, and lacrosse.

RJ Nitti from High School East, football-Bucknell University
Brett Nason from High School West, Soccer-University of Michigan
Julia DiMaria from High School West, Lacrosse-Northwestern University

All have numerous athletic and academic accomplishments as noted on their individual bios.

Congratulations to Half Hollow Hills High School East senior RJ Nitti on signing his Football Letter of Intent to Bucknell University. This 6’6” student athlete will be playing for the Division I Bisons.

RJ has amassed numerous athletic accomplishments and titles throughout his high school career: 2012 Team Captain and three-year varsity starter as Quarterback; Boomer Esiason Award runner-up as 2012 Best Quarterback on Long Island; Junior and senior years named All-Division, All-County, and Team MVP; 2011 and 2012 Elite 11 regional selection. Was also named 2012 Nike NFTC invitational selection and 2011 FBU Top Gun.

Throughout RJ’s athletic career, he has been a record setter as Long Island’s only Quarterback with four performances in the top 20 of all time, within just one season, his senior year: Rated the number one Quarterback on Long Island in passing throughout the regular season, with 1863 single season passing yards, setting the school record and placing him in Suffolk County’s top 10, 13th in Long Island history; A total of 29 touchdowns, including 19 passing TDs in seven games (averaging 2.7 per game) places RJ second in Long Island history for single game passing TDs.

Recognized as a Scholar Athlete, RJ is also a member of the National Honor Society.

Half Hollow Hills High School West scholar athlete Brett Nason signs his Soccer Letter of Intent to University of Michigan, to play in the Big Ten for the Division I Wolverines as a Center Midfielder.

Presently, through February 15th, Brett is in Italy playing soccer on the United States LIAC New York Team in the 2013 Viareggio Cup, the top U20 worldwide tournament. His U.S. team will be competing against teams from Italy and Russia.

Brett was the first junior ever to be selected as Captain for the Hills West Soccer team. That same year, he led all of Long Island in Assists with 27 assists, establishing a school record and finishing 12th in Assists nationwide,.  He was also named All-County.

Since freshman year, Brett was a Center Midfield Starter, recognized as All-League freshman year and All-Conference sophomore year. Due to new regulations, in the 2012 season, he was not permitted to play both USSF Academy and High School soccer simultaneously.

Brett’s soccer career began at a very young age in the local league, playing for Dix Hills Thunder, winning such titles as four-time State Cup Champions in Eastern New York (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), two-time Regional Champions (2008, 2009). He has been with ENYYSA State ODP from 2004 through 2010 and was selected for the Region I Pool in 2009 and 2010. While in high school, Brett joined the premier USSF Albertson Academy, and played on the U16 team for two years and the U18 team for two years.

In addition to his dedication to the game of soccer, Brett is a National Honor Society member, played Varsity Lacrosse since his sophomore year.

Congratulations to Half Hollow Hills High School West senior Julia DiMaria on her Letter of Intent signing to Northwestern University where she will join the premier NCAA Division I Champion Women’s Lacrosse Team, the purple and white Wildcats.

Julia began her high school varsity career in 8th grade on both the Lacrosse and Soccer Teams, earning multiple athletic titles. In Lacrosse, in Midfield, she was named All-County in 2010 and 2011; MVP in 2011, Captain in 11th grade and for the upcoming Spring athletic season, as well. In Soccer, Julia was named All-Conference in 2009, All-County in 2010, 2011, 2012, and MVP in 2009, 2011, 2012. She was also Captain for two years. Additional sports include Varsity Track where she earned All-League in 10th grade, and is just finishing her first season on Varsity Basketball as Captain.

Extra curricular school activities for this scholar athlete include membership in National Honor Society, Varsity Club, and Peer Ambassadors.

Julia comes from a long line of dedicated lacrosse players, as her three older siblings, also Hills West graduates, play Division I lacrosse in college. Her travel team is the Long Island Yellow Jackets 2013 Blue. Since 2009, Julia has volunteered in numerous lacrosse clinics and has been employed as a referee, lacrosse and soccer trainer for younger athletes.