Signal Hill Elementary Class of 2006 Produces a Dozen College Athletes

Their high school athletic careers are now over, but for 13 members of the Signal Hill Elementary School Class of 2006, their time to shine on the field is just beginning. 

They attended elementary school together and will graduate from High School East together in 12 days (except for Brandon Cortazar, who graduated from St. Anthony's). Eight of the young athletes will play Division I sports in college, four of them will play for Division III schools and one of them is headed to the big leagues. 

Star pitcher Steve Woods had committed to SUNY-Albany, but the Tampa Bay Rays called his name in the sixth round of the MLB Draft last week. 

Congrats to: 

Brandon Cortazar – DI – Fairfield University – lacrosse

John Gallo – DI – New Jersey Institute of Technology – baseball

Devin Keane - DIII – Carnegie Mellon University - soccer

Tyler Kirschner – DIII – SUNY/Oneonta – soccer, Co-MVP Hills East soccer, Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award

Mike LaRusso – DIII – St. Lawrence University – football

Calvin Manchenko – DI – University of California San Diego – volleyball, MVP Hills East volleyball, MVP Hills East track

Danielle Marx – DI – La Salle University – soccer, MVP Hills East soccer

RJ Nitti – DI – Bucknell University – football, MVP Hills East football, Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award

Jesse Parker – DI – Binghamton University – lacrosse, James C. Metzger Outstanding Player Award, Co-MVP Hills East lacrosse

Anthony Ramaizel – DI – Lehigh University – lacrosse, Co-MVP Hills East lacrosse

Cara Pascarella – DIII – Washington College – lacrosse

Louis Sileno – DI – SUNY/Albany – baseball, MVP Hills East Golf, Co-MVP Hills East baseball

Steve Woods – drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, Co- MVP Hills East baseball

Hills East student athletes who are not playing in college, but won sports awards

Ryan Gebhardt, Hills East Scholar/Athlete award, Hills East soccer

Kyle Birns, Co-MVP Hills East soccer