With an enthusiastic audience of family, friends and faculty looking on, Foxcroft School seniors Teddy S. and Haley B. signed National Letters of Intent Monday to compete in swimming and field hockey, respectively, at the collegiate NCAA Division I level next year. Haley, a two-time Delaney Athletic Conference Player of the Year and All-State selection, will play at the University of Vermont, while standout swimmer Teddy will swim for Manhattan College.
"This is a wonderful day, as we get to celebrate two of our athletes' great accomplishments — playing at the next level. Very few students move on to play in college," Athletic Director and field hockey coach Michelle Woodruff, told the crowd that filled the Audrey Bruce Currier Library. Woodruff noted that in both swimming and lacrosse, only about one in 40 high school athletes is recruited and receives a scholarship. "What Haley and Teddy have achieved is not an easy task," she said.
Joining the entire Foxcroft community for the momentous event were Teddy's parents, Kathy and Hermann Segmuller; Haley's parents, Jan and Randy Buffenbarger; Metro Hockey Club's Ralph Goodwin, who has coached Haley for three years; and Thomas Northrup and Donald Woodruff of the Hill School, who have been important members of Teddy's support team, along with her Foxcroft faculty advisor Stephanie Young.
Haley, who holds the Foxcroft School career scoring record with 85 goals, was a First Team All-State performer in VISAA Division I once and VISAA D-II twice, as well as the Delaney Athletic Conference co-Player of the Year in her junior year and the Player of the Year this fall, when she helped Foxcroft reach the VISAA Division II State Championship. Known for her aggressiveness and powerful shot, Haley scored an astounding 30 goals and 18 assists in her junior year en route to her career total of 85 goals and 41 assists.
With her Metro HC club team, Haley captained the U19 NIT and JPOL champions in 2018 and the U16 National Club and NIT champions in 2017. She was also selected to play in the 2017 National Futures Championship, the premier competition for USA Field Hockey's Futures Program.
Teddy, who swims with Occoquan Swimming Inc. in Manassas, specializes in the freestyle but also has competed in the breaststroke and the individual medley. A participant in Foxcroft's Exceptional Proficiency program, Teddy has been swimming competitively year round since she was nine years old.
Manhattan College has one of the stronger teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The school's swimmers and divers set 22 school records in the MAAC Championships last spring.
At a special ceremony on Monday, seniors Haley B. and Teddy S. signed letters to compete in field hockey and swimming, respectively, at NCAA Division I level next year.
Athletic Director and field hockey coach Michelle Woodruff emphasized the hard work athletes put in to move on and play their sports in college.
Haley's parents, Jan and Randy, and Teddy's parents, Kathy and Hermann, along with the entire school community, were present to cheer for the girls at this exciting moment.
Athletic Director Michelle Woodruff, Head of School Cathy McGehee, and Director of College Counseling Barbara Conner were among the individuals who have supported Haley and Teddy and celebrated their accomplishments.
Congratulations girls — it's time to celebrate!