15 Seniors to Play Chosen Sport in College

4/17/2023

Fifteen members of the Class of 2023 will continue their athletic careers in college, adding to the 61 collegiate student-athletes who have graduated from Hockaday in the past six years.

Ellie Abel ’23 will attend Union College and play ice hockey. Ellie is a three-year forward for the Dallas Star Elite, and a captain in her senior season. She began playing hockey at five years old and has played in Virginia, South Africa, Washington D.C., and Dallas. She won a USA Hockey National Championship for girls’ high school hockey in 2022.

Ambyr Baker ‘23 will play soccer at Villanova University following four years on the Hockaday Varsity Soccer team. She was named All-Zone in 2022 and All-SPC in 2023. “Ambyr was very influential toward the success of the team,” said Hockaday Soccer coach Rodney Skaife. “She developed into a powerful midfield player who is respected for her ability throughout the conference. She is part of a class that never lost a conference game in their time at Hockaday, winning three SPC championships.”

“I chose Villanova because of the family environment of the team and campus community,” she said. She hopes to study journalism.

Sophia Clavenna ’23 will join the Rowing team at Williams College following four years in Hockaday’s rowing program, where she was named to USRowing’s Honor Roll. “I chose Williams for the community both within the team and at the college as a whole,” she said. “The teachers and students are extremely welcoming and supportive. I hope to study biology while fulfilling requirements for an engineering focus.”

Savannah Frederiksen ‘23 will join the Rowing team at Tufts University following three years on Hockaday’s Varsity team, becoming captain her Senior year. She was chosen for USRowing’s National Scholastic Honor Roll this year. “Savannah is a determined rower who exhibited tremendous dedication to her training when COVID disrupted her first and second year of rowing, forcing the team to train separately,” said Hockaday Rowing coach Will Forteith. “She is humble as a competitor and generous as a team captain, and she has helped Hockaday achieve many milestones in her career, including competing in the coxed quad at the Head of the Charles Regatta and racing back-to-back years at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta and USRowing’s Youth Nationals.”

“I chose Tufts because I loved the team and environment of the school,” she said. “Everyone was so friendly, and I really liked the structure of the team and the coaching strategies employed.” She hopes to double major in Computer Science and Economics.

Maia Hartley ’23 will play softball at the University of Pennsylvania, following four year’s on Hockaday's Varsity Softball team. She has been named team MVP twice, all-SPC, and made the Alliance All-Star Watchlist. “Maia is an exceptional talent and a five-tool player,” said Hockaday Softball coach Natalie Kozlowski. “She can hit for average, hit for power, has great speed, a good glove, and a very strong arm. Her best asset is her coachability. She works hard and wants to get better every season.”

“I chose the University of Pennsylvania because I love everything about it,” she said. “I'm excited to live in Philly, and the academics and softball program will both help me grow as a person.” She hopes to study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

Grace Hoverman ’23 will play lacrosse at Columbia University following four years on Hockaday’s Varsity Lacrosse team. She was named an Adrenaline All-American, Texas Division 1 All-State, and All-SPC. She won two state championships with Hockaday Lacrosse, in 2021 and 2022.

“I chose Columbia because it offers both an athletic and an academic environment where students study alongside peers with diverse interests, majoring in various disciplines,” said Grace. “Developing as an athlete under the direction of a wonderful coach while pursuing my love of learning was a dream come true. I plan to take medical prerequisites, majoring in biology and art and design.”

Lauren Ingram ‘23 will play volleyball at Duke University following four years on the Hockaday Varsity Volleyball team, where she has been named All-SPC, American Volleyball Coaches Association High School All-America Honorable Mention, American Volleyball Coaches Association Phenom List, and a “Best and Brightest” American Volleyball Coaches Association Recipient. “I always wanted to play volleyball at both an academically and athletically competitive institution and that is why Duke is my perfect match,” she said. "I immediately connected with all of the coaching staff and the players were so welcoming.”

“Co-captain in her senior year, Lauren was an inspiration after coming back from injury, working hard every day on and off the court,” said Hockaday Volleyball coach Andy Gass. “She always made sure that the program never lost sight of the real reason we play, to have fun, build relationships and win! It has been a pleasure to be a small part of her life’s journey and we can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

Lola Isom ‘23 will run track at Yale University following four years on the Hockaday Varsity Track team. She was named all-SPC 2022, SPC Champions 2022, and was a two-time Hockaday Athlete of the Week.

"I chose Yale because they offer the flexibility to study many fields at high levels,” she said. “I don't quite know what I want to study there (not applying directly to a major was another draw), but I am leaning toward Mathematics and Philosophy or Architecture.”

Victoria Li ‘23 will join the Fencing team at Johns Hopkins University following four years on the Hockaday Varsity Fencing Team. She was named the Hockaday Varsity Fencing MVP in 2019-2020 and 2021-2022, a member of the All-American Team in 2021 and 2022, All-Academic First Team in 2022, and won sixth place in Division 1A at the USA Fencing National Championships & July Challenge 2022. At the Junior Olympic Championships in 2020 she placed 24th Cadet after finishing 16th in 2019.

“Victoria helped the Saber team at the school by fencing with them or giving them advice, said Hockaday Fencing coach Amgad Badawi. “At the same time Victoria was training very hard to get the best results for the USA national team.”

At Johns Hopkins, she plans to major at Hopkins in biomedical engineering. “Since a vast majority of the community at Hopkins is very focused on medicine and research, I will constantly be surrounded by like-minded peers that I can collaborate with to reach our dreams,” she said. “Overall, I believe that Hopkins is the best fit for me, and I hope to continue pushing myself in my fencing career with my fencing team at Hopkins as well.”

Mary Grace Martin ’23 will swim at Claremont McKenna College following four years on the Hockaday Swim team, where she was named all-SPC each year.

“I chose Claremont McKenna because of the healthy balance of academic rigor and athletic excellence they offer all while in sunny Southern California,” she said. “I’m excited to be a part of the tight-knit team and school community as well as develop relationships with my coaches and professors. I hope to study politics, philosophy, and economics.”

Victoria Pereira ‘23 will join the Rowing team at Wesleyan University following two years on the Hockaday Varsity Rowing team. “Victoria Pereira came to rowing later than most as a sophomore, but her commitment to improving her stroke and her natural competitiveness have helped her to achieve much in her short career,” said Hockaday Rowing Coach Will Forteith.

“She earned a bronze medal in the Women’s Junior Double at the prestigious Stotesbury Cup regatta in her second year on the team, and that same year her quad was one of the three Hockaday boats that swept the 2V quad event at USRowing’s Central Championships with first, second, and third place finishes.”

“I chose Wesleyan for the strong liberal arts education, the supportive community, and beautiful campus,” said Victoria.

Lauren Roach ‘23 will attend the University of Louisville to play lacrosse. She is a four-year member of Hockaday’s Varsity Lacrosse team, where she was named as an All-American all four years, and a member of the 2021 US Lacrosse Team Texas and 2021 American Select Team Texas.

“Lauren is our draw control leader on the team,” said Hockaday Lacrosse coach Molly Ford Hutchinson. “She has the ability to draw the ball to herself, to her teammates and any spot on the field. This is key for our possession of the ball. Lauren also has great vision on the offensive end and has a great lefty finish.”

“I chose to continue my athletic career at Louisville because of the team culture and status, the athletic facilities, and coaching staff,” said Lauren. “Overall, it felt like the right fit and I felt that I could gain the most under Coach Scott Teeter at a highly ranked D1 level. I hope to study communications and public relations with an emphasis on entertainment management.”

Josie Sinwell ‘23 will attend William & Mary to play lacrosse. A three-year member of the Hockaday Varsity Lacrosse team, she was a 2022 All-State Recipient, 2022 All-SPC Recipient, and 2022 Texas State Championship Goalie MVP.

“Josie is the backbone to our defensive,” said Hockaday Lacrosse coach Molly Ford Hutchinson. “She is our eighth defender. She makes saves, comes out of cage to make interceptions and has the ability to hit precise clears. Josie always gives us an extra spark on the defensive end.”

“I chose William & Mary because of its fantastic education, beautiful campus, and amazing people on the lacrosse team,” she said.

Ayla Sumer ’23 will play soccer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, following four years on the Hockaday Varsity team, where she was named All-SPC.

“Ayla is the quiet girl on the team, very rarely saying anything and letting her play speak for itself,” said Coach Rodney Skaife. “For four years she has been a crucial part of the team, helping us combine defense into attack with her surging runs forward. Her true claim to fame is scoring both goals in this year’s championship game to secure Hockaday's third championship in a row.”

“I chose MIT because I really liked the balance between academics and athletics,” she said. “I hope to student environmental engineering.”

Alexandra Weinmeister ‘23 will play soccer at Washington University in St. Louis following four years on Hockaday’s Varsity Soccer team. “Alexandra has been a focal point of our attack, scoring many important goals for us while also being a main supplier of assist to her teammates,” said Coach Rodney Skaife.

“I chose Washington University first and foremost because of the academics,” she said. “I also bonded with the coach very fast as well as my teammates, and the campus is stunning. I plan to study biology on the premed track.”

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