The world of college sports is a place many high school athletes strive for. There are about 363 Division 1 schools, 313 Division 2 schools, and 442 Division 3 schools.
However, only about 7 percent end up playing a varsity sport in college and less than 2 percent play in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division 1 Level. Recently, a number of Riordan athletes have signed with colleges on the Division 1, 2, and 3 levels.
Achieving the feat of signing with college for sports, especially on the D1 level, is extremely difficult and requires a lot of hard work and dedication to the craft.
Three athletes on the Boys Varsity basketball team signed with colleges on the D1 level: Zion Sensley ’24, Jordan McKenzie ’24, and Kaia Berridge ’24.
They announced their decision on Nov. 8, 2023 where Sensley signed with Saint Mary’s College of California, McKenzie with Eastern Washington University, and Berridge with the University of Evansville.
Sensley described his journey on going D1 saying, “It’s a long process just from freshman year all the way to end of junior year even senior year you know.”
He continued, “Colleges reaching out, calling my mom, calling me. You know it’s a long process, a lot of talks with my family. I came up with my decision a little after my junior summer.”
McKenzie expressed how he felt going D1 saying, “It’s a real feeling, it’s really a blessing you know being part of the one percent of people going to college basketball.”
Three female athletes signed with colleges: Ashanti Dias ’24, Ja’leigh Lang ’24, and Analee Ronas ’24. They became the first female athletes in Riordan’s history to accomplish this feat.
Dias signed for basketball at California State University, Los Angeles, Lang signed for gymnastics at the University of Arkansas at the D1 level, and Ronas signed for volleyball with Lasell University. Dias said, “It feels great. I definitely hope I’m influencing the young girls to keep going and push through.”
She continued, “Even if they’re struggling just keep pushing through it to get better and definitely make it. You just gotta believe in yourself.”
Additionally, three athletes on the Boys Varsity football team signed with colleges: Tyrone Jackson ’24, Kalolo Taga ’24, and Tobey Weydmuller. Jackson signed with Boise State University, Taga signed with the University of Southern California, and Weydmuller signed with the University of California, Berkeley.
Riordan Athletic Director Bob Greene said, “When athletes who played in our programs are able to reach the Division I level athletically and continue their education and a great university, it reflects well on our school and athletic programs and is something that everyone in our community should be proud of.”
Lastly, Nico Berdichevsky ’24 signed for lacrosse at Concordia University. Berdichevsky described his journey, saying, “It’s just putting in all the work. Practicing a lot, sticking with it, avoiding stuff that can get you injured, and making sure that you keep work and fun simultaneously.”
He added, “If you make it all work it’s not going to be fun, you’re going to lose your motivation.
All of these athletes have accomplished a feat that seems impossible to most. They show their underclassmen that they too can play their sport on the collegiate level.
