Athletes moving on to new arenas

Several Hinsdale Central graduates and one from Fenwick plan to continue their athletic careers in college. They shared their best high school sports memories and their anticipations for the next four years with The Hinsdalean.

This is the second in a two-part series. The first installment ran July 4.

Ardit Abdullai, Bradley University, soccer

I will most remember ... my junior year when we competed for a super-sectional title after many people thought we wouldn't make it that far. It's memorable for me because as a team we had a rough finish to the end of our regular season, with a couple unfortunate injuries. However, we were able to stick together and understand our goals and aspirations of making a far run in the playoffs and continued by winning a regional and sectional championship.

I'm looking forward to ... being able to have the opportunity to challenge myself at the highest possible level I can, as well as compete with some of the best soccer players in the country daily. I am also excited to be able to meet different athletes and gain connections and insight into development for the future.

Burley Bokos, University of Tampa, swimming

I will most remember ... breaking a 36-year-old record! The record that I broke was my goal ever since freshman year and I was very happy to see my training finally pay off when I took it down.

I'm looking forward to ... meeting new friends and having fun with the sport, creating amazing memories with my new team.

Maddie Gambla, Indiana University-Bloomington, rowing

I will most remember ... the 2021 Red/White meet. That meet is the kick off to our season each year. It was incredibly special to have our Red/White as the inaugural meet at the new Don Watson Aquatic Center. It was a moment in my Hinsdale Central swim career that I will forever treasure.

I'm looking forward to ... taking my athletic career to the next level, especially in a competitive environment like the Big Ten. Having the opportunity to compete at the Division 1 level has always been an aspiration of mine, and I am very grateful to have this opportunity.

Alex Hernandez, Carthage College, lacrosse

I will most remember ... trying out for lacrosse for the first time and my first open gym practice. I knew nobody. I just went in with the right attitude. Now my first practice, I was absolutely atrocious, I was terrible and at times I really felt like quitting. However, I stuck with it and made the most out of each practice alongside working on myself to become better, training hard till I was ready, and after a while I built a lot of strong friendships and memories that will last me a lifetime.

I'm looking forward to ... the new challenges that college athletics will bring to me. I want them to push me and make me the best version of myself that I can be. I know it'll be hard; however, the pain is what builds the gain.

Ana Hodneland, Washington and Lee University, track & field

I will most remember ... this year's sectional meet at Lyons Township. We qualified for the state meet, winning the 4x100 and 4x200 relays and running season-best times. The meet got rained out the day before but the weather was perfect the next day, and Hinsdale Central won the sectional overall.

I am looking forward to ... meeting my new teammates and competing

at a higher level.

Max Lowe, Loras College, cross country/track & field

I will most remember ... being able to run at Nike Cross Nationals my junior year in Portland, Ore. I had never gone anywhere that far for a sport before, and to see all the best runners in the country there was really awesome.

I'm looking forward to ... see how much better I can get from where I started in high school. I've only been running for around three years, and I'm hoping I can really excel at the college level. Also hopefully winning lots of championships with my team.

Adam Ortiz, DePauw University, lacrosse

I will most remember ... bonding with teammates and coaches in every practice.

I'm looking forward to ... the level of competition.

Mark Ortiz, DePauw University, football/track & field

I will most remember ... going to state for track with all my teammates or winning conference in football my sophomore year and getting to play on TV.

I'm looking forward to ... playing sports at a higher level than just high school - which I've always dreamed of - so I'm excited for that and for all the memories I'm going to be able to make. I couldn't imagine having to put the pads away this early.

Vittoria Pigatti, Tulane University, cheerleading

I will most remember ... becoming the girl that I always looked up to when I was younger. We had high school girls coaching our team in elementary and middle school that I always looked up to, so it was rewarding to finally fulfill that goal as a senior and a captain especially.

I'm looking forward to ... contributing to the team and having an instant community with the other girls.

Michael Prieto, Cornell University, track & field

I will most remember ... breaking my coach's high jump record that he set in the '70s.

I'm looking forward to ... traveling around to different schools and seeing the best track facilities on the east coast.

Emma Quast, Washington University in St. Louis, volleyball

I will most remember ... summer camp in July. While it was one of the most grueling parts of my experience, it made me and my teammates extremely close. Those were some of the longest and hottest days I've ever gone through, but at the end of them you knew you had made it through with your teamamates by your side.

I'm looking forward to ... competing at a high level in college and having a whole new group of girls to get close to and experience a new level of volleyball with.

Siena Steines, Wesleyan University, volleyball

I will remember most ... winning our regional championship this last year over York. It was a very intense game for us, as we've been very tight with them competitively for the past couple of years and everybody was so dialed into that match. It was clear how much everybody cared about our team in that match, which made it even better that we got the regional title after a very long time of not making it that far in the state run. It was one of the most exciting moments of my high school career.

I'm looking forward to ... meeting my new teammates and being able to continue my career with a whole new group of people, but I'm most looking forward to continue learning about my sport. I've played for around 10 years now, but I know there's still so much more out there to learn about it, and I'm so grateful to have four more years to learn, at one of the top programs at my level. I'm also very excited to be able to compete in a competitive conference, not only athletically, but also academically.

Lola Tortorello, Tufts University, volleyball

I will most remember ... my senior night. All of the other (Fenwick) seniors and I went out for a quick dinner before the game, and when we came back the gym was all decked out with posters the underclassmen had made for us and our teammates had made gift baskets with letters from each girl. It was a really special night to spend with my teammates, family and friends. I realized the four years in the program gave me some of my best friends and spending a few hours every day after school with them made such a positive impact on my life.

I'm looking forward to ... being on a team with girls who are both academically and athletically driven because they will be an immediate support system. Overall, I am most excited about playing the other high-level teams in the NESCAC conference, seeing a new part of the country along the way and finally competing to make it to the NCAA tournament at the end of the season.

The following students did not respond to requests for responses.

• Carter Contreras, Bradley University, soccer

• Zari Dorris, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, track & field

• Jeffrey Hou, University of Pennsylvania, swimming

- compiled by Pamela Lannom