The Gunston School is pleased to announce that an additional seven members of the class of 2024 have signed their letters of intent to play sports at the college level, for a total of 13 students this year, or about 23 percent of the graduating class. At a recent signing ceremony on May 14, students and their families along with coaches and faculty gathered in the Alice R. Ryan Family Library to celebrate their accomplishments. Nationwide, a little over 7% of high school athletes (about 1 in 13) go on to play a varsity sport in college and less than 2% of high school athletes (1 in 57) go on to play at NCAA Division I schools.

Amber Tormey of Annapolis, Md. will be attending Ursinus College to play soccer. During her time at Gunston, Amber was a two-time team captain for girls soccer and finished this last season with 24 goals and 14 assists. She was named to the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) All-Conference Team in both her junior and senior year, and was selected as the ESIAC Player of the Year for 2024. “Amber is a tremendous leader, a fierce competitor, and a kind soul,” said Coach Tony D’Antonio. “We had a young and inexperienced team, with as many as five ninth graders starting each game! To experience any level of success, we were going to need a Field General during the entire 80 minutes of every match, and that's where Amber was our greatest asset. Amber was definitely our Field General. There was never a time at practice, during a match, or off the field that I didn't see Amber hugging a teammate, encouraging a teammate, or just enjoying being around her teammates. Without question, Amber was the catalyst to this team's success.” Amber plans to major in biology at Ursinus.

Liam Dickey of Arnold, Md. will be rowing for Ithaca College. Liam has served as team captain for rowing in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and was awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the fall of 2023 and the spring of 2024. Liam won a gold medal in the men’s varsity 4 as well as a bronze medal in the men’s double at the 2023 Maryland State High School Rowing Championships. At the 2024 Maryland Championships, he won gold medals in both the men’s varsity 4 and men’s varsity 8. “Liam has been a great influence this year in particular as team captain by fostering a positive environment, and has truly created a culture of support for our underclassmen. The interesting thing about rowing is even if you are a standout athlete, you are not able to achieve success unless you bring everyone else with you. Without even really knowing it, Liam has become a guide for our younger athletes, inspiring and motivating them to keep pushing through the hard workouts and tough races. He is always looking for ways to improve not only himself, but also his team,” said Head Coach for Rowing and Assistant Athletic Director for Waterfront Athletics Natalie Reading ’16. Liam plans to major in biology at Ithaca.

Zoe Buzzelli of Grasonville, Md. will be swimming for Colby College. Zoe played multiple sports while at Gunston including sailing, volleyball, basketball, cross country, swimming and triathlon but it was the latter three that ignited her competitive edge. In addition to multiple ESIAC All-Conference honors for cross country, triathlon, and swimming, including 2023 ESIAC Runner of the Year, Zoe has also served as Team Captain for all three sports plus volleyball. In triathlon, she achieved notable success, finishing second overall at the USA Triathlon Maryland High School Club Championship in 2021. In 2022, she placed second overall in the Westfields Triathlon (women's category) and clinched first place in the Nanticoke Triathlon (U19 female category), earning the title of team MVP. In 2023, she became the USA Triathlon Maryland High School Club Champion for girls, secured first place in the Nanticoke Triathlon (U19 female category), and was honored as the triathlon team MVP for girls. In swimming, competing for both Gunston and the Talbot County YMCA Swim Team, she contributed to her teams’ victories, including the ESIAC Swim Champions and Corsica Cup Champions titles in 2024.

Head Coach for Cross Country, Swimming and Triathlon Bobby Stephenson said, “While leading the girls’ team to the inaugural ESIAC conference championship this winter, Zoe has literally left her mark on the program by filling up the record board. Zoe’s individual records include: 1:57:35 in the 200 Freestyle; 2:19:37 in the 200 Individual Medley; a 25.69 50 Freestyle; 1:04:69 in the 100 Butterfly; 57:06 in the 100 Freestyle; 1:10:95 in the 100 Breaststroke. This doesn’t even include the records that she shares with her teammates in the 200 Medley, the 200 Freestyle, and the 400 Freestyle relay events. Years from now, Gunston swimmers will still be chasing many of these records!” Zoe plans on majoring in economics and environmental science at Colby.

Tilghman Overton of Chestertown, Md. will be swimming for Macalester College. After playing tennis and spending some time on the crew team his first three years at Gunston, Tilghman made the leap to a new sport when he joined the cross country team in the fall of 2023. Swimming has been a part of his life since he was little, and when Gunston added the sport to its roster of offerings last year, he knew he had to join. “Tilghman was a key part in our victory over local powerhouse Kent Island High School, an undefeated season, and an ESIAC conference championship,” said Head Coach Bobby Stephenson. In addition to making ESIAC All Conference in 23-24 for swimming, “Tilghman’s contributions to that team go far beyond the numbers, but he did put up some pretty impressive ones by joining with his teammates to set school records with a 1:49:47 200 Medley Relay (where he swam Fly); a 1:39:47 in the 200 Freestyle Relay; and finally a 3:38:30 400 Freestyle Relay. I can’t wait to hear all about Tilghman’s cross training and dryland workouts next year at Macalester!” Tilghman plans to study biology at Macalester.

Benjamin (Ben) Cook of Easton, Md. will be running cross country for Dickinson College. In addition to playing tennis at Gunston for all four years and earning a 2023 ESIAC Boys Tennis Championship, Ben began his journey with cross country in ninth grade. “To say that cross country was a bit of a struggle for Ben at the start would be an understatement. What he lacked at first in endurance though, Ben more than made up for with perseverance,” said Head Coach Bobby Stephenson. “That first season, he set goals and incrementally improved. Then, he kept coming back year after year. By the end of his Sophomore year, Ben clocked a 21:49 5k time to secure an ESIAC conference honorable mention and helped his team to its very first conference championship. By his junior year, Ben was showing even more improvement, and after another ESIAC championship and more improvement, Ben’s 2022 personal best was a 21:08. Finally, on to his senior year, where Ben once again helped his team to a third consecutive conference title, another honorable mention, and a 20:32 all time personal best! I know that Ben’s positive, goal-oriented attitude, perseverance, and team-first approach will serve him well running Cross Country for Dickinson College!” Ben plans to major in environmental studies and science at Dickinson.

Samantha Jayne of Worton, Md. will be a member of Bethel University's Shooting Sports Team. Samantha practiced three times per week year after year with Coach Amy Crow and spent her free time on additional practices to hone in on her skills. Coach Crow said, “Drive, determination and commitment are all things that embody Samantha Jayne. She was not only determined to advance in her sport but academically, as well. Her senior year, Samantha was dual enrolled in college classes and still practicing and excelling in her sport, which required great commitment. She competed to earn a spot on the 4-H National team where she will represent Maryland this summer.” At Gunston, Samantha also played varsity field hockey where she made the ESIAC All-Conference Team in 2020 and 2021, an honorable mention in 2023, with the team being ESIAC runner ups in both 2022 and 2023. Samantha plans to major in mathematics and accounting at Bethel.

Tyler Hanson of Upper Marlboro, Md. will be playing lacrosse for Anne Arundel Community College. Tyler joined the lacrosse team as a junior after previously playing soccer, futsal and pickleball. “Within his first two weeks on the team, he was so impressive at his position that we began starting him on the defense,” recalls Head Coach Millicent Sheets. “Tyler was a quick study of the game, he was aggressive and athletic and quickly became very determined to become good. He joined two winter leagues in between the seasons and played every weekend. When he showed up this spring to play, Tyler had become a seasoned player and one of the stars of our defense. Tyler is a no nonsense, no drama player. He gets onto the field, is focused, and does his job. He was extremely helpful at coaching our new players and would always take the time to give them feedback. It is fun to watch Tyler play because it is so obvious he is having fun!” Tyler earned the 2024 Varsity Boys Lacrosse Coach’s Award as well as making the ESIAC All-Conference team.

Maren Kneeland of Stevensville, Md. will be rowing for College of Holy Cross. Rowing for Gunston for all four years, Maren served as Team Captain for 2023-2024. Head Coach Natalie Reading ’16 said, “While speaking to the team and parents during our fall sports award ceremony, Maren mentioned that she was truly honored to be captain this year as her desire for the role was purely for the love of the sport and wanting to pass her knowledge and enjoyment on to others. Watching her on the team it is clearly evident that this is true, as you can often find her on the dock to catch the underclassmen boats, grabbing their oars for them, and assisting them in the rigging and derigging process.” Maren won a gold medal at The Hidden River Chase Regatta, two gold medals at the 2023 Maryland State High School Rowing Championships in the varsity 4 and varsity 8, and most recently at the 2024 Maryland Championships in the varsity double. Maren plans to major in International Studies at Holy Cross.

Additionally, the following students signed their letters of intent in January: Sophia Kent of Millington, Md., who will be playing field hockey for St. Mary’s College of Maryland; Jonah Smith of Stevensville, Md., who will be playing lacrosse for Flagler College; Samantha Keith of Edgewater, Md., who will be rowing for Sacred Heart University; Kate Porter of Easton, Md., who will be rowing for St. Joseph’s University; and Aiden Dunlap of Chestertown, Md., who will be playing basketball for Bard College.