Six Avon Athletes Earn College Sports Scholarships

Statistically, only about 3 percent of kids nationwide go on to compete in college sports and only 1 percent go on scholarships, according to Avon High School Athletic Coordinator Newell Porch.

Six Avon High School students are in that 1 percent. Seniors Noah Hahn (baseball,Quinnipiac), Britt Douglas (lacrosse, Furman University), Hanna Dahlem (tennis, Westpoint/Army), Marissa Grillo (golf, Boston College), Paige Hammick (lacrosse, Sacred Heart University) and Emily Wright (lacrosse, UMass Lowell) signed their letters of intent Friday, Nov. 15. 

“To be in that 1 percent of all high school athletes across the nation is a pretty tremendous accomplishment and to have six kids representing Avon High School is fantastic. They’re all great students, fantastic students, and they’re all involved in so many other things," Porch said. “It’s a big honor for them and obviously the school as well.”

The students said they fell in love with their future colleges, the campuses, the academics and the people on their official visits. 

“After the official visit, I fell in love with it," said Dahlem, who will be going to Westpoint. "Some of the girls I met there on the team were some of the most unique people I ever met and I want to be more like them.”

She plans to train for the U.S. Army.

“I’m honored to be able to serve my country," Dahlem said. 

Avon's three girls lacrosse co-captains, Douglas, Hammick and Wrigth will go on to play in college and two of them, Douglas and Wright, will join new programs. 

It was a new opportunity and it’s a new program," said Wright, who signed her letter of intent for UMass Lowell. “What’s better than being on the first generation on the team and being able to start from the ground up and have an opportunity?”

Douglas will also be playing lacrosse with a new program at Furman University in South Carolina. 

“I chose it because it has really good academics and I fell in love with it when I went," she said. "I really like the philosophy of the program. It’s going to be a new program, so it’s going to give me an opportunity to play more and I think contribute more to the team." 

Their co-captain, Hammick will play lacrosse at Sacred Heart University.

“When I went, I just loved the environment. I loved the coach," she said. "When I committed I didn’t know the other girls who were committing, so when I did go for my official visit and I met them I loved them, as well. They were so sweet, so nice. And I just really loved the school.”

This year's Avon High School lacrosse team will be a rebuilding year, as the program lost 12 seniors last year. 

But Hammick, who praised her coach and co-captains, said that she is "ready to take the challenge" in her last season. Granby is always a big rival, now coached by Terri Ziemnicki, a former Avon lacrosse coach who also coaches Avon field hockey.

Douglas said that she feels "blessed and lucky" to know where she's going to college next year already and Grillo said "it’s such a relief" and "it takes a lot of the stress off.”

“Having to submit one application, nothing’s better than that," Hammic said.

Grillo said she thinks she'll enjoy playing golf at BC and said that the program seems like a good fit for her. 

Kahn is looking forward to playing baseball at QU and plans to study communications there. He said he can relate well to the coaches and team.

In his last season playing Avon High School baseball, Kahn, a shortstop, is hoping to beat rival Enfield and enjoy his last season.

“I’m looking forward to getting out there and competing with my friends one more time before we go our separate ways," he said.