Nine Ladue seniors signed to play college sports after school, Feb. 1, National Signing Day. Maddie Wall, Katie Westervelt, Michael Horton-Lofton, Deavin Edwards, Chandler Millstone, Elena Gresick, Libby Ferris, Danielle Dub and Jehu Chesson are all headed for bright futures in collegiate athletics.
Wall will be swimming for Dartmouth College and is looking forward to working with the team and getting to know the girls.
“When I went to visit I fell in love with the school and team and am excited to be a part of the Dartmouth tradition,” Wall said.
Another Ladue student traveling to the east coast in the fall is Westervelt, who will attend Williams College for rowing. She rowed with the St. Louis Rowing Club since eighth grade.
“Williams is a great academic environment, plus the Purple Valley in Massachusetts is a beautiful place to live,” Westervelt said. “The team has been very successful and I am excited for next year.”
Horton-Lofton and Edwards are extremely appreciative for their college opportunities; both will play football for Missouri Valley College. They are set to further their athletic careers while representing Ladue close to home. Coach Mike Tarpey is especially proud of his stars.
“It is very satisfying as a coach to watch these kids’ work pay off,” Tarpey said. “They are rewarded with the highest amount of success and were fun to work with along the way.”
Playing lacrosse for Colgate University is Millstone. He has been practicing his skills every day for years and set numerous records for the Ladue lacrosse team.
“Colgate started talking to me before junior year and I talked to my select coach who told me that it was an amazing school and great atmosphere,” Millstone said. “I went out there and it was a simple choice. I am more than excited.”
Millstone is the second brother in his family to play college lacrosse, following his brother and Ladue alum Cameron, who currently plays for Hendrix College. Dad Colin Millstone is full of pride as he sends his second son away to four years of academics and athletics.
“It is a testament to hard work,” Colin Millstone said. “There are not a lot of kids who can perform above the rim both academically and athletically, but Chandler works his hardest. He is gifted.”
Gresick, geared to shine on Johns Hopkins University’s field hockey team, has been dedicated to the sport for many years. In addition to field hockey, she plans to also focus on a higher education while in college.
“I fell in love with the school when I visited and it will be a great place to study,” Gresick said. “I want to major in biology, which I know will be struggle to balance with field hockey, but I think I can manage it.”
Ferris will be playing tennis for her college years at Carleton College. Her Ladue coach, Kevin Lackey, says she is the most improved player he has ever seen.
“She is an amazing competitor and will be awesome at Carleton,” Lackey said.
Dub is staying close to home by playing softball for Central Methodist University. She says she is very excited. Her Ladue coach, Jennifer Tuttle, says that Dub was the most competitive girl on the team.
“Every time we ask the players to step it up, Dani is the first to accept the challenge,” Tuttle said. “I can’t wait to watch her succeed at a higher level.”
Last but certainly not least is Chesson. He decided to play football for the University of Michigan and continues to express his gratitude and excitement to play for such a well known university. He is the first St. Louis recruit to Michigan in the last 50 years. Coach Tarpery spent many hours assisting Chesson with the recruitment process, and he will miss working with the young superstar.
“Some of his talent he was born with, but I truly believe his work ethic is what separates him from a lot of kids,” Tarpey said. “Jehu’s mental preparation and his balance of school, sports and a social life will set him up to be a successful adult.”
Congrats to everyone who signed today, and good luck playing for this impressive list of schools and representing Ladue at the next level.
Please check @LaduePanorama for tweets from the ceremony and the February print edition, Feb. 24, for in-depth interviews.
