The stands of Memorial Gym were packed yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, April 30) as the Thayer community cheered on eight senior student-athletes who publicly shared their college athletic commitments. 

“It’s such a joy to see the culmination of the hard work of these student-athletes and to share in the celebration with their families, friends, teammates, and coaches,” said Athletic Director Bobbi Moran. 

Outfitted in the swag of their chosen colleges, the student-athletes were joined by proud family members, teammates, classmates, coaches, faculty, staff, and school administrators in a series of photographs celebrating an accomplishment years in the making. 

Moran congratulated all eight seniors on their accomplishments, but she singled out one particular milestone in the history of Thayer athletics: the girls varsity volleyball program, which began just 10 years ago, has its first student-athletes recruited to play college volleyball — namely, Rowan Mottau, who will play for St. Lawrence University next year, and Shayna Hailey, who will play volleyball for Worcester Polytechnic Institute in addition to competing in track & field. 

The following seniors and their collegiate choices were recognized at the celebration: 

• Jamari Antoine, who will play basketball for Lasell University. 
• Shayna Hailey, who will play volleyball and compete in track & field for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 
• Morgan McGathey, who will play hockey for Harvard University. 
• Tyler Monaghan, who will play soccer for Wesleyan University. 
• Rowan Mottau, who will play volleyball for St. Lawrence University. 
• Izzy Reidy, who will play soccer for Babson College. 
• Drew Snyder, who will play baseball for Babson College. 
• Marquis White, who will play basketball for Suffolk University.