Mendham High School is proudly sending 22 student-athletes on to play at the next level beyond high school. For many athletes, their career ends at graduation, but these chosen few get to continue their athletic careers into college, and maybe even professionally. These amazing athletes have the chance to play in D1, D2, and D3. To achieve this, they needed to work through many obstacles and develop not only skill, but endurance. It also took a significant amount of commitment and loyalty because accomplishing this means taking time away from family and friends. Despite this, 22 senior athletes at Mendham are moving on to play for various colleges and universities. The Patriot had the chance to interview 4 of these outstanding student-athletes (Maya, Anastasia, Kyle and Ajani) to get their thoughts on the recruiting process, their support systems, and the next steps they will take.
The recruiting process to get into these colleges and universities is very challenging. Maya Tasse, a cyclist committed to Roanoke College (D3), was asked if she thought the process was more exciting or stressful, and she responded with “a mix of both.” She said, “Lindsey Wilson [University in Kentucky] … really wanted me to go there and gave me quite a large scholarship, but it was in the middle of nowhere.” She added, “I felt bad rejecting that, but I am going to Roanoke College and that process was really good.” Anastasia Malikov, a gymnast committed to UPenn (D1), stated that, for her, the recruiting process was more stressful. She added that she had “a late start” to the whole process, and she explained that recruitment started at the end of sophomore year, but “it wasn’t really moving forward… I started to get further into it at the end of junior year, and then I was able to commit to senior year.” For Kyle Murray, a tennis player committed to Gettysburg College (D3), the recruitment process was “more exciting than stressful.” He stated that he “decided to start reaching out to schools a little later than most people, but I was fortunate enough to quickly hear back from a coach who showed genuine interest in me.” Ajani Bowrin, a baseball player committed to Franklin & Marshall (D3), said that the recruitment process “at first was exciting.” He said, “I heard stories of what it was like to play at those higher levels so that got me excited.” But he added that in the summer after junior year, he “only had one real look from a coach. It definitely got very stressful and got to my head a little bit.”
Maya Tasse is a fantastic cyclist who got into cycling when she and her neighbor would always ride around. And from there, it has just been an amazing journey for her. Her parents, friends, and coaches have always encouraged her. She stated, “I’ve had a lot of support from my friends and family, especially when deciding on what college to choose,” and she added that, “my coaches have definitely helped me with the confidence to be able to go into a college cycling team.” When she got into Roanoke, she felt “very excited… I’m very happy I chose that school.” Now, when thinking of playing at the college level, Maya is excited to “join them and see where we can go,” and she added that representing Mendham High School is a very big deal. She stated, “I’m very fortunate to be where I am and go to this school, and the teachers and staff here definitely support me.”
Ajani Bowrin, a baseball catcher for Mendham High School, said that when he was in “fourth and fifth grade, I used to play first base and outfield, but when I moved to NJ during Covid, I switched to catcher because I had one of the best arms on the team.” He first got into baseball in first grade when one of his “friends in kindergarten played and told me I should play, and I ended up joining because I wanted to make more friends. I just played for fun up until third grade when I started taking lessons because I wanted to get better, and now here I am.” When Ajani got accepted into Franklin & Marshall he was “walking to my calc class, and was very excited.” He said he “ended up committing a couple days after which took a lot of weight off of my shoulders.” To him, playing at the college level is very exciting, as he stated that he can’t wait “to make new friends and be part of something way bigger.” And his parents and peers have been there for him every step of the way. He stated, “I can count the number of games my mom has missed on one hand, and no matter how good or bad I do, my dad is always there to remind me how proud he is of me. Having them by my side has definitely made it easier to manage mentally.”
He added that his friends and teammates “have also helped me a lot by reminding me that I’m supposed to have fun. They always kept me away from negativity with jokes, and they value me for more than my ability on the field.”
Kyle Murray, a tennis player, committed to Gettysburg College to play at the Division 3 level. He first got into tennis his freshman year of high school. Kyle said, “Before that, I had played occasionally with my dad, family, and friends, but my middle school didn’t have a tennis team, so I never took it too seriously.” Before he got accepted, he got a letter that said he had a strong chance of getting accepted, and he explained that “student-athletes often receive them before formal decisions come out.” When he got accepted, he felt “relieved and extremely excited.” For him, his parents were a big part of his journey in tennis. He said, “They always helped keep me motivated and supported me throughout the process.” His coaches also supported him, as he stated, “I also worked with several coaches from different tennis facilities, and they all helped shape me into the player I am today by improving my skills and confidence.” Kyle is excited to play at the college level. More specifically, he’s excited to “challenge myself by competing against other talented athletes and continuing to grow as a player,” and he added that, “I’m also looking forward to working with a great coaching staff and being part of a strong program.”
These four athletes are just some of the 22 athletes at Mendham High School to play at the college level. They all work hard through challenges and overcome them to achieve greatness in their unique sport. Congratulations to all of the college-committed student-athletes, and best of luck to all of them.
