Lady Spartan trio signs National Letters of Intent
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North's Emily Curry, front row, far left, Leslie Ahern and Tricia Kennery each signed National Letters of Intent last Wednesday in the North gym. Curry will be competing for the University at Albany track and field team. Ahern is playing field hockey at Lockhaven University. Kennery will pitch for the Niagara University softball team. Pictured in the back row are Daniel Curry, Dorothy Curry, Tom Ahern, Joanne Ahern, Rob Kennery, Kate Kennery and North Athletics Director Steve Ferenczy. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Williamsville North is breaking the mold when it comes to having students sign Division I National Letters of Intent.

Emily Curry, Leslie Ahern and Tricia Kennery became the fourth, fifth and sixth females at the school to sign Division I National Letters of Intent during the 2007-08 school year. The trio signed last Wednesday afternoon in the North gym. Curry will compete in the heptathlon for the University at Albany track team, Ahern will play with Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania field hockey and Kennery will pitch for the Niagara University softball team.

North Athletics Director Steve Ferenczy said only .8 percent of high schools across the country have students who sign with Division I schools. Earlier in the year, North diver Casey Matthews (Purdue University) and field hockey players Nicole Lewis (Quinnipiac University) and Chantae Miller (Michigan State University) signed Division I Letters of Intent.

Curry, Ahern and Kennery also played on the North field hockey team that went 23-0 and won the New York State Class A championship, but only Ahern decided to pursue field hockey in college.

"My coach at North (Kris Lapaglia) introduced me to the Lock Haven coach (Pat Rudy), who was her college coach, and she seemed real interested in me," said Ahern.

Ahern also looked at Division I Siena College and Division III Oneonta State College.

Lapaglia said Rudy saw Ahern play with Lapaglia's Knuckheads 19-and-under team in California, which won the National Field Hockey Festival Championships last November. Ahern scored 10 goals and added 12 assists for North this past fall.

"It's a great fit for her," said Lapaglia. "They play on the same type of surface that we played on at states. Her athletic ability will allow her to use her speed and quickness at that level."

Ahern said she will likely major in secondary education with the hopes of becoming a high school social studies teacher.

Ahern is going to Lock Haven on a partial athletic scholarship.

Curry almost joined Ahern on the Lock Haven field hockey team and was also looking to play field hockey at the University of Akron or run track and field for the University at Buffalo before choosing track and field at the University at Albany.

"It was a tough decision," said Curry. "I love both sports and coming off such a great high school field hockey season, a lot of the seniors were expected to continue on. The fact that I couldn't do that was upsetting."

Curry chose the University at Albany because she liked the size of the school and the track team's coaching staff.

Curry has been asked to compete in the heptathlon (200, 800, hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin) in college, something she already participated in at last summer's Empire State Games.

Curry is attending the University at Albany on a partial athletic scholarship.

Curry wants to major in business marketing and would like to tie it into international business.

Kennery applied to 10 schools before deciding on Niagara. Kennery pitched for Niagara coach Al Dirschberger on the WNY Elite travel team last summer, so she's used to his coaching style.

Kennery is a returning ECIC Division I first-team all-star for North coach Rick Bubar.

"They're getting a proven commodity," said Bubar. "She has a full arrange of pitches, can throw great location and has outstanding stuff."

Kennery received a partial academic and partial athletic scholarship to Niagara. She's undecided on a major but is leaning toward business.