Twenty Chapel Hill seniors are planning on continuing their athletic careers post-graduation.
Seniors Laynie Smith, Lexi Smollen, and Suna Merkeler—who guided the women’s volleyball team to a 22-3 record—will play next year for the University of Illinois, Belmont University, and Sewanee: The University of the South, respectively.
Smith and Merkeler led the Tigers in hitting percentage, while Smollen was second on the team in blocks and kills with 35 and 88.
“It’s such an amazing feeling to be recognized for all my hard work, and it’s surreal to see it pay off,” Smith, the DAC-VII conference player of the year, said.
Four football players will play in college, including Mercer signee Simon Mermuys, North Carolina State walk-on Jeffrey Simms, Greensboro College commit Xavier Horton, and Louisburg College commit Qa’sir Alston.
Mermuys, Simms, and Horton were all named to the 4A DAC conference first team and helped lead the Tigers to the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
Senior Hank Neal, who ran a 4:22 mile this past track season, will be running cross-country for the UNC Asheville Bulldogs.
His teammate James Coleman—named Chapel Hill High School’s male athlete of the year—will be heading to North Carolina State.
Coleman was able to qualify for three events at the state level: the 200-meter dash and the 110- and 300-meter hurdles.
During the state tournament, Coleman placed 12th in the 200-meter dash, second in the 300-meter hurdles, and first in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.03 seconds.
“It felt really successful to see all of this come to fruition,” Coleman said.
Three women’s soccer players will play collegiate soccer: Clemson signee Anna Rydin, Virginia Tech signee Gabby Ciocca, and Oxford College of Emory commit Vivian Zhu.
The college-bound footballers were key pieces in the Tigers’ playoff run this season. Rydin, as the starting center back, was the backbone of the defense; Zhu controlled the flow of the game with her elite passes; and Ciocca tallied 13 goals across the season, helping the Tigers to a 20-2-1 record.
As for men’s soccer, senior Arden Tobolski will attend Vassar College. Tobolski did not play for the Tigers but instead focused on his club team, Triangle United.
Senior Charlotte Clark will be participating in equestrian at Auburn University.
Elon University will be getting a star as Addie Gilner will be playing lacrosse for the Phoenixes.
Gilner, a captain on the team, helped guide the Tigers to a 19-2 record and a final four runs, as she had 68 goals and 71 assists.
The Tiger baseball program produced two baseball commits this season: Belmont signee Connor Mehen and Rockingham Community College commit Sam Elston.
Both players batted above .300, with Elston hitting .333 and Mehen hitting .324. Elston clearly has a lot of power, as he was the only player on the team to hit a home run this season.
Silvia Flores will also be spending her college career on the diamond, playing softball at Pfeiffer University.
Flores recorded 31 hits this season, 12 of which were doubles, in only 64 at bats, which netted her a .484 average.
Starting men’s basketball point guard David Mirikwe plans on continuing his basketball career at Wingate University.
Mirikwe was crucial for the Tigers’ success, as he averaged 17.6 points per game throughout the season, leading the team.
Mirikwe’s coach, Rodney Carter, praised him for his game.
“David has grown into a 6’2 all-court player who is strong-minded, confident, and resilient. He has shown compassion for the game, for his teammates, and for his school. David is an all-around athlete with no holding back,” Carter said.
Swimmer Eddie Wang will continue his swimming career at the United States Military Academy in West Point.
Wang was able to take eighth place overall in the 50-yard freestyle at the state meet this past winter.
“It was an honor to qualify for states and regionals with my teammates. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent my school and my peers for the last four years,” Wang said.
