Five Atlantic City High athletes pick their colleges

Five Atlantic City High School student-athletes decided their next academic steps Wednesday.

“We want you to go out into the world and make us proud,” Superintendent Dr. La'Quetta Small said. “But we must always remember Viking Pride! Viking Strong!”

     

Students, staff and family members filled the Atlantic City High School Media Center for official signings.

Coaches spoke highly of each student. 

Then friends and family remained to take celebratory photos.

All five athletes make the district proud, Athletic Director Chris Ford said.

“Obviously, our goal as coaches and directors is always to win state championships," he said. "But the bigger goal is for our kids to go to college to participate in athletics. Awesome job to the five athletes who signed today.”

    Yeannelly Acosta-Sosa
  

Yeannelly Acosta-Sosa will join the Delaware State University softball team in the fall. 

Delaware State is a historically black college with an NCAA Division I softball program that has won regional and national titles.

Atlantic City High softball Coach Mike Miltenberger said Acosta-Sosa has been an impressive player since she was a little girl.

“She can play every position," Miltenberger said. "She even caught. She tries her best all the time.”

Acosta-Sosa also has been a captain for two years.

“She deserves everything she gets today,” Miltenberger said.

    Sah’nye Degraffenreidt
  

Sah’nye Degraffenreidt will join the Rutgers University Football team.

Degraffenreidt came into Atlantic High as a running back, Coach Keenan Wright said . 

But it was during a 7-on-7 game with older players in Degraffenreidt's sophomore year that the coach saw his potential elsewhere.

“He was just running a couple routes, and I saw him make a catch that I’ve never seen a kid that age make before,” Wright said. “I said, 'Running back is over, now you’re a  wide receiver.' The rest is history.”

Degraffenreidt holds single season records, consistently makes touchdowns, amasses yards and makes catches.

He caught five touchdown passes and one interception on Nov. 1 to help the Vikings defeat Eastern Regional High School in a Central Jersey Group V quarterfinal.

Rutgers University Football Coach Greg Schiano took a helicopter to see the then-junior at the high Jan. 31.

Known as the "Birthplace of College Football," Rutgers has a history of success with its program.

“Rutgers is not only getting a great kid, but one of the best players in the state,” Wright said. “He’s a kid that can play on Sundays and I really believe that.”

    Lauren Fox
 

Lauren Fox will join the University of Delaware crew team, after overcoming tremendous obstacles, noted her High School crew Coach Sean Duffey. 

“Lauren had scoliosis growing up,” Duffey said.

She had corrective back surgery during her freshman year.

“Her mom told me that the first thing that she said when she woke up is, 'I can row now,'” Duffey said. “She 

learned how to row that summer. She progressed quickly and, when making decisions, Delaware seemed to be the right choice.” 

The University of Delaware Crew program is part of the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association. In 2023, 

Delaware came in third at the CAA Championships. 

The program is also known for its academic excellence.

    Alexis Gormley
 

Alexis Gormley will join the Stanford University Crew Team. 

Duffey said that Gormley wanted to play basketball for Notre Dame when she was growing up. Then, she fell in love with crew. 

When she started visiting schools, she decided on Stanford.

Stanford University has a women’s rowing program that is consistently among the best in the country.

“Stanford is the equivalent of going to an Alabama with football or Duke or UNC (University of North Carolina) with basketball,” the High School crew coach explained.

“She has taken this sport on like I’ve never seen anyone else,” said her longtime coach.

Gormley, 17, of  Margate, represented the United States on the Junior National Team in St. Catharines, Canada.

She won a bronze medal in August at the World U-19 Championships. 

Italy won first  place, followed by France. The U.S. team came in third with a time of 7 minutes, 28.4 seconds.

    Margaret Morgan
  

The third crewbie who signed Wednesday picked a place close to her coach's heart.

Margaret Morgan will join the Jacksonville University crew team. 

“She’s choosing my alma mater,” Duffey said. 

The Jacksonville University coach called and said he wanted to see a practice. 

He thought Morgan rowed phenomenally, Duffey said. Then she went down and fell in love with 

the school.

“I’m super excited that she is going to be a Dolphin,” Duffey said