It was a moment that gave some of the Mount’s brightest stars a chance to shine a little brighter.
On Tuesday morning, four Mount St. Mary’s student-athletes saw the fruits of their labor pay off as they all signed their commitment papers to continue their athletic careers in college.
“It’s amazing because I wouldn’t have been able to get here if it wasn’t for them,” senior Megan Preisch said, as she looked around the Wellness Gym that was packed with family and friends.
“So I think it’s really important that they’re here for me and also this is the beginning of my future. The next four years and I’m so excited to be part of it.”
Preisch will play soccer for DIII Westminster College. Lacrosse teammates Samantha Miller and Margaret Merigold will also be going DIII as Miller signed with Chatham University. Merigold, meanwhile, will stay local playing for D’Youville.
“I think I kind of decided because it’s pretty close to home, so I can stay with my family,” Merigold said.
“And they have a really good program for nursing which is what I want to major in. And the lacrosse team is very welcoming. The coach was very nice.”
The most interesting signee was Madelyn Feyko who signed with DII Gannon University for Competitive cheer.
While Mount has a rich tradition in their student-athletes moving on to compete in lacrosse, crew, softball and other sports Feyko knows signing for cheer is somewhat rare.
“Well I’m really excited that they’re recognizing me as a cheerleader,” Feyko said.
“I know a lot of people don’t see that as a sport, but to be recognized, signing. Getting scholarships, it’s amazing and I’m glad that Mount recognizes (cheer). Like I said I was on the varsity cheer team. Mount supported me the whole time. My family, my friends are here in the back. So it’s amazing that I’m getting the same recognition as Margaret, (Sam and Meghan).”
Feyko has spent two seasons cheering at Mount and won a state title with her Buffalo-based travel cheer team.
Preisch has spent all four years on varsity soccer-serving as captain the last two seasons.
Priesch helped the Thunder capture the 2016 Monsignor Martin Athletic Association Class B playoff title. A year that also saw Preisch win the team’s Most Improved Player award.
This past season, Preisch served as the Thunder’s starting goalie. Logging eight shutouts and helping Mount soccer to its best record in over a decade.
Merigold is a two-year member of the Mount lacrosse team and was a key player in last season’s memorable campaign that saw them win the regular season and playoff championships. A year that saw Merigold net 18 goals.
“I’m really happy to be here signing with my best friends and I’d really like to thank my family for pushing me everyday and coming to all the games,” Merigold said.
Sam Miller, who has played on varsity for two years, was named the Monsignor Martin Defensive MVP last year and the Thunder’s MIP in 2016.
“I was kinda nervous, but I’m really happy to be signing,” Miller said, “and I wanna thank my family and my teammates for helping me the last four years because I wouldn’t be here without them. And I’m really happy to go to Chatham.”
Knowing that they will soon be facing new challenges all four girls agreed that their experiences at Mount and the people they encountered along the way have been instrumental in shaping them into strong, confident and complete young women who are ready for the next step in life’s journey.
“My coaches, my teammates, I mean, they pushed me even when sometimes things may have gotten rough here or there at a game but they were always there for me and I know that I had to be there for them,” Preisch said.
“And I think that kind of support is what I needed to get me to the next level to play in college.”
