From the NCAA Coordinator
This edition features:
  • 2019 Fall athletic accomplishments at Kellenberg
  • How athletes can properly use Social Media 
  • Interview with D-I commit, Maureen McNierney '20, and D-III commit, Julian Belardo '20 

Fall Athletics Recap
As we approach Christmas, I would like to focus on how athletics complements Kellenberg’s mission of One Heart One Mind . As a Catholic institution, Kellenberg is focused on educating the entire person—body, mind and soul. 

Kellenberg’s athletic program provides students an opportunity to live out the school’s mission in a unique way. Kellenberg athletes participate in service projects, are goal-oriented, and cultivate life-long relationships; sports can, indeed, be a vehicle for a person’s interior growth. Some of our student-athletes’ most recent accomplishments are shared below. Christmas is a time of joy, of hope and of light, and here at Kellenberg, we have much to celebrate!
Boys Soccer receives the United Soccer Coaches Award for Academic Excellence
The award is given to all team who collectively achieve a GPA of 3.25 or higher. 
National Letter of Intent Signing - November 14, 2019
Ten members of the class of 2020 were recognized for their commitment to continue their athletic careers in NCAA athletics following graduation.
D III Commitment Ceremony - November 20, 2019
Nine Firebirds made their commitment to continue their athletic careers in Division III athletics following graduation from Kellenberg Memorial.
Jessica Lee '21 named Buddy of the Year by US Top Soccer
For her work with athletes with special needs, Jessica Lee was recognized by US Top Soccer this year.
Using Social Media to your advantage— it’s changing the game for recruits!
Some useful tips from Megan Gibbs who writes for the website CollegExpress:

Twitter tips:
  • Connect with coaches. For starters, just follow the coaches of your favorite colleges and follow the colleges themselves. The coach probably won’t follow you back, but don’t worry—this can still get you noticed. 

  • Actually tweet. Nothing is easier for getting attention than a simple tweet. Again, just because a recruiter or coach can’t tweet you back doesn’t mean they won’t find you in when they research you. And you want them to find the videos and articles you’re sharing on your Twitter feed! You don’t have to be fancy; all you need is something like: “Hey @coach check out the Boston Globe article about my team! http://bit.url #team #volleyball #athlete #schoolname.”

  • Engage with the admission office. On top of making sure you tweet consistently, get your name out to the college’s admission office through direct messages (DMs) and tell them that you’re interested, or ask questions about admission or the athletics departments. 

  • Use hashtags. You already know the deal with hashtags: putting this little guy # in front of a word (with no spaces) automatically creates a link to all the other tweets in the world with that word in them. If a coach wants to click on the #basketball link, your tweet (depending on when you tweet it) will pop up in the tweet history.

  • Watch your mouth (again!). Let’s just say from here on out anytime you’re posting on a social media site, be nice and courteous. If you have a bad attitude or are constantly unloading buckets of drama, coaches and schools are most likely going to pass on recruiting you.

  • Remember: once it’s out there, it’s out there. What more needs to be said?

Interview with Julian Belardo '20, Future Penn State University Harrisburg baseball player
What did you learn from the recruiting process?

I learned that the recruiting process is no joke. It’s a lot of grinding, communication, and determination. It can get overwhelming at times because you may not get that response from a coach you really want to play for. You have to create relationships with coaches. They aren’t going to give you an offer after one day of seeing you play. It may take 4-5 appearances and some communication before the ball starts rolling. It’s not a quick process.


What advice would you give younger students who are being recruited?

Advice I would give is start early. The recruiting process is not something that takes one week. Don’t be afraid to email that coach or even call him as you get more comfortable. Create a Twitter account for your specific sport or even better a YouTube account so coaches can see film of you showing off your skills. Social media is your best friend in this recruitment process. And lastly, don’t get caught up on D1, D2, or D3. You know your own worth and that’s all that matters.
Interview with Maureen McNeirney '20 Future University of Pittsburgh lacrosse player
What made you choose Pitt?

I chose Pitt because I was very interested in the school academically and athletically. I loved the atmosphere of the school and the students. The athletic department and the coach were very welcoming and I was excited to be a part of the lacrosse program from the ground up.  


What did you learn from the recruiting process?

I learned from the process that you must be patient, determined, and realistic. It is definitely a grind for two to three years between attending camps, reaching out to coaches, and going to tournaments. I learned that the first option is not always the best and you cannot get discouraged throughout the process.
Mrs. Strauss is a former NCAA Head Coach and Division I collegiate athlete.
Over the Christmas break, if you have time, draft a few emails to coaches, research schools that may be a good fit and reach out to me with any questions. After you receive your report card, assess your academic standing; grades are the most important component to the recruiting process! It’s never too late to focus on improving your academic average. 

Have a blessed and joyful Christmas and New Year!

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit."

— Aristotle