Dos Pueblos honored 11 student-athletes who will be competing in their respective sports in college on Wednesday inside Sovine Gym.
This year’s Chargers college athletes come from sports all across campus, but aquatics leads the charge with four signees.
Hanalora Abel – UC Davis Water Polo
Abel is taking her talents in the pool up to UC Davis, where she will be furthering her academic career and playing Division I water polo for the Aggies.
“Playing club water polo, you always see the older girls signing and going off to college, so this has always been a dream of mine since I was young,” Garner said. “I really liked the freedom between being a student and an athlete that UC Davis offered.
“I’m going to study engineering and they’re one of the few programs that really works the sports around the school.”
She has played a crucial role on both ends of the pool in Dos Pueblos’ success over the past few years.
Arthur Bonifield – UC San Diego Fencing
Bonifield will join the fencing team and compete in the sabre at UC San Diego, one of the few Division I schools on the West Coast.
“It feels awesome, it feels really great,” Bonifield said. “They’re an excellent fencing program, especially for sabre… It’s one of the schools I was also looking at academically anyway, so I really can’t wait to go.”
While Dos Pueblos does not offer fencing, Bonifield remained committed to his craft and has traveled down to Los Angeles three times a week for practices.
“It feels especially great to be able to sign here today,” Bonifield said. “I was recently not able to because we don’t offer fencing at DP, but due to the help of some wonderful students who pushed for me to be able to sign today I was able to join.”
Francesca Court – Cal Lutheran Water Polo
Court will head down the 101 to continue her academic and athletic career at Cal Lutheran in the fall.
“I’m really excited to go there next year,” Court said. “I love the team and I really love Tim Sedom, our coach… He’s always been super supportive of me and that’s the coach I really want.
“After looking at the school and the education, it’s a really good fit for me… Obviously I’m really excited but I know my mom and dad are both here and they’re really excited for me to do this. It’s kind of a mutual dream between all of us.”
Court made her impact felt all over the pool for the Chargers as a four-year starter on the varsity squad.
Dan Finneran – Northwood Lacrosse
Dan Finneran will be heading north for his college years, as he will be playing lacrosse at the Division-II level for Northwood University in Michigan, a program in its second year back from being cut in the 1990s.
“I’m very pumped, I’m honored that me and my brother are the first two DP commits in program history,” Finneran said. “I’m very thankful for the support from my coaches, my teammates and everyone that’s helped me get there along the way.
“I like that the team is mostly young and everyone is best friends out there… I just love the culture of the team… Our mom played at Brown, so we’re just following in her footsteps.”
The attacker has put together quite the resume throughout his high school career, consistently filling up the stat sheet with both goals and assists. With one game to go in his senior season, he holds 47 goals and 27 assists.
Jack Finneran – Concordia Lacrosse
Jack Finneran, twin brother of Dan, will stay on the West Coast as he continues his own lacrosse journey. He will also play at the Division-II level for Concordia University in Irvine.
“I really fell in love with the school, it seemed like a super great place for me to go to college and continue my lacrosse journey,” Jack Finneran said. “It’s going to be different (being away from Dan), we’ve always been on the same team so it’s going to be something new.”
He has also been a key part in the rise of Dos Pueblos lacrosse as a powerhouse program in the CIF Southern Section. While leading his team to an undefeated record so far this year, Jack Finneran has tallied 59 goals and 40 assists.
Megan Garner – UC Davis Water Polo
Garner will join teammate Hanalora Abel on the water polo team at UC Davis in the fall.
“It’s super exciting, I’m just glad to continue the reputation at DP and kind of lead by example for the rest of the athletes following me,” Garner said. “I was really interested in the balance between athletics and academics. I wanted to go into engineering and it was something they offered while also playing D1 water polo.”
She has been a lockdown goalie for the Chargers during her high school career, coming up big several times in clutch moments to lead a strong defensive unit.
“I think it helps the transition be a little easier because it’s a really big change,” Garner said of playing in college with Abel. “Having someone there makes it easier and a little bit more comfortable.”
Anna Gray – Smith College Softball
Gray will be swapping coasts for her college career, heading out to Massachusetts to play softball at Smith College, a Division-III program.
It’s really exciting, I’ve been really looking forward to college and getting to continue on playing sports,” Gray said. “It’s a really high academic school and I’m really excited about it.
“I felt like it was a good balance of a school that is going to provide me with a good education and also get to continue playing my sport.”
She has made an impact in the outfield for the Chargers during her high school years, including hitting .304 during her junior campaign.
Addison Parrish – Stanford Water Polo
Parrish rounds out the Dos Pueblos water polo players signing to play at the next level, as she will play Division I water polo at Stanford. Her brothers, Blake and Ethan, played water polo at Stanford as well.
“They’ve just told me what a magical place it is, the community and how fun and wonderful the experience of both athletic and academic excellence is,” Parrish said.
“We have worked so hard, our whole team… When you do put the pen to paper and you make your decision, there’s nothing more liberating and exciting than knowing that there’s more to it.”
She has been one of the most impactful players in the pool as a Charger, dominating on the defensive side of the ball for a defensive-minded squad.
Ellie Triplett – Westmont Tennis
Triplett will remain in the 805 for her college academic and tennis career, heading out to Montecito to become a Westmont Warrior.
“I’m super excited to be close to home and close to my family,” Triplett said. “[The campus] is beautiful, the whole atmosphere is: the people, the coaches and the whole staff.”
She has accomplished many things during her career as a Charger, including several All-League selections and a Channel League Singles title.
“[Dos Pueblos] has really set me up for success… I feel like I’m ready to go play college,” Triplett said. “Everything I learned from the team here, like how to work together and rely on each other, I’m going to be able to carry it on at Westmont.”
Teddy Vigna – University of Oregon Golf
Vigna will be taking his talents on the golf course up to the Pacific Northwest, where he will compete at the Division I level for the Oregon Ducks.
“I’m super excited,” Vigna said. “Oregon is somewhere I’ve wanted to go for a long time and once it became official, it’s all I’ve been thinking of.
“Out of the schools I talked to, they definitely had the nicest practice facility and that was the main thing I was drawn to. I’m also a big football fan and I love their football program and am excited to go to all the games and enjoy that atmosphere.”
The lefty has found plenty of success throughout his high school years in town, including a Channel League title and a CIF-SS North Individual Regional title in his junior year.
Kaleb Williams – University of Redlands Football
Williams will continue his football and academic career down south for the University of Redlands, a Division III football program.
“I’m super excited, I’m really proud of myself,” Williams said. “My first impression of the campus was beautiful, it’s a great campus. The players were amazing and the coaches were unbelievable, they were speaking my language.”
“My teammates and especially my coaches, coach AJ and coach Troy… kept pushing me (to play in college) even after the season.”
The running back made his mark as a Charger, earning several All-League honors and capping off his career 1,268 rushing yards in his senior season to help lead the program back to the CIF-SS playoffs.