By Erica Gumbert, Rachel Jeffries, Gracie Rudolph, and Nicholas Wynn
The final athletic Signing Day of the 2017-2018 school year took place on April 11 in the McNicholas library. In the after school signing ceremony, four senior Rocket athletes signed National Letters of Intent to play their respective sports at the collegiate level next school year. Caige Beuerlein signed to play lacrosse at Benedictine University, Jackson Hass signed to play baseball at Northern Kentucky University, Ryan Reidy signed to play basketball at Marietta College, and Ben Rodell signed to play lacrosse at Wittenberg University.
Caige Beuerlein
Beuerlein will attend Benedictine University starting fall of 2018 to further his career in lacrosse. He was a four-year player for McNick and received most improved athlete his junior year. He said his time at McNick helped him improve his performance and get to where he is today.
Beuerlein was a freshman when he first started playing lacrosse. He said his coaches were apprehensive, but he was set on playing the sport with all of his teammates. Beuerlein believed his family pushed him to be a better athlete and overall player. He has decided to continue playing in college because of his love for competition and meeting new people. “I can’t wait to play the sport I love and meet all kinds of people from all across the states. It makes me want to get onto the lacrosse field and get ‘er done,” Beuerlein said.
“It’s incredible to me that he didn’t pick up a lacrosse stick until freshman year and now he’s being recruited by a D3 and almost D2 school,” Beuerlein’s mother Chris said. “His talent is truly amazing since he had a rough time adjusting during his freshman year,” she added.
Jackson Haas
Haas will attend Northern Kentucky University, a DI school, starting fall of 2018 to further his career in baseball. He was a four-year player for McNick. He was named 2nd Team all GCL and received an Honorable Mention All City and All City SWOBCA in his junior year.
Haas was five years old when he first started playing baseball. He decided to continue playing in college because he’s excited to compete with and against fellow skilled ball players. Throughout his years at McNick, Haas believes that his fellow teammates pushed him to be a better baseball player, and he added that his father, uncle Dan, and Grandad also had a huge impact on his athletic career.
“Jackson knows what he wants and will go after it,” Haas’s mother Colleen said. “We think that type of strength and initiative sets him up for success not only in college and sports but in life too.” She added, “We’re looking forward to watching him grow and mature as a person and player and NKU is the right fit for him and where he will be happy.”
Ryan Reidy
Riedy will attend Marietta College starting in August 2018 to further his career in basketball. He was a four-year varsity point guard for McNick and a three-year co-captain. His senior year, he won GCL Player of the Year, First Team All-District, All City, and McNick’s team MVP, and the team leadership award. Reidy found a passion for basketball in kindergarten and started to play in first grade.
During his years at McNick, Reidy said that he learned something new about basketball from every teammate. He decided to continue basketball in college because he believes he has a lot more to offer and has a continuing love for basketball. He said that he is looking forward to “making a new name for myself, making new friends, and competing in a national championship.”
Reidy considered various college offers but chose Marietta because “it has recently been one of the best national DIII teams, the campus is nice, and it’s a small town that embraces their basketball team.” He received an academic scholarship and is leaning towards a business major during his time at Marietta.
Ben Rodell
Rodell will attend Wittenberg University starting in the fall of 2018 to further his career in lacrosse. He was a four-year varsity starter for McNick as an attack. Rodell earned 1st Team All-Region and 2nd Team All-State and was named a Cincinnati Enquirer All-Star and MVP. He also had over 200 career points and 100 career goals. Rodell said that his most memorable moment from McNick lacrosse was “my first behind-the-back goal against Fenwick.”
“The coaches here at McNick are really good,” Rodell said. “They help each individual progress as a player.” Rodell chose to continue his athletic career in college because, “I really love the sport, it’s an opportunity to get better and keeps me in shape.” He is most excited to, “make new friends while playing the sport I love,” at Wittenberg.
Rodell received an academic scholarship and plans on majoring in Biology on the pre-med track during his time at Wittenberg.
The McNicholas Milestone 