Seniors Bridget Chantharath, Will Chen and Derek Hitchens signed their letter of intent to join university sports teams on Nov 13. After four years with their respective Northwood teams, they are now headed to Division I teams at Ivy League universities.
Bridget Chantharath: Columbia Golf
Chantharath made a lasting impact on Northwood golf over the past four years, beginning as the first golf player in school history to qualify for CIF State in her freshman year.
“Golf is typically an individual sport so you never get to play on a team,” Chantharath said. “Being on the Northwood golf team gave me some intro to what it’s like to be on a team, which is what I’ll be doing in college.”
She chose to commit to Columbia’s golf team after bonding with their coach over shared goals, like winning the Ivy League Championships.
“I think the Columbia coach really respected my goals,” Chantharath said. “I’ve seen the trend in her recruiting and she’s been recruiting better players with similar personalities that match with mine. When I went on a visit, the team was super welcoming and I could see myself on the campus.”
Will Chen: Cornell Swim
Chen set records in the 400 Freestyle relay, earning the title of an All-American Athlete after breaking the county record and becoming third fastest in the nation his junior year.
“At the beginning of high school, I had no idea what I was doing and recruiting wasn’t even in my mind,” Chen said. “The summer after my sophomore year, I started getting serious and tried to improve a lot, hit the gym and practiced talking to coaches to get faster at swimming and get recruited.”
Chen chose Cornell due to its location and academic programs. The swim team’s strong sense of unity also played a key role in his decision.
“On my Cornell visit, I feel like I was introduced to a more real college experience where I could actually see what they were up to,” Chen said. “The people there seem really cool, and the college life and swim meets seem like they’re going to be pretty fun, so I’m excited for that.”
Derek Hitchens: Columbia Swim
Starting off high school by breaking Northwood’s Boys 100 Back record, Hitchens has been a vital member of the Northwood swim team.
“I definitely had a love-hate relationship with swimming, but I think I’ve been blessed to be able to swim well, and I think my commitment is a testament to all the hard work I’ve put in,” Hitchens said. “I’ve had an amazing four years filled with memorable experiences that I want to carry with me to college.”
At Columbia, Hitchens looks forward to the NCAA championships at the end of the season as well as the Ivy League Championships.
“I felt like I really belonged there and there was a community with a team atmosphere that was second to none,” Hitchens said. “I know my coaches have pretty big goals for me, as well as myself. Creating that familial bond with the team is important to me, so I’m just excited for all of it.”
