MAMARONECK, N.Y. — Mamaroneck High School (MHS) has a strong history of graduating an outstanding group of student-athletes. The largest group to ever graduate with a commitment to play at the next level was in 2019 when 33 athletes committed to play in college.

This year, an impressive 23 graduates from the Class of 2021 are heading to compete in their sport at the next level. The talented list of athletes represents nine sports and an extremely competitive list of elite schools across the country.

We caught up with two 2019 grads who both just completed their second year playing at the collegiate level. We interviewed Sophie Leighton (Lehigh Field Hockey) and Josie Steinberg (Tufts Softball) to find out more about how their Larchmont roots helped propel them to the next level.

Josie

I started playing softball when I was very young, but I started playing competitively when I was about 8 years old.

I played for LMLL when I was younger. My love for the game definitely grew during these years. I was playing the sport I loved with people that I loved and learning to work as a team and form bonds to bring us together on and off the field. LMLL helped grow me as a player and a person. With great coaches teaching me resilience, cooperation, and grit. LMLL helped grow my competitive nature which allowed me to push myself to the next level.

I was definitely influenced by my parents who always pushed me to achieve my full potential, but my greatest influence in wanting to play at the next level was my sister, Mia. Mia and I now both play together at Tufts University, but all throughout our childhood I always looked up to her as a player and I knew I wanted to be as good as she was when I was older. When she graduated high school and went on to play in college, I saw all the crazy fun experiences she was having and knew that I wanted that too. Playing softball in college opens you up to the most amazing community of strong women, and I will forever be changed as a person because of this.

Sophie 

I first started playing competitive field hockey when I was 12 years old, on the Hommocks modified team.

Mamaroneck did not have a youth field hockey league, so I did not have the opportunity to play on a team as a child. However, I attended several camps and clinics held by the MHS coaches, which made me eager to play when I entered middle school. I loved watching the high school team achieve such amazing goals, and always wanted to be a part of the MHS field hockey family.

My greatest influences were my high school coaches, Coach Savage and Coach Miller. Together they taught me to never settle, and that hard work pays off. Their confidence in me inspired me to play field hockey in college.

MHS CLASS OF 2021 STUDENT-ATHLETES PLAYING IN COLLEGE

Baseball

• Bijan Anvar, Franklin and Marshall College
• Christopher Divito, University of Richmond
• Joseph Kasper, Iona College
• Zachary Kringdon, SUNY Cortland
• Ryan McIntyre, Baseball Amherst College
• Benjamin Wechsler, Washington and Lee University

Cross country/track

• Gent Malushaga, Amherst College

Field hockey

• Samantha Maresca, Field Hockey Sacred Heart University
• Amanda Zerbib, Field Hockey Bates College

Football

• Alexander Verni, Washington and Lee University

Men’s lacrosse 

• Jack Fried, Hamilton College
• Grant Malas, Bucknell University
• Max Nodiff, Hamilton College

Women’s lacrosse 

• Riley Moore, Davidson College

Rowing 

• Eleen (Ellie) Bruce, Georgetown University
• Elizabeth (Lizzie) Coyne, Columbia University
• Casey Gomes, University of Texas at Austin

Men’s soccer

• Andre Cutler, Marist University
• Sebastian Cutler, University of Wisconsin (Madison)
• Joey Dos Santos, Mercy College
• Charles Kaldor, Trinity College

Swim

• Lucas Tucker, Alfred University

Wrestling 

• Jesse Beers, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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