BELCHERTOWN – The Division 3 state quarterfinalist Belchertown girls soccer team produced three collegiate athletes.
Seniors Ashley Cunningham (Bryant) and Aida Name (Rhode Island) signed NCAA Division I letters of intent, while fellow senior Brianna Romaniak will join on of the region’s top Division II programs at Franklin Pierce.
“It’s not every year you get a Division I player. This is the time and effort they put in outside of high school,” Orioles coach Kyle Thibeault said. “It’s a big loss for us. These schools gain great athletes, great kids, and it’s a loss for us, but here in Belchertown we have the ability to recharge.”
Name, a two-time all-state honoree, didn’t have Rhode Island on her radar until she signed up for an ID clinic there. She fell in love with the community and the team.
“Their team dynamic is so energetic and exactly what I was looking for. They have an all female staff, which was a huge factor,” Name said. “I’ve had male coaches basically my entire soccer career, and I really wanted a change. It comes to a point where you want to be surrounded by people like you.”
She’ll compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference and often in the Northeast. Kingston, R.I., is close enough for her parents to watch her games but far enough away to give her space to grow.
It might not be the last she sees of Cunningham on the pitch, either, once she’s at Bryant. The Ocean State rivals meet regularly.
“We’ll definitely end up going our separate ways, and if we end up having a game against each other, that’ll be an awesome time,” Name said.
It wouldn’t be the first time. The Orioles teammates have met on club pitches opposite each other. Cunningham, who made the all-state team this year, appreciated Bryant’s atmosphere and the size of the school.
“They really showed they were interested in me,” Cunningham said.
Romaniak’s future teammates at Franklin Pierce reached the Division II Elite Eight after a run to the Northeast-10 Conference semifinals.
“It’s definitely been exciting. It’s been a huge adventure and trip all together,” Romaniak said. “We’ve all been playing together since we were little, and it was nice to play with each other again.”
Ethan Czaporowski affirmed his commitment to Virginia Tech by signing with the Hokies on Monday. The former Orioles standout spent the last two season exclusively with the Boston Bolts club team and turned himself into an ACC prospect.
His former teammates and current classmates still joined him on stage for photos and attended the ceremony to support him.
“It was a big dream of mine to play college soccer when I was a kid. I wanted to play at the highest level,” Czaporowski said. “I’ve got a lot of friends and family that love me and support me, and I like that, and I need a lot of it in my corner to make it far.”