Nine Pace Knights Commit to College Athletics

(L-R) Philip Elliott (Lafayette College, football), Mick Assaf (University of Notre Dame, football), Jean-Luc Brown (Mercer University, football), Timothy Coleman (Furman University, football), Brenner Appel (Davidson College, swimming), Grace Ferry (University of Pennsylvania, swimming), Jordan Harris (Furman University, football), Spencer Hemmingway (Brown University, football) and Samuel Sloman (Miami University of Ohio, football).

ATLANTA, GA -- Nine members of the Pace Academy Class of 2016 signed letters of intent on National Signing Day:

• Brenner Appel: Davidson College, swimming
• Mick Assaf: University of Notre Dame, football
• Jean-Luc Brown: Mercer University, football
• Timothy Coleman: Furman University, football
• Philip Elliott: Lafayette College, football
• Grace Ferry: University of Pennsylvania, swimming
• Jordan Harris: Furman University, football
• Spencer Hemmingway: Brown University, football
• Samuel Sloman: Miami University, Ohio, football

Brenner Appel, a National Honor Society member, has participated on the Pace varsity swim team for four years and has swum with the Dynamo Swim Club for eight. She is a Speedo Senior Sectional qualifier, a four-year Georgia High School Association (GHSA) state qualifier and a three-year GHSA state finalist. In 2014, she took second place in the state in the 200 Medley Relay, receiving All-American Consideration. She is also a member of three school-record-holding relay teams: the 200 Medley Relay, the 200 Free Relay and the 400 Free Relay.

When Mick Assaf graduates, he’ll join the elite ranks of Pace Silver Knights, the handful of student-athletes who earned a varsity letter in each season of their four years at Pace. Following the Knights’ 2015 state-championship season, Assaf was named to the Georgia Sports Writers Association First Team Defense, the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Class AA First Team Defense and the Region 6AA Second Team Defense. He led Class AA in interceptions as the Knights’ starting cornerback. Assaf also plays basketball and lacrosse for the Knights, received the Wheeler Scholar Athlete Award his freshman year and is involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Outside of school, Assaf operates Follow Tree, a social-media development company. He has interned with the St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Tech Village.

Jean-Luc Brown, a two-year defensive starter for the Knights, has played varsity football for four years. As a junior, he received the Iron Knight Award, given to the strongest and fastest players on the team. He has lettered in lacrosse for three years, was elected captain as a junior and plans to play for the Knights this spring. Brown mentors ninth-grade students as a senior Peer Leader; advocates for healthy, drug-free lifestyles as a member of the Pace Academy Student Support (PASS) leadership team; worked as a counselor for Pace Summer Programs; participates in Young Life and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; and is an admissions ambassador and co-leader of Radiant Church’s youth group.

Timothy Coleman, starting center for the varsity football squad, helped lead the Knights to their first-ever state championship. In recognition of his accomplishments he was named to the USA Today High School Sports All-USA Georgia Team, the Georgia Sports Writers Association First Team Offense, the Region 6AA First Team Offense and the Touchdown Club of Atlanta Metro All-Star Team. Coleman also was selected to participate in the North-South All-Star Game. Outside of the classroom, he delivers meals to shut-ins, volunteers at a veterans hospital and tutors elementary school children.

Offensive lineman Philip Elliott has long been a leader for the Knights. He received the Lellyett Commitment Award and was co-offensive MVP as a junior. His teammates elected him captain his senior year. Following the Knights’ 2015 season, Elliott was named to the Region 6AA Second Team Offense. He played junior varsity basketball for Pace and participated in track and field. Elliott enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for sports with younger athletes and has served as a basketball coach and baseball umpire for the Northside Youth Organization. He received the Dean’s Award for Character as a sophomore and volunteers with the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Grace Ferry’s arrival at Pace four years ago coincided with an unparalleled period of swimming success for the Knights. Ferry is a four-year GHSA state qualifier and a three-year GHSA state finalist. In 2015, she was second in the state in the 200 Freestyle and third in the 500 Freestyle – her signature events. She is a member of three school-record-holding relay teams: the 200 Medley Relay, the 200 Free Relay and the 400 Free Relay. Ferry is a team captain and a three-time MVP and received All-American recognition in the 500 Free in 2015. She also trains with Dynamo Swim Club, participates in open-water swimming events, is a talented visual artist and received the President’s Volunteer Service Award at the Bronze level.

Jordan Harris, a three-year varsity football letterman, played offensive tackle and defensive end for the state-champion Knights. His athletic talents extend beyond the gridiron; Harris also plays travel basketball and is a three-year member of Pace’s varsity basketball squad. He was named to the 2012-2013 All-Region basketball team. Harris channels his love for sports into his role as an announcer at various school and sporting events and as a staff writer for The Knightly News, Pace’s Upper School student newspaper. His work for The Knightly News garnered a 2014-2015 Certificate of Commendation for excellence in writing and reporting. Harris has served as a member of the KnightFlix broadcasting team and as a counselor for Pace Summer Programs.

Spencer Hemmingway, a captain of the 2015 state-championship football team, has been a receiver for the Knights for four years. His sophomore season, coaches recognized Hemmingway’s grit and determination with the Most Improved Player Award, and he was the 2015 Big Man Battle 7x7 Tournament Offensive MVP. Hemmingway also has participated in track and field and junior varsity basketball. He is a member of the National Honor Society, plays the piano, excels in math, and has served as a counselor for Pace Summer Programs and Keeping Pace, a summer program for inner-city youth.

Kicker Samuel Sloman began his athletic career as a soccer player. He is the Knights’ starting goalie and plays club soccer. A two-year member of the varsity football team and GHSA record holder for field goals in a season, Sloman received the following 2015 season accolades: Kohl’s Kicking 2015 High School Season All-American First Team, 2015 Chris Sailer National High School Placekicker of the Year, Touchdown Club of Atlanta Kicker of the Year and Metro All-Star, USA Today High School Sports All-USA Georgia Team, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Class AA All-State First Team, Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-Metro First Team, Georgia Sports Writers Association First Team Offense, Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Class AA First Team Offense, Region 6AA First Team Offense (kicking), Region 6AA Second Team Defense (punting), Kohl’s Kicking National Player of the Week. Sloman serves on the board of Kicking for Autism and as a Sunday school teacher and tutor at his synagogue. He was Pace’s 2015 Homecoming King.