Pace Academy Athletes Commit to Division I Schools

Pace Academy seniors Lauren Hadley and Harrison Moncino signed National Letters of Intent on Nov. 13.

Staff Report

On Nov. 13, the second day of the NCAA’s early signing period, two Pace Academy student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent. Softball standout Lauren Hadley will play for the Bucknell University Bisons, and reigning state-champion diver Harrison Moncino will join Miami University of Ohio’s RedHawks.

A four-year member of Pace Academy’s varsity softball team, Hadley led the Diamond Knights to four state-playoff appearances and the 2012 Elite Eight. She was the team’s 2013 and 2014 Most Valuable Player, has been named First Team All-Region every year since 2011 and was a member of the 2013 Second Team All-State. Hadley completed her final season of Pace Academy softball with a .523 batting average, 53 runs, eight home runs – all school records – as well as 45 hits and 24 RBI’s. Region 6AA coaches named her the 2014 Player of the Year.

Hadley also plays softball for the East Cobb Bullets, and in addition to her work on the diamond, is a four-year member of the Pace Academy varsity track and basketball teams. She is the reigning state champion in the 300-meter hurdles, and placed fourth and third in the same event in 2011 and 2012, respectively. On the basketball court, Hadley was named Defensive MVP her sophomore and junior years. In 2013, she received Pace Academy’s Lance and Shield Award for outstanding athleticism and leadership. Hadley also participates in Pace Academy’s service-learning program and traveled with the school on a community-service trip to South Africa in 2012.

“Lauren Hadley is a Pace Knight in every sense of the word,” says Director of Athletics Kris Palmerton, the Knights longtime softball coach. “She is a true five-tool player, has outstanding power and hits for a high average at the plate. Hadley is blessed with speed, can play any defensive position and has a very strong throwing arm. It has been a lot of fun working with Lauren over the past four years. With her potential, the sky is the limit!”

Moncino, a three-time All-American, has rewritten Pace Academy record books during his tenure on the varsity diving squad. He was state runner-up in 2012 and brought home state-championship medals in 2013 and 2014. Moncino also dives with the Atlanta Diving Association at Georgia Tech, and has participated in the program for 13 years. In 2014, Moncino finished first in the Greater Atlanta Diving League Championships as well as the USA Diving Summer Junior Region 7 Championships.

Moncino has competed on the national level for seven years, most recently placing 24th among 16-18 year-old boys in the 1-meter competition at the USA Diving’s 2014 Junior National Diving Championships. He was 25th in the 3-meter competition.

“Harrison Moncino has had a brilliant career at Pace,” says Pace Academy coach John Ague. “He’s a three-time MVP and a leader in both our swimming and diving programs. I’m very excited to follow his college career. I think he made a great choice!”

Moncino won Pace Academy’s Mike Murphy Courage to Strive for Excellence Award as a freshman, received the Wheeler Scholar Athlete Award in the 10th grade and was recognized with Pace Academy’s Lance and Shield Award his junior year. Outside of the pool, Moncino plays the clarinet in the Pace Academy band, is drum major for the pep band and is a member of the National Honor Society. He has served as a dive coach at The Branches Club in Dunwoody, Ga., for the past two summers.

Hadley and Moncino continue a long tradition of strong student-athletes at Pace Academy. Seven of 107 members of the Pace Academy Class of 2014 currently participate in college athletics, and two play professional baseball.