Nine Stand-Out Athletes from Needham Sign Letters of Intent

On Monday, Nov. 17, nine standout senior student-athletes from Needham High School will sign their National Letters of Intents (NLI) to play NCAA Division I or II Athletics next year at 7:00pm in the NHS Auditorium.

EMILIE DESPRES will swim at Bryant University (Smithfield, RI)

DEREK CHILD will play football at Bryant University (Smithfield, RI)

CARLY COLMAN will play Lacrosse at Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI)

CAMERON WOLFE will play Lacrosse at the University of Tampa (Tampa, FL)

AUDREY WALSH will play Lacrosse at Bucknell University (Lewisburg, PA)

CLIFFORD KURKER will play Lacrosse at UMass-Lowell (Lowell, MA)

KATIE BELVAL will play Lacrosse at Boston University (Boston, MA)

ARAM OULIGIAN will play Soccer at Colgate University (Hamilton, NY)

KAYLA STEEVES will play Soccer at Providence College (Providence, RI)

Please join us on Monday as we recognize and celebrate their tremendous accomplishments.

Emilie Despres

Emilie has swum on the Needham High School Varsity Swim Team since freshman year and has swum on the Bernal’s Gators Swim Club for the past five years. Emilie is also a captain for the NHS team this season that went 9-1 and finished 6th in Division 1. Her freshman year Emilie helped to break the 200M Freestyle Relay, Bay State and NHS Record. This year, as a Senior, Emilie helped to break the school’s 200M Medley Relay Record multiple times. That same relay also received 1st place at Sectionals and 3rd place at States. Along with relay swims, Emilie has individually placed in the top 6 at both States and Sectionals the past four years, including a 2nd place finish in the 50M Free at States this year. She will swim at Bryant University next fall.

Derek Child
Due to NCAA policy, Football players cannot officially sign their NLIs until February, but he will share in this early signing event with his fellow Seniors. Derek has been a 2 year starter on the Needham High School Football Team. Last year he helped the team win the Bay State Carey Division Championship and reach the Semi-Finals of the Division 2 South Playoffs. As a Captain this year, Derek again led Needham to the Division 2 South Semi Finals. Derek was listed on many preseason watch lists as a top defenseman linemen in the league and after a great season would expect him to receive some recognition for his leadership and performance. Through 9 games this season, he has 32 Solo Tackles, 4 Sacks, 1 Fumble Recovery and 1 Interception. Derek played Lacrosse his freshman and sophomore year and wrestled his junior year but after deciding that he wanted to play football in college he placed all his efforts into meeting that goal, which he accomplished in June of last summer. He will attend Bryant University next fall to play Football.

Carly Colman

Carly will enter her final year for Needham High School Lacrosse as a 3 year starter, 3 time Bay State Conference Champion and 2015 Captain elect. In 2014, Carly led a defense that was 56th in the Nation in goals against. Through hard work, she is regarded as one of the top and most feared shut down defenders in the state. She is smart, tough and controlled in the defensive 8 meter. She is crucial in her team’s fast break. Carly is a great one on one defender and has become an effective checker. She causes a lot of havoc, forces many turn-overs and excels in double teams. She plays club lacrosse for Mass Elite and was invited to play in the 2013 North Star Invitational Tournament. An Honor Roll student, Carly was also Captain of the Bay State Conference Champion, Needham High School Field Hockey Team. She will attend Marquette University next fall to play Lacrosse.

Cameron Wolfe

As a junior starter at the midfield, Cam helped lead the Needham High School Lacrosse Team to the South Sectional Semi-Final Game. He was awarded Bay State Conference All Star and named a Captain for the 2015 season. Cam has been a member of the Varsity Lacrosse Team since his freshman year and was a part of the 2012 MIAA Division 1 State Finalist Team. Outside of NHS, Cam is a member of the Top Gun Clams 2015 AA Lacrosse Team where he has played since 7th grade. On the Needham Varsity Hockey Team, Cam competes at right wing. Cam is an Honor Roll Student and outside the classroom, dedicates his time to community service at the Greater Boston Food Bank, Rocket Lacrosse and Town Sports Camps as well as lifeguarding. He will attend the University of Tampa next fall to play Lacrosse.

Audrey Walsh

Audrey will enter her final year for Needham High School Lacrosse as a 3 year starter, 3 time Bay State Conference Champion, 2015 Captain elect and Bay State League First Team All Star. In 2012, her freshman year, she was voted the team’s Rookie of the Year. Audrey is a solid, poised and graceful lacrosse player. She is a presence on the field especially in the offensive 8 meter. She is an exceptional cutter and feeder, and works very well in the two women game. She is patient and she creates opportunities for herself and her teammates. As a result, in 2014, she was the 2nd Leading Scorer and 3rd in total points for Rockets. Audrey is an Honor Roll Student student and her hard work in the class room and on the field earned her a spot on the 2014 US Lacrosse Academic All-American Team. Audrey plays Club Lacrosse for Revolution and will attend Bucknell University in the fall to play Lacrosse.

Clifford Kurker

Clifford will finish his career at Needham High School as a two year, two sport, Varsity starter. As a captain of the Football Team he has helped lead the team back to back home playoff games and a Bay State Conference Championship. He has also been recognized by ESPN for making it onto the “Sportscenter Top 10 Plays” two years in a row for electrifying punt returns. On the lacrosse field he showed great leadership and playmaking ability, playing a major role in the Rockets 2014 Bay State Conference Championship Season and deep playoff run. His versatility makes him a scoring threat from both Attack and Midfield. This upcoming season he is determined to display his athleticism and hard work ethic. He looks forward to bringing his relentless will to succeed to Umass-Lowell next fall, where he will play Lacrosse.

Katie Belval

Katie will finish her Needham High School career as a 3 sport Varsity Athlete in Lacrosse, Ice Hockey and Soccer. As a Varsity Lacrosse Starter and Captain of the Bay State League Champions the last 3 years, she was named 2014 US Lacrosse Academic All-American, Boston Globe and Boston Herald First Team All Scholastic, EMGLCA 1st Team All Star, BSC 1st Team All Star, National Tournament Player for Lower New England #1 Team, and received the 2014 Team Work Ethic Award. Outside of NHS, Katie plays Club Lacrosse for Mass Elite and was named to the 2014 Under Armour All-America New England Team. For Ice Hockey Katie has been a 2 year Captain, 4 year Varsity starter and leading scorer, 2014 Boston Globe All Star, BSC 1st Team All Star and Shriners All Star. Additionally Katie played Club Ice Hockey on the East Coast Wizards U16 Major 1 Team, the 2013-14 State Champions. In Soccer, she has been a 4 year Varsity starter and helped them win 2 Bay State Conference Titles in 2012 and 2014. An Honor Roll student since her freshman year, Katie is a member of the National Honors Society and NHS Leadership Council. She will attend Boston University next fall to play Lacrosse.

Aram Ouligian

Due to NCAA policy, Soccer players cannot officially sign their NLIs until February, but he will share in this early signing event with his fellow Seniors. Aram will end his high school career having played 3 seasons of both Varsity Soccer and Basketball, being a 2-year Soccer Captain as well as Basketball Captain for his upcoming Senior season. Most recently he was named the Bay State League Carey Division MVP, as well as receiving honors for Eastern Mass All Star, All State, All-New England, and All-American. He was named soccer team MVP his junior year and earned Bay State Conference All Star the past two years. Last fall in his Junior year he was named the MVP of the Eastern Mass All Star game. Aram helped lead the Rockets to BSC Championships in 2012, 2013, and 2014, and as a Sophomore he helped the Rockets to a Division 1 State Championship along with a National Top-20 ranking. Aram has played club soccer for the FC Blazers since he was 9 years old and is entering his last spring season with the team. At NHS. Aram is an Honor Roll student and served as the MIAA Embassador for Needham High School last year and will continue serving that role during his Senior year. Outside of the classroom he is a counselor for the Runners Soccer Academy and Rocket Basketball camp. He will attend Colgate University next fall to play Soccer.

Kayla Steeves

Due to NCAA policy, Soccer players cannot officially sign their NLIs until February, but she will share in this early signing event with her fellow Seniors. Kayla has been a Girls Soccer Captain and a 4-year BSC All Conference Player, taking home Carey Division MVP honors this season. She is also a 2-time Boston Globe and Boston Herald All Scholastic, and a 4-time First Team Eastern Mass All Star. She is a 2-year All State and All New England selection. Kayla was named NSCAA 2014 Massachusetts State Player of the Year, All American, and is on the Player Watch List for the HS All-American Game. This fall, she led the Needham Rockets to an undefeated season for the first time in 28 years and a Bay State League Championship. Kayla began playing club soccer at the FC Greater Boston Bolts when she was 8 years old and currently plays for the NEFC Elite team. She was the MVP of Massachusetts State Cup in June. Kayla is a counselor for Runners Soccer Academy and Celtic Bolts Soccer School, a volunteer for Best Buddies and works at the Dover Market. Kayla is headed for the Big East Conference next fall, where she will attend Providence College to Play Soccer.

Article submitted by Needham High School