Berkeley's Agrapides Sisters Taking Talents To Iowa, Moravian

BERKELEY, NJ — A pair of sisters from Berkeley Township have signed national letters of intent to continue their sports pursuits and academics in college.

Ariana and Alexis Agrapides, who both attend St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, signed their letters earlier in November.

Ariana Agrapides is headed to the University of Iowa on a full scholarship for gymnastics, while Alexis Agrapides will be taking her softball talents to Moravian College.

Alexis, who has played second base, shortstop and center field, has a career batting average of .310 and hit .430 with 32 RBI for the Lancers as a junior. She plans to study exercise science with the hope of becoming a doctor of physical therapy. Vianney, perennially one of the top softball teams in New Jersey, reached the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions semifinals last year after winning the Non-Public A championship, its first state title since 2013. Alexis also plays travel softball with the New Jersey Cheetahs.

Ariana, meanwhile, won the individual all-around state championship and was just named gymnast of the year for 2018 by NJ.com. She helped the Lancers to two straight Shore Conference championships and posted the first perfect 10 in Shore Conference Championship meet history, on the vault. The Lancers won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Section 1 title and took second at the NJSIAA Team Championships. Individually, she was second all-around at the 2018 Shore Conference meet, won the all-around at the Central Jersey Section 1 meet and then captured the NJSIAA All-Around crown. She also competes out of Premier Gymnastics under coach Maggie Haney. She is undecided on what she will study as she competes for the Hawkeyes.

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Photos provided by the Agrapides family; Ariana signs her letter for Iowa at left, and Alexis signs her letter for Moravian at right.