9 Seniors Recognized in Student-Athlete Commitment Celebrations

Surrounded by teachers, coaches, teammates, family and friends, nine Agnes Irwin seniors were celebrated this week for their commitment to play their chosen sports at Division I and Division III colleges and universities next year.

The nine student-athletes are:

• Katie Anderson — Franklin & Marshall College — Basketball
• Peyton Bond — Dartmouth College — Crew
• Cate Costin — George Washington University — Squash
• Katherine Glaser — Princeton University — Squash
• Rachel Mashek — Brown University — Squash
• Avery Niedland — Franklin & Marshall College — Field Hockey
• Natalie Pansini — Princeton University — Lacrosse
• Eliza Pendergast — Hamilton College — Crew
• Olivia Walsh — University of Virginia — Squash

“To be a recruited student-athlete requires tremendous commitment and sacrifice. You must have athletic talent, strong academic performance, and most importantly, good character and decision-making,” said Agnes Irwin Athletic Director Courtney Lubbe. “Each Irwin’s girl that has made a commitment to play her sport in college has demonstrated these qualities and has made our school and our community incredibly proud. I know they will continue to represent Agnes Irwin and themselves well at the next level, and we wish them the best of luck.”

Katie Anderson will play basketball for Franklin & Marshall College next year. Anderson is a two-time co-captain, Agnes Irwin’s all-time leading scorer in basketball, and reached the 1,000-point mark as a junior in 2019. She is earned Honors as a junior, and is a five-year varsity basketball player along with being a four-time varsity member of the cross country team. She is a four-year class representative to the Athletic Association. Anderson was selected to the All City Classic and was named to the Inter-Ac 2nd Team as a junior.

Peyton Bond has committed to row at Dartmouth College next year. An accomplished rower and student, Bond has multiple medal finishes at the PSRA City Championships, including 1st in 2018, 2nd in 2017, and 3rd in 2019, while rowing the varsity single as a junior. She has earned the Highest Honors designation each year at Agnes Irwin. A team co-captain as a senior and experienced leader at Agnes Irwin, Bond also holds leadership positions as the Co-Head of the Center for the Advancement of Girls Council and Head of the Agnes Irwin Service Council.

Cate Costin has committed to play squash at The George Washington University next year. Costin is a two-sport varsity athlete at Agnes Irwin, playing tennis and squash, and served as co-captain of both teams in her senior year. She earned Honors as a junior in 2018-2019. Also in 2018-2019, she was named to the Inter-Ac 2nd Team as a junior. She won the Most Improved Award for squash in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, helping the team win the Inter-Ac Championship in both of those seasons. In 2018-2019, Costin was a finalist in the U-19 Girls Doubles.

Katherine Glaser will play squash at Princeton University next year. Glaser’s accomplishments in the classroom and on the squash court are numerous. She joined the varsity squash team in 7th grade, and has been selected as an All Inter-Ac performer five times. She earned Highest Honors designation as a freshman, sophomore, and junior, and twice served as Class President. Glaser is a team co-captain as a senior and was named a US Squash All-American in 2018-2019. Her success on the squash court extends to the national and international circuit, where she has represented US Squash at the British Junior Open, and has won the U-19 National Mixed Doubles and finished second in the U19 National Girls Doubles.

Rachel Mashek has committed to play squash at Brown University next year. Mashek joined the varsity squash team as an 8th grader and has been named All Inter-Ac four times. She is a three-time US Squash Scholar-Athlete, and won the U19 National Girls Doubles three times with teammate Olivia Walsh. An accomplished student, Mashek won the Williams College Book Award, the Lucy M. Knauer Modern Language Prize for Mandarin, and the Barbara P. Barnett Social Justice Prize for Spanish. Mashek was also named to the All Inter-Ac 2nd Team in Tennis as a senior, and is co-Head of the Environmental Conservation Organization and Head of the Sustainable Living Club.

Avery Niedland has committed to play field hockey at Franklin & Marshall College next year. Niedland is a three-year varsity starter as a forward for the Agnes Irwin squad, and was a team co-captain as a senior in 2019. In 2018 she was named Most Improved. A seasoned hockey player, Niedland played competitive club field hockey for Philly Hockey Club. Niedland earned Honors in 9th and 11th grade, and is a two-year participant in the Athletes Helping Athletes Club and is also a participant in the Community Outreach Club.

Natalie Pansini has committed to play lacrosse at Princeton University next year. A talented multi-sport athlete, Pansini was named All Inter-Ac three times in lacrosse and once in soccer, and was named an Agnes Irwin MVP in both sports as well — once for varsity lacrosse and three times for varsity soccer. She is a two-time co-captain of the varsity soccer squad. Pansini has been selected as an Under Armour All-American in Lacrosse each year since 2016, and was ranked the #17 lacrosse recruit in the Class of 2020 by Inside Lacrosse Women. She was PASLA Rookie of the Year for lacrosse in 2017. A well-rounded student-athlete, Pansini was awarded the Mount Holyoke Book Award and the Eleanor Ross Cederstrom Award for Greek as a junior. Pansini earned High Honors in 9th and 10th grade, and Highest Honors in 11th grade, along with receiving recognition for her performance in the National Latin and Greek exams.

Eliza Pendergast has committed to row at Hamilton College next year. A team co-captain as a senior, Pendergast is a year-round rower, participating on Agnes Irwin fall and spring teams and competing for Conshohocken Rowing Club during the summer. Pendergast was named Most Improved for the AIS team in 2018, and in the same year, was a finalist at the Canadian Henley and Independence Day regattas. She earned 2nd place at the 2019 City Championships in the double, and 2nd place at the 2018 Philly Youth Regatta in the double. In addition to her athletic awards, Pendergast earned High Honors for her freshman, sophomore, and junior years; received The Priscilla MacNeal Fine Arts Award last year; and was named a National Merit Commended student for Fall 2020.

Olivia Walsh has committed to play squash at the University of Virginia next year. Walsh was undefeated in scholastic play in 2018-2019 and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player, while simultaneously earning a #1 ranking in US Squash U17 age group. US Squash honored Walsh with the U17 Sportsmanship Award. She earned Highest Honors as a freshman and sophomore, and High Honors as a junior. Walsh was awarded the Carter Mannion Award for exemplifying athletic ability, leadership and enthusiasm. She is a three-time U19 National Girls Doubles Champion with teammate Rachel Mashek.

These nine athletes are among 13 Agnes Irwin seniors who have verbally committed to continuing their sports in college, as of January 16. The students are:

• Katie Anderson — Franklin & Marshall College — Basketball
• Peyton Bond — Dartmouth College — Crew
• Julianne Carey — Davidson College — Lacrosse
• Cate Costin — George Washington University — Squash
• Hadley Evans — Miami University — Field Hockey
• Katherine Glaser — Princeton University — Squash
• Kacy Hogarth — University of Maryland — Lacrosse
• Rachel Mashek — Brown University — Squash
• Sarah McConnon — St. Francis University — Soccer
• Avery Niedland — Franklin & Marshall College — Field Hockey
• Natalie Pansini — Princeton University — Lacrosse
• Eliza Pendergast — Hamilton College — Crew
• Olivia Walsh — University of Virginia — Squash

Altogether, 20 percent of the Class of 2020 has verbally committed to college athletic programs.