SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A total of 12 St. Francis High students committed to compete in eight different sports were recognized during the college preparatory school's semi-annual National Letter of Intent and College Commitment ceremony, held in the main gymnasium Wednesday morning.
The event coincides with the NCAA's National Signing Day, which kicks off a 10-month period for prospective student-athletes – other than those of football and Div. I basketball – may ink their NLIs.
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Alphabetically, the 12 honorees are Mia Collins (Mizzou soccer), Kayla Garber (Sacramento City College softball), Grace Jenkins (UConn softball), Hope Jenkins (UConn softball), Cate Joaquin (Georgetown cross country and track & field), Kate Killer (UC Santa Barbara soccer), Bella McCullough (William Penn lacrosse), Lindsay Niethammer (USC rowing), Kaitlyn "K.D." Ramirez (Gonzaga rowing), Zahra Smith (Delaware State lacrosse), Rachel Thilow (Bentley swimming & diving) and Abbie Williamson (Emory & Henry equestrian).
"St. Francis High School owns a outstanding tradition of fostering success in all areas of student life, and athletics is certainly no exception," said SFHS Director of Athletics Mark McGreevy. "These students have demonstrated hard work, dedication, commitment and sacrifice in their representation of this school, and I could not be more excited to see their excellence rewarded with opportunities at the next level. This is certainly a proud day for Troubadour athletics."
In all, the group of Troubie athletes will attend schools in eight different states (including the District of Columbia), and compete under the auspices of the NCAA, the NAIA, the California Community College Athletic Association and the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association. Wednesday's ceremony is the first of two such events in 2021-22, as a spring version will take place to recognize future collegiate student-athletes who make their commitments later in the school year.
A detailed profile for each of Wednesday's honorees is available below:
MIA COLLINS
Soccer • University of Missouri
Commitment to Mizzou marks a homecoming for Collins, whose birthplace of Kansas City is two hours west of Columbia... Helped Troubies to 23-3 overall record and Sac-Joaquin Section championship as a sophomore goalkeeper (one of just three sophomores on varsity squad)... SFHS captured the Delta League banner last spring... Posted 54 saves against 14 goals allowed as part of a keeper platoon with then-senior Kim Riley that year... Played club ball for San Juan Soccer Club 04 ECNL... Won 2018 Golden Glove Award and helped SJSC to 2020-21 Northwest Conference championship... Made Honor Roll in 9th and 10th garde, High Honor Roll in 11th... Added a merit award for English 11... Member of SFHS Black Student Union and Racial Justice League.
KAYLA GARBER
Softball • Sacramento City College
Originally a transfer from Kennedy High, sat out her sophomore year due to the CIF transfer rules… Hit .455/.516/.672 in 19 games as a Cougar freshman, then went .316/.458/.605 in 18 games as a Troubie junior… Plays for veteran SFHS coaching tandem of Kevin Warren and Al Logiudice… Infielder splits time between third base and short… Competed in summer ball with Stingers Fastpitch, All-American Sports Academy, California Breeze and Hype Fastpitch 18u teams during past four years... Earned three Under Armour Softball Factory All-America awards, plus MVP and National Team recognition as a freshman... Added an All-Region nod as a junior... Niece of former MLB and Sac City catcher Geno Petralli... Completed more than 80 hours of community service serving the homeless community of Sacramento, plus additional volunteer service to the UC Davis Hospice Center... Looks to study business mangement in college.
GRACE JENKINS
Softball • University of Connecticut
Standout for coaches Kevin Warren and Al Logiudice at SFHS… Made Sacramento Bee's All-Metro squad and earned All-Delta League first team as a junior… Twice named among MaxPrep's Sac-Joaquin Section Players to Watch (2020, 2021)… Ranked 59th nationally by Extra Innings for the class of 2022… Enters senior season with career hitting numbers of .400/.511/.713, thanks to 14 doubles and nine homers in 150 at-bats… Slashed .484/.575/.921 as a junior… Plays both centerfield and catcher, the latter of which forms a battery with her twin sister Hope… Batting .649 with OBP of .690 for Lady Magic travel ball team… Previously helped Sorcerers to top-nine finish at 2021 Colorado Sparkler, and boosted Firecrackers to a top-17 finish at 2019 PGF Nationals… National Honor Society and CSF member with merit awards in theology and math, plans on studying political science in college… Serves as vice president for SFHS' student-athlete advisory committee, interns in athletics department.
HOPE JENKINS
Softball • University of Connecticut
Named MVP or Player of the Year by her team, Delta League, All-Sac-Joaquin Section and Sacramento Bee All-Metro (large schools) in 2020-21, adding Cal-Hi Sports all-state honors… Hit .561/.600/1.106 that year, thanks to 20 extra-base hits (11 doubles, two triples, seven homers)… Equally dominating in the pitching circle: 1.96 ERA with 171 strikeouts against 21 walks in 118 innings… Plays alongside her twin sister, Grace, who will join her with the Huskies… Competes for Lady Magic travel ball team after previously starring for Sorcerer Softball… Christian Service Leader and club president at SFHS… Considering either business or kinesiology at UConn.
CATE JOAQUIN
Cross Country/Track & Field • Georgetown University
Two-time team captain in both cross and track… Runs for head coach Melanie Cleland… Placed 4th at CIF state cross country meet in 2019, the highest-ever finish by a Troubie at the state meet… Also SFHS' first qualifier at the Foot Locker National Championship in cross country… Won Delta League individual championships in both cross country (2019) and track & field (3,200 meters, 2019)… All-Delta League performer in both sports, most recently placing second at league championship at William Jessup… Holds seven school records: 3-mile, 3,200 meters, 2.87-mile and 2.93-mile runs in cross; 1,600, 4x1,600 relay and distance medley relay in track)… One of just four Troubies in history to record a sub-five-minute mile… Key track PRs: 4:54.79 in 1,600; 10:33.77 in 3,200, both during sophomore season… Also runs for Loomis Elite, earning USATF J.O. All-America honors (2018) and helping team place 2nd at AAU cross country championship (2020)… National Honor Society and CSF member… High honor roll member every semester at SFHS, earning subject awards in applied chemistry and technology… Also a National Latin Exam honoree… Plans on studying finance or accounting at the Hilltop… Has more than 140 hours of community service via various organizations, including a cross country team service project that delivered 100 bagged lunches to the hungry… Plans on leading another such project this November, with plans of making it an annual team tradition after her departure from SFHS.
KATE KILLER
Soccer • UC Santa Barbara
Enters first full season for Troubies, having lost most of junior year to injury last spring... Won team's Golden Boot Award at St. Francis... Entering 11th season for Placer United Soccer Club, fourth in PDP (Player Development Program)... First commitment to UCSB in her recruiting class... Coached by Maryclaire Robinson at St. Francis, Don Finley and Kevin Unsworth for PUSC... Team placed fourth nationally in 2019-20 and won Placer Cup... Also finalists at Surf Cup and Davis Legacy tournament... PUSC won its fall league title this month... Expecting to major in business as a Gaucho... High Honor Roll member who also captains the SFHS Dance Team.
BELLA McCULLOUGH
Lacrosse • William Penn University
Recently announced as school winner for 2021 Heisman High School Scholarship award program… Entering fourth year on SFHS varsity as a goalkeeper… Posted 104 saves with a .523 save percentage (No. 2 in school history) as a junior… Plays club lacrosse for NorCal Rize Red… Serves as president of school's Sports Media club while previously presiding over the SFHS Jazz Club (for which she sang)… Also a senator with school student government… Earned merit awards in AP studio art, English, inter-faith dialogue and vocal solos… Has more than 100 hours as a volunteer English tutor for kids from grades K-4th… Plans on studying new media with a minor in sports management at WPU.
LINDSAY NIETHAMMER
Rowing • University of Southern California
Rowing since eighth grade, currently a member of Capital Crew and a teammate of fellow fall NLI signee Kaitlyn Ramirez (Gonzaga)... Selected team captain in 2019-20... Helped Varsity 8 to first-place finish at 2019 Southwest Youth Championships... Also a runner-up at 2019 Head of the Lake and 2020 Faultline Faceoff... Younger sister, Caroline, plays for Troubies' tennis team while older sister, Kelly, graduated from SFHS in 2018 and now rows for Stanford lightweight crew... High Honor Roll member every semester since freshman year, plans on majoring in business at USC... Represents SFHS as part of Ambassador program since sophomore year, and participates with Green Team and Keep Tahoe Blue clubs.
ZAHRA SMITH
Lacrosse • Delaware State University
Competed in lacrosse, basketball and cross country for Troubies... Plays midfielder/defense for SFHS and NorCal Rize club, same as fellow 2021 fall signee Bella McCullough... Four-year Honor Roll member, intends on majoring in computer science... Also active in Black Student Union and Racial Justice Legal at St. Francis... Wears No. 42 in basketball in honor of Jackie Robinson... Volunteered with Arthur F. Turner Library and Sacramento Food Bank.
K.D. RAMIREZ
Rowing • Gonzaga University
Coxswain for Capital Crew, teammate of fellow fall signee Lindsay Niethammer (USC)... Plans on studying biology at GU... Made SFHS Honor Roll every semester... President of school's Disney Club... Volunteer as a camp recreation leader.
RACHEL THILOW
Swimming & Diving • Bentley University
Former all-state performer at Durango High in Colorado, transferred to SFHS as a junior… Helped 400-yard freestyle relay place among top five at state 3A meet in 2020… Placed 3rd in 50 free, 5th in 100 fly, 2nd as part of 200 free relay at Southwest Conference Championship that year… Now swims for USA Swimming Gold-level club Sierra Marlins, after previous stints with Durango SC and Ridgefield Aquatic Club… Member of SFHS Sports Nutrition Club, intends on majoring in business economics at Bentley.
ABIGAIL WILLIAMSON
Equestrian • Emory & Henry College
Sacramento Area Hunter Jumper Association Junior Equitation High Point Champion, SAHJA Low Child/Adult Hunters High Point Reserve Champion and SAHJA Low Open Hunters High Point Reserve Champion in 2020... Will double-major in business management and equine studies at E&H... Member of SFHS Chamber Singers, Mathletes, Ambassador Program, Spanish Club, Young Independents and CSF.
