EASTHAM — Seven Nauset Regional High School senior athletes gathered with their coaches, families, and friends in the school gym on May 27 to celebrate their intentions to continue their athletic careers after graduation.
The student athletes came to the signing ceremony wearing gear from the schools they will attend in the fall. Each one was introduced by Nauset Athletic Director John Mattson and then symbolically signed a document — the National Letter of Intent or a celebratory letter —signifying their commitment.
Madeline Mahoney will represent the U.S. Naval Academy, where she will participate in Division 1 cross country and track. Joseph Berardi will attend Division 2 Assumption College, where he will play lacrosse.
Four Nauset athletes will attend Division 3 schools. Michael Flynn will play lacrosse for Chatham University in Pittsburgh. His teammate Sawyer McCutchen will play just across the Bourne Bridge for Mass Maritime. Alexis Robicheau will play field hockey for Roger Williams, and Isaiah Robinson will compete in track for Amherst College.
Peter Silvernail will attend Philips Andover Academy and play football for the Big Blue next season.
Robicheau, who is from Wellfleet, did not become a full-time varsity player until her junior season. Still, she is joining a team that won its league championship and went to the NCAA tournament in 2024.
“I worked really hard my freshman and sophomore years to get myself better,” said Robicheau, with her coach, Tia Raspante, looking on approvingly. She also joined a club in ninth grade and began playing and working on her skills year-round. Those efforts paid off: the self-effacing senior was recruited by several colleges and now has some of the best stick skills in the business.
She chose Roger Williams over the other schools because she “loved the campus and the team environment as well as the coach, Jill Reeve, who really made me feel welcome.”
Flynn, who also lives in Wellfleet, was committed to attend Limestone University, a perennial Division 2 lacrosse power, until a month ago when the university, which was founded in 1845, announced that it was closing because of financial problems. The senior midfielder, who has been playing lacrosse since fifth grade, rebounded quickly and signed with Chatham, which had been his next choice.
Flynn is no stranger to adapting rapidly to new situations. He moved to Wellfleet just 16 months ago from northern Virgina and immediately started contributing to his new team’s success. The Warriors made it to the Division 3 tournament semi-finals last year and are a number 3 seed entering this year’s tournament.
“I hopped right in and have been loving it ever since,” said Flynn. “It is a good place to be.”
Flynn sprained his ankle several weeks ago against Falmouth and missed several games but was able to play in his team’s last regular season game against Sandwich and is ready to participate in the playoffs.
Discussing the upcoming game against an opponent that is still to be determined, Flynn said simply and without any sign of cockiness, “We’ll win.” Chatham University is lucky to have him.
