Twenty-two Menlo School seniors have committed to continue playing their sports at the collegiate level, covering 11 NCAA Div. I and Div. III sports at 19 schools from Southern California to Southern Maine.

“These amazing student-athletes have represented Menlo School well. They are standouts in academics and athletics, and have a diverse set of interests and pursuits,” Menlo School Director of Athletics Earl Koberlein said. “For many of these students, playing their sports is such a big part of their educational experience; it was fantastic for them to have full senior seasons and it was a great way for them to complete their high school careers. We are proud of all our students, and look forward to seeing these student-athletes move on to the next level.”

• Simone Adam (Johns Hopkins volleyball)
• Sergio Beltran (Bates football)
• Jazlin Chen (Skidmore basketball/volleyball)
• Carolina Espinosa (Middlebury soccer)
• Jhila Ferdows (Claremont-McKenna volleyball)
• Zoe Gregory (Tufts volleyball)
• Alina Hernandez (Scripps water polo)
• Greg Hilderbrand (UC Santa Barbara water polo)
• Hanna Hoffman (Boston College volleyball)
• Aidan Housenbold (Williams lacrosse)
• Kami Israelski (Williams volleyball)
• Carter Jung (Amherst football)
• Shannon Li (Wellesley basketball)
• Alli McKenney (Colby volleyball | track & field)
• Jack Murad (Bucknell water polo)
• Sharon Nejad (Pomona basketball)
• Francesca Prescott (Washington-St. Louis soccer)
• Sam Scola (Bates lacrosse)
• Mick Tamas (Bowdoin tennis)
• Tessa Tomkinson (Brown rowing)
• Emory Tudor (Amherst swimming)
• Marcus Ying (Denison golf)

Women’s basketball

The trio of Jazlin Chen (Skidmore), Shannon Li (Wellesley) and three-time all-WBAL first team pick Sharon Nejad (Pomona) lifted the Knights to a CCS Championship, the program’s first in seven years. Though Knights basketball had two of its seasons cut short, Menlo still won its first state title in nearly two decades when these three were freshmen. Li was one of the Knights top scorers and an all-league pick as a senior. Nejad and Chen also were starters on the volleyball team, and led the Knights to its first trip to NorCal Open semifinals.

Women’s Crew

Tessa Tomkinson (Brown) has been rowing for Norcal Crew for nearly six years - the last four on the varsity boat. She has competed and medaled at multiple regional and national championship regattas across the country, including U17 Nationals 2019, Youth Nationals 2021, and Summer Nationals 2021.

Football

The Knights earned a bid to the CCS Div. II Championship, the highest placement in program history, and finished the season with a remarkable 12-1 mark. Sergio Beltran (Bates) became the all-time CCS leader in touchdown passes, finishing with 52 this season. He topped the CCS record in the regular season - which stood since 1989. He was named 49ers Cal-Hi Sports, San Mateo Daily Journal and Peninsula Athletic League Player of the Year, and Cal-Hi Sports Small Schools Player of the Year. One of his favorite passing targets was Carter Jung (Amherst), who had 59 catches for 1,179 yards and 17 touchdowns, and was named second team all-state by Cal-Hi Sports. He was also a first-team all-West Catholic Athletic League selection in lacrosse.

Men’s golf

Since his freshman year, Marcus Ying (Denison) has made a big impact on Menlo golf. The two-time all-WBAL pick, helped the Knights to a 17-0 record in three shortened seasons and 23-4 overall as well as a league championship in 2019.

Men’s lacrosse

Aidan Housenbold (Williams) was a USA Lacrosse All-America selection in 2021 and despite suffering an injury this past season, served as a volunteer as a varsity assistant. Sam Scola (Bates) led the Knights in assists and was second in goals in 2022 as the Knights advanced to its first CCS Championship in program history. Scola was an all-West Catholic Athletic League second-team pick. Both were also first-team all-league selections in football - Housenbold at linebacker and Scola at receiver - and boosted Menlo to a league title and CCS Championship appearance.

Women’s soccer

Carolina Espinosa (Middlebury), a two-time first-team all-league selection and four-year letterwinner, was the Knights leading scorer. She and all-WBAL pick Francesca Prescott (Washington-St. Louis) boosted Menlo to CCS Championships in 2019 and 2021 as the Knights reached the section finals every year in their prep careers.

Swimming

Emory Tudor (Amherst) is a two-time CCS Championships qualifier. As a senior, they advanced to the section meet in the 100 backstroke and swam a leg on the CCS-qualifying 400 freestyle relay. Tudor, also on the water polo team, is ranked one of the top 100 class of 2022 swimmers in California by Swimcloud.

Men’s Tennis

Mick Tamas (Bowdoin) - The four-year letterwinner - playing mostly at the Nos. 2 and 3 singles spots - helped the Knights to a NorCal Championship a week ago, as well as back-to-back CCS Championships. Menlo went 27-1 and were finalists at the prestigious National Invitation Tournament.

Women’s volleyball

Seven Knights are set to play volleyball in college. Menlo finished with a 72-33 mark over four seasons, including a three-match 2020. Every year, the Knights have qualified for the Central Coast Section top-tier Open Division (no fall CCS in 2020) and to NorCals. Menlo won the West Bay Athletic League-Foothill Division in 2018 and 2021.

Named West Bay Athletic League co-MVP as a senior, Simone Adam (Johns Hopkins) is a four-year player at outside hitter and can also play middle. Jazlin Chen (Skidmore), who was a middle hitter for the Knights, is a dual-sport athlete, and will play intercollegiate basketball as well. Libero/defensive specialist Jhila Ferdows (Claremont McKenna) played years of club volleyball. Setter Zoe Gregory (Tufts) was a four-year Menlo varsity player at setter. Setter and opposite hitter Hanna Hoffman (Boston College) is a two-year, first team All-League selection. Kami Israelski (Williams), a three-year varsity player at pin hitter, also played lacrosse. Alli McKenney (Colby), a three-year letterwinner at libero/DS, is also a two-time CCS qualifier and all-league pick in track & field.

Men’s water polo

Greg Hilderbrand (UC-Santa Barbara) and Jack Murad (Bucknell) helped Menlo to the top tier, CCS Open Division semifinals in 2019 and 2021, and both were first-team all-league selections their senior seasons. Murad paced the Knights with 17 blocks and Hilderbrand, who led the team ranks as one of the top goal scorers in program history

Women’s water polo

Alina Hernandez (Scripps) - A four-year varsity player, Hernandez was a key to the Knights to consecutive bids to the top-tier CCS Open playoffs. As a freshman, Menlo captured a CCS Div. II Championship