Menlo News January 02, 2026

Student-athletes commit to play sports in college

Twelve set to continue academic, athletic careers at next level

Twelve Menlo School seniors have committed to continue their academic and athletic careers in the NCAA at colleges and universities from Palo Alto to Chicago to New Hampshire. More Knights student-athletes plan to play intercollegiate athletics and will be announced as their decisions become official.

A quartet of four-year girls’ lacrosse players and all-league selections are set to play at the next level after graduation. Hannah Bernthal is bound for Dartmouth, Elia Choe is headed to Amherst. Two flag football first team all-league picks Maren Mulloy, a three-sport athlete for the Knights - is committed to Stanford, and Marin Yamada is off to Smith. These four lifted the Knights to the CCS semifinals as juniors.

Elise Chen, the two-time WBAL Tennis Player of the Year, who led the Knights to their 38th league title in program history, a Point Loma Invitational championship, and a trip to the CCS semifinals as a senior, is committed to The University of Chicago. She also was key to the Knights’ NorCal and CCS titles as a sophomore.

Jack Freehill, a first-team all-Peninsula Athletic League pick at shortstop, who led the Knights to its first NorCal championship, and back-to-back CCS titles, plans to play baseball at Columbia. He also is a two-time PAL-Bay Player of the Year-Offense, as quarterback.

Yuanye Ma, a key to last year’s state finalist, NorCal and CCS champion tennis team, has been a four-year player for the Knights, and he is committed to Washington-St-Louis.

Richa Patnam is set has played squash throughout her childhood, and will continue her sport at Georgetown. Patnam primarily played in the top-level junior championship competitions, involving the nation’s best 32 players.

Cameron Rafati, who joined Knights soccer last season on contract from MLS Next and was a first team, all-WBAL selection after helping Menlo to back-to-back league titles and to the CCS finals, is committed to Tufts.

Palmer Riley, the Peninsula Athletic League-Bay Football Defensive Player of the Year who helped the Knights to a CCS Div. III title as a freshman and the CCS Div. II semifinals the past three seasons, is headed to the Southeastern Conference to play football at Vanderbilt.

Alex Stoffel, a first-team, all-CCS and all-West Catholic Athletic League boys’ water polo selection who led Menlo to its first NorCal title as a junior and to the CCS Championship game this past season, is bound for MIT.

Ethan Zhao, a four-year basketball player and a two-time all-West Bay Athletic League pick, has committed to play for Pomona.

2026 Student-Athlete College Commitments
Hannah Bernthal - Dartmouth Lacrosse
Elise Chen - Chicago Tennis
Elia Choe - Amherst Lacrosse
Jack Freehill - Columbia Baseball
Yuanye Ma - Washington University-St. Louis Tennis
Maren Mulloy - Stanford Lacrosse
Richa Patnam - Georgetown Squash
Cameron Rafati - Tufts Soccer
Palmer Riley - Vanderbilt Football
Alex Stoffel - MIT Water Polo
Marin Yamada - Smith Lacrosse
Ethan Zhao - Pomona Basketball