Eighteen Menlo School graduates are taking their talents to the national stage. Spanning the country from California to Chicago to New Hampshire, these elite student-athletes will represent 16 colleges and universities across 12 sports at the NCAA level.

They leave behind a legacy defined by excellence, resilience, and unity. Just days after concluding their high school careers, this group caps off a historic run that includes state championships, national tournament titles, and a haul of section and league crowns, as well as excellence in the classroom.

“We couldn’t be more proud of these student-athletes and the incredible memories they’ve created,” Director of Athletics Earl Koberlein said. “Even more than their accomplishments—which have rewritten Menlo’s storied history—it’s their leadership, teamwork, and unwavering support for one another that will carry forward for a lifetime.”

A quartet of four-year girls’ lacrosse players and all-league selections are set to play at the next level after graduation. Hannah Bernthal (Dartmouth lacrosse), a multi-faceted first-team all-league pick who led the team in groundballs with 31, ranking 15th in the state, as well as in draw controls and was second on the team in assists. Four-time, first-team all-league attacker Elia Choe (Amherst lacrosse) finished with a CCS-leading 34 goals and fifth in the state in assists. Maren Mulloy (Stanford lacrosse) was stalwart for the Knights as an all-league defender and second on the team in caused turnovers. She competed as a three-sport athlete who also was a starting basketball forward for the Knights. Marin Yamada (Smith lacrosse) These four lifted the Knights to the CCS semifinals the last three seasons.

Connor Burks (Harvey Mudd water polo) played a pivotal role in anchoring the defense that led Menlo to a CIF-NorCal Div. II Championship victory over Clovis, finishing the 2024 season with 13 key saves in the final. He earned a spot on the all-CIF State third team. Burks led the Knights to the CCS Open Division final and into the NorCal Div. I playoffs this past fall.

Elise Chen (Chicago tennis) is a 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. She also was key to the Knights’ NorCal and CCS titles as a sophomore.

Jack Freehill (Columbia baseball) is a first-team all-Peninsula Athletic League pick at shortstop, who led the Knights to its first appearance in the CIF Div. III NorCals, its first NorCal championship (Div. IV)) in 2025, and back-to-back-back CCS titles. He also is a two-time PAL-Bay Player of the Year-Offense, as quarterback.

Maxwell Johnson (Occidental track & field) is a versatile athlete, who ran a leg on the league champion 4x400 this season, and the 4x100 in 2025 both of which rank second all-time for Menlo all-time. He’s also raced in the 100, 200 400 and competed in high jump.

Yuanye Ma (Washington-St. Louis tennis), played No. 1 singles on this year’s state championship team, which also won the NorCals, CCS, league and the High School All-American Invitational. He was also key to last year’s state finalist, NorCal and CCS champion tennis team, and has been a four-year player for the Knights. He won the league doubles championship with Arki Temsamani as a freshman and senior. … Arki Temsamani (Babson Tennis) was key to a historic season for the state champion Knights, who finished the season with a perfect 29-0 record. Menlo won NorCals, CCS, league and the High School All-American Invitational, where he was selected an All-American. He won the league doubles title with Yuanye Ma and was a CCS doubles finalist with Maximus Chan.

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

Bianca Putanec (Brown soccer) The goalie led her team to back-to-back CCS Championships, a NorCal semifinal appearance this past season, and a league title in 2023. She was named WBAL goalie of the year as a junior and senior and was a league first-team selection as a freshman and sophomore. Putanec was also the league Player of the Year - Special Teams as a punter/defensive back for Menlo’s flag football team, which won the first CCS Open title in the sport’s state history.

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

Palmer Riley (Vanderbilt football) is 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. He was a two-time All-WCAL selection in lacrosse. … Trevor van der Pyl (Pomona football) The team’s leading receiver averaged over 75 yards per game, and finished with 14 touchdowns for Menlo, which finished with a 9-3 record and advanced to the CCS Div. II semifinals. Van der Pyl was selected the top-tier PAL-Bay Division MVP-Receiver, and was also an all-WCAL pick as an attacker for lacrosse. … Chuck Wynn (Chapman football & baseball) powered the Knights run game, averaging 75.6 yards per game, and finished with six touchdowns as Menlo finished second in the PAL’s Bay Division. Wynn, also an outside linebacker, was a three-sport athlete and an all-league selection in football, soccer and baseball. The four-year catcher was instrumental in the Knights’ three consecutive CCS titles and NorCal crown in 2025.

Ava Wang (Columbia volleyball) - The libero is a three-time all-WBAL selection and averaged 4.6 digs per match. Wang lifted the Knights to four CCS appearances, including the CCS Open and a trip to NorCals in 2023. She surpassed 1,000 career digs for the Knights.

Ethan Zhao (Pomona basketball) is a four-year basketball player and was named to the West Bay Athletic League three times, twice a first-team pick. Zhao surpassed 1,000 career points this season.

2026 Student-Athlete College Commitments

Hannah Bernthal - Dartmouth Lacrosse

Connor Burks - Harvey Mudd water polo

Elise Chen - Chicago Tennis

Elia Choe - Amherst Lacrosse

Jack Freehill - Columbia Baseball

Maxwell Johnson - Occidental track & field

Yuanye Ma - Washington University-St. Louis Tennis

Maren Mulloy - Stanford Lacrosse

Richa Patnam - Georgetown Squash

Bianca Putanec - Brown soccer

Cameron Rafati - Tufts Soccer

Palmer Riley - Vanderbilt Football

Arki Temsamani - Babson tennis

Trevor van der Pyl - Pomona football

Ava Wang - Columbia volleyball

Chuck Wynn - Chapman football & baseball

Marin Yamada - Smith Lacrosse

Ethan Zhao - Pomona Basketball