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KINGSTON — When it comes to wrestling and field hockey, it would be hard to find a better team in both sports in the entire country than Wyoming Seminary.

Over the last several years, both teams have been perennial powers in their respective sports nationwide.

On Wednesday evening, the stature of both programs was on display with 10 student-athletes signing letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers with Division I programs. Among them were six wrestlers and four field hockey standouts.

“I just think we have great coaches, great facilities, and then the academic part of it, a lot of kids come for that reason,” said Sem field hockey coach and athletic director Karen Klassner. “It helps them with school. It’s a plus for everyone that comes here I think.”

From field hockey, Julia Christian (Temple), Bari Lefkowitz (Northwestern), Hannah Maxwell (Wake Forest) and Alex Wesneski (Iowa) will play at Division I programs next season. For the wrestlers, Beau Bartlett (Penn State), Kyle Costello (Davidson), Lincoln Heck (Tennessee Chattanooga), Niko Katsuyoshi (Harvard), Connor Kievman (Columbia) and Drew Munch (Lehigh) all signed their letters at the school’s Kirby Center for Creative Arts.

The field hockey team is in the midst of its biggest week of the season. In addition to the big day off the field with the college commitments, the Blue Knights won their state semifinal game on Tuesday evening, and will play for their second straight state title in their third consecutive trip to the contest on Saturday against Oley Valley.

“We are successful everyday, and I think all of us are happy that we found a home together,” said Wesneski, who was also considering Duke and Boston College. “The team, we’ve been playing together the last three years, it’s hard to believe we won’t be playing together anymore after Saturday.

“It’s kinda sad, but I know we’re all going to a place where we’ll all be happy.”

The wrestling team doesn’t officially begin the schedule for this season until Dec. 7, so the team is still gearing up for the slate. In the meantime, more than a half-dozen athletes made their decisions official. Nine total wrestlers are headed to D-I programs next season, six of them were on hand on Wednesday evening.

Bartlett is the most notable as he will be leaving one of the top high schools in the country and heading to the top collegiate program in Penn State, which has won nine of the last 10 national championships. He will also be joining former teammates and current Nittany Lions Jack Davis and Mason Manville.

“I always wanted to go Ivy League. Over the course, I got to meet coaches and meet people and knowing what was the perfect fit for me,” Bartlett said. “Throughout it all, I honestly said, ‘I always wanted to go Ivy League, but if (Penn State coach) Cael Sanderson shows up at my house, I don’t know what I’m gonna do.’

“And then in April, Cael Sanderson showed up at my house, and now I’m here.”

Costello and Heck both took similar routes. They are natives of the Wyoming Valley with Costello being from Plains Township and Heck from West Wyoming. They started their wrestling careers at their respective public schools, before joining Wyoming Seminary’s X-Calibur program for elementary and junior high athletes.

From there, they joined the Blue Knights in high school. Even though they don’t see as much varsity time as Bartlett, they get much tons of exposure just from being on the team and in the room with several Division I athletes.

“It’s amazing. It’s been a dream since I started playing sports, to play at the D-I level. And now to make that official, it’s awesome,” said Costello, who was also considering Brown, Columbia and Air Force before deciding to joining Davidson, where former Dallas standout Steven Newell is on the roster.

“(Sem wrestling) really makes you feel like you’re a part of something else. You know that if you were at your old high school, you’d be the best guy on the team. But you gave that up and sacrificed it to be part of making everyone better on the team and trying to win a Prep National Championship. It’s pretty incredible to be a part of.”

Heck started to get in contact from college coaches after taking third at the Eastern States Tournament last season. He also was interested in Binghamton and Pittsburgh, but knew Chattanooga was the perfect fit.

“I’m just glad that the hard work I put in during my four years of being at Sem has finally paid off and I’m excited to move to my new adventure in Tennessee,” Heck said. “(The exposure) is definitely more than I would have got at my other school with other coaches coming in to run practices. There’s countless opportunities to get your name out there that Sem provides. Whether it’s from coach (Scott) Green or tournaments.

“I wasn’t able to start all four years, but was still able to get my name out there.”

Also making a college commitment on Wednesday evening from Sem was girls basketball player Allison Vezendy, who will play next year at Division III Marymount.

Wyoming Seminary wrestlers signed national letters of intent to Division I programs on Wednesday. Pictured (seated, from left): Beau Bartlett, Penn State; Drew Munch, Lehigh; Niko Katsuyoshi, Harvard. Standing (from left): Kyle Costello, Davidson; Connor Kievman, Columbia; Lincol Heck, University of Tennessee Chattanooga
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_thumbnail_20191113_173706.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary wrestlers signed national letters of intent to Division I programs on Wednesday. Pictured (seated, from left): Beau Bartlett, Penn State; Drew Munch, Lehigh; Niko Katsuyoshi, Harvard. Standing (from left): Kyle Costello, Davidson; Connor Kievman, Columbia; Lincol Heck, University of Tennessee Chattanooga Dave Rosengrant | For Times Leader

Wyoming Seminary field hockey players signed national letters of intent to Division I programs on Wednesday. Pictured (seated, from left): Hannah Maxwell, Wake Forest; Bari Lefkowitz, Northwestern; Alex Wesneski, Iowa; Julia Christian, Temple. Standing (from left): Kim Barbacci, assistant coach; Karen Klassner, head coach.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_thumbnail_20191113_171704.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary field hockey players signed national letters of intent to Division I programs on Wednesday. Pictured (seated, from left): Hannah Maxwell, Wake Forest; Bari Lefkowitz, Northwestern; Alex Wesneski, Iowa; Julia Christian, Temple. Standing (from left): Kim Barbacci, assistant coach; Karen Klassner, head coach. Dave Rosengrant | For Times Leader

By Dave Rosengrant

For Times Leader