Young Alumni in Athletics

There’s no denying the fact that, throughout the years, Cheshire Academy has been called home by countless successful student-athletes. But their playtime doesn’t end at Commencement; in fact, many graduates — every year — go on to play at the collegiate level, with several continuing to play professionally in their sport of choice.

Below we highlight some of our more recent graduates and newest alumni, noting where they are working and studying now, and how their competitive nature as athletes continues to push them to be their best selves.

TRAVIS ECKE ’17

Where did life take you after CA?

After Cheshire Academy, I went to Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, Connecticut) on a football scholarship. At Sacred Heart, I studied business management with a focus in international business relations. In addition to my studies, I was a member of the Sacred Heart football team. In my four years there we won three Northeast Conference (NEC) championships and went to the NCAA playoffs two of those years. I am now beginning my coaching career at Yale University.

How did Cheshire Academy and its athletics program prepare you for college, and how did it influence your professional career?

At CA, I was exposed to a whole different level of competition than I was used to. In my four years at CA, I played against multiple NFL draft picks and with multiple NFL players as teammates (Tarik Black ’17, Brandon Sebastian ’17, and Josh Jobe ’18). I had a great grasp on what was expected at the next level as well as the time management skills to balance the academic and athletic life. CA athletics influenced my professional career because it drove my interest deeper into football and coaching.

What are your goals, personal and/or professional in life? What impact do you want to have in the world?

My goal for my personal and professional life is to be a head football coach at the Division I level. I know it is a long journey in the coaching world but it is something I am ready to embrace. I think that through being a college coach I can have a genuine impact on a wide range of people across the country. Growing up with a father for a coach, I saw the impact he had on his players and how he was able to improve their lives. This is something that I want to emulate in my career as a coach.

What is your favorite athletic moment or story while competing at CA and post-CA?

My favorite time as an athlete at CA was during my senior year. Former Varsity Football Head Coach David Dykeman organized a preseason trip for the football team to Cape Cod. Before the trip, everyone on the team left their phones at home to force us to bond as a team and talk to one another. From the early morning wakeups to the late-night install meetings, it was one of the most enjoyable times with the team that I had. In my college career, my favorite time was our spring season during COVID-19 when we, as a team, had to isolate ourselves from the rest of the community in order to compete. It was another bonding moment similar to the Cape Cod trip that I found very enjoyable. It was made even better when we won the conference in an overtime thriller and went to Delaware to compete with the #4 team in the FCS.

Why is it important for you and other alumni to stay connected with — and support — Cheshire Academy?

I think it is important for me and my fellow alumni to stay connected and support CA for a few different reasons. The first being that CA provided all of us with a special opportunity and boosted our growth in the classroom and as people wholly. I would want nothing more than for students who now have that same opportunity to have all of the resources and support that I was lucky enough to have. CA is a special place and will continue to be a special place for many students in the future.

HANNAH GAILEY ’17

Where did life take you after CA?

After CA, life took me way up north to St. Lawrence University (Canton, New York), where I very quickly realized the walk in the winter from the dining hall to JJ White wasn’t that bad compared to North Country winters.

I spent four years double majoring in business and communications and then minoring in sports studies and exercise science. During my four years at SLU, I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, where I took my studies across the world (I actually accidentally ran into another CA alumnus while abroad — Bawo Ayida ’17). I applied for internships during my summers, but I was never too successful so I worked in restaurants to learn other skills you cannot necessarily learn in an office. In my junior year of college, I connected with someone within the Red Sox organization and learned about the different departments and opportunities there.

Following graduation in 2021, I moved out to Nashville to work remotely for a marketing firm in Boston and picked up a side job just for fun. After my shift one day, I had a missed call from someone in the Red Sox organization and they offered me a position on their Season Ticket Sales Team. I don’t think I have ever been more excited in my life and I quickly packed my bags in three days and shipped up to Boston! I started in August 2021 as an inside sales representative and, in April 2022, was promoted to the Group Sales Department as an account executive.

In my role now, I help people organize group outings to the park and help to plan theme nights, giveaways, and other promotions. Not only do I have the chance to bring fans out to the park but my team and I also have the opportunity to have an impact on how we interact with the community through our heritage nights, health care nights, and other appreciation nights at Fenway Park.

How did Cheshire Academy and its athletics program prepare you for college, and how did it influence your professional career?

I had the great opportunity to be a part of a couple of fantastic sports teams during my time at CA. From sixth grade through 12th grade, I was able to watch both the volleyball and softball programs grow and flourish not only to championships, but to great programs that foster a supportive, optimistic, and family style energy. We were all able to learn that just like in a team sport, life is not always about you and your performance, but it is about your team and how you work to support that team. I believe how you support others says more than how you support just yourself and as a leader in sports and in life.

Another lesson that prepared me for the “real world” was to take initiative and to step up both on and off the field when a coach, teammate, or anyone needed help in some capacity. By identifying problems and figuring out what you can do for your team to make someone else’s job easier, not only do you learn more, but you also become a leader. Moving into college and the professional world, I took these lessons on leadership and initiative into positions on campus and learning about so many different departments outside of my own with the Red Sox. Many people go into the “real world” not having lessons like these and I think Cheshire Academy — and especially the athletics program — helped to establish those fundamental skills.

What are your goals, personal and/or professional in life? What impact do you want to have in the world?

One goal I have looking into the future of my professional career is finding more ways to create positive messages and support in the sports world. We have done a great job organizing different heritage nights throughout the season to celebrate different cultures, groups, and organizations. While there is always more that can be done, we are definitely off to a good start! A night I would love to bring to the park would be a Women’s Appreciation Night in which we bring women from all over New England and in different fields of work to connect and celebrate together.

On a personal level, I would love to learn American Sign Language. I think that it would be great to learn a nonverbal language to be able to connect with members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. I think that this would be a great challenge for myself with the end goal of being able to connect with a different group of people I might not have otherwise had the opportunity to.

I think the overall impact I would like to leave on the world is trying to leave it better than it has been, no matter how small scale it might be.

What is your favorite athletic moment or story while competing at CA and post-CA?

Cheshire Academy brought me a lot of palm-sweating, exciting sports moments. My favorite is winning the 2017 WNEPSAC Class B Softball Championship 2-1 against Suffield Academy during my senior year. It was our first year being in the Class B category and we fought hard to change classes to have a harder schedule than in past seasons. My family and I were able to watch a program go from 1 or 2 wins a season to winning multiple championships. It was such an incredible evolution to go through and really brought my time at CA full circle. I would be lying if I said winning the first ever softball championship for CA with my sister was not also a favorite, but the 2017 championship takes the cake.

My favorite post-CA experience was the Red Sox 2021 post season run. I got to watch the Sox battle through a Red Sox vs. Yankees Wild Card game and claw their way to the ALCS, where they unfortunately lost to the Houston Astros. While the end of the season didn’t swing our way, it was series of games I will never forget, especially when I got to experience a lot of the games with my family. The energy at Fenway was something out of this world, and to not only be at the game, but to be a part of the team was something so unique and unforgettable.

Why is it important for you and other alumni to stay connected with — and support — Cheshire Academy?

The greatest gift Cheshire Academy gave me was not a championship or an award, but the people I met and the lessons they helped me learn. Whether we realize it immediately as young alumni or not, we practice these life lessons daily — I am someone who has in the past year just come to realize it. CA has created such an incredible community that has allowed me and other alumni to build friendships both around the world and in our backyards. CA has always found great groupings of people and brought them together even when they may not have anything in common. Without Cheshire Academy, I would not have met people I now consider family and would not know half of what I know about the “real world” now.

A lesson I would love to share with the CA family that I believe encompasses why it is important to support Cheshire Academy is from Abby Kandel ’17, a fellow alumna who shared something her father said to me during our senior year, “Life isn't about how many awards you win, but how many lives you've touched.”

BRANDON SEBASTIAN ’17

Where did life take you after CA?

Cheshire Academy afforded me the opportunity to experience a lot of new things, one of which being the chance to attend and play football at Boston College.

How did Cheshire Academy and its athletics program prepare you for college, and how did it influence your professional career?

Going into Boston College, I felt prepared not only for football, but also school. When it came to football, CA prepared me for being around other great athletes such as Tarik Black ’17, CJ Lewis ’17, CJ Holmes ’17, Travis Ecke ’17, and a bunch of other lifelong friends whom were also Division I athletes or professional athletes. Knowing I had such great talent around me made me want to strive to be better than them, not only at football, but in the classroom as well, since we all competed against one another.

What are your goals, personal and/or professional in life? What impact do you want to have in the world?

A goal of mine is to get back into the NFL. I’m currently pursuing a career in the XFL, as it’s given me another opportunity to get back to where I was in the summer: playing football at the highest level possible. Another goal of mine is to spread peace, love, and positivity every day because it just makes the world a better place.

What is your favorite athletic moment or story while competing at CA and post-CA?

My favorite Cheshire Academy athletics story was when we were playing Andover (Andover, Massachusetts), and Auburn University and the University of Michigan were at the game recruiting varsity football players. I intercepted the ball during the game and saw the endzone; an Andover player tried to tackle me, but I jumped over him to score.

Another great memory was when I was called on draft day and was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers. That was something I had been working toward since I was 6 years old, and to experience it felt like a dream come true.

Why is it important for you and other alumni to stay connected with — and support — Cheshire Academy?

It’s important for me to stay connected to Cheshire Academy because CA will always be a part of my life story. Cheshire Academy is very family oriented; I know that the friendships I made there will last forever. Even today, my closest friends are the ones I made at CA.

ALEXIS HOLMES ’18

Where did life take you after CA?

After I graduated from Cheshire Academy, I attended Penn State for one year. Despite having a lot of success as a part of the Big Ten Conference, I decided to transfer after my second semester. It was then that I chose to attend the University of Kentucky and compete in the most competitive conference in the NCAA for track and field. While I faced many ups and downs throughout the years I spent in Lexington — including a severe ankle injury that cost me an entire season — I was able to reach a number of great achievements on and off the track.

Some of my most memorable achievements as a collegiate athlete include becoming a 2x Big Ten Champion in the 400m, becoming a 2x SEC Champion in the 400m, earning a 12x All-American status in the 400m and 4x400m, running a personal best time of 50.71 which was ranked first in the country during indoor season and fourth in the country during outdoor season, as well as anchoring Kentucky’s 4x400m relay to a national title and collegiate record.

Off the track, I secured my first internship working in the Martin Luther King Jr. Center on our campus, becoming the first athlete to ever work there. I was also selected to hold a position on multiple Black student and student-athlete leadership and advisory committees, where I served as a liaison between my peers and administrators and helped with navigating racial injustice and inequality on campus and in our country.

I recently signed my first professional contract with Nike. Running professionally has always been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I'm beyond excited to see where this next chapter of my life takes me.

How did Cheshire Academy and its athletics program prepare you for college, and how did it influence your professional career?

Cheshire Academy’s athletics program prepared me with the fundamentals necessary to be a successful student-athlete. I was equipped with the skills to balance the demands of both academics and athletics, which allowed me to excel in both areas throughout my college career. As a successful Division I athlete, I graduated with honors in my degree program as a public health professional.

What are your goals, personal and/or professional in life? What impact do you want to have in the world?

My main goal is to run professionally and become the top 400m runner in the world. I envision myself as an Olympic champion, world champion, and U.S. champion, as well as a key component to many successful relay championship teams for the U.S.

I also have goals to become a writer. I plan to write an autobiography series reflecting on my life thus far, and a fictional series as well. I have also thought about furthering my passion for photography. My hope is that through sharing my testimony and the way I see the world through my camera lens, I can share valuable lessons, spark important conversations, and possibly change the lives of those who interact with my work. Although I am only 22 years old, I feel as though my experiences have given me so many opportunities to grow holistically and I would love to share the wisdom I’ve gained thus far.

What is your favorite athletic moment or story while competing at CA and post-CA?

My favorite athletic moment while competing at CA would have to be my senior year volleyball season. That was the year when we were finally able to pull off a championship title. We always had so much talent and a real desire to be champions, so I was elated to be able to help my team achieve that goal in my last volleyball season as a Cat. I will always remember the moment we realized that we won. Everyone rushed to the middle of the court, hugging and crying, as we were filled with so much pride as a team.

Why is it important for you and other alumni to stay connected with — and support — Cheshire Academy?

I believe that attending Cheshire Academy is a unique experience that all CA graduates share. That’s part of the reason why it’s so important for us to stay connected. The amount of talent that passes through CA is incredible, and we all go on to do amazing things. We should make it a point to support and celebrate the achievements of the CA family, as well as inspire those who come after us to follow their dreams and pursue their goals.

MIA LEKO ’18

Where did life take you after CA?

After Cheshire Academy, I completed my undergraduate studies at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. I studied government and continued my passion for the arts, which I was inspired by taking IB Visual Arts HL at Cheshire Academy. I swam for the Big Green and decided to continue my athletic career after undergrad. During my senior year at Dartmouth, I was recruited to swim for Duke University thanks to my NCAA fifth-year eligibility as a result of the pandemic. I'm currently pursuing a master's degree at the Fuqua School of Business and swimming for Duke University.

How did Cheshire Academy and its athletics program prepare you for college?

I built some incredible time management skills at Cheshire Academy. As a full IB student, I had to balance an intense academic workload with athletics and extracurricular activities. There are so many skills and experiences that I found translating over to college life. I knew what it was like to go to school on a campus, build friendships with people from around the whole world, challenge myself with rigorous academics, and compete in a sport, all at the same time. Thanks to this experience, I left feeling ready for Dartmouth.

What are your goals, personal and/or professional in life? What impact do you want to have in the world?

One day, I hope to start my own business in an industry that I love. I am passionate about sports, arts, fashion, world politics and Italian, and now I am deeply learning about management in business school. With so many interests, I have yet to pinpoint which industry I want to enter. Immediately, my goal after graduating Duke with a master's degree is to enter strategy consulting. I hope to have a positive impact in the world. I'm a first-generation American and I like to think I'm chasing the American dream! I strive to be the best role model for my little sister and to take on any opportunity that comes my way.

What is your favorite athletic moment or story while competing at CA and post-CA?

Without a doubt, my favorite moments while competing for CA swimming were setting new records on relays with friends. We had such a great group of swimmers during my time there. No one saw us coming, so it was a lot of fun surprising people with what we could do. Since I left Cheshire, there have been too many favorite memories to count. Though winning an ivy league title, traveling to Florida for training trips during cold New Hampshire winters, and making friends across teams, I feel like I have had quite the unique and amazing journey in college athletics. Even as a graduate student, I continue to enjoy every moment in and out of the pool.

Why is it important for you and other alumni to stay connected with — and support — Cheshire Academy?

Cheshire Academy introduced me to so many awesome people from all over the world. I made some of my favorite memories on campus and love stopping by whenever I'm home. Even though we're placed all around the world as alumni, we make an effort to stay in touch. Personally, I continue to support Cheshire Academy because I hope that those attending after me have the opportunity to experience such an awesome place, make lifelong memories, and grow a skillset that sets them up for success in any path they wish to pursue.