Nine North Middlesex Regional High School (NMRHS) students were celebrated on Tuesday, May 20, surrounded by their families, teammates and friends as they signed commitment letters to play sports at the colleges and universities of their choice. 

Each year, NMRHS honors graduating seniors who are extending their athletic careers by participating in collegiate athletics at a College Commitment Ceremony. At the ceremony, families, teammates, friends and coaches gather at the high school as the student-athletes publicly sign their National Letter of Intent. 

This year's ceremony honored nine seniors: 

• Nick Pucillo, of Pepperell, committed to play lacrosse at the University of New England
• Jill Hodgson, of Townsend, committed to play soccer at the University of New England
• Scott Rich, of Pepperell, committed to play lacrosse at the Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Olivia Faro, of Townsend, committed to play field hockey at Rivier University 
• Jaden Durand, of Townsend, committed to participate in track and field at Bridgewater State University 
• Sam Chaple, of Townsend, committed to participate in track and field at Bridgewater State University
• Lily Gouveia, of Pepperell, committed to play soccer at Framingham State University 
• Sam Difonte, of Townsend, committed to participate in track and field at Saint Anselm College
• Brady Reardon, of Pepperell, committed to play baseball at American International College

Reardon was unable to attend the ceremony with the rest of his peers. In response, the school held a stand-alone ceremony for the senior, where he signed his letter surrounded by his baseball teammates. 

"I would like to extend congratulations to each of these talented student-athletes," said Superintendent Brad Morgan. "Their commitment to athletics has greatly impacted the programs they participate in, and I know that these student-athletes will continue to excel and lead as they transition to collegiate athletics. I wish each of them the best."

Southard Pantano a big hit at North Middlesex

BY JAMES ALBERT, CORRESPONDENT

TOWNSEND — Kelly Marciano has been around field hockey for nearly four  decades.

Now in her 38th year of coaching and 12th at North Middlesex Regional, she can spot talent a mile away.

Last year, it took her seconds to notice a freshman at tryouts.

That ninth-grader, Meredith Southard Pantano, went on to lead the Mid-Wach B Division in scoring, and she’s up there again this fall with 20 goals and 12 assists through 13 games.

“She’s the real deal,” said Marciano. “Meredith has a gift. She wants to go to a big Division 1 (college) program and hands down, I know she can get there.”

But it’s much more than just Southard Pantano’s ability to find the back of the net which makes her so elite.

She’s also the No. 1 ranked student in her sophomore class with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She’s a member of several school clubs, plays field hockey yearround, and is a varsity member of the indoor track and lacrosse programs.

 “What makes Meredith so special is how humble she is and how kind she is. She’s just an amazing young lady in so many ways,” said Marciano.

Last year the Pepperell resident was named a Sun and Mid-Wach B League All-Star after helping the Patriots to an 8-9-2 overall record and a trip to the playoffs.

This year her game has completely taken off. She has the 32 points — giving her 50 in 32 career games — including three assists in Monday night’s 5-0 win over Groton-Dunstable.

“She’s a much stronger player this year and has improved in every part of her game,” said Marciano. “What makes her elite is she plays the whole game and never tires, and her acumen of the game of field hockey is huge. She’s so dynamic on the field.They take the ball away from her and she re-defends and not too many players do that. She makes everyone around her so, so much better. She’s unselfish, she’s humble and she’s the first one to offer help to her teammates.

Along with her amazing skill, she offers so many other things.

“She’s an elite player. Her speed is definitely better than most. Her vision is a huge part of field hockey and she has incredible vision. She makes decisions on the fly the entire game. She’s just really fun to watch and is explosive out there,” added the coach.

Southard Pantano comes from an athletic family.

Her father was a competitive skier at Syracuse University and her brother Townsend is there now, also in the same sport. Southard Pantano’s aunt played field hockey at Syracuse and mom played it in high school in Maine.

“I first picked up a field hockey stick when I was in the first grade and I went to some of coach Marciano’s clinics and camps,” said Meredith. “I was a lacrosse player until fifth grade or so and my mom suggested that I try field hockey (competitively).”

She did. And that love has stuck like the ball does to her stick.

“I love the team aspect of field hockey. It’s just really, really fun for me to be able to come out here and do something that I love with a bunch of my friends,” she said.

Besides playing for NM, Southard Pantano plays for the Northeast Elite Club Team and is also part of the Nexus Program, a feeder program for USA Field Hockey and its national teams.

Southard Pantano has competed in the Nexus championship games each of the past two years, and has hopes of advancing to getting an invite to the Development Camp and then perhaps making it to the National Team.

That opportunity could become a reality next spring, but in the meantime she just wants to help the Patriots advance further than last year’s first-round playoff loss.

“It’s not about scoring for me,” she said. “It’s just about doing whatever it takes to help my teammates and I just try to be a great teammate and help the team in any way that I can.”