College Signings 1: These 4 Notre Dame Academy student-athletes have chosen their new schools

Notre Dame Academy is more than ready for the holiday season, but you’ll have to excuse the Gators if they were even more festive recently as they recognized four student-athletes who made their collegiate choices official during a signing ceremony.

The Advance/SILive.com is kicking off the 2024-25 college signing series — College Signings 1 — with four seniors from the Grymes Hill school.

Two softball players, one swimmer and one hoopster will be featured in this report. Two of the student-athletes will be attending Division 1 programs while the other two will be taking their talents to D2 schools.

For a closer look at where NDA’s signees will attend school, please scroll down. And for another look at a recent signing by a Staten Island student-athlete, please scroll to the bottom.

*****

Giuliana Dito, Notre Dame Academy

Family ties had Notre Dame Academy’s Giuliana Dito yearning to attend the College of Staten Island at an early age.

Her uncle, Tim Shanahan, was once CSI’s women’s basketball head coach and her cousins, Allie Shanahan and Victoria Gallinaro, both played for the Dolphins.

Dito got a steady diet of CSI hoops at an early age.

“CSI has always been in the back of my mind for college, but I always kept my options open because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go away or stay home,’' admits the 17-year-old Dito. “But (current CSI head coach) Nicole Sarcone contacted me and speaking to her really helped in the process (of picking a school).

“I eventually went for a visit and loved it,’' continued Dito, who, of course, knows CSI’s court well since NDA uses the Division 2 school’s facility for its home court. “I’ve been playing in that gym my whole high school career and I’m familiar with it.’'

Dito, in essence, saw the writing on the wall and she recently signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the Willowbrook school on a partial athletic scholarship.

“It’s definitely a dream come true, something I’ve wanted since I was a little kid,’' said Dito, who will likely play combo guard on the collegiate level. “Playing basketball and pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse is something that’s very special to me and I’m going to be able to do both at CSI.’'

The 5-foot-8 Dito, a three-year varsity play at NDA, averaged 11.5 points-per-game a year ago, as well as approximately four rebounds and assists per contest. The southpaw, who plays travel for the Staten Island Diamonds, possesses a consistent perimeter shot, doesn’t hesitate to take the ball to the rim and also makes a fair amount of trips to the free-throw line.

“(Coach Sarcone) likes everything about my game, but wants me to get stronger. She believes I can help them win a championship,’' said Dito. “It’s possible for me to play as early as freshman year if I put in the work. That’s something that was important to me. They’re losing some (players) and I know some coaches say it’s possible to get time right away, but you don’t know if they’re being truthful or not. But I believe if I put in the work, (CSI’s coaches) will give me time if I deserve it.’'

The Dongan Hills resident also received offers from Caldwell, Dominican, Felician, Molloy and St. Joseph’s of Brooklyn.

Ryann Ellefsen, Notre Dame Academy

First impressions went a very long way the first time Notre Dame Academy swimmer Ryann Ellefsen talked to Le Moyne College women’s swimming coach Adam Zaczkowski.

In fact, she was particularly impressed with something Zaczkowski said during their conversation.

“He said he, ‘could take good people and make their times faster, but he couldn’t take fast (swimmers) and make them good people,’' said the West Brighton resident, who initiated talks by emailing the Dolphins’ coach. “(In referencing recruiting), he also said ‘it starts with personalities, then he looks at the times.

“Those are things that really stood with me,’' Ellefsen added. “I like the fact that he looked at me as a person first and I just instantly clicked with him.’'

Not surprisingly, Ellefsen, who has been a part of Trident Aquatic Club at Wagner College since she was in 1st grade, recently signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Division 1 Le Moyne on a partial athletic scholarship.

Ellefesen went on an unofficial visit in July, then an official visit in September and it further helped her decide the Syracuse school was the place for her.

“I loved it from the start,’' she said. “It gave me such a different vibe. Every other school I visited while looking for a college was cloudy and rainy and the day I visited Le Moyne, the sun was shining and hot. It’s a small campus, like NDA, and I just knew.

“When the process of looking for a college started, I really didn’t care if I went to a Division 1, 2 or 3 school, I just wanted to be happy,’' Ellefsen added. “And I am happy. I’m moving on to a good school and loving that it’s D1.’'

Ellefsen, who is primarily a distance swimmer, has recently competed in the 400 individual medley (personal best 4:53) and the 200 butterfly (2:22). Last season, the junior finished first in the CHSAA city championships in the 500 free and fourth in the 100 backstroke. The versatile swimmer also had a second-place finish in the 500 at champs as a sophomore.

Zaczkowski, meanwhile, believes Ellefsen has a high ceiling.

“He knows I haven’t started lifting yet and wants to get me into the gym,’' said the 17-year-old. “He likes my personality. He told me he knew he wanted me at Le Moyne for a while, but just needed me to say ‘yes.’'

Ellefsen is planning to major in Mathematics. She also received interest from Stonehill, Montclair State, Felician and Barton.

Emily Reilly, Notre Dame Academy

Notre Dame Academy’s Emily Reilly didn’t mince words when discussing her desire to attend the College of Staten Island.

Simply put, her mom, the former Kristen Scarangello, played for the Dolphins’ softball team after competing in high school at Tottenville. Her dad, Ray, played baseball at St. Peter’s before joining CSI’s squad.

It’s not a stretch to say CSI is in Emily’s blood and her plans to follow in her parents’ footsteps were set in stone as she accepted an offer for a roster spot at the Division 2 school.

Reilly, a two-year varsity player for the Gators, first reached out to CSI softball coach Tracey Garofalo in June and it got the ball rolling to her recruitment.

“My parents have always told me how much they liked playing for CSI and encouraged me to give it a shot,’' she explained. “After I reached out (to Garofalo), she came to watch my games and after I went for a visit on June 17, they offered me on that day.

“I feel like it’s a big accomplishment,’' added the West Brighton resident. “It’s great to see all of my hard work has paid off.’'

Reilly, who plays travel for the Staten Island Saints, had a solid season at the plate and in the field after landing a starting spot on her first year on varsity.

“(Coach Garofalo) likes my aggressiveness and the way I swing the bat,’' Reilly said. “She also said she doesn’t care what year you are (in school), if you prove you can play and you’re a hard worker, it’s possible to play right away.

“(Knowing I have a chance) made me feel a lot more confident and, I’m obviously going to work as hard as I can from the start.’'

The 17-year-old Reilly, who bats righty, is planning to major in Education.

Hope Uzzle, Notre Dame Academy

When Notre Dame Academy pitcher Hope Uzzle’s dad, Damon, registered her for a softball camp at Howard University, the three-year varsity player wasn’t sure if she wanted to continue to put her talent on display for D1 program’s any longer.

But a funny thing happened during her visit to the Washington, D.C., school.

“They took an interest in me,’' said the 17-year-old hurler with a smile. “It was exciting — I was finally being recruited. When camp was over, the coaches asked me to pitch more and before I left, I received an offer from them.’'

Uzzle, in turn, recently took advantage of that offer when she signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school on a full athletic scholarship.

“The team and coaches were really welcoming and I just felt like we bonded,’' said Uzzle, whose future team boasted a 32-13 record last spring. “They see me as a diamond in the rough and pitching on the Division 1 level has always been a dream of mine.

“It’s just a great feeling.’'

Uzzle, a hard-throwing righty, has been the ace of NDA’s staff the last two seasons and has been in the pitcher’s circle for the majority of the Gators’ victories, including their magical run to the CHSAA Archdiocesan championship game in 2023.

The Mariners Harbor resident, who couldn’t help but point out that her initials — HU — are the same as her future school, said head coach Tori Tyson and her coaching staff like her demeanor.

“She likes how I pitch and that I wouldn’t let anything get to me (if something goes wrong),’' said Uzzle. “She also loves my curveball. She’s planning to work on it with me, the way I hold the ball for that pitch.

“I can’t wait to get started. It’s going to be a new experience that I’m very much looking forward to.’'

Uzzle, who plays travel ball for the New Jersey Kraze, is planning to study Business at Howard. She also received interest from Marist, Stonehill and Stony Brook.

Other 2024-25 College Signings by Charle De Biase Jr.

Farrell’s Aiden Pedreros (Football)