Antonellis to Play at Bucknell
While many families are beginning the college search with anxious sons and daughters, Groton-Dunstable senior Celina Antonellis is done! The talented student-athlete has signed a National Letter of Intent to play women's softball at Bucknell University, a private liberal arts Division 1 university, located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
"I had interest in several outstanding colleges including Havard, Yale, MIT and Bowdoin. But everyone was so friendly at Bucknell, and I had worked with assistant softball coach Maya Repecki when I first started playing softball," related Antonellis. "Bucknell was at the top of my list because of the comfort level there.
"My parents were big Celtics fans and they always encouraged me to get involved in atletics. Sports were just something we did. I have posters of McHale and Bird in the room downstairs," shared Antonellis. "Mom was a cheerleader in high school and Dad played sports. They never pushed me but always supported me. I was kind of self-motivated and wanted to get involved."
Celina's older brother Marcus ran cross country and track and presently attends Holy Cross. Her younger sister Maria, a sophomore at GD, was the goalie last year on the Crusaders girls' varsity lacrosse team. "We're competitive but we work well with each other."
Being selected to captain last year's softball team and this year's basketball team is quite an honor, but Antonellis is equally proud of her academic accomplishments at Groton-Dunstable where she currently is ranked number one in her class.
"I was never the best player on any of the teams I played on but the coaches I had, including Repecki, were knowledgeable and I knew I was getting solid training. Just knowing I was taught the right way gave me a certain amount of confidence," she said.
As a sophomore, Antonellis was on the bubble regarding making the Crusaders HS girls basketball team. "I didn't play much except if there was a minute left and we were up by 40, then coach Hennelly would put me in," remembered Antonellis.
"He told me, 'I'm still not sure you are ready for the big time'." But Antonellis took on the challenge, practiced with the varsity, improved, and as this year's basketball captain attests, she succeeded.
"Playing softball for coach Asadoorian is so enjoyable," said Antonellis. "He treats us like we're all his daughters. He's intense but is in tune to coaching females. It must be very different than coaching the varsity football team but he does it successfully.
"The one thing I am most proud of is being able to balance my academics, which are really, really important to me, with sports.
"I really have enjoyed my four years at Groton-Dunstable, and Bucknell seems like it will be a continuation," she concluded.
Excellent college and outstanding student-athlete. Looks like a win-win.
