At Summit High School, hundreds of students participate in sports each year. However, it is only a small percentage of high school athletes that continue their careers at the collegiate level. This year, 29 Summit seniors are committed to participate in sports such as soccer, basketball and tennis for colleges across the nation. These students have shown excellence in sports, academics and other activities throughout high school, and as they move into the next chapter of their athletic and academic careers, their accomplishments deserve recognition. Read on to meet four of these athletes and learn more about their plans for the future.

Frayda Lemas (Track and Field, Cal State San Marcos)

After finding success with discus and shot put on Summit’s track and field team, senior Frayda Lemas is planning to continue with the sport at California State University, San Marcos in San Marcos, California. Lemas knew from the start of her college search that she wanted to attend a school in California, and when she came across information regarding Cal State San Marcos’ track program, she knew the school was right for her. 

As she enters the next chapter of her athletic career, Lemas, a four-year track athlete, will always look back fondly on her experiences with the Summit team.

“Obviously winning the meets [is] cool and throwing good is cool and watching my friends throw good is cool, but actually developing the friendships and relationships I did with my track team is probably my favorite [part],” said Lemas. She hopes to forge similar relationships with her future teammates at Cal State San Marcos, as well as improve athletically.

“I left some of my goals untouched in high school and so I’m excited to set a new set of goals and actually reach all of them this time,” said Lemas. 

Saylor Gillet (Women’s Golf, Savannah College of Art and Design)

Summit senior Saylor Gillet is committed to play golf for Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, Georgia. Gillet chose to attend SCAD, which offers a variety of specialized artistic pathways, because of its fashion design program which will allow her to focus on sports fashion.

In addition to the academic opportunities, Gillet is looking forward to joining the school’s women’s golf team. She has been playing golf since she was young, winning her first junior tournament at the age of eight and making Summit’

s varsity team as a freshman, and she has had an incredible experience with her teammates and coaches at Summit. One of her favorite memories with the team is winning the team state title last year and placing third individually. Gillet is excited for the higher level of competition she will face next year. For her, competition has always been an opportunity for improvement, and competing against some of the best golfers in the country will certainly provide this.

“[I’m looking forward to] competing at a higher level and getting better and better [at golf],” she said. As she transitions into the next chapter of her golf journey, Gillet hopes to continue her upward trajectory and bond with teammates over a sport she loves.

Kirk Lord (Cross Country and Track and Field, Pitzer College)

Next fall, Summit senior Kirk Lord will be running cross country and track and field for the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, a joint Division III athletic team comprised of athletes from Pomona College and Pitzer College in Claremont, California. Lord has been an integral part of the Summit community over the past four years, participating in two sports, numerous organizations and founding the school’s neuroscience club. 

He was ranked first on the track team in the 800 meter race this year, an achievement that did not come easily for him—Lord started the track season with a stress fracture. However, he was determined to run at districts, a goal which he exceeded by qualifying for the state meet in the 800 meter race and 4×400 meter relay.

“The last lap [of the 4×400], I would say, was probably one of the best memories I’ll ever have with Summit,” said Lord. “Celebrating with the team at the end was incredibly fun and fulfilling.” It is this feeling of connection with teammates that Lord hopes to find among his fellow Sagehens.

“I look forward to team bonding and doing really hard things with the people that I love, and I’m sure that I’ll love all the people on my college team,” said Lord. 

As Lord prepares to run at a higher level, he is exceedingly grateful to the coaching staff, such as Summit distance coach Kari Strang and Summit Track and Field coach Dave Turnbull, who have helped him grow into the athlete and person he is today. 

“Kari is really good at pushing us to be our best, and she emphasizes the development of runners’ character,” said Lord.

Paxon Kettering (Football, Duke University)

Summit senior Paxon Kettering, a member of Summit’s varsity football and basketball teams, will be playing

as a wide receiver at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina in the fall. Duke has been Kettering’s dream school since he was young, and he is incredibly excited to continue his football career and pursue higher education.

In Kettering’s time at Summit, he has been involved in a variety of activities, including football, basketball, track and field, lacrosse and Interact Club. He believes that trying out a variety of sports and not focusing on one sport too early has helped him develop the skills, work ethic and teamwork abilities that have propelled him to the collegiate level.

“I think the variety of my athletic experiences at Summit, like all the coaches and all the players and that team dynamic, has really helped me,” said Kettering.

This same team dynamic has also been one of his favorite parts of high school athletics, and he will never forget memories such as traveling with his basketball team and attending Wildcat Team Football Camp at Linfield University. He is looking forward to forging relationships with a new team at Duke and is glad not to lose the structure and social aspect of athletics as he transitions into his college years.

All things considered, these senior athletes and their peers have accomplished incredible things during their four years at Summit. Their futures, both in and out of athletics, are bright. They have left our school a better place than it was when they entered, and they will undoubtedly have a similar impact on any other school, team or community they are part of. Summit will forever be proud of them.