FOUR BERKELEY STUDENT-ATHLETES SIGN NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT THIS FALL

This fall, four senior Berkeley student-athletes signed their National Letter of Intent to participate in an NCAA sport next year in college. They join 96 fellow Buccaneer alumni currently competing in college athletics. Each has proven that athletic excellence can co-exist with exemplary performance in the classroom. 

James Hankerson (Baseball, Florida State University)
James is a three-year varsity letter winner in the baseball program. Over the past two seasons, James has proved himself to be one of the state’s most dangerous power hitters. Heading into his senior season, James has 59 hits, 12 of which went for home runs. He led the team with 39 RBIs last season. He was named the 813 Preps Hitter of the Year and named to the MaxPreps All-State Second team last year. He is ranked as one of the top 65 players in the state of Florida and the 4th best first basemen in the state as well.

Olivia Pielak (Soccer, Rice University)
As a four-year starter and Varsity letter winner on the Varsity Soccer team, Olivia has been a pivotal contributor to Berkeley’s region semi-final and two region finalist teams during the first three years of her career. Olivia provided an offensive spark as a forward in her freshman and sophomore years totaling 31 goals and 17 assists, but it was the switch to her more natural center back position midway through her junior season that solidified our defense. A leader on campus and on the pitch, Olivia is a Captain of the team this season.  

Troy Reader (Baseball, University of Notre Dame)
Troy is a five-year varsity letter winner in the baseball program. Last year, Troy helped lead the football and baseball teams to the state championship game. Troy has been a mainstay in the lineup over the past four years and enters his senior year with 42 career hits, 35 career RBI, and four home runs. He has been named a Perfect Game Pre-Season Underclass All-American and to the Florida All-Region team. He is ranked as one of the top 100 players in the state of Florida and the 7th best catcher in the state as well.

Ellis Weekley (Track & Field, University of Notre Dame)
Ellis is a four-year varsity letter winner in Track and Field.  Throughout her first three years at Berkeley, she has amassed numerous school records and all-state accolades.  Ellis currently owns seven school records in the 100-meter dash, 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, 4 x 100 relay, 4 x 400 relay, high jump, and long jump.  In her junior year, she became the first Berkeley athlete to medal in the maximum allowed four events at the State meet. Her versatility qualified her last summer to compete in the Nike Outdoor National championships in the Heptathlon, where she finished 5th. 

Congratulations to all four of these Buccaneers.  You make us proud!
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Founded in 1960, Berkeley is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory day school located in Tampa, FL, for boys and girls in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12. Approximately 1,400 students gather here from the greater Tampa Bay area to form ONE Berkeley.