Four exceptional Bishop Kenny High School student-athletes were honored on April 15 as they signed their national letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Surrounded by coaches, family, and friends, these young athletes celebrated the culmination of years of hard work, discipline, and dedication to both sport and scholarship.
Reese Mayer, an accomplished basketball player, will take her talents to Mount Saint Mary College in New York. A well-rounded student, Reese was involved in numerous clubs including Crusader Athletes for Christ, History, Latin, and Interact, while also earning membership in the English, Latin, Rho Kappa, and National Honor Societies. Reflecting on her high school career, Reese shared, “Being coached by my father has been an amazing experience and a true gift. He’s been a positive role model, and I can’t thank him enough for always believing in me and pushing me to play my best.”
Distance runner Tessa Massa signed with Appalachian State University after an impressive high school career that included back-to-back state championships with the Crusader Cross Country team in 2023 and 2024. Tessa is a member of several honor societies and clubs, including Mu Alpha Theta and Crusader Athletes for Christ. She credited Coach Mike Curran for his impact, saying, “Coach Curran has been particularly inspirational to me because he is always so positive and motivates me and the team to always focus on the goal and work harder.”
Garrett Holloway will be heading to Hampton Sydney College in Virginia to play football. Known for his leadership on and off the field, Garrett served on the Leadership Council and participated in Crusader Athletes for Christ. He praised the team dynamic and coaching staff at Bishop Kenny, noting, “I enjoy the team aspect of football at Bishop Kenny and Coach Krause is a tremendous coach. He motivates not only me, but the entire team and his energy is just unbelievable.”
A multi-sport standout, Payton Burnett signed with Aurora University in Illinois. Payton balanced both football and basketball at the varsity level and was also active in Crusader Athletes for Christ and the Interact club. He shared a heartfelt reason for his dedication this season: “Being a two-sport athlete has been a fantastic experience at BK. I love playing both so much and enjoy the team comradery. I dedicated my season this year to my grandmother who has been watching me from heaven—she was one of my biggest supporters and loved to watch me play.”
These athletes represent the best of Bishop Kenny—scholarship, sportsmanship, and spiritual integrity. As they take the next step in their journeys, the entire Crusader community celebrates their achievements and wishes them continued success at the collegiate level.
Congratulations, Crusaders!