At least 24 Poly Blue Devil student-athletes from the Class of 2023 will be taking their talents to the diamonds, fields, courts, and pools of colleges and universities from Georgetown and the University of Miami on the East Coast to Pepperdine and UCLA on the West Coast, as well as to the United States Naval Academy this coming fall. Visit our Blue Devils in College page to see more Poly student athletes who have gone on to play at the college level.

Among them are six from the Varsity Football team, four from the NYSAIS championship Baseball team, three Girls’ Volleyball players, two from Girls’ Basketball, two Boys’ Lacrosse players, two Track & Field competitors, individual athletes from the Boys’ Basketball, Girls’ Lacrosse, Boys’ Soccer, and Boys’ Squash teams, and a water polo player!

“Our graduating student-athletes proudly represent Poly Prep and our community as they dream of matriculating and competing at the next level,” said Head of Athletics Rich Corso. “We are incredibly thrilled with all our athletic teams, with them continuously working to fulfill our mission to develop academic, athletic, and life champions. I want to congratulate our student-athletes, coaches, and parents for raising the bar of excellence in the classroom on the playing field—all the best next fall with your intercollegiate opportunities.”

Class of 2023 Student-Athlete Spotlights

Ben Rosenblatt ’23

Ben Rosenblatt is eager to take his place among the Scarlet Knights. He is already settled in the Rutgers University dorm, has joined his teammates in the weight room, and is taking two courses over the summer. He said the highlight of his Poly career was “playing my senior year at Poly with most of the guys I had been playing with since Middle School and on JV and just being on the field with them.” Rosenblatt, who played wide receiver on Poly’s Varsity Football team said of his Rutgers career, “I look forward to helping contribute to my team’s success and working to become the best player I can be.”

Zeraun Daniel ’23

Zeraun Daniel, who will take his Poly football skills to Georgetown University, was also part of the Boys’ Track and Field team that won the 2023 NYSAIS Championship. Daniel went to the federation championships to compete in the high jump event, but  doesn’t plan to be a two-sport athlete in college. “I want to focus on football, but if the opportunity arises, I might take the chance [to play both]. I’m forever thankful for everything that track has helped me to achieve. The highlight of my athletic career at Poly has to be our undefeated senior football season. Every game leading up to the championship was filled with grit and determination and especially the semifinals against Pingry. Definitely our closest game and in my opinion, the most exciting because it gave Poly a run for their money.”

Julia’Belle Reyfman ’23

Julia’Belle Reyfman will continue to compete in Track & Field at Brown University. Reyfman took first place in the Girls’ javelin event at the 2023 New York Relays at Ichan Stadium. “The highlight of my Poly Track & Field career was the Ivy Championships in 2022,” Reyfman recalled. “Girls’ javelin was the very last event, very late in the evening. The sun was setting in the most picture-perfect way as we were throwing and the whole team came down to the runway to watch and cheer. Although I didn’t win that day, the team spirit was the highest I have ever experienced. During every throw that I took, good or not so-good, everyone was cheering. I was very proud to be a Blue Devil. I am competing in javelin at Brown next year. I am very excited to see what this next chapter will bring.”

Alfonso Rada ’23

Alfonso Rada is going to Hamilton College to play baseball. “I am an infielder, and I believe I will be primarily a third baseman in college,” Rada said. “The highlight of my athletic career at Poly was winning the 2023 NYSAIS Championship. It was a perfect way to cap off my high school baseball career, and it was one of the most exciting games that I have ever played in.”

Ariana Rodriguez ’23

Ariana Rodriguez, who is heading to University of Miami, played volleyball at Poly. She won Poly’s Chuck Kaufman Memorial Award and played for the Dominican Republic at the Pan American Cup. “Over the course of my athletic career here at Poly,” Rodriguez said, “there have definitely been numerous highlights. However, I have to admit that my greatest memory from my time here is winning back-to-back NYSAIS championships for such an amazing school. It has been nothing but hard work, hunger, and dedication from the volleyball team and I would do it again with the same group of wonderful girls.” She added, “I am looking forward to new friendships on the court and in the classroom, the challenges D1 has to offer, and the amazing atmosphere the University of Miami puts forward for anyone and everyone who steps on campus!”

Elektra Urbatsch ’23

Elektra Urbatsch, who will be playing water polo for UCLA this fall, has enjoyed an international competitive career over the past few years. After training in Greece in 2022, she was invited to represent the U.S. at the Australian National Championships, the equivalent to the USA water polo junior Olympics. Urbatsch has been a swimmer since the age of four. As part of Poly’s Varsity Swim team, she competed in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay and set new Poly records in the 50 meter and 100 meter freestyle. A multi-sport athlete, Urbatsch also played on Poly’s Varsity Volleyball team which took home the NYSAIS and Ivy League championships in 2021 and 2022.

Phillip Lawrence ’23

Phillip Lawrence, who is headed to the University of Chicago this fall to play basketball, was honored with the Scull Plaque, which is presented to the seniors who have excelled both in scholarship and athletics. “I would say the highlight of my basketball career at Poly had to have been hitting the game-winning shot, at the buzzer, in the 2022 NYSAIS Championship game,” Lawrence recalls. “We were the underdogs against Portledge, a strong team from Long Island who we had beaten in 2020.  Many student athletes in the class of 2023 had a disruption in their respective seasons because of COVID. Our team lost a year and being able to play in only three seasons made me appreciate every moment with the team and coaches. The chemistry of the team, no doubt, was a contributor to our successes and I know how fortunate I am to have made these friendships with the players and coaches. Being a part of such a successful team with amazing coaches like Coach De La Rosa, Coach Kettering, Coach Elwell, and Coach Dami will definitely prepare me for the next level.” He added,  “I am very excited to play at U Chicago. I have been able to practice with the team a few times as well as spend time with the players off the court. There is a strong sense of brotherhood and I immediately felt welcome. I think I’m most looking forward to being challenged.  Much like my transition to Poly in 2019, players are bigger, stronger, and more experienced. I’ll have my work cut out for me, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Eliza Schwarz ’23

Eliza Schwarz was the other 2023 winner of Poly’s Scull Cup, awarded for combined academic and athletic achievement. At the awards ceremony, her coach Lisa Beltramello said of her, “On the lacrosse field, she has racked up honors and awards every year she has played. With 137 total saves this season alone and a save percentage of 71%, no one even in the Ivy Prep League even comes close to her talent in goal. In two seasons, she has had a total of 273 saves and has won First Team All Ivy Prep League honors in that same time. She was also a U.S. Lacrosse Academic All American recipient last year, an honor that only a handful of student-athletes in the country hold. She is continuing her playing career at Hamilton College, where she will see the best lacrosse that Division III has to offer.”