Three Formidable Greeley Athletes Sign National Letters of Intent

Inspired by the nurturing and supportive athletic environment while competing at Horace Greeley High School, three seniors - Kelly Byrne, Michelle Kasulka and Erica Rosendorf - signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their sporting careers in college.

Family and friends gathered in the Main Gym on Nov. 9 to celebrate the student-athletes’ extraordinary accomplishments. Next fall, Kelly will swim at Bucknell University, Michelle will dive for Villanova University and Erica will play lacrosse for Georgetown University.

“This achievement is a mark of their talent and hard work,” said Greeley Athletic Director Jamie  Block. “It is a rare feat and makes their success that much more special.”

The three athletes each selected their college based on its warm and friendly environment - a quality that is important to each of them based on their experiences in Chappaqua. When Erica visited Georgetown, the atmosphere was so casual and the people were so friendly that she felt as if she had known them forever.

“There was definitely the best connection,” said Erica, who was named an All-Section athlete in her junior year and is expected to be one of the top lacrosse players in Section One this spring. “It still doesn’t feel real that I’m going to Georgetown. I definitely can’t wait.”

One of Erica’s favorite Greeley memories illustrates the warm energy on her team. In the Spring 2022 season, the lacrosse team defeated North Rockland by five points. It was a big deal for the Chappaqua athletes, but even more so for their coaches. The team’s celebrations highlighted its family dynamic.

Greeley’s swim and dive team also boasts genuine amiability and warmheartedness between its athletes. Kelly, a longtime swimmer who became Section champion in the 500-yard Freestyle in early November, noted that being on the team pushes her to work hard and stay positive.

“I met all my best friends through the swim/dive team in high school,” said Kelly, who looks forward to replicating that next year in college. “That’s something I have loved about being on this team. So, it was a huge relief to find Bucknell. You work hard and worry about college, but now I don’t have to worry about where I’ll be.”

Michelle agreed, adding that the Greeley team encouraged her to continuously improve and perform at her highest level.

“It has been good to have friendships with kids in other grades and to make new friends,” she said. “That has been really nice, and Villanova seemed to have that energy too. It’s great that all my hard work paid off. You put in a lot of time and effort to compete.”

Michelle began diving in ninth grade, after competing in gymnastics as a child. While the athletic transition was easy, she noted that diving is “a lot more fun” due to the contentment of being on a team. Her love of diving saw her become the Section champion this fall. (continued below)

Each of the three National Letters of Intent signees are well-rounded students. Erica plays soccer, is president of the Bronx Lacrosse Club and is a member of the For Girls By Girls Club, which creates a safe and confidential space for girls to talk about and find solutions to their problems. Next fall, she plans to enter Georgetown’s business school and will likely study accounting.

Michelle, who expects to study finance at Villanova, participates in her school’s Leadership Council and the Beach and Ocean Protection Club. Outside of school, she is a member of the New York Dive Club and is a Girl Scout who has earned her Gold Award.

Kelly runs the Beach and Ocean Protection Club at Greeley and participates in the Gifting for Thrifting Club. Outside of school, she has served as a lifeguard and is a member of the Westchester Aquatic Club. She is currently undecided about her major at Bucknell.