Burroughs Hosts Special Signing Day for Graduating Student-Athletes

Seven John Burroughs Bears student-athletes have officially chosen where they will continue their athletic pursuits. Nate Chapman, Emerson Colbentz, Natalie Kersaryan, Mariana Perez, Adriel Abaong, and Aienas Pichardo each signed with the college of their choice to continue their athletic careers. Nate Chapman is currently playing in his final season with the Burroughs Bears baseball team and has officially chosen to further his baseball playing career at Pacific University in Forest Grove Oregon.

Chapman is a 4-year varsity player for the Burroughs baseball program and was a key part of the team’s 2022 CIF Championship team. He was able to share that experience with his older brother Andrew, who was a senior during the 2022 season. Chapman’s fellow teammates Willian Arnes and Ainas Pichardo will also play college baseball with Pichardo committing to Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and Arnes committing to Houghton University in Western New York. Pichardo will not only play baseball in college, but the two-sport athlete will also play football for Lawrence University. During his time at Burroughs High School, Pichardo played both football and baseball.

Emerson Colbentz, currently playing in her final season with Burroughs Softball, played all 4 years in the Burroughs Bears softball program. She spent the last two years on varsity and her first two on Junior Varsity, which included a Pacific League championship in her junior year. Colbentz will further her softball playing career at the University of Hawaii next spring.

Two members of the Burroughs Bears cheer team Mariana Perez and Natalie Kersaryan will continue their cheerleading careers at Hope International University and Cal State Northridge respectively. Perez spent the last two years on varsity cheer at Burroughs, and before coming to Burroughs she spent 1 year cheering on varsity at Rowland High School. Kersarya was a 4-year cheerleader with Burroughs, spending 3 years on varsity including serving as a varsity cheer captain and stunt captain. Adriel Abaong spent all 4 years on the Burroughs Bears golf team and will continue his golfing career at UC San Diego.

“It’s an awesome event for all the student-athletes to use sports as a tool to continue their education,” said Bears Athletic Director Keith Knoop. Knoop also admitted that it’s not an everyday occurrence or a guarantee that student-athletes get financial assistance and scholarships in their post-high school careers.

The 7 seniors in Chapman, Colbentz, Kersaryan, Perez, Abaong, Pichardo, and Armes will close out high school at Burroughs on Thursday, May 23rd, which includes Burrough’s graduation that evening with ceremonies beginning at 6 p.m.