Friends’ Central Athletes sign National Letter of Intent
Six Friends’ Central School athletes were present at the National Letter of Intent Signing Day ceremony that took place in the gym located in the Shimada Athletic Center Nov. 11, including two who will be taking their talents to Bucknell University.
Peter Bradbeer (golf – Bucknell University); Jeffrey Brown (track – Bucknell University); Chuck Champion (basketball – Loyola (MD)); De’Andre Hunter (basketball – University of Virginia); Iyanna McCurdy (basketball – Southeast Missouri State University); and Jesse Rubin (soccer – Washington University in St. Louis) were joined by family, friends and Friends’ Central staff to celebrate their achievement. Maddie Henry (field hockey – Cornell University) was not able to attend the ceremony.
Here is a closer look at the seven Phoenix athletes:
De’Andre Hunter
Hunter averaged 21.6 ppg and 9.2 rpg last season for a Friends’ Central team that finished 22-8 overall and 7-2 in Friend’s Schools League play advancing to the league semi-finals. Hunter was named First Team All-Friends’ Schools League and first team All-Main Line.
Chuck Champion
Champion averaged 14 ppg and 2.5 spg last season in his first season with the Phoenix, who finished 22-8 overall and 7-2 in Friend’s Schools League play advancing to the league semi-finals. Champion was named Honorable Mention All-Friend’s School League and first team All-Main Line.
Iyanna McCurdy
McCurdy averaged 17.9 ppg , 3.5 spg and 3 apg last season for a Friends’ Central squad that captured its first Friends’ Schools League championship since 2010-2011 finishing with a 24-3 overall and 9-1 in Friend’s Schools League play. McCurdy eclipsed the 1,000-career point mark last season. McCurdy named all-FSL and team MVP in her sophomore and junior year. McCurdy was also named Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week last winter.
Maddie Henry
Maddie Henry finished her high school career with a 90.5 save percentage, which makes her the best in the Philadelphia Area (of all 111 schools reporting). Henry will represent the Friends Schools league in the PhilaFieldHockey All Star game as one of only three selectees from the League. Henry is the Phoenix field hockey squad MVP this year, as well as an all league selection for the FSL. She was Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week (Nov. 15 issue).
Jesse Rubin
Rubin finished her high school soccer career leading the Phoenix to its third Friend’s Schools League title in four years. This season Rubin finished with 12 goals and 8 assists and for her career Rubin tallied 42 goals and 31 assists. Rubin was named All Friends Schools League first team three times, All-Main Line twice and All Southeastern PA and All State as a sophomore.
Peter Bradbeer
Bradbeer completed his high school golf career in style winning the Friends’ Schools League Individual championship for the second time in three years and being named first team All-Friends’ Schools League for the third consecutive season. In his freshman year in 2013, Bradbeer shot a 78 to win the title and last season as a junior he fired a 74 to capture the crown.
Jeff Brown
Brown is a runner who has improved each year. Last season as a junior, Brown had a memorable spring campaign winning the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and helped the Phoenix to wins in the 4×100 and 4×400 at the spring championships held at Germantown Friends School. For his efforts, Brown was named to the All-League team. In 2014, Brown finished 2nd in the 100-meter dash and 3rd in the 200-meter dash and was named All-League.
