Triad of Seniors Participate in National Signing Day

The Parker community honored three exceptional student-athletes as they officially signed their National Letters of Intent to participate in Division I athletics at the collegiate level. 

Less than 2% of high school athletes go on to play at an NCAA Division I college, and Parker is proud to have three of these elite players in the class of 2027. Ava Kling will head west to join the soccer team at University of Southern California, Sonia Pettinelli will play field hockey at the University of Virginia, and Jaiden Shah will take his soccer talents to the University of Dayton.

On National Signing Day, a pair of ceremonies took place in the Draft Gym for these students to ceremonially sign their letters of intent in front of the school community. These gatherings allowed parents/guardians, advisors, coaches, and more to speak about the remarkable athletic prowess and resilience, academic dedication, and character these student-athletes have embodied as valued members of the Parker community.

Kling’s journey to Division I soccer has been defined by perseverance through adversity. Throughout her high school career, she overcame numerous injuries and grueling rehabilitation cycles, including back fractures, ankle injuries, and multiple surgeries. In a prerecorded video message, her performance coach praised her incredible work ethic during her recovery, sharing, “She took her movement apart and put it back together from the ground up ... Ava showed up for all of it. She trusted the process, she trusted our system, and she trusted herself.”

Pettinelli’s path to the Atlantic Coast Conference has been marked by relentless dedication, including seven years as a student-athlete on Parker’s field hockey teams. A Top 100 player in the class of 2027, according to MAX Field Hockey, ISL Offensive Player of the Year, and a multiple USA National Selection Camp invitee, Pettinelli has balanced grueling club schedules with academic excellence at Parker.

Former advisor and PE teacher and current Director of Athletics Madi Maldonado recalled Pettinelli’s unwavering focus as far back as Middle School. “I asked her, ‘What’s your deal? What are you into?’ And she said, ‘I play field hockey and I’m going to play in college one day,’” Maldonado shared. “You are forever etched in Parker field hockey as one of the greatest to ever wear the jersey.”

Coach Misha Gellar reflected on watching Pettinelli transform from an inexperienced yet hyper-athletic 6th grader into a dynamic leader on the turf. Before sending Pettinelli off to Charlottesville, Gellar offered a few parting words of advice, centered on keeping her passion for the sport alive. “Find joy in every game because it’s going to end up feeling like a job,” Gellar continued, “But it’s still a game, and joy is what makes you really good.”

Shah was celebrated for his exceptional balance of elite athletics and deep intellectual curiosity. His advisor, Science teacher George Austin, applauded Shah for maintaining top academic standing while taking on challenging coursework alongside his demanding off-campus training schedule. History teacher Dan Greenstone commented on Shah’s rare blend of humility and scholarship: “You’re extremely intelligent, but you don’t perform intelligence—you just apply it ... You can speak fluently about soccer, but also substantively about the Mexican Revolution or the July Crisis of 1914. You are a genuine scholar-athlete.”

Parker congratulates Ava, Sonia, and Jaiden! The entire community celebrates their accomplishments and looks forward to cheering each of them on as they begin their collegiate athletic careers. 

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