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St. Margaret's Student-Athletes Commit to Top Colleges and Universities During Spring Signing Period
Five Tartan student-athletes from the Class of 2023 will continue their academic and athletic careers at a range of prestigious colleges and universities.
St. Margaret's Episcopal School is pleased to announce that five student-athletes from the Class of 2023 have committed to play intercollegiate athletics next year during the spring National Signing Day. Seniors Bailey Clark, Brandon Miller, Keyon Namdar, Derek Smith and Kaitlin Tam will continue their academic pursuits and play their respective sports at an impressive group of colleges and universities.
These student-athletes join 14 classmates who committed during the signing periods in the fall and winter and more than 333 St. Margaret's alumni who have competed in intercollegiate athletics.
"Hosting this event in conjunction with our arts department is a wonderful display of the mutual respect and admiration for both disciplines. The arts department has been a tremendous partner in building well-rounded student-athletes, and I enjoy watching the support they provide each other as they collectively chase their dreams," said St. Margaret's Executive Director of Community Health and Athletics Patrick Bendzick. "Nineteen student-athletes will move on to compete at the collegiate level this year, once again defying the statistical odds. We are proud of what they have accomplished and appreciate the legacy they are leaving for others to enjoy."
Bailey Clark, Union College
Bailey Clark, a four-year member of the Tartan boys lacrosse program, has committed to study and play lacrosse at NCAA Division III Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.
Bailey is currently averaging 4.2 goals allowed per game and a 54% save percentage through nine starts in the 2023 campaign. Bailey is a member of the 2021 and 2022 CIF Southern Section Div. I Quarterfinal and Semifinal squads. Baily has also mentored many younger Tartan lacrosse players through summer camps, and his goalie play.
At the club level, Bailey was a member of the 2020 Under Armour All-America West team and was named to the 2020 Under Armour All-Tournament team. Bailey was also named as one of two goaltenders in the top 20 at the D3 Rising Summer Showcase in 2022.
At St. Margaret's, Bailey was also a two-year starter on the Tartan varsity soccer team.
In his free time, Bailey volunteers as an OCLA youth lacrosse official, a Mad Dog OC youth club lacrosse coach and with the Tartan Surfrider organization.
Bailey intends to major in engineering at Union.
Brandon Miller, Queens University of Charlotte
Brandon Miller, a four-year varsity athlete in football and lacrosse at St. Margaret's, has committed to continue his education and play lacrosse at NCAA Division I Queens University of Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C.
Brandon has been a contributing member of the varsity lacrosse and football programs during his four-year career at St. Margaret's. Brandon was a 2nd team all-league selection for football and served as a team captain his senior year.
Brandon has competed for the Mad Dog National Team, West Coast Warriors, and Rotten Cheeseburger at the club level and was named to the Inside Lacrosse All-Tournament team.
Brandon has spent his time as an Uganda and Jamaica lacrosse ambassador, collecting used equipment and fundraising for those countries' national teams. Brandon was also recognized as the American Cancer Society's highest fundraiser during the "Real Men Wear Pink" challenge. Brandon has also volunteered with Project Hope Alliance and Children's Transitional Housing.
Brandon plans on majoring in finance or engineering at Queens University.
Keyon Namdar, Pomona College
Keyon Namdar, a two-year soccer team captain for the Tartans, has committed to study and play soccer at Pomona College in Claremont, CA.
Keyon was a first-team All-South Coast League honoree and member of the Tartans' 2022 league champion squad.
At the club level, Keyon has competed for Strikers FC and Laguna United FC and is a Club National Championship finalist and winner of the Albion, Celtic and Surf Cup championships. Keyon is currently playing in the UPSL semi-pro league.
For the past four years, Keyon has run "A Numbers Game" which is an interdisciplinary program that teaches math through soccer to underserved youth. The program was awarded a $5,000 grant through the Dragon Kim Foundation and has impacted over 300 student-athletes. For his service and contribution to the community, Keyon was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2022.
Derek Smith, San Diego State University
Derek Smith, a two-time All-CIF selection in football, has committed to study and play football at NCAA Division I San Diego State University.
Derek served as a team captain and was a first-team All-Orange Coast League selection for the Tartans during the 2023 football campaign. Derek has also competed in track & field for St. Margaret's, winning the 100m and 200m league championships in 2021.
Derek has participated in The Walk for ALS and the San Diego Food Bank holiday distribution event.
Derek intends to major in international business at Sand Diego State.
Kaitlin Tam, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Kaitlin Tam, a member of the Tartans' 2023 CIF Champion girls basketball team, has committed to study and play basketball at NCAA Division III M.I.T. in Cambridge, Mass.
Kaitlin was a first-team all-league selection in 2021-2022 and again in 2022-2023 for her efforts in guiding St. Margaret's to its first CIF title in girls basketball in school history.
Kaitlin has volunteered her time with Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano, serving students from underrepresented backgrounds starting in middle school through college graduation.
Kaitlin plans on majoring in mechanical engineering at M.I.T.
Back
These student-athletes join 14 classmates who committed during the signing periods in the fall and winter and more than 333 St. Margaret's alumni who have competed in intercollegiate athletics.
"Hosting this event in conjunction with our arts department is a wonderful display of the mutual respect and admiration for both disciplines. The arts department has been a tremendous partner in building well-rounded student-athletes, and I enjoy watching the support they provide each other as they collectively chase their dreams," said St. Margaret's Executive Director of Community Health and Athletics Patrick Bendzick. "Nineteen student-athletes will move on to compete at the collegiate level this year, once again defying the statistical odds. We are proud of what they have accomplished and appreciate the legacy they are leaving for others to enjoy."
Bailey Clark, Union College
Bailey Clark, a four-year member of the Tartan boys lacrosse program, has committed to study and play lacrosse at NCAA Division III Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.
Bailey is currently averaging 4.2 goals allowed per game and a 54% save percentage through nine starts in the 2023 campaign. Bailey is a member of the 2021 and 2022 CIF Southern Section Div. I Quarterfinal and Semifinal squads. Baily has also mentored many younger Tartan lacrosse players through summer camps, and his goalie play.
At the club level, Bailey was a member of the 2020 Under Armour All-America West team and was named to the 2020 Under Armour All-Tournament team. Bailey was also named as one of two goaltenders in the top 20 at the D3 Rising Summer Showcase in 2022.
At St. Margaret's, Bailey was also a two-year starter on the Tartan varsity soccer team.
In his free time, Bailey volunteers as an OCLA youth lacrosse official, a Mad Dog OC youth club lacrosse coach and with the Tartan Surfrider organization.
Bailey intends to major in engineering at Union.
Brandon Miller, Queens University of Charlotte
Brandon Miller, a four-year varsity athlete in football and lacrosse at St. Margaret's, has committed to continue his education and play lacrosse at NCAA Division I Queens University of Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C.
Brandon has been a contributing member of the varsity lacrosse and football programs during his four-year career at St. Margaret's. Brandon was a 2nd team all-league selection for football and served as a team captain his senior year.
Brandon has competed for the Mad Dog National Team, West Coast Warriors, and Rotten Cheeseburger at the club level and was named to the Inside Lacrosse All-Tournament team.
Brandon has spent his time as an Uganda and Jamaica lacrosse ambassador, collecting used equipment and fundraising for those countries' national teams. Brandon was also recognized as the American Cancer Society's highest fundraiser during the "Real Men Wear Pink" challenge. Brandon has also volunteered with Project Hope Alliance and Children's Transitional Housing.
Brandon plans on majoring in finance or engineering at Queens University.
Keyon Namdar, Pomona College
Keyon Namdar, a two-year soccer team captain for the Tartans, has committed to study and play soccer at Pomona College in Claremont, CA.
Keyon was a first-team All-South Coast League honoree and member of the Tartans' 2022 league champion squad.
At the club level, Keyon has competed for Strikers FC and Laguna United FC and is a Club National Championship finalist and winner of the Albion, Celtic and Surf Cup championships. Keyon is currently playing in the UPSL semi-pro league.
For the past four years, Keyon has run "A Numbers Game" which is an interdisciplinary program that teaches math through soccer to underserved youth. The program was awarded a $5,000 grant through the Dragon Kim Foundation and has impacted over 300 student-athletes. For his service and contribution to the community, Keyon was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2022.
Derek Smith, San Diego State University
Derek Smith, a two-time All-CIF selection in football, has committed to study and play football at NCAA Division I San Diego State University.
Derek served as a team captain and was a first-team All-Orange Coast League selection for the Tartans during the 2023 football campaign. Derek has also competed in track & field for St. Margaret's, winning the 100m and 200m league championships in 2021.
Derek has participated in The Walk for ALS and the San Diego Food Bank holiday distribution event.
Derek intends to major in international business at Sand Diego State.
Kaitlin Tam, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Kaitlin Tam, a member of the Tartans' 2023 CIF Champion girls basketball team, has committed to study and play basketball at NCAA Division III M.I.T. in Cambridge, Mass.
Kaitlin was a first-team all-league selection in 2021-2022 and again in 2022-2023 for her efforts in guiding St. Margaret's to its first CIF title in girls basketball in school history.
Kaitlin has volunteered her time with Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano, serving students from underrepresented backgrounds starting in middle school through college graduation.
Kaitlin plans on majoring in mechanical engineering at M.I.T.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
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