WATERBORO – It was a special evening at Massabesic High School on Thursday as two seniors signed their National Letters of Intent to play athletics at the next level.
Massabesic student-athletes Katie Castle, left, and Aleyxa Reekie celebrate signing their letter of intent to play lacrosse and swim at Simmons University and to play hockey at Paul Smith’s College, respectively, on Friday at the high school.
Massabesic’s Aleyxa Reekie signed with Paul Smith’s College to play ice hockey and Katie Castle will take her talents to Simmons University to swim and play lacrosse.
Reekie was able to get looks from Paul Smith’s College after dedicating her life to hockey.
The senior played hockey since she was 7 years old. She started throwing the puck around in Homer, Alaska.
Since Alaska, Reekie has traveled to different parts of Canada to play hockey. In her free time, the standout coaches youth hockey in Dover, New Hampshire.
The key to Reekie’s recruitment at Paul Smith’s was playing hockey for Gorham.
“Massabesic gave me a great opportunity to go play some female hockey with Gorham,” said Reekie. “Our home rink was (University of Southern Maine), my assistant coach was actually a former captain of USM’s women’s ice hockey team. It was a great experience playing with her and getting to learn the things that she’s learned playing (Division III) college hockey.”
Similar to Reekie, Castle believes that her time as a Mustang has prepared her for college athletics.
“My coaches have taught me it’s a tough-love relationship,” said Castle. “Especially, with going to states in swim. It’s an experience, and it doesn’t matter how I swim, it matters how I do against myself, not anybody else.”
The Simmons’s swimming coach approached Castle during her freshman year at Massabesic. Castle’s meeting with the coach made Simmons a goal throughout high school.
“The swim coach contacted me my freshmen year,” said Castle. “When I visited the first time, I met up with her and I just fell in love with the way they run things and how I have the opportunity to do different programs at other schools.”
Castle has been swimming for 12 years and playing lacrosse as a goaltender for five years.
The senior decided to play two sports at the collegiate level because the choice to play one was too tough to make.
“I couldn’t choose,” said Castle. “I love them both so much.”
The two Massabesic athletes knew right away that they found their new homes.
“It was snowing (when I visited the campus), there was a lot of snow to be honest but it was cool,” said Reekie. “It looked so much like Alaska there, too, so I think there was some overwhelming feelings. It was awesome.”
Castle also felt right at home when she visited Simmons.
“I’ve visited multiple times over and over, and I fell in love with everything about the school,” said Castle. “It’s far enough away from home but close enough to get back if I need too.”
Reekie plans to enter Paul Smith’s as an undecided major but is interested in environmental and wildlife sciences. Castle will major in business management at Simmons.
— Sports Writer Sienna Barstow can be reached at sbarstow@journaltribune.com or at 780-9018. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports
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