Iona Preparatory Adds More Scholar-Athlete Commitments

Three more Iona Preparatory School scholar-athletes committed to playing collegiate football as part of the school year’s third National Signing Day ceremony on Feb. 2, the opening day of the regular period for football. This brings the total to 8 DI signings 3 DII, 5 DII, with 16 overall commitments from the Class of 2022. 

Nationally, about one in 13 high school athletes go on to play a collegiate sport; only 2 percent for Division I schools.  With its latest round of commitments, Iona Preparatory’s Athletic Department continues a now seven-year trend of besting the national average and doubling up the average number of Division I signings. 

Moreover, the most recent commits had an average GPA over 90, with two topping the mark individually.  That’s right in line with the varsity football team as a whole under alumnus and coach Joseph Spagnolo ’98, which proved itself to be championship-caliber in the classroom, as well, being one of five fall teams (out of nine) with an average GPA over 90.  In fact, those nine fall teams—some 267 scholar-athletes—posted a collective average of 90.11, and none lower than an 85.                                

The ESPN- style event included remarks by Athletic Director Ryan Mahoney, Coach Spagnolo, and other school dignitaries, with proud parents, teachers, and fellow students watching remotely on LocalLive.  The following Gaels committed on February 2, 2022: Kaloni McIntyre, 18, Bronx (Football, Stony Brook University); Jose Ruiz, 17, Bronx (Football, Trinity College); and Jayson Vavrica, 17, Yonkers (Football, Pace University).  

To learn more about Iona Preparatory, visit www.IonaPrep.org.