Nine standout Manchester Essex student-athletes made it official last week, signing their NILs to continue their respective sports at the collegiate level.
Star Hornets’ quarterback Zach Hurd was among those to do so, committing to Bates College where he will continue his budding football career. A two-time reigning Gloucester Daily Times Football Player of the Year, Hurd finished his senior year with an area-best 1,309 rushing yards and 17 TDs while completing 67 percent of passes for 1,381 more yards and 16 TDs.
The 6-foot signal caller — who also took home Cape Ann League Offensive Player of the Year honors — leaves Manchester as the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards (3,303) while also surpassing the 3K mark through the air with 3,434 passing yards. He is believed to be the first player in North Shore high school football history to eclipse 3,000 yards in both offensive phases.
Two other football standouts — Walker Valeo and Nathan Powers — will also play at the Division 3 level this coming fall. Valeo missed his entire senior year with an injury, but served as a reliable and physical defensive end and guard when healthy. He’ll head to Bowdoin College to continue his career.
Powers, meanwhile, was a valuable starting lineman and punter for the Hornets; he’s off to New England College to continue his athletic and academic career.
Also off to Bowdoin is star softball pitcher Anna Gardner. The senior ace recently recorded her 300th career strikeout and has been a consistent force at the plate as well.
Charlie Thurlow, one of head coach Wesley Chittick’s leading scorers on attack for the boys lacrosse team, will head to Roger Williams to play. Thurlow finished with a team-best 50 goals and 21 assists last spring, helping Manchester reach the Division 4 state semifinals for the first time in program history. He has piled up 11 goals and nine assists in eight games so far this season.
Girls basketball star Lily Oliver will continue her hoops career at Roanoke College in Virginia. A knockdown shooter and talented defender, Olivier averaged over 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and 1.3 steals per game this past winter, helping Manchester reach the D4 Elite Eight. A tremendous shooter, Oliver knocked down a team-high 66 3-pointers as a senior.
Oliver’s teammate and co-captain, Harper Brooks, will continue both her basketball and soccer career at Wheaton College in Illinois. Brooks returned from an ACL injury this past winter to average a monster double-double for Manchester, closing with per game averages of 14.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. She also led the team in steals (2.4 spg.) while dishing out 3.5 assists per contest en route to CAL Baker Division Player of the Year honors. On the pitch, Brooks serves as a versatile talent who did a little bit of everything for head coach Scout Grifoni.
Two rowing standouts, Abby Aiello and Violet Jakes, will take their talents to the college stage as well. Aiello was a late commitment, earning a spot on Division 1 Sacred Heart’s rowing team, while Jakes will attend William Smith College in New York.
In addition, standout swimmer Megan Graeter will head to Division 1 Providence College to continue her career in the pool. Graeter signed her NIL back in November of 2025, but was in attendance as well.
Sports Editor Nick Giannino may be contacted at 978-675-2712 or ngiannino@northofboston.com.