Kingswood Oxford’s Isaiah Wright ’16, the son of Nina Wright and Randy Smith of Waterbury, has committed to play football at Temple University next year. He was one of 11 KO student-athletes who announced their intention to play college sports at an athletic commitment event on Feb. 4.

   Co-captain of KO’s football team, he was voted All-New England, All-FAA, led the NEPSAC in scoring, and was the NEPSAC Player of the Year, featured in Boston Globe. USA Today named him to its All-CT Team and the top offensive player in the state. He plays varsity basketball and is a volunteer for Team Tobati.

   “I’ve never coached a player who had a nose for the end zone like Isaiah,” said Coach Jason Martinez. “Every time he touched the ball, something exciting happened. But in addition to his tremendous football talent, Isaiah is an even better person. He cares about his teammates and was very instrumental in developing our young players. During practice, I would often look over and see him helping his teammates and assisting with skill development. His desire to help others is heartfelt and appreciated.”

   Both KO Athletic Director Debbie Baer Fiske and Head of School Dennis Bisgaard spoke to students at the signing ceremony.

   “This is an exciting moment in your lives, and you should be very proud of yourselves,” said Fiske, UConn starting point guard from 1989-92. “You do not get to this position without a lot of sacrifice, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, a lot of pushing yourselves to do the next hard thing.”

   Said Bisgaard: “I am so very proud of all of you. In addition to being outstanding athletes, you are also actors, leaders, volunteers, and excellent students. You represent the very best of KO.”

   In addition to Wright, these athletes included:
• Marissa Aniolowski ’16 of Enfield, who will play soccer at Seton Hall University
• Jared Bolden ’16 of Windsor, who will play football at Pace University
• Nye Deskus ’16 of Willington, who will play football at Bowdoin College
• Jacob Hallenbeck ’16 of West Simsbury, who will play football at Marist College
• Andrew Lemkuil ’16 of West Hartford, who will play football at Dartmouth College
• Ryan Nesbit ’16 of Manchester, who will play baseball at Nichols College
• Allie Perron ’16 of Hebron, who will play tennis at Hobart and William Smith Colleges
• Koby Quansah ’16 of Manchester, who will play football at Duke University
• Brittany Schwartz ’16 of West Hartford, who will play soccer at Union College
• Jack Wolf ’16 of Wethersfield, who will play soccer at Wesleyan University