Cape swim teammates sign letters
Ryan Cichielo and Meghan Cotugno will continue their swimming careers at the collegiate level after signing scholarship letters-of-intent at a ceremony this week at Cape Coral High School.
Cichielo, a breaststroke and freestyle specialist, chose Hartwick College in upstate New York. Cotugno, who focuses on the freestyle sprint races, will attend St. Francis University in Pennsylvania.
Both said the smaller size of the school enrollment and family members residing in the area were factors in their decisions.
“I like the smaller class size and their expertise in business,” said Cichielo, who plans a business degree with a minor in psychology.
Cichielo added that having relatives still living in the New York and New Jersey area also helped make up his mind on Hartwick.
“I did not know much about the school before they started making offers,” said Cichielo, who weighed offers from several other schools.
“The coach and I connected right away,” said Cotugno, who plans to study physical therapy. “I thought it was just a good fit for me.”
Cotugno, who has been swimming competitively for 10 years, had offers from schools in Florida as well as Pennsylvania.
Both student-athletes accepted dual – academic and athletic – scholarships at their respective schools.