Academics, athletics draw Sewickley Academy’s Katherine Varghese to Sarah Lawrence
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Sunday, April 27, 2025 | 11:01 AM
Sewickley Academy senior Katherine Varghese plans to spend much of the next four years in the state of New York.
Varghese signed April 16 with Sarah Lawrence College, where she will continue her academic and athletic careers. She was a four-year starter on the Sewickley girls soccer team and will compete for the Gryphons starting in the fall.
“I was drawn to Sarah Lawrence due to the balance of rigorous academics and competitive athletics,” the 18-year-old Varghese said. “I considered several other Division III schools in the Northeast and Midwest but ultimately decided Sarah Lawrence was the best fit for me.
“I visited in March of my junior year and learned about the campus, academics and athletics. I really enjoyed the classes I attended and the welcoming atmosphere from the coaching staff and athletes.”
Varghese started playing soccer at age 4.
“I fell in love with the sport ,” she said, “and always had healthy competition with my older brother Thomas, who grew up playing soccer as well.”
At Sewickley, Varghese played both center midfield and forward and served as a team captain the past two seasons.
“Building a positive, competitive team culture and making genuine friendships on the field have made my experience with Sewickley athletics remarkable,” Varghese said. “Our team placed fourth in the WPIAL this year and played competitive games, which pushed me as an athlete and has made me grow as both a player and person.”
Varghese is co-president of the Service Club, a member of the Global Studies Certificate Program and, along with Nolan Donnelly, runs the Dunk Department, a school spirit organization. The athletic teen also has been a member of the girls track and field program at Sewickley as a freshman and senior.
Sarah Lawrence is a private liberal arts college located in Yonkers, roughly 20 miles from New York City.
The Gryphons compete in the NCAA Division III Skyline Conference and are coached by Italy native Maurizio Grillo, a three-time conference coach of the year since being hired in 2017.
“Katherine’s recruiting process with us has been a long-term one,” Grillo said. “Over the past three years, we’ve had the chance to watch her compete in person at multiple high-level tournaments across the country, from events in California all the way to Pennsylvania.
“We’ve followed her development closely, and every time we watched her play, she demonstrated consistency, strong decision-making and a real understanding of the game. That kind of long-term evaluation has made us even more confident in how well she’ll fit into our program.”
Varghese racked up a team-high 25 goals in 2023 and hit the 50 mark in career goals last fall.
She was a two-time All-WPIAL selection and was selected as an all-star, along with her teammate, goalkeeper Marie Bigi, by the Western Pennsylvania High School Girls Soccer Coaches Association.
Grillo is looking forward to coaching Varghese and said he believes it will be a fluid transition for her as a college freshman.
“We’re very confident Katherine will transition smoothly into the college game,” Grillo said. “She has the technical skill, tactical awareness and athleticism to compete at the collegiate level, and we expect her to adjust quickly to the demands of our style of play.
“More importantly, she brings a strong competitive spirit and maturity that will serve her well as she makes the jump. Once she settles in academically and socially, we believe she’ll be in a position to make an immediate impact on the field and contribute to the team’s success right away.”
The women’s soccer program at Sarah Lawrence is a diverse group: 11 states along with Washington D.C. and the Dominican Republic were represented on the 2024 team. In addition to their performance on the pitch, the Gryphons also have excelled in the classroom, annually receiving academic recognition.
Varghese, who has a 4.1 GPA and plans to major in engineering, will be the only player from Pennsylvania on the 2025 squad.
“Our recruiting model is very national in scope, and with only about six roster spots available each year, we conduct a very thorough and selective process,” Grillo said. “We receive interest from student-athletes all over the country, and we take our time evaluating each one — both athletically and academically.
“Katherine distinguished herself not only as a talented player but also as someone who embodies the values we look for in our student-athletes, so we’re thrilled she’ll be representing Pennsylvania on our roster.”
Varghese will be one of five freshmen on the 2025 team at Sarah Lawrence.
“It’s a group we’re very excited about,” Grillo said. “Each player brings something unique to the table, and we’re confident they’ll elevate the team both competitively and culturally. Katherine is a key part of that class.
“We’re genuinely excited for Katherine to join us. She’s not only a standout player, but also a thoughtful, well-rounded student who will thrive in the type of academic and athletic environment we offer at Sarah Lawrence. We can’t wait to welcome her to campus and see her continue to grow both on and off the field.”
Mike Scerbo was hired as director of athletics at Sewickley Academy a little over a year ago, but he was able to form a thoughtful opinion about Varghese during his time with the Panthers.
“Katherine has been a tremendous athlete for us here at Sewickley Academy,” Scerbo said. “Not only was she a standout soccer player scoring over 50 goals in her career, she’s also a competitive track athlete where she was able to showcase her speed.
“In both sports, her leadership ability had a dramatic impact on the teams’ overall success. We all wish her the best of luck next year.”
Tags: Sewickley Academy
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