Carmel High School has a great legacy of students extending their athletic careers past the Mission Trail Athletic League. Last season, 2012 graduate Devin Pearson led the U.C. Berkeley baseball team in hitting, while 2011 grad Andrew Franks is currently kicking field goals for the Miami Dolphins. Several of this year’s seniors are following that same path, hoping to advance their careers and make a name for themselves on the field.
John Stivers is looking to continue the Stivers family tradition of playing college sports, joining his older siblings in the collegiate ranks. A standout three-sport athlete, he may be one of the best athletes in Carmel High’s history.
Despite already being a three-time league MVP in basketball and a three-year varsity baseball player, Stivers has decided to pursue his football career instead. The MTAL offensive player of the year, first team all-league and Carmel High all-time catches leader has been recruited by Harvard, Brown, Columbia, U.C. Davis, and other Division I programs.
Stivers recently visited Brown and met and practiced with some of the other recruits and players. He enjoyed the experience and says it just confirmed his desire to continue his football career at the next level.
John Stivers’ dedication to athletics and hard work on both the practice and game field make him an attractive asset to any D-I program.
Morgan Koucky, an All-American in lacrosse last year, is committed to play lacrosse next year at the Naval Academy Preparatory School en route to playing at the United States Naval Academy. Koucky has been playing lacrosse since elementary school, and since high school has taken his game to the next level.
“My recruitment started with a strong urge to serve in the Navy and play high-level college lacrosse,” Koucky says. “Putting together the two was the perfect combo.”
At the end of last season CHS coach and Navy graduate Max Murphy contacted coach Rick Sowell, and they wanted to see him play. After watching Koucky play at a tournament in Maryland, Sowell wanted him for the roster and scheduled a visit.
“I checked out the academy and fell in love with every aspect of it,” Koucky explains. “That day I verbally committed.”
Playing Division I lacrosse has long been a goal for the senior, and playing for a top-20 program is the icing on the cake.
The current University of Pacific coaches caught word of Carter Hayes’s talent from CHS alum Devin Pearson, and last year they began showing interest in recruiting him. They started by coming to some of his summer games and eventually invited him to visit and offered him a spot on the team.
“I fell in love with the place,” Hayes notes. “About two weeks after my visit I verbally committed.”
Despite also having offers from schools such as Pepperdine, San Jose State and Gonzaga, Hayes felt UOP was the place for him.
The third baseman led CHS to a league title last season, including posting team highs in hits and multi-hit games and providing defensive stability in the infield.
More impressively, last season as a junior Hayes was named not only to the Monterey County first team, but was named the Monterey County Player of the Year.
All of these accolades and honors are a testament to the hard work and dedication that Hayes has to the sport. Early morning workouts and off-season travel teams have paid off in being able to elevate his game to the next level.
-Jack Ellison
