Prospect grad Siavelis
finds a home at Caltech
By Mike Garofola
To study quantum physics to supercomputers, string theory to nuclear reactors, the top research universities are where you’d want to be.
Prospect alumna Helen Siavelis does, and she's glad she landed at Caltech.
After a wonderful four years of high school which including playing both soccer and basketball and collecting academic honors along the way, the 2019 Prospect grad has continued her impressive ways out west in the city of Pasadena at one of the renowned universities in the world.
You see, Siavelis is not only a gifted athlete, she's also a scholar.
"Academics have always been first and foremost in my life, but to be able to play intercollegiate sports, and still be on a rigorous academic path to my future is the best of both worlds," said Siavelis, who was a two-time all-MSL player for manager Tom Froats, as well as all-sectional, all-area selection.
"I had a great experience at Prospect. I'm so grateful to the staff, and administration for providing an environment in which I was able to succeed and to help prepare me for life in college."
While at Prospect, Siavelis won the Michael J. Keane Scholarship, which is given to the top female and male athlete, as well as the Anne Marie Froats Achievement Award (named after Froats’ late mother). In addition, she was chosen for the Knightsmanship Award, which given to one athlete from each team (basketball) for leadership, achievement, citizenship and sportsmanship.
Her weighted 4.6/4.0, and perfect unweighted 4.0 GPA led to Siavelis receiving highest honors at graduation.
Her mine was also put to good use on the soccer field.
After showing a first-rate understanding of man-marking, spatial awareness, and an ability to perform at a high level in Froats' three-back defensive system, Siavelis has done well playing in Caltech's 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formations.
"I'll usually play on the outside, which gives me a lot of responsibility in attacking. I really like playing as an outside-back," Siavelis said.
Siavelis attended an I.D. camp where both Caltech and MIT were in attendance, but an immediate connection with the Caltech manager guaranteed her new address.
"Our new coach (Ellery Gould) has been terrific - she has helped me so much, both on and off the field," Siavelis said.
Always busy with her sports and academics as far back as she could remember, Siavelis admits the challenge to balance soccer and academics, especially at a place like Caltech was daunting.
"Things actually worked out better than expected, because we're on a tri-semester schedule, which meant classes began on the first of October, which was almost halfway through our regular season schedule."
"This allowed a fluid transition from soccer to my classes."
Siavelis played in 16-of-18 soccer matches and later 16-of-25 games on the hardcourt where she averaged 32.8 minutes a game.
"D-3 soccer is highly competitive,” she said. “It's obviously faster, quicker and more physical than anything I've ever played.
"(But) the great thing about playing here at Caltech is the academic priorities and goals for all of my teammates are the same. So those long bus rides we go on are filled with doing homework in order to stay on track."
Siavelis says training usually runs from 4-6 p.m. during the week, with nearly all of the matches played on Wednesday and Saturday.
"The seniors on the team are fantastic,” she said. “They make playing and staying up on your academics so much easier."
Siavelis had to impress to enroll at Caltech. The school usually accepts eight percent of its applicants. In the year Siavelis applied, that number dropped to four.
"I applied to a dozen schools, but Caltech was always my top choice,” said Siavelis, who qualifications included a perfect score in math on the SAT.
"When you’re so used to getting As in high school, the courses here will humble you somewhat,"
She plans to earn a double major in BEM (business, engineering and management) and computer science.
"I miss coach Froats … feel bad for my former teammates: Ashley Erickson, who was our next great leader; and Annie (Ninness) who had a record setting year as our goalie last year."
Her old teammates found out April 21 that their season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Siavelis continues classes online and eyes a return to Pasadena in the middle of August in advance of the soccer season.
"We're only in our third year of existence, so it's exciting to be on the ground floor of a brand-new soccer program," she said.
finds a home at Caltech
By Mike Garofola
To study quantum physics to supercomputers, string theory to nuclear reactors, the top research universities are where you’d want to be.
Prospect alumna Helen Siavelis does, and she's glad she landed at Caltech.
After a wonderful four years of high school which including playing both soccer and basketball and collecting academic honors along the way, the 2019 Prospect grad has continued her impressive ways out west in the city of Pasadena at one of the renowned universities in the world.
You see, Siavelis is not only a gifted athlete, she's also a scholar.
"Academics have always been first and foremost in my life, but to be able to play intercollegiate sports, and still be on a rigorous academic path to my future is the best of both worlds," said Siavelis, who was a two-time all-MSL player for manager Tom Froats, as well as all-sectional, all-area selection.
"I had a great experience at Prospect. I'm so grateful to the staff, and administration for providing an environment in which I was able to succeed and to help prepare me for life in college."
While at Prospect, Siavelis won the Michael J. Keane Scholarship, which is given to the top female and male athlete, as well as the Anne Marie Froats Achievement Award (named after Froats’ late mother). In addition, she was chosen for the Knightsmanship Award, which given to one athlete from each team (basketball) for leadership, achievement, citizenship and sportsmanship.
Her weighted 4.6/4.0, and perfect unweighted 4.0 GPA led to Siavelis receiving highest honors at graduation.
Her mine was also put to good use on the soccer field.
After showing a first-rate understanding of man-marking, spatial awareness, and an ability to perform at a high level in Froats' three-back defensive system, Siavelis has done well playing in Caltech's 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formations.
"I'll usually play on the outside, which gives me a lot of responsibility in attacking. I really like playing as an outside-back," Siavelis said.
Siavelis attended an I.D. camp where both Caltech and MIT were in attendance, but an immediate connection with the Caltech manager guaranteed her new address.
"Our new coach (Ellery Gould) has been terrific - she has helped me so much, both on and off the field," Siavelis said.
Always busy with her sports and academics as far back as she could remember, Siavelis admits the challenge to balance soccer and academics, especially at a place like Caltech was daunting.
"Things actually worked out better than expected, because we're on a tri-semester schedule, which meant classes began on the first of October, which was almost halfway through our regular season schedule."
"This allowed a fluid transition from soccer to my classes."
Siavelis played in 16-of-18 soccer matches and later 16-of-25 games on the hardcourt where she averaged 32.8 minutes a game.
"D-3 soccer is highly competitive,” she said. “It's obviously faster, quicker and more physical than anything I've ever played.
"(But) the great thing about playing here at Caltech is the academic priorities and goals for all of my teammates are the same. So those long bus rides we go on are filled with doing homework in order to stay on track."
Siavelis says training usually runs from 4-6 p.m. during the week, with nearly all of the matches played on Wednesday and Saturday.
"The seniors on the team are fantastic,” she said. “They make playing and staying up on your academics so much easier."
Siavelis had to impress to enroll at Caltech. The school usually accepts eight percent of its applicants. In the year Siavelis applied, that number dropped to four.
"I applied to a dozen schools, but Caltech was always my top choice,” said Siavelis, who qualifications included a perfect score in math on the SAT.
"When you’re so used to getting As in high school, the courses here will humble you somewhat,"
She plans to earn a double major in BEM (business, engineering and management) and computer science.
"I miss coach Froats … feel bad for my former teammates: Ashley Erickson, who was our next great leader; and Annie (Ninness) who had a record setting year as our goalie last year."
Her old teammates found out April 21 that their season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Siavelis continues classes online and eyes a return to Pasadena in the middle of August in advance of the soccer season.
"We're only in our third year of existence, so it's exciting to be on the ground floor of a brand-new soccer program," she said.