Student-Athletes Make College Plans

Five Pembroke Hill seniors have signed letters of intent to play college sports in 2008-09:   Bobby Bollier will swim at Stanford; Sam Keeton is joining the tennis program at the University of Notre Dame; Spencer Ladner plans to participate in the football program at University of California-Berkley; Peter Ingles will join the baseball team at Truman State University; and Kristina Mingos will be playing basketball at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Peter Ingles
A student at Pembroke Hill since 2003 when he joined our eighth grade, Peter has played for the Pembroke Hill Raiders baseball team since his freshman year.  He lettered and earned a starting infield position as a freshman, and developed into a starting and relief pitcher by the time he was a sophomore.  Peter pitches submarine style, which is very unique for a high school pitcher.

During last year’s season, Peter hit .400 and drove in 12 runs, while scoring 16.  He had his first career grand slam during his junior year.  According to his coach Jeff Diskin, “Peter has been one of the hardest working and most dedicated players to come through the Pembroke Hill baseball program in my tenure as head coach.  He is as good of an infielder as one can find at the high school level. His ability to make plays, charge slow rollers, and turn the double play are what set him apart from other infielders.”

His teachers describe Peter has a low-key guy who is very personable…very polite and honest - a young man who treats his peers with respect and patience.  He is also a good artist.  He takes his academic responsibilities seriously, consistently achieves at a high level, and has been on the honor roll numerous times.  Peter is also dedicated to helping others; he recently assisted in organizing a baseball equipment collection for young people in the Dominican Republic.

Bobby Bollier
A student at Pembroke Hill since joining our second grade class in 1997, Bobby was inducted into the Cum Laude Society last spring and is also a National Merit Semifinalist.  Bobby has been a member of the Kansas City Blazers Swim Team since 1998 and has received many honors as a swimmer. He is a member of the National Junior Swim team and is an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100- and 200-meter butterfly and the 400-meter freestyle.

He was named the Brian Howard Most Inspirational Swimmer-of-the-Year in 2005 and the Blazers Elite Group Most Inspirational Swimmer-of-the-Year in 2007.  Bobby was also named USA Swimming Scholastic All-American in both 2006 and 2007.

While obviously an exceptional swimmer, Bobby also excels out of the pool.  He is a
truly gracious and a humble young man who consistently tackles the most difficult courses at Pembroke Hill.  He studies Japanese outside of school as well.  As one of Bobby’s teachers remarked, “his courtesy, integrity and maturity put him in a class by himself.”

He spent Jan-Term last year at the Douglas Early Childhood Center, has volunteered at the Shawnee Mission Park and Heritage Park triathlons and has assisted at various swim meets.
Bobby is a member of the U.S. National Junior Swim Team and has qualified to attend the Olympic trials to compete in both the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly.

Sam Keeton
A student at Pembroke Hill since joining our kindergarten class in 1995, Sam led the Raiders to state titles in both 2005 and 2006. He and his tennis partner, Matt Bleakley, were Missouri state doubles champions in 2005.  He is considered a favorite to win the Missouri state high school singles tournament this spring.

He is currently 26th in the United States Tennis Association’s national rankings in the boys 18-and-under singles division.  During this past summer, Sam dominated Missouri Valley Tennis Association play by winning five consecutive tournaments culminating in his victory in the Sweet 16.  Sam and his partner also won the Sweet 16 doubles.

After winning the Sweet 16, Sam went on to win the National Open in Denver, where he also won doubles.
Because of these accomplishments, Sam has been named Junior Male Player-of-the-Year for 2007 by both Missouri Valley and Heart of America.  He is also ranked 19th on Tennis recruiting.net’s list of top college recruits in the senior class.

His teachers describe Sam as competitive and a very polite, courteous young man who works extremely hard to achieve whatever goal he sets for himself.  They also report that he is a great classroom participant who shares insightful comments.  Sam has been on the honor roll all four years of upper school.  He has also tutored young children at an inner city charter school - an activity he says he really enjoys.  Sam is also one of our campus guides.

Spencer Ladner
During the 2007 season, Spencer had 33 receptions for 301 yards and three touchdowns.  He was named second team All-District and third team All-State.  Spencer also earned the team’s MVP award.

Spencer first came to Pembroke Hill in1993 in preschool.   A member of the Raiders football team all four years of his upper school career, Spencer served as a co-captain of the team in 2007.  He also had 33 receptions for 301 yards and three touchdowns.  Because of his football abilities he was name to All-State third team and All-District second team.  For two consecutive years, Spencer has received the Kevin Emory Award for being the Raiders Most Valuable Player.

Spencer was also a member of the Raiders varsity basketball team for three years and helped lead the team to the Final Four state competition in 2006-07.  In that same season, Spencer was named to first team All-District, first team All-State Coaches and first team All-State Sportswriters.

One of Spencer’s teachers described him as “honest and humorous - a good person with a good heart.”  Off the playing field, Spencer serves as the vice president of the upper school Environmental Club and has volunteered with Wayside Waifs, Operation Breakthrough, Boys and Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity.


Kristina Mingos
Kristina first came to Pembroke Hill in February of 1993 in playgroup.  As a member of the Raiders basketball team, Kristina has 1,337 career points.  She is a three-time All-State honoree.  Kristina’s efforts helped take the Raiders to three consecutive Final Four tournaments and to two state championships. 

She served as team co-captain last year and is serving in that same capacity this season.  She has also been named to All-Metro and All-District teams.  Last summer she was selected to participate on a Junior Olympics basketball team that finished fourth in the nation.

Kristina has also been a member of Pembroke Hill’s state championship girls golf team for the past four seasons.   During the 2007 season, Kristina finished fourth in state.  For three years, she has been named first team All-State for her golf abilities.  She was a captain of the golf team this fall.

Off the court, Kristina has been on the honor roll all of her four years of upper school.  She was sophomore class vice-president and a freshman facilitator.  She is also a campus guide, a member of the Teen Board of the Women’s Intersport Network for KC and she enjoys singing with the group, Singly None.  Her community service efforts have benefited WIN for KC and Wayside Waifs and have earned Kristina the Community Service Presidential Award.