Six Senior Athletes From Veritas Prep Sign to Play Collegiate Sports

It was a day of celebrating some amazing milestones at Veritas Prep, as six senior athletes signed their letters of intent to play college sports during a special signing ceremony at the academy. They were surrounded by family and cheered on by faculty, fellow classmates, and teammates.

“Today is a very special day, not only for these student athletes, but their families,” announcement Athletic Director Chase Beebe to the student-athletes and their many supporters. “Acknowledging all the work and dedication that has gone through their athletic career and their educational career to get to this point where they’re about to sign to continue their educationaland athletic career at the collegiate level, which only 6% of high school student athletes do. “

Will Barrett will be playing football for George Fox University in Oregon next year. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Jared, he took on the challenge of playing the line, competing both ways. He became a multi-year varsity starter and captain on both football and basketball. During his senior year, Barret earned Defensive Player of the Year for the region and First Team All-Conference for defensive line.

Fellow Falcons football teammate, Baylor Arnold, will also continue his football career, but at Fort Lewis College in Colorado, where he will compete as a safety in the NCAA Division II Skyhawks pragram. Arnold was a two-way contributor at wide receiver and defensive back throughout his high school football career. He has earned some incredible honors, including back-to-back MVP awards, First Team All-Region, First Team All-Conference, Player of the Year runner-up, and a spot in the top 15 in the nation in interceptions.

Mary Hamann will play volleyball at Western Colorado University while pursuing a degree in biology. As a four-year varsity contributor, she earned First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region honors while being named Offensive Player of the Year. She played a key role in the Falcons’ successes with her record-breaking performance, surpassing 1,000 career kills in October 2025 and the most blocks in Veritas Prep’s history with 274.

Hazel Haggerty will be taking her talent in cross country and track and field to Hope College, a Christian liberal arts college in Michigan. Her athletic career at Veritas Prep is one of the longest and most decorated in recent program history, spanning seven seasons of competition beginning in the 6^th grade back in 2020. Since then, she has accumulated over 50 individual race results across track and field, cross country, and relay events. In her signature event, the 800m, she recently clocked a personal best of 2:25.56, putting her just five seconds away from a decade-old school record. According to her parents, “She’ll trade the Arizona heat for indoor track and put her determination to the ultimate test: outrunning a Michigan winter!”

Fellow cross country and track and field teammate, Rachel Barney is taking her skill down to Mesa Community College. Barney plans to later transfer to, and compete for, NCAA Division I Brigham Young Universiy. This past fall, she earned First Team Arizona All-State Cross Country honors with a seventh-place finish at the 2025 Arizona State Cross Country Championships, leading her team to a second-place overall finish, the highest placing in Veritas Prep’s history. She also posted top-ten finishes last spring in both the 1600m and the 3200m at the 2025 Arizona State Track & Field Championships.

After being a part of the Veritas community since kindergarten, Anthony Sanfratello is excited for his next chapter, playing football at Wheaton College in Illinois. Sanfratello was a four-year starter and was named First Team All-Region and First Team All-Conferenc as a linebacker his senior year, but his favorite honor was being named captain of the Falcons his junior and senior year. His varsity football coach and father, Mike Sanfratello, choked up as he told his son how proud he was of him as he read his bio during the signing ceremony.

At the conclusion of speeches from the respective coaches, AD Beebe instructed the seniors to, “Put pen to paper to sign your letter of intent to compete at the collegiate level.” It was followed by an overwhelming round of applause for these scholars who will continue reflect the virtues they learned at Veritas Prep as they pursue Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in both academics and athletics with this next chapter of life.

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contactjmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.