Four Wildcats sign D-1 national letters of intent

November 20, 2023

Great news out of Wildcats Country today, as four Warwick Wildcats signed National Letters of Intent, a form completed by student-athletes that indicates their commitment to play sports at NCAA colleges and universities.

Congratulations to Sierra Blanton, John Accardo, Francis Keneally and Lily Beattie.

Sierra Blanton
Warwick Senior Soccer – Lacrosse Athlete

National Letter of Intent to attend East Carolina University of Greenville, North Carolina. Recruited to play defense for the NCAA Division I East Carolina Pirates of the American Athletic Conference. East Carolina competes against University of Florida, JMU, Cincinnati and Temple. Sierra was recruited by head coach Brittany Dipper. She chose ECU over UMASS Lowell and Slippery Rock. She expects to major in Business Administration.

Career Highlights

Three-time Section IX Champion
First Team All Section selection for lacrosse 2022
2024 team Captain

Academic Accomplishments

Weighted Grade Point Average of 94.6
National Honor Society, NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete for soccer and lacrosse
Volunteer for Warwick Youth Soccer

Parents: Eric & Mandy Blanton Sisters: Skyler, Reece and Payton

John Accardo
Warwick Senior Football, Wrestler and Lacrosse Athlete

National Letter of Intent to Siena College in Loudonville, New York, to play lacrosse for the Siena Saints . Siena competes in the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Other member schools include Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University, Marist and Wagner. John was recruited by Assistant Lacrosse Coach Derrick Eccles as defender. He chose Siena over Wagner College and Tampa University. He plans to major in Physical Therapy and Sport Science.

Career Highlights

All Section Selection in football and lacrosse three-season captain (football, wrestling, lacrosse)
Three-year varsity lacrosse player and starter long-stick midfielder
66% face off win percentage as a sophomore
Created over 80 turnovers as defensive specialist

Academic Accomplishments

Grade point average 92% , NYSPHSAA Six time Scholar – Athlete
National Honor Society inductee
Sports Medicine Club, SADD, FBLA, Autism Awareness Club

Parents: Margaret and Thomas Accardo Brother: Michael (‘24) and Luke (Junior at Florida Gulf Coast)

Francis Keneally
Warwick Senior Lacrosse Athlete

National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Recruited to the NCAA Division I Yale University Bulldogs of the Ivy league and will compete against schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Brown and Dartmouth. Francis was recruited by head coach Andy Shay as a long stick midfielder and defender. He chose Yale University over Princeton, Brown and Rutgers. He plans to major in economics.

Career Highlights

Four-year varsity lacrosse starter and two-year team captain
Section IX boys lacrosse Player of the Year 2022
All Section Selection long stick midfielder 2021, 2022 and 2023
Received 4 star recruit rating from Inside Lacrosse Magazine

Academic Accomplishments

National Honor Society President
Four-year NYSPHAA Scholar Athlete
Youth lacrosse volunteer

Parents: Melissa and Timothy Keneally Brother: Daniel

Lily Beattie
Warwick Senior Track and Field Athlete

National Letter of Intent to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in Oxford, Mississippi.

Ole Miss is a Division I school that competes in the Southeast Conference (SEC) , likely the top athletic conference in the country. Other member schools include Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Vanderbilt . Lily was recruited by Brian Porter (pole vault coach). Other colleges in consideration were Vanderbilt and University of North Carolina. She plans to study Exercise Science.