Left to right: Red Bank Regional athletes Sam McPherson (soccer), Marissa Albano (track) and Dan Vilardi (lacrosse) signed to play Division I Sports for their accepted colleges on April 15, National Signing Day. 

Press release from Red Bank Regional High School

On April 15, while millions of Americans were attempting to get a handle on their taxes from the year past, young athletes across the nation were looking to the future, during National Signing Day — among them a trio of sports standouts from Red Bank Regional High School.

RBR soccer midfield man Sam McPherson (Red Bank), lacrosse midfielder Dan Vilardi (Little Silver), and 800 meter/ mile runner Marissa Albano (Neptune City) all received scholarships to play Division I sports in college next year, making it official on Signing Day. The student athletes will be attending Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT), Chestnut Hill College (Philadelphia) and the University of Delaware (Newark, DE) respectively.

A student in RBR’s Sports Medicine and Management Academy, Sam McPherson had a high school record of 40 goals and 40 assists on the Bucs soccer squad. Last year, he was among 18 elite players chosen to represent his Region I US Soccer Youth Olympic Development Program in the South African International soccer tournament. He plans to study pre-med at Sacred Heart University.

“Sam is a player whom you never want to see graduate,” stated RBR Soccer coach Sean Reid. “Sam along with several other alumni have left a legacy that should be promoted and emulated on and off the field.”

Dan Vilardi is also part of RBR’s Sport Medicine and Management Academy, and wrestles for RBR in addition to his contributions to the lacrosse program. His career stats in lacrosse include 37 goals, 27 assists, 64 career total points, and 200 ground balls. Dan intends to study a business curriculum at Chestnut Hill College.

A Creative Writing major in RBR’s Visual and Performing Arts Academy, Marissa Albanao intends to study physical exercise science in college, with aspirations toward becoming a physical therapist.

Her coach Chris Desiere states of his student runner, “Marissa is a throw-back athlete that loves to compete. She works hard every day and has really dedicated herself to become the runner she is today. We will be very proud to watch her run cross country and track at such a great school.”