SSES Athletes Make NCAA Division I Commitments on National Signing Day

Parents, friends, coaches and teachers joined the ceremonious day with two of its newest commitments. Two athletes will join the dozens of other St. Stephen’s collegiate players.

Spartan Field Hockey athlete Eleanor Evarts ’26 and Rower Sophie Fox ’26 continue the 75-year St. Stephen’s legacy of excellence with collegiate athletic signings.

Eleanor Evarts, Northwestern University, Field Hockey
Eleanor Evarts ’26 signed to join the field hockey team at Northwestern University in 2026. Evarts, a four-year starter for the Spartan Varsity Field Hockey team and a three-sport Varsity athlete at St. Stephen’s, will look to contribute to a top-ranked NCAA Division I field hockey program in the coming years. The Northwestern Wildcats are the NCAA Division I Reigning National Champions and are currently on a run to repeat their title, with the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament starting this weekend.

“While I think it’s easy to be awed by her athleticism, often playing 60 minutes at center midfield, what I appreciate most about Eleanor - and what will likely serve her best as she joins one of the nation’s top-ranked Division I hockey programs - is her coachability and team-first mentality,” said Spartan Field Hockey Program Head Chelsea Richards. “Eleanor does not chase glory individually, but always shares it with her teammates. That innate selflessness will be so appreciated as she looks to contribute to a new team next year.” 

Sophie Fox, University of Washington, Rowing
Sophie Fox ’26 signed to continue her budding rowing career at the University of Washington in fall 2026. Fox, who has competed for the Spartans on Varsity Soccer and Varsity Basketball, and contributed to the lacrosse and field hockey programs, has established herself as a standout rower in the last year. 

“Sophie is focused, driven, and does the dirty work for the good of the team,” said Head Soccer Coach and Fox’s advisor Andy Aceves. Aceves went on to acknowledge Fox’s contributions to a particularly challenging soccer game at last year’s Southwest Preparatory Conference 4A Championships. “I pulled Sophie from her position and asked her to hold center mid. She took a beating - but she was the reason we won that game.”

St. Stephen’s will celebrate at least a dozen more Spartan student-athletes on the next National Signing Day on Feb. 4, 2026.

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