Foundation Academy Collegiate is proud to announce their Knights girls volleyball team is the 2023-24 Penn-Jersey White Division Champion.

Foundation Academy CEO Sheria McRae was in the bleachers to cheer on the team, and called their accomplishment “a monumental win in Foundation Academy’s history.”

FA Collegiate high school enrolls students in grades 9-12, as part of the Foundation Academy Charter School serving more than 1,000 students K-12 in Trenton, NJ. FA Collegiate offers a range of boys and girls sports, launching girls volleyball three years ago. Coach Nicole Waligorski took over in 2022.

“These are some of the most dedicated young women I have ever worked with,” Coach Waligorski said. “They not only hold themselves to a super high caliber, but they also push and truly support each other.”

FA  Athletic Director Chris Torino noted this is the high school’s first division title since the boys basketball team won in 2018-19. “It feels good to have another championship banner to display in our athletic center,” he said. “It inspires everyone to do their best, knowing that hard work and teamwork pays off.”

The Penn-Jersey White Division includes eight public, private, charter and religious schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Knights ended their season 11-3, and won the championship based on having scored the most points of any team in the division.

Foundation Academy Collegiate is proud to announce the Knights girls volleyball team is the 2024 Penn-Jersey White Division Champion. FA Collegiate high school enrolls students in grades 9-12, as part of the Foundation Academy Charter School serving more than 1,000 students K-12 in Trenton, NJ. The Knights ended their season 11-3, and won the championship based on having scored the most points of any team in the division. “Being able to work with them and achieve this with them has been one of the greatest accomplishments of my life,” Coach Waligorski said. The Knights championship team includes Captains Melvina Toogbabu & Tauri Garner, and teammates Alicia Waith, Noemi Samayoa, Margarita Tax-Martinez, Ah’mya Edler, Sanai’ya Burnett, Kaylani Nazario, Ahsley Gramajo-Sanchez, Noah Merritt, Paris Clark, Amanda Castro, Dayana Acevedo-Martinez, Laurus Ketter, Jazani Slaughter, and Mayreni Garcia. (some players not pictured).

“Being able to work with them and achieve this with them has been one of the greatest accomplishments of my life,” Coach Waligorski said. “I cannot even express how proud I am of them.”

Mrs. McRae thanked Coach Waligorski, saying she “set and modeled the bar of excellence for the girls.”

“I am proud of this team – but not surprised,” Mrs. McRae added. “At FA, we aim high and work hard to achieve goals together in athletics and academics. I can’t wait to see what these scholar-athletes accomplish next.”

The Knights championship team includes Captains Melvina Toogbabu & Tauri Garner, and teammates Alicia Waith, Noemi Samayoa, Margarita Tax-Martinez, Ah’mya Edler, Sanai’ya Burnett, Kaylani Nazario, Ahsley Gramajo-Sanchez, Noah Merritt, Paris Clark, Amanda Castro, Dayana Acevedo-Martinez, Laurus Ketter, Jazani Slaughter, and Mayreni Garcia. (some players not pictured)

At FA Collegiate, high school sports include girls and boys soccer, girls and boys volleyball, boys basketball and girls cheerleading. If our scholars play a sport not offered at FA, they have the opportunity to join a Trenton Central High School team.

FA Collegiate is now accepting applications for admission in the upcoming school year. Deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Learn more at www.foundationacademies.org/admissions

About Author