WPS Seniors Commit to Collegiate Level Sports

12/13/2024

Berlin, MD – Three Worcester Preparatory School (WPS) senior student-athletes, Ben McGovern of Salisbury, MD, Emma Zajdel of Ocean City, MD, and Mike DePalma of Ocean City, MD, gathered on Monday, December 9, to celebrate their commitment to collegiate sports programs.

Ben McGovern has committed to play Division I Men’s Soccer at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he will study Pre-Med. He is an AP Scholar and a member of the Charles R. Jenkins Chapter of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. In addition to playing soccer at Worcester Prep, Ben plays with the Maryland United Football Club, where he has served as team captain for five years. He has also played soccer internationally in Sweden and Spain, where his team won the championship in the Mediterranean International Cup (MIC) in 2023. In 2024, Ben was selected to attend the National Selection Program at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center, where he played in the 2024 ECNL Boys Conference Cup. At WPS, Ben has been a four-year starter and 12th-grade captain on the Varsity Boys Soccer Team, helping his team win the ESIAC Championship each year and being named All-Conference all four years. Ben is the son of Drs. Lauren and Scott McGovern.

Emma Zajdel has committed to play Division III Women’s Lacrosse at Washington College in Chestertown, MD, where she is choosing between studying either Business or Pre-Med. She is a member of the Charles R. Jenkins Chapter of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. She is a multi-sport athlete at Worcester Prep, where she has played all four years of Upper School on both the Varsity Lacrosse and Soccer teams, has been named ESIAC All-Conference Player twice, and has received the MVP award in Lacrosse. In addition to playing lacrosse for WPS, Emma has also played travel lacrosse with Major Force Lacrosse. She is a member of the Environmental, Recycling, Volunteer, and Gardening clubs at Worcester Prep. Emma is the daughter of Kristen and Edwin Zajdel.

Mike DePalma has committed to play Division III Men’s Golf at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, where he will choose between either Pre-Med or Health Studies. He is a member of the Charles R. Jenkins Chapter of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. Mike has served as Worcester Prep’s team captain and has been voted MVP since the 10th grade, as well as being named Conference Player of the Year all four years of Upper School. He is a multi-sport athlete at Worcester Prep, where he also played Varsity Basketball from 9th to 12th grade and has been the starting point guard in his 11th and 12th-grade seasons. Mike has traveled to compete in many golf opens and tournaments, including the Drive, Chip & Putt Nationals. He is also a member of the WPS Recycling, Surf, and Fishing clubs. Mike is the son of Drs. Errin and Michael DePalma.

Founded in 1970, WPS is a private, independent Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 school located in Berlin, Maryland. Approximately 500 students attend from Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. For more information about WPS, please visit www.worcesterprep.org or call 410-641-3575.

Back

Pictured sitting from the left are WPS senior student-athletes Ben McGovern of Salisbury, MD, Emma Zajdel of Ocean City, MD, and Mike DePalma of Ocean City, MD, who gathered at an athletic conference on Monday, December 9, in celebration of their commitment to collegiate sports programs. Standing in the back from the left are Ben McGovern’s parents, Drs. Scott and Lauren McGovern; Emma Zajdel’s parents, Kristen and Edwin Zajdel; and Mike DePalma’s parents, Drs. Michael and Errin DePalma.
Pictured sitting from the left are WPS senior student-athletes Ben McGovern of Salisbury, MD, Emma Zajdel of Ocean City, MD, and Mike DePalma of Ocean City, MD, who gathered at an athletic conference on Monday, December 9, in celebration of their commitment to collegiate sports programs. Standing in the back from the left are WPS Head of Upper School Carol Evans, Director of College Counseling Vickie Garner, Physical Education teacher and Varsity Boys’ Assistant Soccer Coach J.P. McIntyre, Head of Middle School and Varsity Boys’ Head Soccer Coach Jake Perry, Assistant Head of School/Athletics Director Michael Grosso, Middle and Upper School teacher Hunter Wells, Middle and Upper School teacher Peyton Shockley, Athletic Trainer Drew Oxenrieder, and Head of School Dr. John McDonald.
Pictured sitting from the left are WPS senior student-athletes Ben McGovern of Salisbury, MD, Emma Zajdel of Ocean City, MD, and Mike DePalma of Ocean City, MD, who gathered at an athletic conference on Monday, December 9, in celebration of their commitment to collegiate sports programs. Standing in the back from the left are Ben McGovern’s soccer coaches Chase Humphrey and Jake Perry; Emma Zajdel’s lacrosse coaches Madison Buas and Ali Zadeh; and Mike DePalma’s golf coaches Don McMullen, Jim McKee, and Len Gentilcore.

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Worcester Preparatory School

508 South Main Street, Berlin, MD 21811

Phone: 410-641-3575 | Fax: 410-641-3586

Celebrating 50 years, WPS is an independent, college prep day school for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 students. Located in Berlin, Maryland, the private school attracts an average of 500 students from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.