Iona Prep Athletes Commit To College Sports

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Six Iona Preparatory School scholar-athletes committed to playing collegiate sports as part of the school year’s National Signing Day Nov. 24.

Joined by classmates, coaches and family in an ESPN-style event, school officials said the Gaels committed to the following schools:

• Christian Diaz (Middletown) Baseball | SUNY Plattsburgh - DIII
• Justin Yuan (Valhalla) Lacrosse | Skidmore College - DIII
• Ben Falch (Mt. Kisco) Lacrosse | Muhlenberg College - DIII
• Trevor Dutra (Rye Brook) Baseball | St. John’s University - D1
• Zach Perlett (Poughquag) Lacrosse | SUNY Cortland - DIII
• Ryan Trapasso (Croton on Hudson) Lacrosse | Colorado College - DIII

A live stream of the ceremony can be watched here.

Information about the Iona Preparatory Scholar-Athletes, provided by the school:

Christian Diaz, from Middletown, is a three-year member of the baseball program and looks to be a key member of the pitching staff in 2021. Diaz led the Junior Varsity team in batting average against and hits allowed, throwing a no-hitter against Mount St. Michael. He currently has an 82 overall GPA and is a member of the Latinos Unidos Club. Diaz will attend and play baseball at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Justin Yuan, from Valhalla, will continue his academic and lacrosse career at Skidmore College. Yuan is a four-year member of our lacrosse program and has also been a member of our wrestling program for 2 years. A team captain on the Junior Varsity team, he helped lead the team to a JV City Championship. Yuan is also a member of the Math Team and the Mandarin Club. He currently has a 95.3 overall GPA. Outside of Iona Prep, Yuan is involved in the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals High School Internship Program and enjoys weightlifting and building computers. He will attend and play lacrosse at Skidmore College.

Ben Falch, from Mount Kisco, is a three-year member of our lacrosse program and played basketball and soccer freshman year at Fox Lane High School. As a sophomore, Falch was a member of the 2019 League, Catholic State & Downstate Championship Varsity Lacrosse team. He is a member of the Human Rights Club and is in our Peer Ministry Program. Falch currently has a 90.85 overall GPA and outside of Iona Prep, he has worked as a volunteer lacrosse coach and is also a part of the Family Reach Organization. He will attend and play lacrosse at Muhlenberg College.

Trevor Dutra, from Rye Brook, is a four-year member of our baseball program and was also a member of our football program for two years that won the JV City Championship in 2018. Dutra is a true power hitting lefty first baseman who can also play the outfield. He was named to the 2020 Rawlings Perfect Game Preseason All-American list and was a 2019 PBR Future Games Participant. Dutra is currently ranked Top 500 Nationally by Perfect Game. He is a Prep Rep, a member of the Italian Club, the National Foreign Language Honors Society and a member of the National Honor Society. Dutra currently has a 94.9 overall GPA and will attend and play baseball at St. John’s University.

Zach Perlet, from Poughquag, is a four-year member of the lacrosse program and also a three-year member of our football program. Perlet was named Most Valuable Player on the Junior Varsity in 2018 and also played midfield on the 2019 League, Catholic State & Downstate Championship Varsity Lacrosse team. He is a member of our Sports Management Club and currently has an 89 overall GPA. Perlet will attend and play lacrosse at SUNY Cortland.

Ryan Trapasso, from Croton on Hudson, is a three-year member of our lacrosse program and was named FOGO (Face Off, Get Off) of the year in 2019. Trapasso was a key member of the 2019 Catholic State Championship Team. He was named All-League in 2019 and also plays for the Long Island Express summer program. Trapasso currently has an 88.81 overall GPA. He will attend and play lacrosse at Colorado College.