Four Hendricken student-athletes sign NLIs

Warwick Beacon ·

Bishop Hendricken athletics saw four of its most esteemed athletes sign National Letters of Intent on Wednesday afternoon.

Michael Bittner committed to Providence College for the high jump, an event he picked up during his time with the Hawks. Andrew Flint signed off on Elon for a collegiate baseball career. Justin Mazzulla locked in his decision to attend George Washington of the Atlantic-10 basketball conference. Finally, golfer Joey Tucker inked his letter to Central Connecticut State University.

Each student-athlete’s coach had glowing remarks to offer during the short ceremony. Bittner, who entered Hendricken as a tennis player, took up track and field during the same season. He went from being unable to clear 4 feet, 6 inches as a freshman, to surpassing 6 feet, 2 inches and going All-State as a junior.

“So while competing as a varsity tennis athlete, he was out helping us win a state championship in track and field, and the whole coaching staff was eternally grateful for that,” Hendricken track and field assistant coach Jim Lourenco said. “Anyone who’s seen Michael compete knows that he is just a voracious competitor. He is so focused when he gets out there. We are a better program because Mike came to us.”

Bittner, in what would become a common theme among the four signees, thanked his parents for all of the support along the way.

“They make sacrifices to send me here and they will next year for PC,” Bittner said.

Next up was Flint, who could have arguably also gone Division I for his talents at wide receiver. Instead, he will reside in North Carolina and suit up for Elon in the spring. Flint transferred to Hendricken from Barrington his sophomore year, and after being forced to sit out the first half of the season, made an immediate impact on the Hawks’ title run in 2015.

“One of the first things that impressed me about him was, when you talk to him, he always looked you in the eye,” Hendricken assistant baseball coach Chris Sheehan said. “He’s very coachable. Pretty much right off the bat, we realized we had a very talented player on our hands.”

Flint also picked up another baseball state title and a Super Bowl during his junior year. Sheehan spoke of his dynamic ability on the diamond, noting that he could play virtually anywhere if required.

“He can play outfield, he can play infield and actually a lot of people don’t know this but he’s actually very talented on the mound as well,” Sheehan, who is also Hendricken’s pitching coach, said. “His arm strength, his power with the bat, his speed are things that I’m sure attracted him to Elon and I think they’re going to be very happy with the player they’re getting next year and also the young man they’re getting next year.”

Flint plays on the baseball team with his younger brother, Tucker, and Sheehan mentioned that their parents are rarely absent from their games. Andrew Flint made sure to acknowledge their omnipresence.

“I’d like to start by thanking my family, without them, none of this would be possible,” Flint said. “You guys take a lot of time out of your lives to ship me around the country to play baseball. A lot of vacation days spent on me, I appreciate that. Thank you, Tucker, you push me a lot to be the best I can be.”

Hendricken basketball head coach Jamal Gomes stepped to the podium next to quip about Mazzulla. Gomes also coached Justin’s older brother, Joe, who went on to reach a Final Four with West Virginia in 2010. Gomes’ connection with Justin dates back to his childhood.

“I’ve known this young man since he was 6 years old, when his older brother was playing for me and [Justin] was doing cartwheels and running sprints up the sidelines while watching his older brother compete,” Gomes said to laughs in the auditorium. “I’m so proud of Justin. He’s an amazing young man.”

Mazzulla has been a linchpin for the Hawks’ basketball team during his career. He has piloted Hendricken to two state championships, including last year’s run after falling in the Division I title game to Classical.

The 6-foot-4 senior, who averaged 16 points per game in 2015-16, won the tournament MVP after leading Hendricken to a 62-57 championship victory over La Salle at the Ryan Center. He was also named the Gatorade Player of the Year, awarded the Warwick Beacon’s boys’ basketball player of the year for the second season in a row and selected to the All-State First Team.

“When I think of Justin, words like respect, loyalty, trust, toughness, resiliency, leadership, role model, warrior and an absolute team player come to mind,” Gomes said. “Justin has earned everything. Every honor, every accolade he has ever received, and there have been many of them in his first three years at Hendricken. He’s a great kid with strong character, strong beliefs and a gift for making everybody around him better.”

Mazzulla was just as humble as Gomes described him when he approached the microphone, thanking those who have made his journey possible.

“I’d first like to start off by thanking Coach Gomes, coach has always been there for me through the ups and downs,” Mazzulla said. “He’s a great role model, I truly admire him. I’d like to thank my sister as well, she’s been through everything, along with my dad, and they keep on supporting me.”

Golf head coach Rick Angeli finished out the day with his speech about Tucker, which began with the story of when they met at open house in 2012. Angeli asked Tucker what he did when he wasn’t playing golf during the winter, and Tucker said he would hit golf balls into a mattress in the garage.

That was the first sign to Angeli that Tucker would be a fixture of the program going forward.

“His record speaks for itself,” Angeli said of his three-time First-Team All-State golfer. “He’s unique. He’s not a country club kid. It doesn’t come easy. It comes through hard work, determination, commitment. It’s his makeup, and it makes him who he is. When we go into battle, those are unique things he takes with him.”

Tucker finished second at the Rhode Island Interscholastic League golf tournament during the spring, and he has also appeared on Team New England at the Junior New England Golf Championships four times.

In addition to his talent on the course, Angeli said that Tucker would often volunteer to help his other golfers improve.

“Joe’s been kind of a third coach for the last three years,” Angeli said. “He sees when kids need help. He would say to me, ‘Coach, let me play with so and so, because I think I can help them today.’ That happens throughout the season, because Joe knows that he has something to give to other kids that can help us all as a team succeed.”

The third coach showed respect to the first coach when it was his turn to speak, noting that he has helped him grow tremendously in more than just golf.

“You being my coach has paved the way to who I am as a golfer and a person, and I would like to thank you for that,” Tucker said. “I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my life to this point, for paving the way to who I am know. I want to thank my parents, especially my mom, she’s helped me throughout this college process. I want to thank Hendricken, it’s like a family and it’s made my four years here just very special.”