SACO — Thornton Academy’s Alisha Aube and Samantha Curran signed their National Letters of Intent to play Division I sports next year.

Aube committed to basketball for Butler University in Indiana, while Curran signed on to compete in track and field for Sacred Heart in Connecticut.

Aube solidified her place as one of the premiere basketball players in the state throughout her high school career. She played for Westbrook in her first three years, receiving numerous honors such as All-Conference selections and All-Star nods from numerous publications. Aube would transfer to TA her senior year, and once again shined while leading the Trojans to another postseason appearance. 

Aube also succeeded in the classroom, being selected to the conference’s All-Academic team for both basketball and field hockey.

Aube is excited to get to work for the Bulldogs, and felt like Butler was a natural fit from the get-go.

“For me, Butler was a great fit — the team really felt like family from the first time I stepped on campus and academically it has everything I need and want to pursue,” said Aube.

After excelling for the Blue Blazes and the Trojans in her four-year career, Aube looks forward to the challenge of competing at the DI level, and feels that playing for two high school programs as well as AAU will help her transition be a smooth one.

“Coming to (Thornton) my senior year really helped me be able to see different communities and climates and give me a better sense of not everything being the same. Going to Indiana will be much different but I think I’m ready for the challenge,” said Aube.

Curran also climbed atop the state in track and field throughout her high school tenure, making a name for herself in both the shot put competition and the discus.

Curran was named to the All-Conference team in all four years, including being selected to the first team in both 2016 and 2017. She won two state championships in the shot put during her TA career, and also was a top-10 finisher multiple times at the regional level.

Sacred Heart will provide Curran with the right blend of fun, as well as competition at the DI level.

“The community feel at Sacred Heart really made me feel at home like Thornton Academy. The coaches and teammates seemed super into the sport and that’s what I’m looking for, that competition on the team,” said Curran.

After emerging as one of the state’s elite big meet performers, Curran also expects to produce at the next step.

“I’m going to go in and have fun but also take it seriously. Higher competition drives me more so I don’t think it will change my performance,” said Curran.

Although the physical competition will be challenging, both Aube and Curran believe that mental toughness and resiliency will be key in succeeding in college.

“There have been a lot of lessons, starting from freshman year. Varsity sports is difficult and it’s a big step from the eighth grade,” said Aube. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to not get down on myself because that just takes you out of your game.”

“(My lessons are) similar to (Alisha’s), it’s easy to get down on yourself especially in a small community,” said Curran. “Just focus on improving yourself and your own performance.”

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at asponseller@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.