Westcott E.S. Moulton ’27, one of Williston Academy’s first true ice hockey superstars, was posthumously inducted into the Williston Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Reunion on May 13.

Moulton, who was often known as Wes, attended Williston Academy for two years.  During that time he played varsity football, ice hockey, and baseball.  He was named captain in his senior year in both football and ice hockey, while earning All New England honors in baseball.

It was in ice hockey that Moulton truly shined. In a total of 11 games over two seasons, Moulton scored 48 goals while the rest of the team scored 29. He made an amazing 15 of 18 goals in his senior year. He was named to Williston’s First Half Century Team (1900-1950). Continue reading →

Laura Hurd ’01, who was posthumously inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Reunion May 13, was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and attended Williston Northampton for two years. A two-year starter in soccer, ice hockey, and track, Hurd was known for her tenacious determination, competitive spirit, and unfailing love of life. Her mother, Jennifer, accepted the award on her daughter’s behalf, and Rachel Rockwell ’16 presented the award.

After graduation, Hurd attended Elmira College, which was just starting a women’s ice hockey program.  Over the course of the next four years, she rewrote the record books for Division III Women’s Ice Hockey in leading Elmira to two National Division III titles.  A four-time First Team All-American forward, Hurd still holds the NCAA Division III record for career scoring with 237 points, leading the nation in scoring her senior year and being named ECAC Player of the Year. She also holds NCAA Division III records for points in a season (77), points in a career (120 goals, 117 assists), points per game in a season (2.75), points per game in a career (2.15), goals in a season (40), goals in a career (120), assists in a career (117) and assists per game (1.06). Continue reading →

Stephen Durant ’64 attended Williston for five years and proved himself to be one of greatest athletes to ever attend the school.  As a three-year member of the varsity football team, Durant was a two-time Boston Herald All-New England Prep School Team selection.  The fact that he was named to the team at two different positions – quarterback and fullback – made the feat even more impressive.

In 1964, with the football team on its way to a New England championship, Durant gained 305 yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry and, more impressively, never lost yardage. In 1964, he was named the Stimets Trophy winner as well as the Frank Boyden Award winner, given to the Top Western Mass Prep School Scholar-Football player. In 1963 he was named the Connecticut Valley Scholar Athlete recipient. Continue reading →

For only the second time in Williston’s history, the 1991 Girls Cross-Country team took first place in the Division II New England Championships, capping an undefeated season.  Out of seventy runners at the championships, Williston finished with five girls in the top twenty, led by Seana and Suzanne Zelazo, who finished third and ninth respectively.  Priscilla Fusco Kanzer finished 12^th, Tara Sheehan finished 18^th and co-captain Natalie Munk crossed the line in 19^th place.  Other members of the team included Catherine Saint Louis, co-captain Mecina Bottaro, Lissy Neumann, Megan Ross, Jodi Ryder and Amanda Patterson. Continue reading →

Abbie Coscia ’19 broke the single-season scoring record of 48 goals   during the Wildcats’ water polo match against Staples last week. Maddy Stern ’14 previously held the record, which she set in 2014. Coscia currently has 64 goals in the team’s 2016 campaign, and with one regular season game remaining against Loomis and the NEPSAC tournament on the horizon, she is eager add to her total.

The Holyoke native complimented her teammates after setting her record. She said, “When I realized I broke the record as a freshman, I was really proud of my accomplishment; however, I couldn’t have done it without the help of my teammates and my coach.” Continue reading →

With big wins over Berkshire, Pomfret, Cheshire, and Deerfield this spring, Williston’s softball team controls its own destiny as the girls head into the final weeks of the season.  The results of their upcoming matches against Loomis, Kingswood, Suffield, and Stoneleigh Burnham will determine whether our Wildcats will be selected to compete in the Western New England Class A tournament.

A combination of young talent and veteran leadership has led Coach Amber Rodgers’ squad to a winning record after seven games.  Sophomore pitcher Jordan Strum has been nothing short of dominant in her performances on the mound;  she has averaged over 11 strike outs per game in the team’s four wins!  At bat, the Somersworth, New Hampshire, native hit a two-run homer against Deerfield, went 3-for-3 in a tight battle against Cushing, and was 4-for-4 in a one-run win over Cheshire!  Strum, who was recently selected to play in the Western New England All-Star game, has a bright future ahead of her.

Senior shortstop, and fellow Western New England All-Star, Delany Belinskas,  has had a standout season for Williston at bat.  Belinskas has been a consistent contributor to a high-powered offense that put up 19 runs against Berkshire, 16 runs against Pomfret, and 14 runs against Deerfield! The Florida native has had exceptional performances against Cushing, Cheshire, and Deerfield, where she went a combined 6-for-10, scoring 5 runs and driving in 5 teammates.

Senior catcher Morgan Fisher and sophomore third baseman Gabby Jones have complemented Strum’s and Belinskas’ strong play  with great performances of their own.  Fisher was outstanding against Cheshire, where she went 3-for-4 and had 1 run and 2 RBIs, helping the team to a thrilling 5-4 win. Jones, who, like Strum, is a young, talented player for the Wildcats, went 3-for-4, and had 4 runs and 1 RBI in the 14-0 blanking of Deerfield.

Although great individual performances have been an important factor in the team’s wins this season, Coach Rodgers emphasized that “strong team play in nearly every game this spring has been the key to our success.  All players have contributed to our wins.”  She continued to praise all members of her team.  “Kassandra Orcutt ’19 has been an outstanding base runner for us,” she stated, “and Jada Goodrich ’16 has come in clutch in the outfield and at bat, where she hit a great ball to center field to secure a win against Cheshire when we were down by two runs.”

It will certainly be an exciting end of the season for our softball team. The Wildcats will need more strong team play in their final games as they look to secure a playoff birth. The team is back in action this Wednesday when they travel to Loomis.  Good luck, Wildcats!

Williston’s Boys and Girls Varsity Golf teams have been  playing well below par in recent weeks—and in golf, that’s a good thing.

After a slow start to the season, which saw both teams’ records hover around .500, the Boys (9-3) have won 9 of their last 10 matches—narrowly losing to NMH by two strokes in the loss—while the Girls (7-3) are  carrying a four-match winning streak into this week’s matches.

Boys Head Coach Mike Fay spoke about his team’s talent. “They seem to be living up to their expectations as we hit mid-season. For the first time in my time coaching the Varsity team, we have a 9-hole team match average below 40 strokes,” he said.

Coach Fay added that a great team effort has also been a key to their success this spring. “We have had several players who earned match medalist this season, like Jacob Zaranek ’17, Jack Phelan ’18, and Tyler Senecal ’19, and we have also had consistently strong play from Nick Randolph ’17, Owen Randolph ’19, and Junya Ozaki ’18.”

Ozaki, a sophomore who comes from a family of accomplished professional golfers, echoed Coach Fay’s point about a harmonious and hard-working group. “Our team has been doing so well this season. We focus on every single practice and help each other as one.”  Phelan, a junior from East Longmeadow, also highlighted the team’s camaraderie. “I feel comfortable playing with, and for, my teammates, and that defiantly helps me play my best.”

As a result of the team’s strong play this season, they have enjoyed big wins over Avon Old Farms, Loomis, and Deerfield, who are typically among the top teams in New England.

Coach Fay said he feels confident about the remaining weeks of the season. “It should be an exciting second half,” he said, “and we feel capable of challenging for the season-ending Kingswood Invitational Tournament championship.”

Right now the Wildcats look forward to a rematch against Suffield this Wednesday. Suffield beat Williston by  two strokes in the first match of the season.

While strong team play has also been a key to the Girls’ success this season, it has been the exceptional play of senior Sabrina Sampson that has led the Wildcats to wins over Hotchkiss, Loomis, Miss Porter’s, and Westminster over the past week.

Sampson shot a career-low 38 in her match against Loomis and Miss Porter’s on April 27, only to break her record in the very next match against Westminster, shooting an astounding 36.

Sampson highlighted the team’s  growing confidence as a key factor in its recent success. “I think it took a little while for the team to get going, and we all had to build confidence and prove to ourselves that we could win,” she said. “Once we all started improving, the team as a whole has been on a winning streak ever since.  In one of our earlier matches this season, we lost to Loomis, but we recently beat them, which was a great accomplishment for us.”

Head Coach Ann Pickrell praised her team’s improvement over the past month. “Everyone has worked hard on their swing at the practice range and improved their short game and course management,” she said. “As a result of their hard work, three players had their career-low rounds in our most recent match at Southampton Country Club of 36, 40, and 44; quite an improvement for the month of April.”

Coach Pickrell is optimistic about the  final weeks of the season. “All of our golfers are playing their best golf of the season,” she said. Girls Varsity Golf will travel to Westminster on Wednesday in hopes of extending its winning streak when the team takes on Choate, Loomis, and Westminster. Good luck, Wildcat golfers!

Varsity Baseball remains undefeated at 5-0! Coach Sawyer’s talented group of players have recorded comfortable wins over Salisbury, Canterbury, and Millbrook, and 1-run wins over Gunnery and Pomfret.

Jared Freilich ’16 has been a force on the mound for the Wildcats, striking out 10 batters against Gunnery and picking up the win in a dominant performance against Canterbury. Patrick Beaton ’16 has been a key contributor on the mound as well, recording important saves in close matches to keep the team undefeated, while Daylon Thompson ’16 pitched well for the Wildcats in a close 3-2 win over Pomfret.

The Wildcat’s batting line up has resembled well-oiled machine this spring, with multiple players contributing offensively.  Ian Ostberg ’17’s key hits to start the game have helped the Wildcats jump out to an early lead in three out of their first five games.

Beaton, Zach Bernstein ’16, Chris Espinal ’17, Cody Cavanagh ’17, J.T. Chamberlain ’17, Derek Zewinski ’17, and Mike Mieczkowski ’17 have all had key hits and RBIs to lead the powerful offense to 37 runs in their first five games, an average of almost 7.5 runs per game!  Clearly this Wildcat team is very talented and can rely on many players to make an impact on the game when the team needs it.

Varsity Baseball will look to continue their winning ways when they travel to Cheshire on Wednesday and Wilbraham and Monson on Thursday.

Williston’s Girls Varsity Lacrosse team is 7-0!  Convincing wins over Hotchkiss, Wilbraham and Monson, Miss Porter’s, Berkshire, Westminster, and Millbrook have our Wildcats outscoring their opponents 89-22!  The only close game for the girls thus far this season was a thrilling 11-10 OT road victory over St. Mark’s School.  Coach Fulcher’s team has a great deal of momentum heading into the second half of the season, where they will face a talented Loomis team, as well as other strong programs.

A number of talented players on the offensive and defensive ends of the field have helped lead the team to an undefeated start to the season. While there have been many goal scorers for the Wildcats, two players have recorded exceptional statistics so far this spring. Meg Swazlowski ’16 has led the Wildcat attack with 25 goals and 22 assists, and fellow senior Olivia Bonavita is second in scoring, with 18 goals, and has posted 6 assists.

Other notable goal scorers for the Wildcats have been Madison Fulcher-Melendy ’18 with 11 goals, Caitlin Keefe ’17 with six, Fiona Bundy ’18 with four, and Caroline Wysocki ’16 with three.  It was Wysocki’s goal in overtime that gave the Wildcats their overtime win against St. Mark’s! Equally important to the girls’ undefeated record has been their strong defensive effort, led by goalie Tara Sullivan and defender Chloe Harris.

Girls Varsity Lacrosse will look to continue their unbeaten run when they host Deerfield Academy on Wednesday, April 27.

With wins over NMH, Miss Porter’s, Wilbraham, Cushing, and powerhouse Westminster, the Girls Varsity Tennis team reached spring long weekend with a 5-1 record! The Wildcats suffered their only defeat of the season to a talented Deerfield team last Saturday in a closely contested match.

Co-Captains Abbie Foster ’16 and Caroline Borden ’16 have been instrumental in the team’s success. They are undefeated in match play at #3 doubles, and both girls’ strong leadership skills have helped a talented group of tennis players remain focused. “I could not be happier with our captains,” said coach John Chiavaroli. “Abbie and Caroline have done a phenomenal job of leading the group, and they are an important reason for our early-season success.”

Williston’s #1, Julie Lord ’16, has had an exceptional start to the season, winning all of her singles and doubles matches comfortably; she has only lost 7 games in 6 matches!  #2 Toula Sierros ’16 has dedicated a tremendous amount of time in the off-season to developing her game.  She hits her serve and ground strokes with great deal of power, and so far this season many of her opponents could not handle her pace. #3 Ray Stein ’16 is an awesome competitor whose attacking game, comprised of a big first serve and forehand, has helped her win the majority of her singles and doubles matches.

#4 Danielle Grant ’16 is talented player whose deceptive, flat shots set up her power game perfectly. She recorded an impressive 10-0 win against her opponent from Wilbraham and Monson.  #5 Fuka Iwama ’18, the only underclassman in the top 6, is highly talented as well. When she is on her game, she can play with the very best players in the league. Fuka played some of her best tennis this past Wednesday to seal the 5-4 win over Westminster, an opponent that the Wildcats have not beaten since 2009!

Rounding out the singles rankings is #6 Abbie Foster ’16, whose consistent play and enthusiasm on court has helped her win tight matches against NMH and Westminster.  #2 doubles player, Lizzie Sheline ’16, has been a great competitor this spring.  Much like Borden and Foster, Sheline, and her partner, Stein, are a great team on court.  Lizzie is incredible at net, and her opponents often find it difficult to get the ball past her.

Girls Varsity tennis will continue their season this Wednesday when they travel to local rivals Suffield, where talented, upcoming players Haley Beecher ’18 and Sabrina Liew ’18 will play an important role for the team.

Both the Boys and Girls Track teams are undefeated after recording impressive wins over Berkshire, Canterbury, Cheshire and Millbrook.  Williston’s talented group of athletes have already recorded impressive stats, including many personal records, on their way to winning all of their meets this spring. The track teams are in mid-season form, and they seem focused on continuing their success deep into May.

The boys team has already racked up a number of impressive highlights. Nick Hill ’17, of Northampton, won both of his 1500m races.  Mike Dereus ’16 is undefeated in the 100m and 200m sprints this season.  Noah Clack ’18 recorded his personal best throw of 138’ when he won the javelin for the second week in a row, and Henry Chen ’16 is undefeated in the 110 high hurdles.  Finally, Billy Ashenden ’17 set a personal best time of 10:20 in the 3000m, and junior Soma Mizobuchi won the 800m with a new personal record at Cheshire this past weekend.

The girls team has been just as dominant as the boys, winning their meets by large margins as well.  Senior Rachel Rockwell has had an outstanding start to the season, earning first place finishes in 4x100m relay, 100HH, the javelin, and the high jump.  Sideya Dill ’16, Elin Blomquist ’18, Catherine King ’19, Kylie Tracanna ’17, and Rockwell have combined to help the 4x100m team remain undefeated. The same is true for the 4x400m relay, where Natalie Aquadro ’17, Dill, Izzy Cheney ’20, Maya Soley ’19, and Maddie Scott ’16 have teamed up effectively to record wins in both meets.  Dill has also recorded a first- and a second-place finish in the 100m, while Izzy Cheney has a first- and second-place finish in the 1500m. Cheney and Soley have split race wins in the 800m, and Aquadro has finished second in both races. Alexis Ryan’17 and Kai McCalla ’17 have been dominant in the shot put, discus and javelin, and Williston’s pole vaulters—Tracanna, Trixie Willems ’19, and Emma Reynolds ’17—have yet to be topped. Finally, Natalie Fontenot ’17 rounds out the Wildcats’ impressive performances thus far this spring with a win in the 3000m.

Both teams are in action this Wednesday when they travel to NMH to take on the Hoggers and Wilbraham and Monson.

On Sunday, April 10, senior football captain Nicholas Garofano received the Dr. Frank L. Boyden Award at the annual National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame scholar-athlete dinner held at the UMass Student Union.

Over 500 in attendance witnessed the Yorktown Heights, NY, native become the 17^th Williston recipient of this prestigious award, given to the top prep school football scholar-athlete in western Massachusetts.  The Boyden Award has been presented since 1962.  2016 Williston Hall of Fame inductee Stephen H. Durant was one of the first recipients when he won the award in 1963.

Garofano has had a tremendous football career at Williston. He rewrote the school record books as a running back, setting the single-season and career scoring and rushing records.  He totaled well over 3,000 yards from scrimmage, averaging an astounding 8.6 yards per carry and nearly 18 yards per reception!  During his junior year, he scored 126 points in 8 games leading Williston team to a championship bowl berth while earning All-New England honors. Despite missing half of his senior year with a fractured tibia, he led the Wildcats in rushing and earned All-League honors for the third consecutive year.

As a student, Garofano has been equally successful over the past four years, where he has consistently earned the distinction of Honors.  His teachers speak glowingly about his work ethic and contribution to their classes.  Beyond the classroom, he has been an outstanding three-sport athlete, where he lettered in hockey, lacrosse, and football.

Williston’s Head Athletic Trainer, Blayne Lapan, speaks highly of Nick’s commitment to athletic preparation, “Nick is one of my hardest working athletes in the weight room.  Not only does he push himself to get better every day during the school year, but he comes into the school year having reached new limits with his strength and athleticism from his summer training.  He knows what it takes to play at the next level, and he is a great teammate, always willing to lend a helping hand to the younger kids on his team.”

Nick was able to carve out some time during his busy spring schedule to talk with our community about his experience at Williston, his keys to success, and his excitement about college.  Garofano will attend West Point in the fall.

What emotions did you experience when you received the Boyden Award from Coach Conroy?

I was one of the last people to go up and speak before the whole room full of people. There was definitely a lot of suspense up to that point. I was a little nervous, but I wanted to speak from the heart and show my family, coach, and teammates how appreciative I am of them.

You have played football, hockey, and lacrosse at the Varsity level during your time in high school. Do you have a favorite?

Starting all three sports at a very young age, I feel very passionately football, hockey, and lacrosse, having shared a lot of cherished memories in all three. Growing up in a hotbed lacrosse area while also having a football-loving father as a football coach in my younger days, I’d say lacrosse and football definitely hold a special place in my heart. I am a product of my environment.

Who did you look up to when you were a younger student-athlete?

When I was sophomore, one of my best friends at Williston was Max Willman, a post-graduate hockey player from Barnstable, MA. He was, and still is, a person I admire, not only for his work ethic in the classroom and when training and preparing for games, but also for the way he carried himself around campus and how he interacted with people.

What have been your keys to success as an athlete?

I strive to be the best in whatever sport I compete in. By heavily investing my time into my body and my craft in the off-season, I feel I get a huge edge on my competition. My summers consist of gym visits four to five days a week and field sessions for football or lacrosse two to three times a week, while also playing for a summer lacrosse team.

Is there a particular moment from your time at Williston that you will never forget?

I will always remember playing in a football bowl game my junior year with that particular group of men. The natural high that game brought me was unlike any other feeling in the world.

Was there someone who inspired you during your time on campus?

One of my football coaches here at Williston when I was a sophomore, Brian Crockett, who passed away that same year, was a huge inspiration for me as an athlete. When I contemplated not playing football going into my junior year for the fear of getting injured for my lacrosse season, he encouraged me to never give up on doing the things I love. That life was too short to not spend as much time as you can doing the things you love and are passionate about.

How has Williston prepared you for college as a student-athlete?

Williston has helped me tremendously as a student.  The school has helped me channel the fierce competitiveness I have on the field into the classroom. We have supportive teachers that are genuinely passionate about teaching and helping students learn. As an athlete, prep school sports are the highest level of competition for the sports I participate in. Quickly transitioning into a faster pace of game and higher skill level helped me to improve my own game and prepare myself for the collegiate level.

What excites you about attending college next year?

I am excited about attending West Point. I wanted to put myself in what I thought was the best place for college, and I feel West Point exceeded those standards when I visited their campus. Playing Division I lacrosse for a terrific program with great coaches while also dramatically changing my lifestyle to become an Army officer is the vision I have for myself, and I am excited for the challenges both present.

What advice would you give younger student-athletes at Williston?

While at Williston take advantage of every second you have here. You will receive a high school education that is second to none, surrounded with different kinds of people that are just as motivated as you. Find your passion, stay motivated, and work your tail off.

To read more about Garofano’s award on MassLive, click HERE.