All about the Wildcats

Athletes of the Week

Max Livingston ’18- Varsity Wrestling

Max has had a quiet, but successful season for the Wildcats this year. As team captain, he has provided a great example for the younger guys on the squad, by bringing a hardworking and positive attitude every day. This past week he beat three highly ranked opponents.  On Wednesday, he beat his opponent from Choate, winning a close match in the final seconds. On Saturday, at the Northern New England Tournament in Bath, ME he beat two opponents who were ranked ahead of him. The first opponent on the day was defeated by pin, despite Max not being in control of the match or position, a true example of his character on and off the mat. The last victory was another thrilling last second win during his final match of the day, qualifying Max for the New England championships this weekend. Max has proven to himself and his teammates, that through hard work and dedication anything is possible!

Tim Fay ’18- Boys JV Hockey

Tim has had a very productive season for the Wildcats. In the team’s last three competitions, he has managed to score 6 goals and has been crucial to the team’s successes. Tim helps the team compete against strong competition, and serves as a role model through his hard work, sportsmanship, and positive attitude. He has been a great fit in his role as co-captain, and his teammates respond to his leadership very well!

Poojaa Prakash-Babu ’21- Girls JV Squash

Poojaa has had a great season for the JV squash team. She always jumps to the challenge of a squash match and is constantly trying to perfect her craft. She always expresses such exuberant energy on and off the court. Her positive attitude helps encourage her teammates and she is extremely coachable. She makes the necessary adjustments in between games, which often result in success. This past Saturday, against Choate, she won her match in 3 games, never backing down during a point. Poojaa is a dedicated squash player, who enjoys working hard to improve her game.

Erin Daley ’19- Girls JV Basketball

Erin has had a great season for the Wildcats. She is a team leader who is always hustling in practices and games and it shows by way of her tenacious defense and rebounding.  Erin has scored 43 points on the season but had her best offensive game during a double overtime loss at Hotchkiss.  In that game Erin scored 15 points, which included going 7 for 8 from the free throw line.  She hit two clutch free throws with less than a minute to go to help send the game into the first overtime.  Erin has elevated her game this year and her work ethic and attitude have provided great examples for the rest of the girls on the squad.

Dylan Robinson ‘22- Boys 4ths Basketball

On Wednesday against Eaglebrook, Dylan sparked the Wildcats offense which dug the fourths out of a 9-point deficit. Dylan finished with 8 points while creating many opportunities for his teammates to score. Defensively, he has risen to the challenge to guard the opponents strongest ball handlers. Dylan’s leadership and positive attitude throughout the season creates a great example for the rest of his teammates and continues to create success for his team.

Rachel Burke ’19- Girls JV Hockey

Rachel, new to the sport of hockey, has made tremendous progress as a skater and overall as a player.  Bringing her field hockey experience to the rink, she has proven to be a focused and coachable athlete who plays with desire and heart and has achieved great success this season. In the team’s recent game with Vermont Academy, Rachel scored a hat trick and helped the team to an 8-0 victory.  Most of all, Rachel’s work ethic and positive attitude have shown her team that, if you put your mind to it, anything can be achieved!

Athletes of the Week

Josh McGettigan ’18 – Boys Varsity Basketball

Josh has been a strong contributor to the success of the Wildcats all season.  This past week, his strong play on both ends of the court helped the team earn a 2-1 record including road wins at Deerfield and Hotchkiss.  Possessing a strong inside/outside skill set, Josh’s strong play was critical to our success in both games.   Against Deerfield, he made a number of plays down the stretch that proved to be critical to our win.  In the Hotchkiss game, he added 10 points including clutch free throw shooting late in the game.   Josh is a great team player who brings an exceptional consistency of effort to his commitment to the team.

Amanda Shen ‘19– Girls Varsity Squash

A top returning player, Amanda earned the #2 spot this season on the team’s ladder.  She plays beautiful squash by setting high standards and pushing herself to excel.  This weekend she played an exceptional five-game match versus Porter’s losing 12-14 in the fourth before going on to a strong victory over Canterbury in three straight games. Amanda is dedicated to being her best and inspires all around her to raise their game with her positive attitude and strong work ethic.

Jordyn Meunier ‘21– Girls Varsity Basketball 

Jordyn has been an asset for the Wildcats all season long. This weekend, her great play continued as she had a terrific afternoon against Westminster. She controlled the offense and was great on the defensive end as she managed to score 13 points and grab 2 steals. On Friday, against a tough squad from WMA, she helped keep her team in the game by putting up 17 pts including 5 three pointers.  In addition to her stellar play on offense she was also superb defensively. Jordyn played with excellent composure and led her team by example with a gritty and confident mentality.

Oskar Lee ’18- Boys Varsity Squash

Oskar has been a strong competitor for the Wildcats all season. On Saturday, he put his teams needs first, as he played up a position on the ladder. Nevertheless, he was able to overcome a very determined opponent in a 5 set, back and forth, battle, including a fourth set tie-break win at 16-14! Oskar’s win sealed the overall victory for his team. Oskar comes to each practice and match with a positive, hardworking attitude and is consistently putting his team first. He proved to his teammates that hard work pays off!

Zoe Okaisabor ’19- Girls JV Squash

Zoe rose to the challenge this Saturday, playing higher on the ladder for the Wildcats. She was able to win her match against Choate after three games, proving to herself that she has the skill and the stamina to play a successful match. She integrated the shots she has been working on the past couple of weeks, which resulted in strong plays and winning shots. Zoe expresses sportsmanship with every opponent and encourages her teammates with great enthusiasm day in and day out.

Nate Kerr ’23- Coed 3rds Squash

Nate has had a remarkable last two weeks for the Wildcats. He has invested consistent effort and unwavering focus to every practice and match. He has exemplified emerging confidence with a firm grasp on his racket coupled with his honed agility on the squash court. Nate’s most recent signature move has been the drop-shot which has bolstered his confidence, left his opponents wondering what happened, and has helped him move up six spots on the ladder. Nate embodies the model of a great player and has risen on the ladder due to persistence and resolve. Nate will continue to be a positive part of the program for many years to come.

Sophia Schaefer ‘18– Girls JV Hockey

Sophia has had a great season for the Wildcats.  Not only is she the anchor of the defense but she is always looking to set up her teammates and exemplifies team first play.  She has been a member of the squad for six years and always leads by her example of hard work and positive attitude.  Sophia earned the role of co-captain this year and has helped lead the team to a current 5-2-1 record.  She scored two goals in our recent tie to Hotchkiss in an exciting come from behind effort. Sophia is a vital part of the squad and the team will continue to look towards her for her leadership.

 

Athletes of the Week

Kate Holmes ’19 – Girls Varsity Hockey

Kate, a forward, has had a terrific junior season as a strong two-way player for the Wildcats.  Last week, she scored a goal and assisted on a second goal in the teams’ 2-2 tie vs. St. Paul’s. Kate plays in all types of situations and has recently started playing defense on the penalty kill, a position that is new to her.  She’s embraced this challenge like a true team player with determination, competitive fire and confidence.  Kate continues to be a go-to player for the squad and has become a leader on and off the ice. Continue reading

Athletes of the Week

Duncan LeXander ’18- Varsity Boys Basketball  

Despite two tough team losses, Duncan continued his fine play as one of the team’s veteran leaders.  On Wednesday against Suffield, he scored 18 points and helped keep the team within striking distance. On Saturday he followed up with another 14 points against MacDuffie, including 3 three pointers. As the team’s best free throw shooter, he was 9 of 10 in both games.  Duncan’s positive competitive spirit and commitment to being the best teammate he can be is a big part of his terrific contribution to this year’s team. The team will continue to look to Duncan’s leadership to help them through the rest of their challenging season. Continue reading

Athletes of the Week

Filip Rebraca ‘18 – Boys Varsity Basketball

Filip has been a key cog in the early season success for varsity boys basketball.  As the anchor of the team’s defense, he sets the tone with his great determination and energy.  An uncanny shot blocker, Filip’s ability to defend 4 to 5 positions on the court are unique.  In an exciting three point win over Deerfield, Filip rebounded from a challenging Friday evening to have a terrific game.  He provided great interior defense and timely scoring with 11 points including a three pointer and a halftime tip at the buzzer to give Williston its first lead. Continue reading

Athletic Director Conroy Named to Coaches’ Hall of Fame

Coach Mark Conroy

You could make the case that Mark Conroy’s career began in second grade when he started playing organized football. Throughout his school days, he played the game, captaining his team at Middlebury College, where he earned All East honors and a nod as Honorable Mention All American.

Conroy has spent 33 years coaching (mostly football but also basketball and baseball) at boarding schools, 30 of those serving in the Athletic Director role, as he has at Williston for the last 18 years. He stepped down as football coach at the end of the 2015-16 school year, continuing on as AD. As a fitting tribute to a career devoted to inspiring excellence and modeling leadership for young people, Conroy has been elected to the NEPSFCA Coaches’ Hall of Fame. Continue reading

Athletes of the Week

Abood Abuissa ’18- Boys Varsity Basketball

Abood’s inspired play has been instrumental in leading varsity boys basketball to a 3-0 start this season.   In consecutive wins over AA schools Gould Academy and Wilbraham & Monson Academy, Abood made a number of “winning plays” on both ends of the court to spark his team.  His infectious positive energy and leadership have made a tremendous difference in helping the team get off to a great start. Continue reading

Athletes of the Week

Mike Manley ’18- Boys Varsity Basketball

Mike had a terrific game on Saturday, leading varsity boys’ basketball to a gritty 64-59 season opening victory at Noble and Greenough. Mike demonstrated great poise and competitiveness in making a number of big plays at critical junctures of the game.   He led a balanced scoring attack with 13 points while also doing a terrific job of defending Noble’s high scoring point guard. Varsity boys basketball will continue to look to Mike as one of its team leaders this winter. Continue reading

Basketball Star Abood Abuissa’s Comeback Season

By Jake Durocher ’18, Staff Writer, The Willistonian

Aboooood! This is how senior basketball player Abdulraheem Abuissa is greeted everyday as he walks to class with a smile on his face.

“It is hard to find Abood not in a good mood,” Senior Jack Phelan said. “With a constant smile and same greeting every time, ‘what’s up man?’ there is nothing you can’t like about him.”

Williston is a long way from home for the basketball standout; Abood is from Doha, Qatar. “Every break I am lucky enough to go home and see my family,” Abood said. “At the very least I will be able to see my dad in New York on the weekends, because he works there a lot.” Abood knows how lucky this is for an international student, and does not take this for granted. Continue reading

Assembly Highlights Fall Athletic Achievements

Athletic Director Mark Conroy stood before the school during an assembly on November 29 and listed the highlights of the nine fall athletic programs.

Horseback Riding
Seven Williston students participated in horseback riding at Fuller Horse Farm in Westhampton under the direction of Laura Etzel. The seven riders brought a range of riding experience to the program. “Coach Laura Etzel says that the group was a great pleasure to work with and improved tremendously this fall,” Conroy said.

Varsity Riders:
Most Valuable Rider: Momoka Oda ‘18, Aiden Alden ‘18
Most Improved Rider: Noel Song ‘21
Sportsmanship Award: Hana Tsukamoto ‘20

JV Riders:
MVP: Izzy Epstein ‘23
JV Most Improved Rider: Sophi Edmunds ‘23
Sportsmanship Award: Elsa Frankel ’23 Continue reading