Tag Archives: Football

New Premier League and Coach for Williston Northampton Football

EASTHAMPTON, MA February 12, 2016 – The Williston Northampton School announced today that its football team will compete next fall in the NEPSAC Division A Erickson League, and will be led by a new head coach.

The Erickson League, one of the premier stages for New England preparatory school football, consists of Avon Old Farms, Hotchkiss, Taft, Trinity Pawling, Brunswick, Salisbury, and Kent. Williston had played in the Division B Colonial League from 2004 until the league disbanded in 2014. “Choosing to join the Erickson League was seizing an opportunity to provide stability for our schedule while aligning ourselves with schools that share our commitment to both football and independent school education,” explained Williston Director of Athletics Mark Conroy.

In addition, Mr. Conroy, the school’s head football coach for the past 16 years, will be stepping down from that position next fall. Under his leadership, the Wildcats posted a 84-47 record, and earned three prep bowl appearances, most recently in 2014, when the team lost 35-34 to Lawrence Academy. Mr. Conroy will continue in his role as the school’s Director of Athletics.

Taking the helm as head football coach is Tom Beaton, who for the past six seasons served as Assistant Coach at Tufts University, working most recently as the recruiting coordinator and coaching running backs and slot receivers. A 2010 graduate of Bates College, Mr. Beaton was a captain and an All-NESCAC selection in both football and baseball. He received his Master’s Degree in Education at Tufts. Originally from West Newbury, Massachusetts, he and his wife Robyn will reside on campus. “I am beyond excited to be offered the position of head football coach at the Williston Northampton School,” Mr. Beaton said. “To be a part of the Williston community and to be associated with such a first-class, prestigious school is something I have always dreamed of.”

“Williston was very fortunate to attract a deep and talented pool of applicants for the job of head football coach,” Mr. Conroy said. “We are absolutely thrilled that Tom Beaton has accepted our offer. He is widely regarded in New England college coaching circles as a tremendous young coach. We are confident that he will be an outstanding role model for our athletes, while providing exceptional leadership for our program.”

The Williston Northampton School is a coeducational boarding and day school for students in seventh grade through post-graduate year. The 125-acre campus offers a challenging learning environment with a rich academic curriculum, leadership opportunities, and a full range of extra-curricular activities in the arts and athletics. Located in the heart of the Pioneer Valley, the school is within a 15-mile radius of Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts. Williston’s community of over 500 students provides a diverse and culturally rich educational experience for students.

Athletic Hall of Fame: Coach Rick Francis

Coach Rick Francis was the kind of person who not only worked tirelessly with athletes on the football field and basketball court, but served as a mentor off the field as well.

“He was always quick with a smile, a hearty hello, and a word of encouragement,” wrote Peter Kostos ’87 in his nomination. “He was also, at least to many of us who played for him, a surrogate parent, somebody we could trust and come to with a problem, concern, or question that we felt we could not ask somebody else.”

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Athletic Hall of Fame: Mark Timm ’76

Whether he was taking to the court or the field, Mark Timm ’76 was simply outstanding — at almost any sport. While earning 12 varsity letters over the course of his time at Williston, Mr. Timm was also named captain for three sports.

To kick off his freshmen year, Mr. Timm was named starting quarterback on the varsity football team. He passed for 609 yards and ran for 192 yards, leading his team in both statistics.

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Athletic Hall of Fame: 1963 Football Team

The 1963 football team had a perfect 7-0 record under the leadership of Coach Rick Francis and captains Dick Buckley ‘64 and Bob Montgomery ‘64. In the first undefeated (and untied) season since 1895, the Williston Academy team was the highest scoring prep team in New England.

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Williston Fall Athletes Earn Post-Season Honors

The following Williston students have received post-season honors for their play during the fall athletic season.

Girls Cross Country
Devon Greenwood ’13 – All New England

Boys Cross Country
Corey Palumbo ’13 – All New England
Andy Pierce ’13 – All New England

Field Hockey
Catie Laraway ’13 –  Western New England All-Star Team, NEPSAC Class B All-Tournament Team
Taylor Senecal ’14 – Western New England All-Star Team

Football
Dylan Arthurs ’13 – All New England, First Team All Colonial League
Ledell Robinson ’14 – All New England, First Team All Colonial League
Marquis Francois ’14 – First Team All Colonial League
Sebastian Rivera ’13 – Second Team All Colonial League
John Woodside ’13 – Second Team All Colonial League
Frankie Zumbo ’14 – Second Team All Colonial League

Boys Soccer
Pierre DeLiso ’13 – Class A/B Western New England Select Team
Griffin Foley ’13 – Class A/B Western New England Select Team
Mark Richards ’13 – Class A/B Western New England Select Team, All State Team

Girls Soccer
Amanda Cronin ’13 – Western New England All-Star Team
Gia Parker ’14 – Western New England All-Star Team

Girls Volleyball
Elizabeth Calderone ’14 – Western New England All-Star Team
Khyrstyna Vatseba ’13 – Western New England All-Star Team

Boys Water Polo
Ryan Cavanaugh ’13 – All New England Team

Fall Team Highlights and Individual Honors

Before recognizing the nine fall programs and their accomplishments over the past season, Director of Athletics Mark Conroy took a moment to honor Al Lavalle, who worked in the Physical Plant Department for 3 years and in The Cage at the Athletic Center for a decade.

“Al had an incredibly profound impact on everyone who knew him,” said Conroy. “With all due respect to all of us who work with students on a regular basis here, no one in our community impacted more students than Al during those 10 years.”

Conroy then announced the following highlights and individual award winners. The award winners were also recognized during fall sports team night on November 16.

“I wanted to thank all of those of you who wore the blue and green this fall for competing so hard and so well,” Conroy said. “Your sportsmanship was outstanding.”

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Crew
Girls Volleyball
Boys Water Polo
Football
Field Hockey
Girls Soccer
Boys Soccer
Girls Cross Country
Boys Cross County

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