All about the Wildcats

Athletes of the Week

Jack Phelan ’18- Boys Varsity Golf

Jack has been a huge part of the Wildcats success this season. On Saturday, he continued his fantastic play as he earned match medalist shooting a 39 to help secure the 15th and 16th wins of the season over Pomfret and Marianapolis. Jack keeps a steady, even keel approach during each match and always rises to the occasion when called upon by his team. Jack has worked hard on and off the course to better his game, and his work ethic has clearly paid off this season.

Ella Mattocks ’22 – Girls Varsity Water Polo

Ella has had a fantastic season for the Wildcats. She continued her stellar play as she had yet another great week of water polo in games against Hotchkiss and Loomis scoring 7 goals on 11 shots with 3 assists and 3 steals. Ella has always been a “team first” player and her positive supportive attitude has been instrumental to the team’s great success and #3 seed in the NEPSAC tournament. Her strong sense of space on offense and tenacious competitiveness on defense make her a dangerous two-way player for the Cats.  Ella has recently become the leading goal scorer in program history for a middle school player, scoring 52 goals so far in 7th and 8th grade. The team will continue to look to Ella for her strong play and great attitude for many years to come.

Campbell Nyarady ‘19–Girls Varsity Lacrosse

Campbell has been a big part of the girls varsity lacrosse team’s success this season.  A gifted attacker, she is dangerous any time she touches the ball. Campbell provided some terrific on and off ball movement and cuts in the game against KO to help set herself and her teammates up for scoring opportunities.  She was also great in transition, helping t the Wildcats to move the ball quickly up the field to create dangerous scoring opportunities. In addition to her offensive abilities, she is a terrific defender, putting great pressure on the opposing team and creating many turnovers. Campbell is not only a terrific player, but she is a great teammate. She always pushes herself and her team to be better.

Aidan Burke ’19 – Varsity Baseball

Aidan has been an important member of the team all year as the team’s primary catcher. Through hard work with Coach Cunningham, Aidan has improved his receiving skills and has thrown out multiple runners attempting steals. Last week, he had a stellar game in the Wildcats win at home against Berkshire. He earned the win on the mound going 4.2 innings, and striking out 4 Bears. Aidan also had 2 hits and an RBI. He has been a consummate teammate all year, doing whatever is asked to help the team be successful.

Emily Warren ’19 – Girls Varsity Golf

Emily has been playing very well for the Wildcats as of late. On Wednesday, at Cranwell Country Club, she earned match medalist shooting a 41 against competitive competition. Emily has worked hard this season, and her work ethic has clearly paid off. She is always pushing herself and her teammates to be better every day.

John Killcommons ’18- Boys Varsity Lacrosse

John has been a vital contributor to the boys varsity lacrosse team this season. The Wildcats have had a great season and John’s contribution and leadership have been instrumental. This past week he continued to excel with his performances in both games. On Wednesday he finished with 2 goals and 2 assists against Loomis.  On Friday, during Senior Day against Vermont Academy, John had another terrific game leaving Sawyer field for the last time with 4 goals and 3 assists. John always plays hard on the field and sets a positive example for his teammates.

Ella Goodman ’19- Varsity Ultimate

Ella was new to the sport of Ultimate at the beginning of this season, but she has taken to it easily. Ella shows a consistent desire to learn the intricacies of the game and is always working to improve her own skills by asking questions of coaches and teammates. Additionally, she has taken on a leadership role for the newly developing girls team. She was a key cog in their success at the NMH Girls Ultimate Tournament in which Williston combined with Deerfield to take 2nd place. Ella’s “team first” mentality has created a great atmosphere around her and has given her teammates someone that they can rely on.

Joe Easton ’23- Boys JV Lacrosse

Joe had a big week for the Wildcats this past week. On Friday, he scored five goals in an 8-6 win over Eagle Hill. He was the best player in the team’s best game of the season. Joe has worked hard all season to improve his catching and positional instincts, and it has clearly paid off, as the team has relied on Joe to be one of the team leaders on offense.

CC Gray ’21-Girls JV Tennis

CC has brought cheer and positivity to tennis practices this year. This past week, Williston hosted brand-new Springfield Commonwealth Academy for one of their first games as a team. CC was such a huge help in this endeavor. She showed patience with the new girls and helped to teach the rules to the girls. She also displayed and modeled proper tennis etiquette to show the new learners. CC has continued to work on her strokes and her serve all year. She has worked to land her serve in more consistently while increasing the pace of the ball as she serves. CC leads by example in all that she does, and the team has been better for it.

Shayna Kantor ’21- Girls JV Lacrosse

Shayna has been a strong contributor for the Wildcats this season. This continued as she had another awesome week of lacrosse. Against Pomfret on Wednesday, she did a great job “between the pipes” only allowing 2 goals. She had another terrific game on Saturday against Kingswood-Oxford, as she produced 16 saves against the undefeated squad.  She always comes with a positive attitude, despite playing one of the toughest positions on the field! Shayna’s positivity provides a great example for the rest of her teammates, and is, without a doubt, contagious!

 

Athletes of the Week

Jaden Tanguay ‘18– Ultimate

This week Jaden made a significant contribution to the Ultimate team on both sides of the disc. As an offensive weapon Jaden proved nearly un-guardable in both games. His consistent high level of effort and his focus on improving his abilities has contributed to his successful season thus far. As a leader on the team, Jaden can be seen helping some of our newer players figure out different skills. He is always willing to lend his great knowledge of the sport to those who are learning how to play. Jaden has grown into a dynamic player and leader for the Wildcats and the team will continue to look towards him for his positive attitude, leadership and fantastic play.

Marielle McEnaney ’18 – Varsity Softball

Marielle has played well for the Wildcats this season. Her exceptional play continued this week as she went 4 for 6 from the plate and earned an RBI, stole 2 bases, scored 4 runs, and perfectly executed 2 sacrifice bunts. In addition to her offensive onslaught, Marielle has been consistent in the outfield, including a phenomenal diving catch against Deerfield to secure a much needed out for the Cats. Marielle always carries herself with a positive energy that has been contagious for the rest of the team!

Abood Abuissa ’18- Boys Track and Field

Abood just keeps improving this season!  On Wednesday, Abood lowered his time in the 110 hurdles by half a second to take the win in a quick 16.3. By Saturday, he’d lower it another four tenths to win in 15.9. This time puts Abood third on the Williston Top-10 list, and in a good position to score points at New England’s. Likewise, in the 300 hurdles, Abood has taken a second and a half off his time, most recently running a 44.0 to place fourth on the Williston Top-10 list. That time was also good enough for the win on Saturday. As team captain, Abood’s hard work and positive attitude provide a great example for the rest of his squad.

Claire Harrison ’19 – Girls Track and Field

Claire has been putting up tremendous times across a variety of events this season. Whether being asked to run an 800m leg of a relay or the 100m hurdles, she’s running quick! On Saturday, Claire put in a phenomenal 63.8 split of the 4×400 to put major distance between herself and the Hopkins runner. Also on Saturday, Claire placed second in the 100 hurdles in 17.5 and third in the 300 hurdles in 53.4 which moved her into 8th place on the Williston Top-10 list. While not her usual event, on Wednesday, Claire stepped into the 400 and ran 65.0 for the win and the sixth-fastest time on the Williston Top-10 list.  Her hard work, on and off the track, has been second to none and it is clearly paying off. Claire is coming into form at the perfect time as the team gears up for New England’s.

Connor Power ’18- Boys Varsity Lacrosse

Connor has been a strong contributor to the boys varsity lacrosse team’s success this season. In his first season playing lacrosse, Connor has improved tremendously and has been a staple defensively for the Wildcats. This past week he played excellent defense in the team’s two games against Suffield and Canterbury. Connor brings a positive attitude each day to practice and he works hard to improve his skills in the game of lacrosse. Connor sets a positive example for his teammates and proves that with a great work ethic, any goal can be achieved!

Sophia Schaefer ‘18 –Girls Varsity Lacrosse

Sophia has been a big part of the girls varsity lacrosse team’s success this season.  Playing in the midfield and taking the majority of the draws, her contributions have been significant!  This week she had 5 draw controls in each of our 2 wins and also provided a defensive and offensive spark in both games.  Sophia is a tireless worker who brings strength to all parts of the game for the Wildcats.  As a team captain, she has been a fantastic leader, helping her teammates realize the value of hard work and determination to be one’s best for the team.

Tyler Senecal ’19- Boys Varsity Golf

Tyler got off to a slow start in the first couple of matches for the Wildcats, but through his perseverance and consistently positive outlook, he rebounded to earn team or match medalist honors 3 times. Most notably, Tyler’s excellent round of 75 at the 8 team Suffield Invitational Tournament, earned him the individual championship, and helped the Wildcats win the team championship. This past Saturday, he again managed to win match medalist in the quad match against Choate, Loomis and Kingswood-Oxford, continuing his streak of fantastic play! Now in his fifth year as a varsity golfer at Williston, Tyler continues to practice diligently, compete fiercely, and always conducts himself with the highest level of sportsmanship.

Abbie Coscia ‘19- Girls Varsity Water Polo

Abbie has been a force in the pool all season for the Wildcats, and her strong play has continued during this back half of the year. She was key in important victories for the Wildcats over tough opponents in Hopkins and Deerfield this past week. Not only was she a scoring leader, her defensive work helped to neutralize the top player for each of the opposing teams. With the NEPSAC playoffs a week away, the Cats will continue to look towards Abbie for her strong play and her leadership ability as they move into the post season.

Joey Nolte ’19- Boys Varsity Tennis

Joey has been a strong contributor to the boy tennis team this whole season. This continued on Saturday as he fought an incredibly challenging match against Avon Old Farms. With the team needing another win to secure the team’s victory, Nolte lit the internal fires after going down 9-5 in a tie break game and earned a 13-11 victory! This helped Williston earn its first win over Avon in six years!  Joey is consistently working his hardest to improve his game, both on and off the court. This hard work has clearly paid off as Nolte is currently undefeated and holds Williston’s only 8-0 record this season.

Tim Fay ‘18- Varsity Baseball

Tim has been an integral part of the Wildcats success this season. Tim had an outstanding pitching performance on Wednesday, earning the win in Williston’s come-from-behind, extra-inning effort at Suffield last week. Replacing an injured Will Jordan on the mound in the 4th inning, Tim held the Tigers scoreless for the next six innings, giving up only four hits and striking out six batters. All season, Tim has played excellent defense at 3rd base and 1st base respectively in addition to being the Wildcats’ top relief pitcher. Tim has also shined as a leader in his role as one of the team’s co-captains.

Katie Han ‘19–Girls JV Tennis

Katie has shown all year that she is full of fight and is extremely passionate about improving her tennis skills. She holds herself to high standards and she constantly analyzes her strengths and weaknesses. This past week, Katie stretched herself in a game by diving to get to a difficult ball. She immediately jumped up to hit the next ball, proving her mental toughness and will to win. On the play she hurt herself, however during the rest of the week she didn’t let her ankle bother her play as she continued to play strong. She played two more very close matches, some of the longest matches our team has seen this year. She is often seen after practice hitting more shots to even further develop her play. Katie’s work ethic is second to none and through this work, she provides a positive example for the rest of the team.

Chelsea Clark ’19- Girls JV Lacrosse

Chelsea has been the rock of the Girls JV Lacrosse team’s defensive unit all season.  She is a hard worker, fearless competitor and a leader amongst her teammates. Chelsea has the ability to jump start the entire team by running through a 50/50 ground ball, intercepting a pass or forcing a turnover.  This week she did all three in the team’s close games against NMH and Choate!  Her field sense and bulldog efforts are a big part of the Cat’s success this year. Chelsea has not only provided strong play but she is also constantly trying to make herself and her teammates better as she helps the rest of the defensive group learn the position.

 

Athletes of the Week

Annika Jensen ’23- Girls Track and Field

Annika has had a great start to the season for the Wildcats. She continued her success on Saturday, having a great meet at Avon, lowering her personal best in the 1500 by 13 seconds to 5:31, good enough for the 5th spot on the Williston Top-10 list. She also ran 67.09 in the open 400 to place at the meet. This time, run shortly after her 1500, was good enough for the tenth best time on the Top-10 list. While new to track this season, Annika has quickly cemented herself as a crucial part of the squad with her ability, work ethic, and positive team-first attitude. The squad will be looking for big things from Annika as the season progresses!

Braeden Heald ’18- Boys Track and Field

Braeden had a terrific day at Avon, where he was a part of two winning relays, and also won the 300 hurdles. Working backward, Braeden took the baton third in the 4×400 and ran a quick split to increase Williston’s lead to ensure a fast time on the day. Moments earlier, he had run an aggressive 300m hurdle race to win in a time of 45.09. Perhaps most impressive, Braeden kicked off the running portion of the meet by running the third leg on the school record-setting 4×100 team. The boys each ran quick splits and had clean handoffs to clock a 43.32, besting the old record by a substantial seven tenths of a second. Braeden’s work ethic and attitude serve as positive examples for his teammates.

Fiona Bundy ’18- Girls Varsity Lacrosse

Fiona has been a big part of the Wildcats success all season. She is a threat to score each time she has the ball. On Friday, she delivered 2 big goals against a solid Loomis squad and played some great defense, helping the Cats get the win on the road. She is a terrific leader and role model who works hard to be her best in all areas of the game. In addition to improving her own game, she is always doing her best to help her teammates do the same, pushing them to be the best they can be. The team will continue to look towards Fiona for her great play and leadership for the remainder of the season.

Sam Miles ’18- Boys Varsity Lacrosse

Sam has undoubtedly been a huge part of the boys varsity lacrosse team’s success this season from between the pipes. On Wednesday, he had a stellar performance as he stopped 14 Saves against a strong Berkshire team. His role in net allowed the team to pick up their first win against this opponent in almost 19 years. He continued his stellar performance on Saturday as he managed to stop 12 shots in a win against Pomfret! Sam is a solid leader for the squad and the team will continue to look to him for his stellar performances.

Gabby Jones ’18- Varsity Softball

Gabby has been a consistent “go to” player for the varsity softball team all season. Outstanding at the plate and in the field for the Cats, she went errorless this past week, both at third base and at shortstop. Against Pomfret on Monday, she racked up 4 hits including a homerun. Again on Wednesday against Worcester, she continued her offensive onslaught as she went 2 for 3 from the plate, including a walk off hit, scoring her younger sister from second base in the bottom of the 7th inning to earn a final score of 11-10. Against Deerfield on Saturday, she was perfect on the day as she went 3 for 3, including a double, and she also scored 3 runs. Gabby has been a phenomenal leader as our captain, being a vocal and competitive player on and off the field this season.

Reilly Gluz ’19 – Boys JV Lacrosse

Reilly has been an integral part of the Wildcats success this season. He continued his strong play on Wednesday as he played very well in goal, keeping the Wildcats in the game in a loss against Eaglebrook. On Saturday, he limited Pomfret’s senior-laden JV squad to only two goals, helping the team earn their first win of the season. He demonstrates the courage and ability to leave his area, whether it’s to snuff out breakaways or to lead his own fast break into the opposing half, giving his team much needed momentum. He has been the team’s most vocally consistent leader from the first day, and his love for the game is always there for everyone to see. Reilly is a fantastic role model for his teammates, and the squad will continue to look towards him for this ability.

Zoe Okaisabor ‘19- Girls JV Golf

Zoe has played a vital role in the girls JV golf team’s success this season. In Saturday’s match against Taft, she continued this role as she won the title of Williston’s match medalist, shooting the lowest score on the day for the Cats. Zoe is always working hard to improve her skills and also her teammates’ skills. Zoe leads by example as she always maintains a positive outlook, which undoubtedly positively affects her game, and the game of her teammates!

Rachel Goodman ‘20 – Girls JV Tennis

Rachel has been a strong, fierce competitor all season for the Wildcats. This week she stepped up to play the 1st singles spot and had a commanding 8-1 win. She doesn’t let the pressure change her game and constantly tries to outsmart her opponent. Rachel is very coachable and is aware of her strengths and weaknesses as a player.  She provides a great example for the rest of the team as she has worked hard to improve her game and it has clearly paid off!

Sofia Michalski ‘22- Girls JV Lacrosse


Sofia has been a strong and consistent presence all year for the Wildcats. She puts in a solid effort every day and is willing to try all positions. Sofia played both offense and defense during our Deerfield game, providing important energy in transitions. She also was able to pick up a goal. On Saturday against Rectory, she stepped into the net with no practice and managed 18 saves!  Sofia always comes to practices and games with a positive, can-do attitude. This attitude has become infectious for the rest of the squad.

 

Athletes of the Week

Haley Beecher ’18- Girls Varsity Tennis

Haley has had a great start to the season, winning both of her singles matches in convincing fashion this past week. As team captain, she led her team to a convincing win on Wednesday against Wilbraham and Monson Academy.  Playing through pain, she routed her very capable opponent with excellent attacking play. Haley’s forehand helped her dictate the pace of play from the baseline, as she sent her opponent running in all directions. In addition to her outstanding play, Haley consistently leads her team by example, bringing a hardworking, team first mentality to every practice and match!

Kenny Wang ‘20–Boys Varsity Tennis

Kenny has had an incredible start to this season for the Wildcats. Currently, he is undefeated in the number one ladder position for singles play. On Saturday he picked up a big win against an experienced and crafty opponent from NMH, without dropping a single game! Kenny then exemplified his team first mentality by assisting Coach Tyree with keeping an eye on the remaining 5 matches and helping to encourage, support, and advise players with their own competitions. Kenny has worked hard to improve his game on and off the court, and it has clearly paid off for him this season!

Jordan Strum ’18- Varsity Softball

Jordan has been crucial to the early success of the Wildcats this season. On Wednesday, against Pomfret, she had a massive day at the plate. She racked up seven RBI’s, four of which came off a monster grand slam homerun. In addition to her offensive landslide, she kept hitters off the base path by striking out 11 hitters! She continued her stellar performance on Saturday against Cheshire, hitting yet another homer, and racking up six more strikeouts! Jordan has been a fantastic leader for the Wildcats as the team’s captain and provides a great example as she is consistently one of the hardest workers on the team. Jordan is a game changer, and truly elevates the play of the team.

Mike Janocha ’18- Boys Varsity Lacrosse

Mike played excellent in his first start of the season for the Wildcats on Saturday. The senior goaltender had 8 saves in a win vs Hopkins school. Mike’s passion for the game of lacrosse is second to none, and he has been working extremely hard to make himself a fantastic option in net for the squad. This hard work paid off big as he was able to answer the call when his team needed him the most. Mike leads by example as he is the epitome of a team first player, always putting the needs of his team before his own!

Connor Cavanagh ’20- Varsity Baseball

Connor has been a consistent performer for varsity baseball this spring. This past week against Pomfret and Millbrook, Connor went 3-8 at the plate, with an average of .375. Against Pomfret, Connor had 5 stolen bases, the most in a game by a Williston player in years.  Against Millbrook, he had another stolen base and an RBI single in the top of the 7th to tie the game at 5-5. In addition to his offensive capabilities, Connor has also played solid defense in right field, helping to keep his team in games. Connor exemplifies great sportsmanship, day in and day out, and he is continuously working to improve his game. The Wildcats will continue to look to Connor for his great play and even better attitude.

Sabrina Shao ’19 – Girls Varsity Water Polo

Sabrina has had a great start to the season for the water polo team. In three matches over the past week Sabrina was a positive force at both ends of the pool, rising to the challenge when called upon her by her team. Playing nearly every minute, Sabrina’s intense defensive skills were on display as she blanketed opposing players. She also has established herself as an offensive threat, scoring timely goals in games against Loomis and Exeter. Sabrina’s consistent positive leadership during the season has been instrumental to the team’s progress this spring. The team will continue to look towards Sabrina for her effort, experience and attitude for the rest of the season.

Nick Sinofsky ’20 – Boys Track and Field

Nick has had a strong start to the season for the Wildcats. He continued this with two strong meets last week at Cheshire and the Deerfield Hunt Relays. At Cheshire, Nick started his day with a controlled effort in the 1500m, running hard enough to ensure the win while conserving energy for later. Nick doubled back in the open 400, running a season best 55.49 for second place, before ending his day with a quick split on the winning 4×400 relay team. Saturday at the 58th Hunt Relays hosted by Deerfield, Nick anchored the Williston Distance Medley Relay team to a 4th place finish. On the final lap, Nick passed several runners from other schools, clocking a 4:33 split for the 1600m leg. Nick wrapped up his day with a flying 53.5 second split in the 4×400, which helped to propel the Williston team to 2nd place for the second year in a row. Nick will be a valued point scorer for the remainder of this year, and for a few years to come!

Tori Zingarelli ’18 – Girls Varsity Lacrosse

Tori has been a big part of the Wildcats success this season. This week she scored 4 goals and had 2 assists and came up with some big ground balls to keep the play alive for the Wildcats on many occasions. She is always a positive leader and role model for the younger players as she exemplifies the best of Williston lacrosse! In addition to performing fantastic on the field, she has been juggling the lead in the spring musical! This is a big undertaking and a difficult challenge, but it has not stopped Tori from being a big contributor and leader on the lacrosse field all season!

Gates MacPherson ’19- Girls Track and Field

Gates had two superb meets last week at Cheshire and at the Deerfield Hunt Relays. At Cheshire, Gates won the discus with a throw of 97’9.5”, placed fifth in the shot put, and won the high jump with a jump of 4’6”. On Saturday at the 58th Hunt Relays hosted by Deerfield, Gates placed 2nd in HJ with a jump of 5’0” – her best of the season so far. The jump helped lead the team to 4th place finish. She again had a solid throw in the shot, and capped off her day with a third place overall finish in the discus – a throw of 93’5”. This helped the Williston team to a third place finish in the event. Gates has been a huge part of the team’s success this season, and the team will continue to look to her for valuable points.

Peter Seo ‘20 – Boys JV Tennis

Peter has been an important part of the JV tennis squad this season. On Saturday he was unexpectedly called up to play at the number 5 singles slot at the last minute, and ended up winning his first singles match in a back and forth tie break.  Down 0-5 at the start of the break, he roared back to win at 11-9.  His victory was a key match in the team’s comeback from a 1-3 deficit. He has been a hardworking, sportsmanship-oriented member of the team all season. Peter has worked hard on his game all year, and without a doubt, his work ethic has paid off dividends.

Anya Rozario ’20 – Girls JV Tennis

Anya is constantly working hard in all aspects of her game, all while bringing a supportive and positive energy to the team. Whether she is playing in a game, drilling, playing a ladder game or working on hurdles and fast feet, she is focused and working towards bettering herself. This week, her game had to start after most people had finished but she supported her team while waiting and was able to focus on her game when it came time. This week she was really able to read her opponents main strength of coming to the net. She scored many points by hitting high, deep defensive shots. Anya shows great sportsmanship and constantly earns the respect of her opponents!

SPECIAL EDITION Athlete of the WEEK!!!

Emma Gentile ‘19

The Average Joey’s dodgeball team! In a remarkable comeback, team member Emma Gentile was left alone the fend for herself in the final minutes of the championship dodgeball game on Friday evening. Dodging balls from stud athletes Shana Hecht, Xavier Thibailt, and Elijah Hutchinson, Emma had one choice and one choice only, catch the ball. As the court shortened, Gentile’s options became clear. A lofted ball in the air was her only hope for a comeback, and it was just that to change the fate of the Avg. Joeys. Gentile catches a ball calling back a teammate to help her against these Monstars. Soon, Elijah goes out, Xavier goes out, and boom, victory was theirs. An upset for the books and great outcome for the underdogs!

Athletes of the Week

Madison Fulcher-Melendy ‘18– Girls Varsity Lacrosse

Madison has gotten off to a very strong start for the Wildcats this season. She has had a huge impact both offensively and defensively for the squad. She has proved to be a strong defender, who is vital to the team’s defense and transition game. Offensively, she is a constant scoring threat, and her ability to assist her teammates is second to none. Last week she scored 10 goals and had 6 assists in wins over Miss Porters and Berkshire. What is most impressive about her game however, is her relentless effort to win ground balls, draws, interceptions and show incredible fitness playing up and down the field the entire game. As a team captain she leads by example, always giving her best effort to help the team.

Mason Balch ’18- Boys Varsity Lacrosse

Mason has had a strong start to the season for the Wildcats. Against Kimball Union on Wednesday he racked up 1 goal and 2 assists, helping the team earn a victory. His strong play continued on Saturday as the team faced Millbrook, scoring 3 goals and adding 2 assists. Mason is a strong leader who provides a great example for all of his teammates. Mason is constantly working to improve himself on and off the field and his work ethic has clearly paid off this season. The Wildcats will continue to look to Mason for his experienced play and leadership for the remainder of the season.

Dylan Fulcher-Melendy ’20- Girls Varsity Water Polo

Dylan has been an impenetrable force in net for the Wildcats early this season. In two games last week, she made 34 saves and only allowed 13 goals against. Additionally, she made 6 steals in the two contests and fueled the team’s transition game with pin point accuracy in down pool passing, directly leading to 4 assists. Her team first attitude has been on display as the younger players look to her as a role model, especially the younger goalkeeping prospects. Dylan is consistently one of the hardest working players in and out of the pool and her hard work has paid dividends so far this season.

Logan Geisness ’18- Ultimate

Logan has had a great start to the season for the Ultimate team. So far, he has made incredible improvement in his four weeks of Ultimate. He has quickly absorbed the game and has really worked hard on his throwing. In his first game against Frontier Regional, he came up with several great plays as a receiver and defender, as well as some surprising long throws. Logan’s positive attitude on the field and desire to improve make him a great role model for the rest of the players on the team.

Jersey Strum ‘20- Varsity Softball

Jersey has been a big part of the Wildcats success early this season. On Wednesday, with the team leading 2-0 over Marianapolis, she hit a huge triple, scoring 3 runners. For the game she had 2 hits and 4 RBI’s in total, helping lead the team to a victory.  In addition to her offensive success, she also played well defensively at shortstop by making several plays. Jersey brings a passion to the game of softball that is unmatched, and her positive attitude is infectious to the rest of the squad.

Will Jordan ’18- Varsity Baseball

Will has played well for the Wildcats early this season. On the mound he is 1-1 on the year, helping to beat WMA 11-1, in the team’s first game of the year.  In that game he pitched 6 innings, giving up 1 run on 5 hits on his way to striking out 8 Titans. In his next start, against an excellent Salisbury team, he held the Scarlet Knights scoreless until the 5th inning, striking out 3. He often out thinks opposing hitters, working fast to keep them out of a grove. He is a reliable pitcher who throws strikes and keeps his team in games.  The Cats will need his experience as they continue the season. Will leads by example as he brings a calm and cool competitiveness to the mound for each start.

Chloe Prouty ’20- Girls Track and Field

Chloe started her season off on a strong note for the Wildcats with three victories on Saturday. In the first event on the track, Chloe ran the second leg of the winning 4×100 relay team. While not typically a sprinter, Chloe was quick to pick up the hand-offs and held her own in the race, keeping even with her Berkshire opponent. Later in the day, she won the 300m hurdles in a new personal best of 53.3. Chloe capped off an impressive day with a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the 4×400 relay. She tracked her opponent from Berkshire for the first 200m, pulled even at the 300m mark, then powered down the straight-away for the win. The Cats will look to Chloe as a consistent point scorer this season

Nikhil Sierros ‘21 – Boys Varsity Tennis

Nikhil has been a big part of the Varsity Tennis team’s success this season. He played a tremendous match on Wednesday at Pomfret, reversing a first set loss, and battling through the first 2/3rds of the second before gaining the lead to take the second set. Through steely nerves and patience, he wore down his opponent in the 3rd set tie break to take the overall win, 2 sets to 1. This was the hardest fought match of the day and contributed to the overall match win. Nikhil always bring a positive attitude and a willingness to improve to each practice and match.

Mike Polk ’18- Boys Track and Field

Mike started off his Williston track career on a strong note with three victories on the day, including one that was a school record! Mike ran a strong second leg of the winning 4×100 relay team, ensuring that Williston began the track events ahead of Berkshire in points. He capped off the running events with a quick 53.6 split in the 4×400. The team led wire to wire, with Mike putting distance between himself and his Berkshire opponent and handing off in a comfortable first place that Williston would never relinquish. His most impressive achievement on the day, however, was jumping 6’7″in the high jump to break the old school record of 6’6″ set by Douglas MacMillan in 1984. As the season goes on, Mike has his sights set on even higher jumps. Mike provides a positive example to his teammates by consistently pushing himself to be better on and off the track.

Louisa Coughlin ’23- Girls JV lacrosse


Louisa has had an awesome start to the season for the JV lacrosse team. She exemplifies speed, determination, and a feisty competitiveness day in and day out, and shows excellent maturity as a 7th grader. Her season started with a bang as her talent was highlighted by scoring three goals and adding an assist against Berkshire on Saturday.  She is consistently the hardest worker on the field and she gives her teammates a positive example to follow as she runs through passes and charges through every ground ball. Louisa is a versatile player who will be looked to for the rest of the season to provide positive energy and a will to succeed.

Hana Tsukamoto ‘20 – Girls JV Tennis

Hana is a strong and consistent player for the JV Tennis team. When on the court, Hana plays with passion, purpose and integrity! She played in her first varsity games this week and went 3-0 in her matches. Not only was she able to secure the win, but she showed great resilience as in one of the games, she came from behind after being down 3 games to win the match. She has shown impressive discipline and self-motivation to keep herself focused during practice and clearly during matches. Hana is a dangerous player with the ability to hit many shots and move her player around. The Wildcats will continue to look towards Hana to lead them against many competitive opponents this season.

 

Athletes of the Week

Kevin Talbot ’20- Boys Varsity Lacrosse

Kevin has been a crucial part of the boys varsity lacrosse team’s success early this season. Last week he was dominant at the face-off X in the team’s first two games of the season. Against Albany Academy on Wednesday, Kevin went 27/30 on face-offs, an incredible day that helped the Cats get their first win of the season 16-13. On Saturday against Gunnery, he continued his excellent play at the X by going 22/25 on face-offs. In addition to his important play securing the face-off portion of the game for the Wildcat’s, he also picked up two assists. Kevin possess a tireless work ethic on the field and off, and his hard work has clearly paid off not only for himself, but to the benefit of his teammates as well.

Julia Farnham ’20- Girls Varsity Tennis

Julia started off the season strong, as she led the girls varsity tennis team with two convincing wins in a closely-contested match on Saturday. Playing against a tough squad from Ms. Porter’s, Julia helped her #1 doubles team to a comfortable win. She kept the momentum going into her singles match where she used her poise and good decision-making skills to defeat a talented player from Porter’s at the #3 singles match. Julia has many great competitive qualities that make her a dangerous player in just about any situation. In addition to her skills, she has developed a strong mental game which helps elevate her play even more. The Wildcats will continue to need Farnham at her best as they take on a competitive slate of opponents.

Tom Lawry ‘19 –Boys Varsity Golf

Last Saturday, Tom earned a spot in the line-up for the first quad-match of the year against Westminster, Suffield, and Salisbury. Tom’s excellent score of 38 on a challenging course in cold & windy conditions earned him the team medalist honors and helped the Wildcats sweep the match to start the season with a 3-0 record. Tom is a dedicated golfer who always plays the game with the highest level of integrity and sportsmanship. He has worked hard in past seasons and over the summers to develop his game. In addition to being a strong golfer, he is a wonderful teammate with a great sense of humor.

Shana Hecht ‘18– Girls Varsity Lacrosse

Shana has had a successful start to the season for the Wildcats and has been a big part of their early success. This week she had big games against both Hotchkiss and St Marks. On Wednesday, she helped her team pick up a win against Hotchkiss by only allowing 4 goals to be scored. On Saturday, she again came to play as she picked up some hugely important saves, and only allowing 6 goals by a very competitive St. Marks team, giving her team much needed momentum. Shana has showed great leadership so far this season and her team will continue to look towards her for experienced play and positive attitude.

Abby Seltzer ‘20 – Ultimate

Abby has had a great start to the season for the Wildcats! She helped to lead both the developmental team on Thursday and our Varsity Team on Friday. Abby is a true embodiment of the spirt of the Game, a concept that is key to the game of Ultimate. Abby was called upon to be a primary driver of the offense on Thursday and then to change her role to a cutter or handler on Friday. Abby did whatever was asked of her without question at a high level, exemplifying her “team first” mentality. She ended the week with 74 touches, completed 75% of her throws, and caught 85% of the throws that came her way. Abby is an exceptional leader on and off the field and the team will continue to look to her for her leadership.

Noel Livingston ’20- Girls JV Tennis

Noel has been a leader on and off the courts this week for the Wildcats. She has offered suggestions for drills and activities to improve skills that we have been working on, showing that she is continuously striving to better herself and her teammates play. She stepped up as a leader and organized the team at the first match, leading stretches and the team’s first pregame meeting.  On the court, Noel is a strong competitor with decisive shots. Noel and her doubles partner, Anya Rozario, won their doubles game 8-3 against Suffield this week. The Wildcats will surely look to Noel for her consistent play and leadership this season.

 

Athletes of the Week

Sophie Carellas ’18- Girls Varsity Skiing

Sophie had a fantastic year for the Wildcats as the team’s captain. Last week she placed 1st overall in the NEPSAC Class B Championships at Berkshire East. In addition, she also sits in 5th place overall in our MISL races. She has been an amazing captain this year, always leading through example. She is consistently the hardest working athlete both on and off the mountain.

Aidan Burke ‘19–Boys Varsity Basketball

Aidan has been a tremendous teammate throughout the season for the Wildcats. He is incredibly coachable, and he brings a unique consistency to each and every practice.   His “team first” selfless approach has stood out throughout the season. He has improved in all areas thanks to his relentless work ethic.  Last Saturday against Kingswood Oxford, he contributed some valuable minutes and scored his first bucket of the season on a terrific play.  His teammates’ reaction typified the tremendous respect he has earned amongst his peers.

Mika Sovjani ’18- Girls Varsity Squash

As team captain, Mika’s leadership of the team was instrumental in their success this season. She was a big part of the team’s seventh place finish at the NEPSAC tournament.  More importantly, her leadership was critical to the team winning the tournament’s Sportsmanship Award – a wonderful testament to how well the team represented Williston!  Mika is a prime example of what Williston squash is about, always exemplifying sportsmanship and competing with a passion to win and improve.

Henry Poehlein ’18 – Boys Varsity Squash

Henry ended his 6-year squash career at Williston this weekend with two hard earned wins over Loomis and Green Farms Academy.  After being down to a talented Loomis player 2 games to 0, Henry found the extra measure of stamina and strategy to get back into the match and win in the fifth. On Sunday, he went down a game to the Green Farms player before dropping into low gear, and with incredible poise and patience, mentally and physically began the domination, winning the next three to take that satisfying final win for Williston. Henry is always the hardest worker on the courts, and his work clearly paid off for him in his final season with the team!

Madison Fulcher-Melendy ’18 – Girls Varsity Basketball

Madison has been a great captain for the Wildcats all season, consistently bringing a work ethic that is second to none. This past week she had a career high of 16 points in the game against Miss Porters. On Saturday, she continued her impressive play against Kent, adding another 9 points to her stat sheet. Madison brings a positive, competitive spirit to each game and practice. Madison sets high standards for herself that creates a ripple effect on how her teammates play.  She has had a huge impact on the team’s success this season!

Andikan Nita- James ’18- Varsity Wrestling

Andikan has had a great season for the Wildcats. In fact, it was his best season on the mat in his years at Williston. Last weekend the team traveled to the Independent School National Wrestling tournament at Lehigh University. He wrestled very skilled opponents, but he fought through and earned 2 pins on the weekend in the heavyweight division. His wins put him in the top 16 heavyweight wrestlers in the country! Andikan brings his best to every practice and meet and his positive attitude makes him a joy to coach.

Tori Palumbo ’18- Girls Varsity Hockey

Tori has had an outstanding senior season, capping a 4-year career for the Wildcats as a defenseman.  This past week, she scored a great goal against Winchendon, contributing to the team’s 9-1 victory.  She also had a big assist on the team’s first goal against BB&N on Saturday, helping to keep the playoff hopes alive for the Wildcats. She is able to play in all types of situations, and often does double shifts when called upon proving her “team first” mentality. Her speed, stamina, composure and consistently strong decision making make her a threat every time she is on the ice.  She’s been a tremendous competitor throughout her career, and is always leading her teammates by example.

Connor Touhey ‘20 – Boys JV Squash

Connor won both of his matches last week, in straight games, to help the JV Boys Squash team enjoy a winning end to their season. He outran and out-thought his opponents from Kingswood and Albany on the court. His speed and agility are exceptional and these skills will serve him well as he continues to develop as a squash player. He consistently challenged his teammates for the top seed on the team and his work ethic not only helped himself, but his teammates as well.  In practice, Connor constantly pushed himself to improve his skills and have fun, which provided an excellent example for the rest of the kids on the squad.

Tucker Motyka ’22- Boys 4ths Basketball

At the start of every game, you can find Tucker surrounded by his teammates. Tucker gets the team motivated by reciting the Miracle speech. In Saturday’s finale against Bement, Tucker scored a season high 11 points, knocking down multiple 3’s. Tucker’s positive attitude, infectious laugh and work ethic have provided a great example for his teammates throughout the season.

 

Athletes of the Week

Solomon Neuhaus ’19 – Boys Varsity Basketball

Solomon has been a valuable contributor to the success of boys varsity basketball all season.  Coming off the bench, he consistently provides the team with strong play on both offense and defense.  In Saturday’s big win over Suffield, he played a critical role in getting the team off to a great first half by scoring 8 points, including two three pointers.  Solomon’s continued development and contribution will be one of the keys to the team’s stretch run.

Natalie Romain ‘18– Girls Varsity Basketball

Natalie has been a big part to the Wildcats success this season. She has worked tirelessly, on and off the court, to improve her game. On defense she puts forth significant effort to gain control of each rebound and consistently provides a spark that gets fire in her teammates burning. On offense, she continues to be a force with outstanding offensive rebounding. She’s strong, and isn’t afraid to make contact! Natalie’s energy was contagious this week against Loomis, Taft, and Cheshire. Natalie is always willing to use her strength to gain possession and plays with tremendous heart.

Kevin O’Sullivan ’18- Varsity Wrestling

Kevin is an outstanding captain who leads the team every day with an incredibly upbeat attitude.  His sense of humor makes even the hardest workout more bearable. Kevin has wrestled at 170# and 195# this year.  He was highly ranked at both of those weight classes. Choosing to wrestle at 182#, though, conceding weight classes to his teammates, clearly showing Kevin’s team first mentality. At the NEPSAC championship, Kevin was seeded tenth, but defeated the 7th, 6th, and then 4th seeded wrestlers, two of which by pinfall on his way to a fourth place finish.  This earns him a trip to the National Prep Wrestling championships this coming weekend at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Kevin has been a positive role model all season and a key to the team’s success.

Maddy Cardaci ‘20- Girls Varsity Hockey

Maddy has had a great season for the Wildcats and has been a big part of the team’s success. On Wednesday, she had a goal in the 4-0 win over NMH. Again on Saturday, she continued her inspired play as she had another goal against Loomis in the 3-4 loss.  She plays with passion, always giving great effort every shift, practice and game.  She causes a lot of problems for opponents because of her aggressive forecheck.  In addition to her stellar play, Maddy is an excellent teammate, one that is always positive regardless of the situation.

Thomas Motyka ‘21 – Boys JV Hockey

Thomas’s dedication to the hockey program, as well as his own personal development as a goalie is illustrated through his hard work at both varsity and JV practices. In the JV game against Deerfield last Saturday, Thomas’s excellent play in goal kept the contest close all the way to the end. His strong performance was highlighted when he faced a 5 on 3 disadvantage without giving up a goal. Thomas is constantly trying to perfect his skills on the ice, and his work ethic provides a great example for the rest of his teammates.

Connor Capshaw ‘23- Boys 4ths Basketball

On Wednesday, in a come from behind OT thriller against Eaglebrook,  Connor led the way with 14 points. Connor came up big with several crucial baskets and big time rebounds down the stretch helping to erase a 16 point Eaglebrook lead. In Saturday’s game vs. MacDuffie, Connor finished with 10 points. Connor has risen to the occasion guarding the other team’s most skilled players and continues to leave his heart on the court during every practice and game.

Megan Ward ’21- Girls JV Hockey

Megan has been a strong presence for the Wildcats all season.  In the last week, she scored two goals in a gritty 6-3 team loss to Deerfield. On Saturday, she had four points, including a hat trick in a come from behind 5-2 win over Loomis Chaffee. Megan has helped the team as both a forward and a defenseman when needed and currently leads the team with 23 goals and 9 assists in 12 games.  In our 9-3 win over Choate, Megan had a record 7 points, with five goals and two assists.  Megan is a competitor, always striving to take her game to the next level. She inspires her teammates to work hard, have fun, and get better every day.

Kai Paik ’22- Coed 3rds Squash

At the Thirds Squash match last Saturday, Kai played an impressive five-game match against his Eaglebrook rival. Kai dominated games three and four with a blend of boasts and cross-court shots. Game five was one of the most exciting games of the Thirds Squash season, as a back and forth battle ensued. At the close of the match, he showed excellent sportsmanship and poise, as he has done all season long. Throughout the Thirds squash season, Kai’s commitment to the sport and to his team has exemplified the core values of Wildcat sportsmanship and how valuable team spirit is to all players.

Most Athletics News Now Lives on the Williston Website

Thanks for being a loyal reader of our Athletics News blog. As we’ve enhanced our website, we’ve changed how we display many of these stories. From now on, to find most posts about athletics at Williston, please visit our Sports Information Center, bookmark the page, and check back frequently. One exception: the Athlete of the Week feature will still be posted on this blog.

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Athletes of the Week

Fiona Bundy ‘18- Girls Varsity Basketball

Fiona has been a crucial part of the girls varsity basketball team’s success this season, as she has led the defensive efforts all year. She leads her team positively as she has taken numerous charges, has forced several turnovers and, in addition, is a fierce rebounder. She consistently matches up with the opponent’s best players, often holding them to ten points or less. Not only has she been key on defense, but she always chips in by scoring timely points and clutch offensive rebounds. Her gutsy, “team first” play has been key down the stretch for the squad against tough teams from WMA and Pomfret. Fiona has been a tremendous captain for the team on and off the court, and always brings a positive attitude which is contagious for the rest of her teammates.

Caleb Cost ’18– Boys Varsity Basketball

Caleb has played a vital role in varsity boys basketball’s successful season.  His consistency of effort, positive spirit, and “team first” mentality have been crucial. As has been the case all winter, Caleb came off the bench in wins over St. Paul’s and Andover this past weekend to make a number of winning plays whether it was a big rebound, great defense or a timely three pointer. Caleb is a great teammate and a tremendous young man to coach because of all the intangibles he brings to the team each day.

Sydney Joyce ’19- Girls Varsity Swimming

Sydney has performed unbelievably well in the pool this season for the Wildcats, and is, without a doubt, one of the biggest reasons for the team’s success. On Saturday, she broke her second school record of the year. The first being a record set by Sydney last season in the 500 free at the Westminster dual meet earlier this year. The second was a record that had been held for 21 years, the oldest standing female record at Williston. She has lost only one race all season leading the team to an undefeated season so far. Sydney is always working to improve herself in and out of the pool. Her work ethic is contagious for the rest of the girls on the squad.

Andikan Ntia-James ’18- Varsity Wrestling

Andikan has had a very successful season for the varsity wrestling team. This past weekend, he won his league championship tournament. He did so while wrestling up a weight class in the heavy weight division, defeating a 280 lbs. opponent, despite only weighing in at 205 lbs. He has worked hard to better his technique, always soaking up as much information as he can, and to improve his fitness. It is clearly paying off, as he consistently beats his opponents by outlasting and technically picking them apart. He exemplifies true sportsmanship as he routinely befriends his opponents after pinning them. Andikan is a great teammate, as he is always inspiring and encouraging all those around him to achieve all they can.

Bix Von Goeler ’23 – Boys Fourths Basketball

Bix has had a great season for the Wildcats 4ths basketball team. In the game against WMA on Saturday, he had his best showing yet, setting the tone on the defensive end against a talented WMA team. Bix led the way in the hustle stats, including grabbing crucial rebounds, making smart passes and getting his teammates involved in the game. Bix will continue to grow due to his determination and fantastic attitude on the court.

Sonia Whitman ’21- Girls JV Squash

On Saturday, in the Wildcats second bout with Suffield this season, Sonia was determined to play hard and bring her best to the match. In her last match against Suffield, she came up short, but that would not be the case the second time around, as she took home the victory in 5 games. She played a strong match and took in advice in between games to adjust some of her strategies. In addition to her stellar play, she always expresses great sportsmanship on and off the courts and always brings a positive, ready to learn attitude during practice and games. Sonia leads by example as her teammates appreciate her humility and the skills she brings to the team. 

Bruton Strange ‘22- Coed Squash

Bruton played an amazing five-game match on Saturday against rival Bement School. He played tirelessly throughout the first game with a series of drop-shots to win with a 16-14 score, the longest thirds game in many years. Throughout the remaining four games, he used a variety of serves, t-shots, and drives to challenge his opponent and keep her guessing about where he would be next on the court. Saturday’s match served as an example of Bruton’s commitment and talent that he regularly brings to the team’s practices, which provides a fantastic example to the rest of his teammates.

Irina Malladi ‘21 –Girls JV Basketball

Irina has been one of the Wildctas most consistent defensive players this season, but this past week against MacDuffie and Pomfret, she upped her defensive intensity to a new level, harassing those teams’ guards into many turnovers. In addition to her tenacious defense, she is also a great teammate who gives 100% at every practice.  Though she is not one of our offensive leaders, she did score 6 points in our exciting, double-overtime loss to Hotchkiss. Irina will continue to be a vital piece to the team’s success this season.