On Wednesday, March 23^rd, Director of Athletics Mark Conroy held the annual winter athletic assembly to recognize the outstanding athletic achievements from this past season.  Williston’s athletic teams had a very successful winter that included setting new records, winning NEPSAC championships, and having a great deal of fun in the process.

Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving

The 25 member boys swim team finished their dual meet season with a 6-6 record including impressive wins over NMH, Westminster, and Worcester.   At the NEPSAC Championships, held at Rhode Island College, the boys swam very well finishing in a respectable 5^th place.  A number of boys distinguished themselves with excellent performances at the championships.

The 400 Freestyle Relay team of Calvin Frye, Jason Albanese, Chris Lansill and David Fitch placed third.  Senior Calvin Frye placed 3^rd in the 100 freestyle and 5^th in the 50 freestyle.  The 200 Freestyle Relay team of Calvin Frye, Mark Wei, Chris Lansill, and David Fitch won a NEPSAC title, and finally, junior David Fitch finished an outstanding swim season by winning NEPSAC titles in both the 50 Freestyle and the 100 freestyle.   This capped off a spectacular season for David, in which he set school records in three events: the 50 freestyle, the 100 freestyle and the 100 butterfly.  David’s time in the 100 freestyle qualifies him for All American consideration.

The Girls Swim team had an exceptionally strong dual meet season finishing with an 8-3 record including convincing wins over NMH, Kingswood Oxford, St. George’s and Kent.  This momentum carried into the postseason as the girls saved their best swimming for the NEPSAC championships. In what Coach K called “an incredible performance,” the girls won their first NEPSAC girls swimming and diving championship in our school’s history!

Junior Emily Yeager finished 3^rd in the 100 backstroke.  Junior Natalie Aquadro finished second in the 100 breaststroke and 3^rd in the 200 IM.  Sophomore Anabelle Farnham placed second in both the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle.  The 200 Medley Relay team of Sally Alrutz, Natalie Aquadro, Maya Soley, and Annabelle Farnham became NEPSAC champions when they set a new school and NEPSAC record.  The 400 Freestyle Relay team of Sally Alrutz, Emily Yeager, Natalie Aquadro, and Anabelle Farnham also set a new school record on their way to becoming NEPSAC champions.

Additionally, we had three young ladies who won individual titles. Sophomore Maya Soley won a NEPSAC title in the 500 freestyle.  Junior diver Gabby Mercier had a tremendous season culminating with a NEPSAC title in the 1-Meter diving event while setting a new school record.  And finally, freshman Sally Alrutz won a NEPSAC title in the 100 backstroke, placed 2^nd in the 100 butterfly, and led off the 400 freestyle relay breaking a 15 year old record in the 100 freestyle.   Sally also set a school record in the 200 IM at the Bud Erich championships.

Award winners and captains will be announced at their upcoming Banquet Night.

Boys Basketball

The JV, 3rds and 4ths teams all competed well throughout their seasons.  The biggest highlights of the Cullen and Ketcham led JV season were back to back wins over Salisbury and MacDuffie.  The Thirds team rebounded from a slow start to finish at 8-4 with thrilling victories over Loomis, Deerfield and Winchendon.  Coaches Joshua Harper and Bryan Malinowski led the 4ths team to a season for the ages sweeping through its 8 game season undefeated.

Under the leadership of Coaches Shelton, Garrity and Lapolla, the Varsity Boys Basketball team enjoyed another outstanding season with a record of 23-5 including going 17-2 in Class A.  The 23 wins ties the record set last year for the most in school history.  The team played proficient at both ends of the court, allowing 48 points a game while scoring an average of 65.  While there were many great wins during this terrific season, there are a few that stood out: sweeping both Loomis and Deerfield, a thrilling comeback road win at Avon Old Farms, avenging an early season road loss to Andover with a convincing win at home and, of course, sweeping our friendly rival from Suffield, Connecticut in all three of our games.

The team’s outstanding season earned them the #2 seed in the Class A tournament where it earned the opportunity to host two games here at Williston.  In the quarterfinals the team beat a tough Hotchkiss squad 57-49, and in the semifinals they defeated rivals Suffield 62-51.  In a thrilling championship game held at Rhode Island College the boys defeated the top seeded Phillips Exeter Academy 56-53 to repeat as Class A champions.   Senior Jake Ross was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

4ths:

Most Valuable Player Award – Chris Barber ‘21

Most Improved Player Award – Isi Donnelly ‘21

Sportsmanship Award – Ethan Nestelbaum ’21, George Spence ‘21

3rds:

Most Valuable Player Award – Noah Clack ’18

Most Improved Player Award – Adam Johndrow ‘19

Sportsmanship Award – Nick Barber ’19, Jessup Goldberg Cook ‘20

JV:

Most Valuable Player Award – Eni Ikuku ‘17

Most Improved Player Award – Zach Bernstein ‘16

Sportsmanship Award – Eric Chen ’16 – second year in a row

Varsity:

Most Valuable Player Award – Chris Hudson ‘16

Most Improved Player Award – Matt Folger ‘16

Sportsmanship Award – Kyle Doucette ‘16

Girls Basketball

This winter was another very successful season for our girls’ basketball program. The JV squad had a competitive season under Coaches Schneider, Garcia, Thompson and Mahoney.  Highlights included an exciting two point victory over Suffield and winning three of their last four games.

Varsity Girls Basketball, under Coaches Rodgers and Whipple, had a terrific season going toe to toe with the finest teams in Western New England to finish with a 14-7 record. There were plenty of highlights during the season including finishing runner-up at the Ray Brown Tournament in December, a terrific 41-36 comeback victory over Wilbraham and Monson, and great road victories over Deerfield and Kent.  Arguably, the biggest highlight took place late in the season when the girls knocked off another strong tournament bound Pomfret squad at home 54-44.   The team’s excellent season earned them a #8 seed in the Class B Tournament where they lost to eventual champion Tilton.

JV:

Most Valuable Player Award – Julia Farnham ‘20

Most Improved Player Award – Isabelle Cheney ‘20

Sportsmanship Award – Erin Daley ‘19, Fuka Iwama ‘18

Varsity:

Most Valuable Player Award – Olivia Bonavita ‘17

Most Improved Player Award – Fiona Bundy ‘17

Sportsmanship Award – Rylee Leonard ‘16

Girls Hockey

The JV team, led by Coaches Ward and Valine, enjoyed an excellent season finishing with a 10-3-1 record.   Highlights included shutout victories over Choate and Berkshire, and decisive road victories at Hotchkiss and Loomis Chaffee.

Varsity Girls ice hockey enjoyed another truly remarkable season under the leadership of Coaches Christa TalbotSyfu, Alex Tancrell-Fontaine and Andrew Syfu finishing with an outstanding record of 21 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie.  The team’s 21 wins sets a new school record for the second year in a row improving on last year’s record of 20 wins.  The team played outstanding defense during the regular season, as they gave up a total of 16 goals in 24 games!  This stingy defense included 14 shutouts led by senior goaltender Morgan Fisher.

 Highlights of their special season included three terrific road wins – beating Westminster at their rink for the first time in 13 years, an exciting 2-1 overtime victory at Choate, and a terrific 5-3 victory over an excellent Loomis Chaffee team.  The team also counts amongst its highlights raising $1800 in their Pink in the Rink victory over KUA.   The girls also had a great deal of success in both of their holiday tournaments finishing runner up at the Harrington Tournament and winning the Winchendon Tournament for the second year in a row.   The team’s outstanding regular season earned them the #2 seed in the Division 1 tournament.   In the quarterfinals, the girls beat Milton 3-1 before a heartbreaking loss to Loomis in the semifinals.

JV:

Most Valuable Player Award – Sophia Schaefer ‘18 – second year in a row

Most Improved Player Award – Kira Bixby ‘19

Sportsmanship Award – Morgan Fogleman ’16 – second year in a row

Varsity:

No awards yet since they have not had their Banquet night yet.

Boys Hockey

The JV Boys Hockey team, led by Coaches Fay and Demerath, played competitive hockey all winter and finished the season particularly well, winning five of their last six games. Their one loss was a narrow 4-3 loss to Berkshire during the streak.

Under Coaches Cunha, Hanford, and Lessard, the Varsity Boys Hockey team competed hard all season against a very competitive schedule. The team enjoyed several highlights including beating eventual Large School champion Thayer Academy 5-3, sweeping Winchendon in both their contests, and recording an exciting 4-3 victory at Millbrook.   The season finished on a high note as the team won their last two games, including a 3-0 shutout at Pomfret behind senior goalie Shane Mason.   Senior Jack Kelly led the team in goals scored for the second year in a row with 16, and Shane anchored the team logging nearly 1100 minutes while recording a .905 save percentage.

JV:

Most Valuable Player Award – Jacob Zaranek ‘17

Most Improved Player Award – Danny Kissane ‘19

Sportsmanship Award – Cam Ward ‘17

Varsity:

Daniel D. Carpenter Most Valuable Player Award – Shane Mason ‘16

Most Improved Player Award – Sam Milnes ‘18

Sportsmanship Award – Steven Gower ‘17

 

Ski Teams

Led by Coaches Hing, Eberle, and Pelliccia, Williston’s ski teams enjoyed successful seasons competing in the Mountain Institute League. The winter culminated with the New England Class B Championships held at Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire.  Both teams competed well against the other 14 competing schools. Sophie Carrellas had an outstanding season dominating the league races with first place finishes but was injured for the Championships.  The boys team had a successful day defending its NEPSAC title from 2015.   Highlights include senior captain J.J. Celentano finishing in the top half of the competition in the Giant Slalom, sophomore Oliver Lawrence finishing 16^th in the Slalom, and junior Devin DeVerry became Williston’s first NEPSAC individual champion in many years winning the Slalom race.

JV Boys:

Most Valuable Skier Award – Adam Johnsrud ‘20

Most Improved Skier Award – Ben Robes-Kenworthy ‘20

Sportsmanship Award – Matt Seltzer ‘20

Varsity Girls:

Most Valuable Skier Award – Sophie Carellas ’18 (second year in a row)

Most Improved Skier Award – Molly Solan ‘19

Sportsmanship Award – Lizzy Warncke ‘16

Captain for next year will be Sophie Carellas ’18

Varsity Boys:

Most Valuable Skier Award – Devin DeVerry ’17 (fifth year in a row)

Most Improved Skier Award – Gavin Girardin ‘19

Sportsmanship Award – JJ Celentano ’16

Captain for next year is Devin DeVerry ‘17

Girls Squash

The girls squash program enjoyed another successful winter season under the leadership of Varsity coach Peter Gunn and JV coach Adeleen Brown. The Varsity team enjoyed great team unity as they competed hard throughout the winter.  Highlights included thrilling 4-3 wins over both Berkshire and Suffield for the first time in five years!  At the NEPSAC Class C Championships held at St. Paul’s in New Hampshire, the team enjoyed a terrific performance finishing in second place. Julie Lord finished in 1^st place in the 5^th flight, and in addition to the team’s runner-up performance, they received a wonderful honor at the end of the tournament when they were presented with the Sportsmanship Award for the second consecutive year.

JV:

Most Valuable Player Award – Chloe Lee ‘17

Most Improved Player Award – Atah Okaisabor ‘18

Sportsmanship Award – Ellie Scott ‘18

Varsity:

Most Valuable Player Award – Caroline Borden ’16 – second year in a row

Most Improved Player Award – Julie Lord ‘16

Sportsmanship Award – Sophia Triana ‘16

Next year’s captain will be Mika Sovjani ’17 and Lindsay Whipple ‘17

Boys Squash

All three boys squash teams enjoyed competitive seasons.    Both Coach Simpson’s Thirds team and Coach Chiavaroli’s JV team demonstrated great improvement this winter highlighted by wins over Eaglebrook, Suffield, and Albany Academy.

Under Coach Ryan Tyree, the Boys Varsity Squash team had an exciting season with a mixture of returning veterans and new faces.  Led by dedicated captains Phillip Lee and Kevin Li, the team demonstrated steady improvement and resilience throughout the winter.  Highlights included avenging an early season 5-2 road loss to Berkshire with a thrilling 4-3 victory at home, and the boys won a gutty 4-3 victory over a tough squad from Kingswood Oxford in the final game of the season.

Co-Ed Thirds:

Most Valuable Player Award: Oscar DeFrancis ‘20

Most Improved Player Award: Ruby McElhone Yates ’21, Akivah Mazile ‘20

Sportsmanship Award – Ava Greenbaum ‘21

JV:

Most Valuable Player Award – Nithish Athavan Raja ‘18

Most Improved Player Award – Joey Robbins ‘19

Sportsmanship Award – Aiden McCreary ‘19

Varsity:

Most Valuable Player Award – Kevin Li ’16 – second year in a row

Most Improved Player Award – Henry Poehlein ‘18

Sportsmanship Award –Phillip Lee ‘16

Captain for next year – Henry Poehlein ‘18

Riding

This winter a handful of students participated in Williston’s Riding program at Fuller Horse Farm in nearby Westhampton.   According to Coach Laura Etzel these students worked very hard to improve their jumping skills.  By the end of the season, each rider was able to execute a course with 7 jumps – a wonderful accomplishment.

Most Improvement in Riding: Villard Xu ‘18

Most Improvement in Horsemanship: Momoka Oda ‘18

Sportsmanship Award (Helping Hands Award): Corrine Gawle ‘20

Most Valuable Rider for best all-around horsemanship: Aidenne Alden ‘18

Wrestling

Coaches KaneLong, White, and Rivenburgh’s wrestling team had a very good season finishing with a team record of 10-7.  Highlights of their season included victories over rivals Suffield, Pomfret, and Wilbraham and Monson. Undoubtedly, the biggest highlight of the team season took place at home in January when they defeated Tabor Academy in thrilling style with a 39-36 victory – this was our first win over Tabor in the past 16 years! The team finished with the highest winning percentage in individual matches in the past 16 years winning over 67% of their matches.

At the Class A League Championships held at Hyde School, a number of boys distinguished themselves.  Junior Hunter Adams finished in 2^nd, sophomore Harrison Winrow finished in 4^th, and senior captain Mikey Lloyd was 5^th.   Harrison added to his great day by winning the Most Falls in the Least Time Award, pinning 4 opponents in 3 minutes and 42 seconds combined.

JV:

Most Valuable Wrestler: Sam Canney ‘17

Most Improved Wrestler: William Gunn ‘21

Sportsmanship: Andrew Andrew ‘18

Varsity:

Donald J. Knauf Most Valuable Wrestler Award – Mikey Lloyd ‘16

Most Improved Wrestler Award – Ben Normandin ‘19

Sportsmanship Award – Bina Sweet ‘17

Peter M. Edgerton ’74 Most Pins Award – Hunter Adams ’17 (second year in a row)

The captain of next year’s team will be Bina Sweet ‘17

Williston’s Boys Varsity Basketball team defeated a spirited Hotchkiss School team, 57-49, in the first round of the NEPSAC Class A Playoffs.  The reigning Class A Champion Wildcats are now one step closer to defending their title.

Hotchkiss started the game with energy and enthusiasm. The visitor’s dynamic guards drove to the basket effectively, and the determination of their big men off the boards helped them to mount an early lead.  Despite Williston’s slow start, key players for the Wildcats stepped up to keep the score close.

Sam Geschickter ’16 and Jamal David ’16 were instrumental in helping the Wildcats settle into their offensive rhythm.   Geschickter drained a few shots from distance to reel in the visitors, and David was able to finish his penetrating drives with graceful layups.

After numerous lead changes, the hotly-contested first half ended with a 1-point advantage for the hosts, 25-24.  Coach Shelton was able to settle his players down at halftime and prepare them for an excellent second half performance.

In the second half, Williston rediscovered its balanced scoring attack and tough team defense that served them well during the regular season. Senior Jake Ross ’16 played a critically important role for the Wildcats late in the contest.  His 10 second-half points helped the Wildcats start important scoring runs to widen their lead; however, Hotchkiss responded quickly with consecutive baskets of their own to keep the game close.

Williston held on to a 1-point lead going into the final minutes of the game, when Geschickter ’16 drained a three-pointer that inspired his team and electrified the crowd.  Williston played their best basketball of the night to stretch their lead to 7-points, but the stingy visitors were fortunate to finish two three-point plays, narrowing the lead back down to 1-point with just seconds to play!

But this would be Williston’s night! In a moment of great confidence and competitive brilliance, Sam Geschickter nailed a Steph Curry range 3-pointer to solidify the win.  “During that play I knew the shot clock was running down and we had to get a shot up, so as soon as I caught the ball I put it up,” said Geschickter about decision to shoot from distance. “It went in because I didn’t think twice about shooting it. I didn’t even realize how deep it was until my teammates told me after the game.”

“Tonight was a great March basketball game,” said Coach Shelton of today’s tournament game.  “Hotchkiss is extremely well coached, and they made it difficult for us on both sides of the court.  Our guys showed resilience, toughness and made huge shots down the stretch to pull it out.”

Geschickter finished the contest with a game-high 20 points, and Jake Ross finished with 14. Williston will host #6 Suffield Academy this Saturday at 1 pm for a spot in the NEPSAC Class A Final.  “We are excited to play Suffield this Saturday,” added Coach Shelton.  “It is a huge rivalry between our two schools and it will be a fantastic atmosphere!”

 

Girls Varsity Hockey defeated a hard-working Milton Academy team 3-1 to advance to the NEPSAC Tournament semifinals.

Although the Wildcats carried much of the momentum throughout the opening periods of play, the score remained deadlocked at 0-0 going into the decisive third period.

Williston showed its quality in crunch time. Gabby Jones ’18 finished off a beautifully-constructed power play goal to make the score 1-0 in the opening minutes of the period.

Once Milton’s net was breached, the Wildcats’ confidence grew as they pushed for a second goal.  Delaney Belinskas ’16 blasted a shot from the slot that ricocheted over the goalie’s shoulder and trickled into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Milton was able to cut the lead in half after a laser wrist shot beat standout goaltender Morgan Fisher ’16 against the run of play.  The Wildcats were quickly able to regroup and set up Caroline Difore ’19 for an insurance goal with three minutes remaining.

Despite a hectic finish that saw the Wildcats kill off a penalty against six Milton skaters, Williston hung on for the 3-1 win.  “We had an excellent effort today, and it was great to see us really come together in the third,” said Coach Talbot-Syfu about her team’s performance today. “We had a variety of players play a part in our three goals, and we had a great defensive effort.”

With their win over Milton today the Girls Varsity team has set a new record for most wins in a season with 21!  “It’s great to break the school record for wins,” added Coach Talbot-Syfu. Williston will host #3 Loomis this Saturday at 2:45 pm in the semifinals of the NEPSAC Tournament. Go Wildcats!

 

 

 

 

Williston ice hockey standout, Alex Starzyk ’13, was recently named New England Hockey Conference’s (NEHC) Player of the Year.  The Enfield native was a first-team All-Conference selection for 2016 as well.

The Saint Anselm College junior led the NEHC in points (27) and in goals (16), and she was instrumental for the Hawks on the power play, where she had 5 goals and had 8 assists.

“I saw Alex play two weeks ago against Amherst College,” said Williston Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Coach, Christa Talbot-Syfu. “It was great to see her in action, and I wasn’t surprised that she was one of the best players on the ice.”

Coach Talbot-Syfu speaks highly of Starzyk’s hockey ability, “Alex is very talented, sees the ice well, and finds herself in good scoring opportunities.  It’s quite an honor to see her receive this distinction, and we are so proud of her.”

Saint Anselm’s Women’s Ice Hockey team finished the 2016 regular season with an overall record of 20 wins and 5 losses, good enough for second place in the NEHC. The Hawks are gearing up for this weekend’s NEHC Open Playoffs, and all us of at Williston wish Alex the best of luck as she helps her team make a run for the championship.

The New England Hockey Conference Women’s Ice Hockey Award winners are selected by the league’s fourteen coaches.

The morning of February 9^th was cold and snowy on Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire.  Williston’s Devin Deverry ‘17 had just completed his first run of the giant slalom, and the Southwick native sat in second place, .02 seconds behinds the leader, at the Class B New England Prep School Athletic Counsel Ski Championships.

“After the first run I knew I could win,” said Deverry about his chances of becoming NEPSAC G.S. Champion.  “I really pushed hard on the second run.  However I knew that I had to take the risky line; a safe line wouldn’t allow me to win the race.  Knowing this, I charged out and attacked as hard as I could.  Unfortunately, I put my hand through a gate panel and fell.”

Deverry remained focused on finishing the race after falling.  He got right back up on his skis and finished in 10^th place, but he was visibly upset with the result when he reached the bottom of the mountain. “It was very disappointing,” Devin said about his fall, “because I knew I had a shot at winning the G.S., it’s my best discipline.”

As the afternoon approached the sun came out from behind the clouds to warm the mountain and it stopped snowing.  Devin shifted his focus towards that afternoon’s slalom championship.  “I was able to pull myself together after the G.S. race and put all of my energy on the slalom race,” said Deverry. “I knew I could win!”

Determined to make up for the morning’s disappointment, Devin was eager to jump out of the starting gates for his first run when the skier before him knocked out a gate on the course, putting a hold the race.  Devin waited in freezing temperatures in his ski suit before having the chance to tear down the mountain.

“A stop, or hold, on the course before your run is called ‘being iced in the gate,’” Deverry explained.  “Normally this is because skiers start their adrenaline rush right before the run, and if the rush starts before they hold the skier it can sometimes mess people up.  However, for me this gave me more time to visualize my run to make sure I had to perfect start to my run and race the line I wanted.”

When Devin’s time came, he was ready. “I pushed out of the start going full tilt holding nothing back,” he explained.  He raced aggressively down all sectors of the course, and when he crossed the finish line he knew he was in contention for the title.  “Immediately I knew I put down a solid run.  Even a few spectators complemented my finish!  After the first run I was about a second ahead of the field, and I felt pretty amped up especially after my G.S. result.”

Devin’s second run would determine if he would take home the slalom title.  He overcame the pressure of being in the lead and pushed out of the gate at full tilt.  After a great start to his run, he recalls hitting a hole towards the bottom of the course that cost him valuable time.

“I knew at that moment I really had to push to get as much speed as possible,” said Deverry about making up time after his near-championship-ending crash.  “I crossed the finish knowing that I might have lost my lead so I went down to the timing shack and looked at the times.  I was ahead by a mere .18 of a second!  I was instantly ecstatic!”

“No matter how many races you win every one feels special,” he recalled about winning the Class B NEPSAC Slalom Championship.  “I felt a warm feeling of accomplishment when they called my name at the awards ceremony.  It was a special feeling I’ll never forget.  It was just pure happiness.”

Williston ski coach Will Eberle praised Devin’s performance at the Championships. “He was relatively upset going into the slalom but knew the race was not over,” Eberle said.  “He toughened up mentally and skied the course neatly and aggressively.  It was a great race for him, but ultimately it showed his determination to come back after a fall and take gold!”

Skiing is in Devin Deverry’s blood.  His parents and grandparents are all deeply involved in the New England ski community.  His father, Ray, was the youngest person to become a PSIA examiner, which is the highest rank one can achieve as a teacher of skiing.  His mother, Harriet, is a level III PSIA instructor, which is the second highest level in the U.S.

Devin has been skiing since he was two years old and began racing at the age of six.  At ten years old, Devin won the overall championship for the Tristate Ski League, and he currently competes in the Vermont Alpine Racing Association, the most competitive league in the country.  Last year, Deverry qualified for the Eastern Team, which is composed of the best skiers from the East Coast.

Deverry plans on taking skiing as far as he can.  Next year he plans to compete in FIS races in Vermont, which will give him a world ranking.  He also plans to ski for his college, but he is more concerned about focusing on completing a degree in aerospace engineering.

“My dad always used to say ‘fun is the most important thing,’” Devin explained, and “I ski by this rule.  It means I never get frustrated or bored, and I always have the drive to be better.”

The Williston community is eager to see what Devin will accomplish in skiing before he graduates in 2017. This young Wildcat skier is supremely talented and has the right mentality to go far.

Captain David Fitch ’17 has had an exceptional season for the Boys Swimming team.  The Conway native is undefeated in the 50 and 100 Freestyle this winter and has recorded the second fastest times in school history in these events!

Fitch, a nationally-ranked swimmer, was ranked as high as 6^th in New England in the 16-17 age group, and at the New England Championships last year, he came in second in 50 Free and won the 100 Free.  The Williston junior currently holds pool records at our own Babcock pool, at Worcester Academy, and at St. George’s School in Rhode Island.

As the boys swim team tapers down for this year’s New England Championships on March 5^th, Fitch was able to speak to us about how he developed a love for swimming, who inspired him to be at his best in the pool, and his future plans for the sport he loves.  We all wish him the best as he attempts to make history in the coming weeks.

When did you first begin to love swimming?

I think I’ve always enjoyed swimming.  Even as a kid I would love swimming for fun in pools.  I used to think I needed a life jacket when I was in the pool. I would try to swim to the bottom of the pool with my lifejacket on, but this never worked even though I tried over and over again.  I started going to swim practices when I was 8 or 9 years old, and I have been swimming in races for about 7-8 years now.  I was never really excited about waking up for 5 am practices, but I really found my love for the sport somewhere in my past 5 years at Williston thanks to my coaches and teammates.  I feel that both the Williston team and my recreational team have always been major supporters of everything that I do in swimming.

When did you start to pursue swimming competitively?

I never really had a sudden realization that I would pursue swimming to such an extent.  When I first started out, my biggest inspiration to get up and go to those early practices was my sister, Ashley.  She always inspired me to try my best whenever I felt as though I was too tired to go that day.  Ashley always had the level of enthusiasm that I am constantly trying to match, and she was always positive and accepting of challenging practices and events.  If I had to choose when I felt like I could be good in swimming, I’d have to say it was when I qualified for Junior Nationals.  I never really thought of myself as something special in the sport, and I still don’t, but I do try to get faster and to get to that next level.

What do you think about when you swim?

In the pool I mostly think about how I am swimming, and how I can improve my stroke.  In races, I focus on getting to the next wall as soon as possible, and I think about how long I’ve been on that lap.  In long distance races, I try to focus on not kicking too much so that I will have enough energy for the rest of the race.  I try to focus on my own race and not on anyone else around me, ahead or behind.  I focus on pacing myself instead of beating the people around me so that I can go for times that I want, instead of just getting by with a win in the race.

Who has inspired you to be at your best?

My biggest inspiration from Williston would have to be the first captain I had when I came to campus.  His name was Mathew Friar.  Matt was a great swimmer and water polo player.  He was great with all the guys on both teams and very inviting of everyone.  He was the captain of the swim team as a junior, and I tried to remember to emulate his actions.  My sister, Ashley, was also a big inspiration that I had in my time at Williston.  Seeing her as a captain, and a leader to everyone, inspired me to want to be like her and inspire others in this sport.  Her enthusiasm towards challenges has been a huge inspiration for me.

What have been your keys to success?

There are many ways to achieve success.  I find that the team you’re on is the most important. You have to respect your coach to listen to him, and they have to respect you as well. The people on the team are just as important, if not more, because you have to have good positivity around you if you are going to do well in any difficult sport.  You cannot be around any doubt or negativity.  You have to have a positive mindset about swimming to succeed in it so you can get faster, stronger, and better.  Some swimmers say that they have “plateaued” or think that they can’t get any faster, but I do not think that is real; you can always get stronger, always get smarter, and always get better.  Swimming is very physical but a large part of the sport is mental; you have to know how many breaths to take and when to take them, how to do a stroke, and you can always learn to do better.

What are your goals for swimming?

My next goal would have to be to reach 20.59 in the 50 Freestyle in order to qualify for the Senior National Meet.  This is one of the biggest meets in the country, and at the moment I am about .4 seconds away from making that qualifying time.  I would also like to get the Williston team records in the 50 and 100 Free, and I am close to getting the 100 Fly, 200 Free, 500 Free and 200 IM as well.  I have broken most of these times before, but not in a Williston meet so those times did not count towards the records.  I would love to break these records, but I also want to  help the rest of the team improve in any-way that I can, like help teach a stroke, work on dives and flip turns, or even just cheer for a teammate while they are racing.

How has Williston helped you grow as a student-athlete?

Williston has helped me grow academically and athletically through the support I get from my peers, teachers, and coaches.  I learned the importance of working hard to achieve my goals and improve myself. Williston has taught me to help myself and to help others, and it has given me the opportunity to develop the perfect balance of time management for sports, academics and personal life.

Sydney Belinskas ’14 has had an outstanding season in net for the Trinity Bantams Women’s Ice Hockey Team.  She recently posted two shutouts in two days against Colby College, earning her the New England Small College Athletic Conference Player of the Week Award.

Belinskas made 29 saves in a 2-0 win and 17 stops in a 6-0 blanking of the Mules the next day. She has not allowed a goal in her last 246-plus minutes of play, giving her four straight shutouts. The series sweep of Colby helped Trinity move ahead of them in the NESCAC standings.

“It’s not surprising that Sydney is playing strong down the final stretch here,” said Williston Girls Ice Hockey coach Christa Talbot-Syfu about her ex-goaltender. “I have no doubt she will continue to be a difference maker as the stakes get higher.”

Trinity currently sits mid-table as the playoffs quickly approach in early March.  The Bantams are defending NESCAC Conference Champions.

Sydney was able to carve out some time from her busy schedule to speak to Williston about her keys to success on and off of the ice and to acknowledge the people from our community that made a difference in her life.

What have been the keys to your success during your current shutout streak?

I actually had no clue I was on a shutout streak.  The biggest key to my success these past games has been keeping my mind clear.  I don’t think about what I am doing, I just do it.  Because if I think about the shot coming at me there are two outcomes: one, I save it, or two, I’m going to get scored on.  Keeping my mind clear doesn’t even give negativity the chance to affect me.  There is no room for doubt. I know I just have to focus on keeping the puck from crossing that red line and will do everything and anything to win that inch.  I can train and practice all I want, but mental preparation has been my number one priority this season.

Is there a particular moment that you remember from your time at Williston?

I would have to say playing Winchendon my sophomore year.  We had to play them three times in a row to move on to the semifinals.  It was nerve wracking – playing a team three times in a row is tough – but we played an amazing game and pulled out a win.  We moved on to play Lawrence Academy in the semifinals at Berkshire.  We worked every second of that game, but we ended up losing in overtime. It was the moment I learned I truly loved the game.  I was ready for next season.  The fight, hard work, determination, and the will to win that game made me realize why I stayed with the sport for so long and how I never want to stop playing.

Was there someone at Willison who inspired you to be at your best?

Coach Talbot was most definitely my biggest inspiration at Williston.  Of course while at Williston I was unaware of all the little things she said or had us do would impact my future self.  As a coach she never took a day off.  She always believed in us.  We could be losing terribly, but she always pushed us to play at our best.  Her intensity and positivity brought me confidence on and off the ice.  I would never have become the person I am today without her.  I would not have become the hockey player I am today without her saying, “Fight and battle for every inch!”

How did Williston prepare you for Trinity College, both academically and athletically?

Study hall every night from 8 pm to 10 pm is the sole reason I actually complete the abundance of homework I have in college.  I was taught excellent time management at Williston.  I was also taught to not be scared to ask for extra help, so now in college I have no fear asking a professor for help to better understand the material.  Williston’s academic atmosphere was also very acceptable.  I never was nervous that a classmate would laugh at my simple question.  I learned that any question is a good question.  My senior English classes prepared me for my future college essay writing.  This year I have written at least ten personal essays, one fifteen page anthropology research paper one the, “Druid Identities with Stonehenge,” three lab reports, two essays in Spanish, and numerous detailed paragraphs.  I found my love to write in high school, and I could never have done so without being taught construction, fluidity, and how to show not tell.

Williston prepared me for athletic success as well.  Through strength training I was able to continue my love of lifting.  I also played three sports: field hockey, ice hockey, and softball.  I loved all three.  I learned to appreciate every sport by attending different games.  I also believe the continuous competitive edge I had playing sports the whole school year helped me preform better in the classroom.  There was always a constant drive in my head to be successful.  That got me up in the morning and motivated me to do well academically.  I miss field hockey and softball.  Don’t get me wrong I love hockey, but softball at Williston gave me the meaning of “team.”  There are no breaks to really get into a sulking mood.  You have to be on the fence cheering for your teammate when your team is up to bat.  Everyone always has your back.  If there was a ground ball someone was running behind you just in case it got past you.  If you couldn’t get the ball all the way from the outfield to home you had a cut-off.  If you were going to steal a base your teammate up to bat would sacrifice a strike and show a bunt just to get you farther on the bases.  Being loud on the field, seeing people sacrifice for a teammate, and the joy softball brought me definitely translated to my college hockey career.  I only play one sport now… It’s very weird to me, but I’ve come to learn that if I want to succeed, I need to incorporate everything I have learned from every sport that I played at Williston into hockey to make it an experience of a lifetime.

Gabrielle Thomas ’15 has quickly made a name for herself in the collegiate world of track and field.  She has already set Harvard and Ivy League records in the 200m and has recorded the fastest 200m time in the country for a freshman.

The foundation for much of her success this season came from her natural talent, her close relationship with her mom, and her experience at the Williston Northampton School.  Despite her busy schedule, Gabby was able to take time to answer important questions about her life on and off of the track.

When did you realize that you had talent for running?

I played soccer since I was about 5 or 6, so I discovered my talent for running on the soccer field. I was always the fastest when it came to sprinting down the field, so when my mom made me try out for the track team in 7th grade, I really enjoyed it. I’ve been “the fast girl” since as long as I can remember, but in 7th grade I discovered my talent for track and field. Then, in 10th grade, I decided to devote myself to track when I realized that I could go places with it.

What have been your keys for success over the past few years, both at Williston and at Harvard?

At Williston, I always had a goal that I was working for, so I would’ve considered that the most important key to success. Whether it was academic or athletic, I was always setting a goal for myself to achieve, and when I got it, I would set an even higher goal, so that has always been a really important factor in succeeding. At Harvard, that’s still true, however I’ve learned that the biggest key to success is maintaining a growth mindset. That’s something that I’m still working on. That means understanding that there is a lot of room for improvement, on and off the track. That’s what has allowed me to get through all of the training and to continue improving.

What are your goals for track?

I’m trying to learn as much as I can and improve as much as I can. When I go out and compete, I focus on executing my race, and the rest follows. Hopefully, however, this season my 200m sprint will qualify for Olympic trials. Qualifying time is a 23.20, and I ran a 23.37 my last meet at BU. Also, our 4×4 team is trying to go nationals this season. As for long term goals, I have no idea at the moment! I just want to focus on getting better and being the best athlete that I can be. We’ll see where that gets me.

How do you deal with success and setbacks on the track?

There are definitely a lot of setbacks on the track, but having a growth mindset, like I mentioned earlier, is what gets me through them. My coach has really forced that idea into my head. There are going to be a lot of times when I can’t get something right in my jumping form, or when I run a bad race, but it’s important to remember that it is all a part of a process. The road to success isn’t smooth and easy, it’s crazy and comes with a lot of failure. Reminding myself of the feeling that comes with success gets me through. When I get a PR (personal record) in any of my events, it is the most rewarding feeling. I also have an amazing support system behind me that helps me deal with any setbacks. My mom, teammates, friends, my current and old coach, are all really great.

Is there a particular moment at Williston that you will always remember (either athletic or academic)?

This sounds cliche, but I will always remember New Englands my sophomore year. That was the first time I had really set a goal for myself and got it. At the time, it was to set the school record in the 100m dash. I remember looking over at my time and running over to my mom, who was really excited for me. In that moment I knew I wanted to run track. Since then, I’ve had the confidence to feel like I could do anything that I set my mind to do.

Was there someone at Williston who inspired you to be at your best on the track and/or in the classroom?

There are a number of people who motivated me in different ways at Williston. There are so many members of the community who care and want you to do well, so that’s definitely a big part of any of my successes. The person who has always inspired me the most is my mom. She’s the hardest working person that I know and has had the biggest influence on me. She’s always been incredibly supportive of me, but always pushes me the most.

How has Williston helped you prepare for Harvard?

One thing that I learned from Williston that has really saved my life at Harvard is time management skills. Williston always forced me to learn to manage my time well with classes and sports, and that’s key in college, especially for an athlete. Williston has also taught me that it’s good to challenge myself, so I feel good about taking classes that interest me but seem really scary at first.

What could current Williston students learn from your experience at our school?

I’d say that current students should definitely use Williston’s supportive community to push yourself and take risks. The odds of anybody finding a place like Williston after high school are slim–it’s full of people who are dedicated to helping you succeed. If I never took risks, I never would’ve found out that I liked track or taken challenging classes that helped me get into my dream school.

Bridget Instrum ’12 was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after leading the Middlebury Panthers to the 2015 NCAA National Field Hockey Title!

Instrum was recently honored as a member of the Division III All-Region First Team by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association for her strong performances throughout the season, where she played in all of Middlebury’s 22 games and finished with 8 goals and 10 assists for 26 points.

The two-time all-conference forward scored a point in 13 contests, including eight-straight during the middle of the season and tallied a season-best four-points (1 G, 2 A) in a victory over Smith on September 14. The senior saw action in 54 games during her three years on the team, tallying 35 goals and adding 21 assists for 91 points.

Ann Pickrell, Bridget’s field hockey coach at Williston, recalls Instrum’s talent and love for the game, “Her speed, quickness, and ability to read the defense made her extremely difficult to stop in the midfield and in the penalty circle.  What I recall most about Bridget is her enjoyment of the game – she loved to practice and play, and she worked hard every day to get better.”

Instrum had a decorated career at Williston, where she set numerous records for assists and goals and was instrumental in leading the team to both the WNEPSA Class B Championship and NEPSAC post season play in each year she competed for the Wildcats.

Under the leadership of Head Coach Katharine DeLorenzo, Middlebury’s field hockey program has emerged as one of the strongest in the nation.  Since DeLorenzo took over in 2001, the Panthers have gone 211-51 for a winning percentage of .805, and they have won New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championship four times. This is Middlebury’s second NCAA national title in field hockey, with their first coming in 1998.

Trinity College’s first-year running back, Max Chipouras ’15, was recently honored as a USA College Football Division III Rookie All-American.  This awards caps off the end of an exceptional season for the Williston post-graduate.

Chipouras took over as Trinity’s starting running back in week three and finished the year with 649 rushing yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He led the league with 12 touchdowns and ranked third in the conference with 81.1 rushing yards per game.

Williston’s Football Coach Mark Conroy knew that Max was destined for success in college, “Max Chipouras was one of the hardest working players I have coached in 30+ years.  His work ethic both on and off the field was second to none. He had only one speed – full speed every day! His success at Trinity is not a surprise for those of us who worked closely with him last year. I could not be more proud of him.”

Chipouras speaks highly of Coach Conroy’s influence on him, “Coach Conroy was more than just a coach to me, as he truly cared about my personal success and well-being. Whether it was on the field or off, he always expressed interest and enthusiasm in whatever I was doing and inspired me to go further. Coach Conroy put a great effort in getting me recruited and without that, I would not be anywhere close to where I am today.”

“Williston taught me how to manage my time and maintain a proper balance between my schoolwork and athletics,” says Chipouras about personal growth during his time on campus. “This skill is essential during the college football season because time is limited and it is important not to get too overwhelmed.”

Trinity College’s football program is the most decorated program in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).  Since 2000, Trinity has won the NESCAC Championship six times – a record they currently share with Amherst College – and has finished Runner-Up six times.

Earlier this winter Chipouras was named to the All-NESCAC second team and earned the NESCAC Rookie of the Year Award.  Max is Trinity’s second running back to win the Rookie of the Year Award.

Williston is very proud of Max’s accomplishments, and our community wishes him continued success in his college career.

Twenty-three Williston student-athletes were honored as New England All-Stars this fall! After a successful season that saw Williston teams win Western New England and NEPSAC championships, our school is also proud to recognize individuals who have excelled in their sport.  Congratulations to all the Williston athletes below!

VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY

Western New England Class B Champions (Sixth Year in a Row)

NEPSAC Class B Champions

Delaney Belinskas ’16 – Western New England All-Star, NEPSAC Class B All-Tournament Team, NEPSAC Class B Tournament MVP

Morgan Fogleman ’16 – NEPSAC Class B All-Tournament Team

Lauren Helm ’16 – Western New England All-Star, NEPSAC Class B All-Tournament Team

Tori Palumbo ’18 – NEPSAC Class B All-Tournament Team 

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VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER

Western New England Class B Champions

Dani Anastasovites ’16 – Western New England All-Star

Emily MacDonald ’16 – Western New England All-Star, All-State

Caroline Wysocki ’16 – Western New England All-Star, All-State, NEPSAC Class A/B All-Star Team

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VARSITY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

New England Class B Championship: Third Place

Rob Champigny ’18 – NEPSAC All-Star

Nick Hill ’17 – NEPSAC All-Star

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VARSITY GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Caroline Borden ’16 – NEPSAC All-Star

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VARSITY BOYS WATER POLO

Calvin Frye ’16 – All New England Team

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VARSITY FOOTBALL

Cody Cavanaugh ’17 – Western New England Class B All-Star

Michael Dereus ’16 – All New England Class B

Nick Garofano ’16 – Western New England Class B All-Star

R.J. Guardia ’16 – Western New England Class B All-Star

Ian Ostberg ’17 – Western New England Class B All-Star

Matt Patry ’16 – Western New England Class B All-Star

Jake Ross ’16 – Western New England Class B All-Star

Zach Rouleau ’16 – All New England Class B

Mark Wilson ’16 – Western New England Class B All-Star

Derek Zewinski ’17 – Western New England Class B All-Star

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VARSITY BOYS SOCCER

Imran Hayatu-Deen ’16 – NEPSAC All-Star

Davis Smith ’17 – Western New England All-Star, NEPSAC Junior All-Star, WNEPSSA Class A/B Select Team