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Lifelong Friendship Binds Girls Soccer Captains

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Madison Fulcher-Melendy and Fiona Bundy

By Matt Liebowitz

When Madison Fulcher-Melendy scored a header goal on the Northampton Hornets, her teammate, fellow third-grader Fiona Bundy, was right there cheering her on.

“I thought it was so cool,” said Fiona.

“That was probably the highlight of my career,” Madison jokingly added.

They have come a long way since then, but Fiona and Madison are still fans of each other, and still playing on the same teams. They’ve had plenty of on-field time to foster that friendship: When they stepped onto the soccer field for this year’s pre-season workouts, it marked the fourth year running playing on Williston’s varsity squad together under the coaching of Jen Fulcher (Madison’s mom). Continue reading →

Posted in: Athlete Profile

Williston Northampton Football Set to Kick Off 2017 Season

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The following story, offering a preview of the 2017-18 football season, ran in the Daily Hampshire Gazette on September 14, 2017:

By MARK DUNPHY
For the Gazette

Thursday, September 14, 2017

EASTHAMPTON—The Dr. Frank L. Boyden Award sits in a trophy case just outside the Williston Northampton football team’s weight room. Coach Tom Beaton has no intention of moving it.

The award is presented by the National Football Foundation to the top prep school student-athlete in western Massachusetts for excellence on the football field and in the classroom. The last six names carved into the award are all Williston players, and Beaton said he knows a 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end with a great shot at making that number seven.

Xavier Thibault arrived on Williston’s leafy Easthampton campus via Quebec City and the senior captain and honor student isn’t feeling any additional pressure because of the college coaches who will be watching this season.

Continue reading →

Posted in: Team Profile

Athletic Awards for Spring 2017

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WIll Folkas and Saul Blain with Mr. Hill and a plaque celebrating a successful lacrosse season

Athletic Director Mark Conroy presented the Athletic Awards during the spring athletic assembly on May 26. The program recognized the individual spring teams that finished their seasons and honored the Class of 2017’s participation in the athletic program. A slideshow celebrated a year in Wildcat Athletics.

See photos of the assembly here. And watch a video made by student Soma Mizobuchi ’17 that summarizes track and field life at Williston!

Riding:

A small handful of Williston students rode this spring at Fuller Horse Farm in Westhampton under the guidance of Laura Etzel.   The team was led by senior veteran rider Alex Foster.  According to Laura, these athletes showed great determination and dedication in working towards achieving their individual riding and horsemanship goals. Continue reading →

Posted in: Athletic Awards

Athletes of the Week

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Campbell Nyarady ’19- Girls Varsity Lacrosse

Campbell ended the season strong for the Wildcats.  Her movement and distribution on offense, her tenacity on ground balls and her redefending defense were a huge part of the teams’ success down the stretch.  In the Wildcats last game against Tabor, Campbell stepped up and played on both sides of the field for the entire game and won huge draws, moved the ball up the field, won huge ground balls and played with great confidence.  She had a tremendous week and season for the Wildcats and her work ethic helps inspire the rest of the squad. Continue reading →

Posted in: Athletics News

Heartwarming Memories Mark Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

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By Matt Liebowitz

Emotions ran high, and tears mixed with levity and laughter as the entire campus community, alumni included, gathered under the tent to pay homage to competitors of the past and induct a select group into Williston’s Athletic Hall of Fame on May 12, 2017.

Athletics Director Mark Conroy summarizes a successful Wildcat year.

Athletic Director Mark Conroy, in a brief introduction, shined a spotlight on a handful of current student athletes, including Gabby Mercier (diving), Nick Hill (cross-country), Devin DeVerry (skiing), David Fitch (swimming), and Hunter Adams (wrestling), whose accomplishments have set them apart in their Williston careers. Continue reading →

Posted in: Athletic Hall of Fame, Athletics News

Boys Varsity Golf Team is Nearly Unstoppable

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Boys varsity golf coach Michael Fay enjoys a moment on the green during a game against Northfield Mount Hermon School.

By Matt Liebowitz

In the 13 years Coach Michael Fay has been leading the Williston boys varsity golf team, he has not had a team as ready, as confident, and mentally poised to contend for the championship at the upcoming 24-school Kingswood Invitational Tournament as this year’s squad.

“I think our chances are the best since I’ve started coaching varsity golf,” said Fay. The team has consistently placed in the top eight in the past 10 years at the tournament, scheduled for May 25 at Oak Ridge Golf Club in Agawam, Mass. Continue reading →

Posted in: Team Profile

Athletes of the Week

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Bryn Saarela ’20- Girls Varsity Softball

Bryn has worked to become an outstanding member of the squad this season. This week against Loomis she had a great line drive to right field scoring a teammate. Against a tough Cheshire squad she made three huge catches in center field that set the tone early. Offensively she had a hit and scored 3 runs. Against KO, while the game was tied up at 1-1, KO hit a deep shot to center field and Bryn fielded it beautifully, making a great throw to hold the runners.  Offensively she had a solid hit to right field as well. Overall, Bryn has worked tirelessly to learn the game, become a great hitter, and a competitive fielder! Continue reading →

Posted in: Athletes of the Week

Athletes of the Week

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Jordan Strum ’18, Girls Varsity Softball

Jordan has been an essential catalyst to the Wildcats’ success this season. She had 15 strikeouts in the win over Deerfield on Wednesday. Again on Saturday she showed her dominance by accumulating 5 strikeouts from the mound while offensively she had 3 hits, which included 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s against NMH.  Against Ethel Walker she had 6 strikeouts and 2 hits, 1 double, and the winning RBI. Against Choate, Jordan had strikeouts, a 1 homerun, a double, and 5 RBIs.  Not only does she lead her team through her performance, but her work ethic is second to none and it provides a great example
for her teammates! Continue reading →

Posted in: Athletes of the Week

Connor Cavanagh ’20 Heads to Junior Olympics for Gymnastics

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Connor Cavanagh ’20

Connor Cavanagh ’20 started gymnastics lessons when he was just two years old, and began competing at age five. It’s no wonder, then, that after more than 12 years of hard work, he’s off this week to Kissimmee, Florida, to compete in the Junior Olympics Nationals.

Setting aside 20 hours a week to practice gymnastics at a gym in Agawam run by former Olympic gold medalist Tim Daggett, Connor also finds time to participate in other sports.

“In addition to his noteworthy success in gymnastics,” cemmented Athletics Director Mark Conroy, “in his spare time, Connor also plays on the football and baseball teams here…pretty remarkable!” Continue reading →

Posted in: Athlete Profile, Junior Olympics

Athletes of the Week

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Elin Blomquist ’18- Girls Varsity Track

At our second home meet of the year, Elin placed second in both the 100 and the 200 with very respectable times. She was also a member of the runner-up 4×100 and 4×400 teams. At a tri meet, that means she was responsible for 12 of the team’s 63 points. Not content with a string of second places, Elin would turn up the intensity at Saturday’s meet at Suffield. There, she won the 100, again took second in the 200, and was a member of the winning 4×400 team. These strong performances helped set the tone for a strong showing against Suffield and Miss Porter’s. A year ago, Elin and the girl’s team beat Suffield by 25 points, but on Saturday, they widened that margin to 55 points! Continue reading →

Posted in: Athletes of the Week, Athletics News