Owen Dietrich ‘23- Varsity Wrestling
Owen had a great week on the mat for the Wildcats in his second season as a wrestler. On Saturday, he won his first varsity match by pin, wrestling up a weight from his class of 138# to 145#. Owen has always been willing to wrestle whoever steps on the mat with him, and his courage has given him the experience to start winning matches even though he is still young. He always has a positive attitude and personifies one of our team mottos: “Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere”. The team looks forward to watching him grow on the mat this season.
Jimin Lee ‘20 -Girls Varsity Squash
New to squash this year, Jimin works hard and makes steady improvement every time she steps on the court. In her first two matches she increased her points scored in five straight games – demonstrating how a positive attitude and strong work ethic pays off on the court. Jimin is highly coachable and by being so she has been a great role model for her teammates. The Wildcats expect Jimin to enjoy a terrific season and make a significant contribution to the team this season.
John Kelly ’19- Boys Varsity Basketball
John Kelly has quickly proven to be a very valuable member of the varsity basketball team. He has been our most consistent performer during this past week on both ends of the floor. Defensively, his focus, communication and consistent rebounding have stood out. Offensively, John’s contributions culminated with an outstanding performance at UMass against local rival Wilbraham and Monson Academy. John scored a season high 32 points including 8 three pointers. This was the highest scoring total of any Wildcat the last three years. Beyond his excellent play on the court, John is a great teammate whose exemplary effort and positive attitude have been the bedrock of his success.
Sarah Sullivan ’19- Girls Varsity Basketball
Sarah has been a crucial part of the Wildcats success early this season. In the team’s game against St. Mark’s on Wednesday Sarah netted 23 points, including the game winner with 10 seconds left on the clock. Her strong overall performance was critical in the team’s one point victory. Not to be outdone, she again stepped up on Saturday in an important rivalry game on the road at Suffield. Sarah took a lot of pressure from other players by consistently taking on two defenders, allowing her teammates to step up and score important points for the Cats. Despite the constant defensive pressure, she persisted and netted 13 points. In addition to her offensive importance, Sarah had a massive impact on the defensive end, again helping to lead the team to victory. Sarah has been a fantastic leader this season and has provided an excellent example for the rest of her teammates.
Caroline DiFiore ’19- Girls Varsity Hockey
Caroline had an outstanding week for the girls varsity hockey team. On Wednesday she scored two power play goals and earned an assist in the team’s 5-3 win over Cushing. On Saturday, she had two assists in the team’s 8-2 win over Pomfret. Caroline has lightning speed and continues to be one of our strongest forecheckers on the team. She has been relentless all over the ice, winning battles and building momentum for the team. Additionally, Caroline has been an exceptional leader in the locker room and on the ice. The Wildcats look forward to Caroline’s continued contributions this season.
Ciara Tapanes ‘20 – Girls JV Basketball
Ciara displayed great leadership and poise for the JV basketball team in their first game of the season against Suffield Academy. Not only was she the leading scorer with 8 points, but she also served as a key component to the defensive effort that forced over 10 turnovers in the second half of the game to help secure the win for the Wildcats. A seasoned returner, Ciara’s positive attitude and consistent effort provide a strong example of leadership for our younger athletes on the team.
Ben Carlan ’23-Thirds Squash
A newcomer to the squash courts, Ben has made his mark in these first two weeks of practice. Ben exemplifies purpose, passion, and integrity as a member of the Thirds Squash team. He demonstrates purpose in the sport because he heeds technique instruction and arrives early to practice, maximizing his court time. His passion for squash is evident because he has high expectations for his drives, returns, and volleys, and is persistent to further develop them. His adherence to the court rules, even when he may have lost a point, reflects his integrity for the game. The team will continue to look towards Ben for his leadership and positive attitude for the remainder of the season.
Jade Chan ’20- Girls JV Hockey
Jade has been a consistent force in net for the Wildcats so far this season. In the team’s contest against Deerfield Academy she racked up an impressive 30 saves. Her contributions kept the Wildcats highly competitive, allowing for her teammates to come from behind. Jade has worked very hard this season and her effort has without a doubt paid off. Her positive attitude and ability to put the team first will play an important role in the team’s success this season. Her teammates will continue to lean on her in times of need.