On Thursday, May 9, the Athletics Department at Williston Northampton hosted its third and final college athletic commitment ceremony of the academic year. Meeting in the Phillips Stevens Chapel with friends and family in attendance, six student-athletes were feted for their college choices. The six honored during the ceremony were: Cristhian Difo ’24 (Union College football), Trent Merriman ’24 (U.S. Military Academy rugby), Austin Briggs ’24 (Roanoke College men’s soccer), Brian Manon Ulerio (Roanoke College men’s soccer), Manuel Hudson Gonzalez ’24 (Eckerd College men’s soccer), and Wyatt Dunn ’24 (Western Case Reserve University men’s basketball). A seventh student-athlete was also honored, but was unable to attend the ceremony: Connor Nizolek ’24 (Union College football).
Below are the remarks made by Director of Athletics Mark Conroy.
Welcome to our Spring Athletic College Commitment Ceremony
This event provides our community an opportunity to recognize our student athletes who are headed off to play in college next year. For all of these student athletes, this was a goal. They came to Williston with the goal of getting a great education but also to get an opportunity to play in college. We are proud of all of them!
We have 6 students to recognize. My hope is to move the ceremony along pretty quickly. When I read your names please come forward. We will take four photos of each of you—one solo, one with your families, one with coaches and finally one with your teammates/friends. We will also take a group photo at the end of all of you.
Football:
- A postgraduate from Salem, Massachusetts, who was a strong two-way lineman this fall. He is headed to Schenectady, New York, to compete in the Liberty League for the Union College Garnet Chargers: Cristhian Difo.
- A three-year student from Guilford, Connecticut, who started in our secondary this past fall. He is also a major contributor to our lacrosse team this spring. He, too, is headed to Schenectady, New York, to play for the Union College Garnet Chargers: Connor Nizolek.
Rugby:
- A postgraduate from Costa Mesa, California, he was an All-NEPSAC honorable mention tight end for varsity football this year. He will be headed to West Point, New York, to play rugby for the United States Military Academy: Trent Merriman.
Soccer:
- A three-year student from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, who has been a huge part of one of the most successful boys soccer runs in our school’s history. He captained this year’s squad while earning All-NEPSAC honors as a midfielder. Next fall he will be headed to Salem, Virginia, to play for the Roanoke College Maroons: Austin Briggs!
- A postgraduate from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, who, like Austin, captained this year’s team while also earning All-NEPSAC honors as a defender. He, too, will is headed to Salem, Virginia, to play for the Roanoke Maroons: Brian Manon Ulerio.
- A postgraduate from San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, this player made a big impact on the Wildcats in his one season in Easthampton. He is headed to play at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida: Manual Hudson Gonzalez.
Basketball
- A postgraduate from Bethesda, Maryland, who was a key player on our NEPSAC tournament boys basketball team this winter. He will be headed to Cleveland, Ohio, to attend Case Western Reserve University Spartans, a member of the University Athletic Association (UAA): Wyatt Dunn.
