Lea Rubin-Esposito ’29-Girls Cross Country
Lea, a 7th grader, has shown remarkable progress through consistent dedication and steady improvement. Every week, her commitment to training has been evident as she progressively hones her skills. The past two Saturdays have been a testament to Lea’s growth as an athlete. Competing against KO and Westminster in West Hartford, Lea achieved a remarkable overall personal record shaving off four minutes from her original time. This past Saturday as the Wildcats battled Miss Porter’s, Lea did it again. She ran another personal best on the home course at Galbraith. The coaches are excited to see what successes lie ahead for Lea.
Brian Manon ’24- Boys Varsity Soccer
Senior co-captain Brian Manon had a superb week for the boys varsity soccer team. The Santo Domingo native led the Wildcat defense to two outstanding performances against Class A powers Choate and Loomis. Williston conceded only one goal on a restart in 180-minutes of play to tie Choate 0-0 and defeat Loomis 2-1 on their Parents’ Weekend. Brian’s communication from the back and his perfectly timed tackles were keys to the team’s success last week. Williston will look to build on their momentum in a stretch of three home games against Cheshire, Taft and Wilbraham in the coming days.
Tariq Thomas ’24- Varsity Football
Tariq has been critical to the success of the varsity football team this season. He showed up in a big way yet again as he had a monster game Saturday night, rushing 30 times for 170 yards and 3 TDs. He also caught 3 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. More impressive is Tariq’s exemplary leadership and work ethic! The Cats will continue to rely on Tariq for his leadership and stellar play as they work through the second half of the season.
Bella Marinello ’26- Girls Varsity Volleyball
Bella Marinello showed up and contributed to the varsity volleyball team in a new way this week. Her serves are worthy of special note. Bella had consistent, strong and, at times, unstoppable serves. In our most recent game, she had 16-point earning serves and 5 aces. Not only did this help the team on the scoreboard but it motivated and inspired a shift in team energy. Bella remained consistent throughout our two most recent matches, helping to lead the team to back-to-back 3-0 wins against Stoneleigh Burnham and Wilbraham Monson. Bella’s coaches and teammates appreciate all she has contributed and look forward to her continued growth on the floor this season.
Jackson Ayers ‘25- Boys Varsity Cross Country
Jackson has been critical to the success of the boys cross country team this season. He had another great performance this past weekend against Avon Old Farms. Jackson has been running with great consistency this season and can be counted on to be a top finisher in every race. He is a major contributor to the program’s undefeated season so far. He trained hard over the summer and came into the season in great shape and has been steadily improving his form. The coaches are excited to see Jackson reach peak form as they enter the final weeks of the season.
Camille Armaganian ’24- Varsity Field Hockey
Camille had an outstanding week for the varsity field hockey team. She is the core of the midfield but is also a huge contributor to the offense and a fly on defensive corners. Camille truly does it all. There was not an offensive goal that was scored this week that Camille did not play a part in. On Saturday, against Westminster, Camille led the team by example and was lifting those around her. Despite the outcome, Camille’s tenacity allowed her to never give up, which encouraged her team to fight until the very end. This season, Camille has been helping her teammates improve their skills, often giving pointers during practice and pushing those around her to be their best. The team is lucky to have her leadership. Her coaches and teammates can’t wait to see what the rest of the season has in store for Camille!
Luke Green ‘26-Varsity Water Polo
Luke has made immense progress over the past several weeks, establishing himself as a significant contributor to the varsity water polo team. Over the past week Luke has found himself playing nearly every minute of the three varsity games, providing valuable support on both the offensive and defensive ends of the pool. Luke’s growth into a key cog of the varsity program is a microcosm of the young polo team this fall. Through his hard work and attention in practice, Luke has established himself as a reliable and significant contributor to the program.
Cici Cao ‘25- Riding
Cici has been working towards her goal of cantering this year and is making positive improvements with this as well as jumping. Cici has shown enthusiasm for learning all aspects of the sport of riding with its added emphasis on caring for the equine athlete. Cici has grown as a rider and a team player! The team looks forward to Cici’s continued growth as they move through the rest of the season.
Jayla Peets-Butterfield’ 27 – Girls Varsity Soccer
Jayla has had an amazing week on the soccer field and has been a major contributor to the team’s success this season. She scored her first goal as a Wildcat and the game winner on Wednesday against Cushing from the 20 yard line. Jayla brings enthusiasm and energy to the squad even during the toughest times and has a wealth of soccer knowledge. She is regularly called upon to mark the most dangerous offensive opponents, which she confidently shuts down due to her speed and game sense. Jayla never fails to add a smile to everyone’s face, and her coaches and teammates are so thankful to have her on the team!
Gabe Mardirossian ‘26- JV Football
Gabe has had a great start to the JV football team’s season. He made impact play after impact play on Wednesday’s game at WMA. Diagnosing the play from his middle linebacker spot, he penetrated the line in dominating fashion, leading the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks. Gabe topped off this stellar onslaught with a safety that brought the team within two points. In addition, Gabe played both ways, rotating in as a tailback on the offense displaying an exemplary level of effort.
Kat Martini ’26- JV Volleyball
This week, as she does every week, Kat showed up with a great attitude, a willingness to work hard, and a tangible excitement for the sport of volleyball. She brings her whole self to the court every day, and the results of the effort she puts in during practice are evident on game days – this week, she served ten aces across both of the team’s away games, distinguishing herself as a powerful presence on the court. Kat’s energy, passion, kindness, humility, teachability, and hard work make her a wonderful athlete, teammate, and friend. It is exciting to watch her as she continues to challenge herself and grow every day.
Casey Muscato ‘26- Boys JV Cross Country
Casey has been a steady presence for the boys cross country team this season. He ran a great race against Avon Old Farms and improved his personal record by a full 1:30 on his home course. He has been a focused and disciplined member of the program since the start of the season and always works hard in practice. Casey is set to have a strong finish to the season and the coaches are confident he will help the boys JV team defend its NEPSAC championship from last year.
Jillian Lavallee ’28- JV Field Hockey
Jillian is a standout player on the JV field hockey team. She scored in both of the Cats’ wins against Bement and has assisted on other goals this season. Jillian is a tireless mid-fielder, sprinting up and down the field, dodging the opposing team, and making strong, accurate passes to her teammates. Jillian sets a positive tone in practice by staying focused, hustling during drills, and generally working hard every day to improve as a player. Jillian’s coaches and teammates look forward to more stellar play from her for the remainder of the season.
Luke Grabowski ‘25-Boys JVB Soccer
Throughout the course of the season, Luke has showcased remarkable dedication and improvement as a goalie. He has become more vocal on the field by guiding the defense and ensuring everyone is in the right position. Luke gives 100% effort during practices and games, and his work ethic is truly commendable–this has not gone unnoticed by his coaches and teammates. He had two great games last week where he made excellent saves and showed exceptional leadership skills. The Wildcats look forward to his continued growth and success in the upcoming matches.
Alina Nolan ’29 – Girls Thirds Volleyball
Alina had a remarkable performance for the Wildcats last Saturday! She showcased her exceptional leadership skills and underscored the significance of embracing risks for triumph. Alina played a pivotal role in the game, combining forceful and precise serves with a solid presence in the defensive core with impressive saves. On and off the court, Alina proved indispensable in boosting the team during challenging moments. Her contagious positive attitude never wavered, regardless of the score. Her coaches are eager to see what Alina can achieve as the season progresses.
Chase Livingston ‘24-Boys JVA Soccer
Chase has excelled all season long at center-back for boys JVA soccer, never more so than in a sensational 0-0 tie against Loomis this past Saturday. Williston had only two subs most of the game and fought hard to earn the well-deserved tie and shutout. The opposing coach this past Saturday rightly praised his play. As one of the two captains elected by the team, Chase has led by example, playing with fearlessness and confidence that, at times, has proved infectious. He is an incredibly intelligent player who is a joy to coach and always strives to strike the right balance between competing and having fun.