Alex Hedstrom ’28 – JV Baseball
Alex anchored the jv baseball team this season with his consistent hitting and defense. His compete level and his knowledge of the game were great examples for less experienced players. At the plate, Alex finished the season leading the squad in hits and RBI’s. And despite playing out of position on defense, Alex led the squad in putouts. In the Wildcats final game against Suffield, Alex kept the team on an even keel level despite trailing 1-0 going into the 4th, and contributed an RBI to help the Wildcats earn a 9-2 victory.
Riley McDonald ’25 – Varsity Baseball
Riley is one of the Wildcat team captains and has displayed outstanding leadership throughout this season. Riley injured his leg before the season and again during the season, and while not being one hundred percent affected his play, Riley did not let his personal disappointments affect his focus or his leadership. At the end of the season, Riley was healthy enough to play short stop and made several outstanding plays in the Wildcats last two victories over Berkshire School.
Sophia Zhou ’28 – Girls Varsity Golf
Sophia shot an 85 at the NEPSAC tournament held at Simsbury Farms in Connecticut last Monday. Sophia’s eighteen hole score held up for a tie for 17th place in the 18 hole field of 112 golfers representing 39 NEPSAC schools. On Wednesday at Southampton Country Club in the Wildcats final season match, Sophia shot a 41 making a birdie 3 on the 9th hole to beat her Kingswood opponent 1 up. Over the second half of the season, Sophia stepped up to play in the team’s number one position facing the top players from opposing schools. Sophia earned valuable team points with victories over both Loomis and Westminster’s top players, no easy feat. The Wildcats look forward to more low scores from Sophia over the next three years.
Hazel Jacobs ’25 – Girls Varsity Lacrosse
Hazel has had a standout career for the Williston girls lacrosse team, and she capped that off in style this past weekend, helping the Wildcats earn the Patriot Classic tournament championship on Saturday. Williston took on Canterbury in the semifinals on Saturday morning at Pomfret School, and Hazel had a number of key first half saves en-route to a 9-7 win. The Wildcats took on Berkshire an hour later in the championship game, and Hazel was outstanding, finishing with 8 saves while also quarterbacking the Wildcats clearing efforts. The Wildcats won the title game by the final score of 8-5, avenging a 6-5 regular season loss to Berkshire, and Hazel was named tournament MVP by the attending coaches. Hazels’ play was a tribute to her dedication to her craft and the program. Hazel has steadily grown as a player and leader in her time at Williston, and her ability in both of these areas was on full display last week. Additionally, Hazel showed her resilience and determination, turning the page when a goal was scored in order to be her best for the next opportunity. The Williston girls lacrosse program has had many great goalies throughout its history, and Hazel has cemented herself as part of that legacy.
Skyler Walker ’26 – Varsity Softball
The last 3 games of the season Skyler produced incredible numbers on offense and defense. Skyler turned a crucial double play on Saturday against Loomis and hit a 3 run double that put the Wildcats in the lead and helped the cats get to the championship game on Sunday. Skyler’s passion to help her teammates and her enthusiasm during games is unmatched.
Leyton Flynn ’30 – Boys Varsity Tennis
Leyton is a bright future star of Williston tennis. Leyton is perpetually optimistic, thanking coaches and players any time they offer him critical feedback or advice. On the court, Leyton is exceptionally polite with opponents and holds sportsmanship above all else when competing. Leyton was a jack-of-all-trades, moonlighting at #1 and #2 doubles and #5, #6 and #7 singles, depending on the opponent. Williston is in good hands with Leyton continuing to grow on the team.
Maya Zesiger ’25 – Girls Varsity Tennis
Maya partnered with Alicia Lindinger to finish as runners-up at the Suffield Tournament this past weekend. After a strong season with Blue Meyerson, Maya found her groove with partner Alicia, winning three straight matches over Suffield Academy (8-2), Cheshire Academy (8-6), and Frederick Gunn School (8-5) to finish top of their round robin group. In the final, Maya and Alicia gave tournament winners Wilbraham and Monson Academy a tough match, falling 8-4. Maya’s booming serve was in full flight on Saturday, and her devastating net play paired with Alicia’s groundstrokes helped the team finish third in the seven-team tournament. Maya’s final week performance was the cherry on top of a fantastic season as captain of the Wildcats.
Kora Brissett ’27 – Girls Track & Field
Kora was quite simply a force at the NEPSAC championships. Kora won the 100 in a miraculous 12.05, placed 2nd in the 200 at 25.39, and anchored a season-best 4×100 relay which, comprised of Jayla Peets-Butterfield, Daryn Fox, and Livia Locke, came in at 50.73. Whenever the team needed her, Kora, as she did all year, stepped up and gave it her all. Kora was a fierce competitor and also a champion for her fellow runners, and the Wildcats are looking forward to more record-setting performances from Kora in the years to come.
Chris Doubleday ’25 & Dan McBride ’25 – Varsity Ultimate
The ferocious two-headed monster of Chris & Dan have carried the Wildcats through the tough games this season. Chris & Dan never stop running, both on offense and defense. Against the zone defense of opponents, they are unstoppable cutters, finding gaps behind the mark and between defenders. Chris & Dan have learned to work together as a team, with one creating space for the other to fill, then moving the disc together. In the cat’s own defense, they are workhorses, staying aggressive and controlled. They are both “glue players” who connect passes, find spaces, and do the unheralded work. The Wildcats will truly miss Chris & Dan next season.