Introducing our Athletes of the Week program! Each week, Williston coaches nominate one student-athlete from their team who stood out by demonstrating our core values of purpose, passion, and integrity. These athletes show exceptional dedication, leadership, and sportsmanship, both on and off the field, embodying what it means to be a Williston Wildcat. Read below for more information on each of the Athletes of the Week.
Noah Lehane ’28 – Boys Varsity Cross Country
Noah has been working hard all season and his hard work paid off last Saturday when he ran a personal best time in the meet against Avon Old Farms. Noah contributed to Williston’s score and kept the meet close against a talented squad from Avon. Noah always works hard and is a great teammate. The coaches are really pleased with his improvement and are looking for great things from Noah in the final weeks of the season.
Pranesh Prakash Babu ’29 – Boys JV Cross Country
Pranesh has been a great addition to the boys’ cross country program. He has a great attitude, works hard in every practice, and supports all of his teammates. Pranesh has been making steady progress in his times since the start of the season, and the coaches think he will continue to improve during the final weeks of the season. Pranesh has a great future in front of him in the boys’ cross country program.
Mera Cross ’27 – Girls Varsity Cross Country
This week, we’re proud to recognize Meredith “Mera” as our Athlete of the Week! Since the very beginning of the season, she has shown what it means to stay committed to the process. Whether it’s pushing herself through tough workouts or encouraging teammates who need support on a run, her consistency and selflessness stand out every day. Mera’s ability to stay mentally tough and self-motivated speaks volumes about her character. She’s not only a steady presence in practice—always showing up and putting in the work—but her dedication is translating into results. This past Saturday at the Westover School race, Mera ran a new personal record (29:29), and her times continue to drop thanks to the effort she puts in week after week. Hard, consistent work pays off, and Mera is proof of that. Go Wildcats!
Brooke Schlutter ’27 – Varsity Field Hockey
Brooke has stepped into a huge leadership role offensively this year, and she has been unstoppable. This past week, Brooke reached the 50-point mark after having a 6-point day against Austin Prep. Brooke is always a threat with her incredibly accurate and powerful drive while also balancing her play-making abilities when finding the right pass and setting up her teammates. This year, Brooke has also shown incredible confidence with the ball, regularly stick handling through multiple defenders. She has been more vocal on the field, which has helped many of the new players become comfortable from the start. We are so excited to see what more Brooke achieves and know that with her deep determination and competitiveness, nothing will stop her!
Lucas Guay ’26 – Varsity Football
Lucas did it all for the Wildcats on Saturday in their 42-7 win over DA. Lucas had two tackles and a pass break up on the defensive side of the ball. He’s shown to be one of the best safeties in the league throughout the season. A defensive first player, Lucas added two catches, both for touchdowns, and 34 receiving yards.
D’Ari Coddington ’27 – Boys Varsity Soccer
Center back, D’Ari Coddington, has been at the heart of the Boys Varsity Soccer team’s impressive winning streak over the past month. The Bermuda native led the Wildcats to a 6-0-1 over that period. During the streak, Williston’s opponents were only able to breach Coddington’s net three times. D’Ari recorded his first goal of the season against Cushing, and the team will need his offensive and defensive production in the final month of the season as the team makes a run at a playoff berth. D’Ari, and his teammates, will be in action at home this Wednesday versus Cheshire.
Bobby Channing ’29 – Boys JV A Soccer
Bobby has been a stout, energetic defender all season long for the previously undefeated. He was a standout player in our loss to Loomis Chaffee, playing every minute of the game. There are a lot of new players on the team, but Bobby has played more than most on account of his focus, attitude, and ability, especially defensively. He brings a lot to the table because of his excellent speed, strength and timing on the tackle. He has had numerous highlight reel slide tackles, displaying all of these qualities. What success we have had already and will hopefully continue to have depends on his excellent play.
Brayden McCarthy ’28 – Boys JV B Soccer
Brayden has been a steady and impactful presence for the JV B soccer program this season. A true competitor, Brayden approaches every game and practice with focus, energy, and a relentless drive to get better. His commitment to his teammates and his willingness to do whatever it takes to help the group succeed have made him a leader within the program.
This past weekend, despite the Wildcats missing several key players, Brayden rose to the occasion in a hard-fought 0–0 tie against Pomfret. He set the tone with his effort, composure, and versatility — playing a terrific all-around game and leading by example on both ends of the field. Brayden’s consistency, competitiveness, and team-first mentality make him a deserving nominee for Athlete of the Week.
Ben Roland ’31 – Boys Junior Soccer
Ben has been a key contributor to our team’s recent success, demonstrating both skill and determination on the field. In our rematch against Bement, a team that had defeated us the previous week, Ben played a pivotal role by scoring two crucial goals that led us to victory. In our match against Rectory School, where we were challenged to play with only 10 players, Ben continued to step up by assisting on our only goal of the game. Throughout the season, Ben has been an essential part of our midfield. He consistently distributes the ball with precision, supports his teammates effectively, and capitalizes on scoring opportunities when they arise.
Mel McCullough ’26– Girls Varsity Volleyball
As one of our captains this season, Mel’s impact is huge. Her fellow teammates listen to her encouragement, and her words inspire them to work harder. Unfortunately, Mel was injured during a tight game against NMH early this season. Despite the injury and the likelihood of Mel being out for the remainder of the season, Mel has brought the benergy (also known as bench energy) every game. Her voice is valued, heard, and respected. In the face of adversity, Mel has shown that what’s most important is putting the team first. We will miss Mel so much next year.
Hannah Lehane ’29– Girls JV Volleyball
Hannah’s work ethic, positive attitude, and dedication to her teammates has the been vital to the incredible sense of community formed among the JV volleyball players. On the court, one can expect to see Hannah serve the ball with undeniable confidence and make incredible saves as seen with our game against Wilbraham & Monson Academy last Saturday. She follows the ball like no other and is always prepared for whatever the other team sends her way. Along with her relentless drive on the court, Hannah reminds the team that volleyball, more than anything else, is meant to be fun. Her humor is infectious and it’s not unusual to see the team laughing at one of her jokes during breaks. Hannah has been an incredible addition to the team, and we can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes as the season continues.
Amaya Arias Soto ’29 – Girls 3rds Volleyball
Amaya has brought an incredible attitude to every practice this week. She has focused on mastering the basics, and her hard work is paying off—she’s moving her feet, getting to balls she couldn’t reach just a week ago, and showing real growth in her game. We’re impressed by how quickly she’s learning and by the energy she brings to the team. Amaya continues to make those around her better, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for her!
Richard Yu-Hwang ’26- Boys Varsity Water Polo
Richard has had a fantastic start to the boys water polo season. His game in front of the goal offensively has improved consistently and in this past week he has become a focus of the opposing defense. Nevertheless he was able to score six goals in those two games while drawing eight penalties. As Richard’s game develops he has given his teammates a noticeable boost overall. As the team enters an important series of games Richard has added an important scoring option to count on!