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.
Kamal Sergeev ’27- Boys Varsity Cross Country
Kamal has had a great start to his senior season. He trained hard over the summer and came into the season prepared to run his best. He had great performances at both the Brush Invitational and this past weekend’s Richard Miller Invitational at Westminster. Kamal was Williston’s top runner in both races, coming in third place at Westminster. Kamal is also doing a wonderful job as one of the team captains, and his leadership is helping the team bond and become a cohesive unit. The coaches are excited to watch Kamal continue to improve during the rest of the season.
AJ Tanihaha ’27- Boys JV Cross Country
AJ has had a great start to the cross-country season. He trained hard over the summer and has continued to improve since the start of the season. He was one of the top runners in the JV race at this past weekend’s Richard Miller Invitational at Westminster. Besides being an extremely hard worker, AJ is a positive presence in the program. He supports all his teammates and encourages everyone to be positive and enjoy the time together as a team. The coaches are extremely grateful to have AJ in the program. And he makes a pretty good cookie as well!
Addie Eakin ’27- Girls Varsity Cross Country
As a senior captain, Addie’s leadership, energy, and heart are at the core of the girls varsity cross country team. Addie brings a positive attitude to every practice and race, and she cares deeply about the people beside her. She works intentionally to build a team culture where everyone feels valued and included. She pushes her teammates to be their best, while also holding herself to the same high standard. Addie’s drive and determination were on display this weekend. Throughout the race she worked to close the gap, making ground in the latter part of the race solidifying a third-place finish at 23:39 and helping the team earn a 1st place Team win at the Westminster School Invitational. The previous weekend at Deerfield Academy, she ran a personal best of 22:23, a reflection of her dedication! Her coaches and teammates are excited to see Addie’s continued energy, drive, and commitment as she leads the team through the rest of the season.
Ella Skeiber ’28- Varsity Field Hockey
Ella has been everything you hope to have in a leader and teammate so far this season. Playing a new position, Ella jumped in with both feet. She consistently makes plays and sets up her teammates with her stick skills and ability to create space with her cuts. Ella plays lefty (there are no left-handed field hockey sticks) and has helped many new players get comfortable with a reverse-stick position. Beyond Ella’s ability to make the team better on the field, she is the loudest and most positive player off the field, too. She is always cheering on her teammates and is the first to lift them up in more challenging moments. Ella has been such a source of encouragement for the team already this season, and her coaches cannot wait to see all the success that is still to come!
Nate Ellis ’27- Varsity Football
Nate had a huge game for the Wildcats on Saturday night in their 27-24 win over Exeter. He finished the day with 239 yards and four touchdowns, while also catching three passes for 24 yards. His biggest touchdown came on the last play of the game as Williston scored with no time remaining on the clock for the win.
Jay Cho ’27- Boys Varsity Soccer
Junior Jay Cho stepped up his performance in midfield for the Wildcats in the early weeks of the season. The Seoul native has been impactful both offensively and defensively during a challenging stretch of games against opponents like Berkshire, Hoosac, and Nobles. His willingness to win tackles, distribute the ball to dangerous attacking players, and assume leadership roles, have been key factors in the strong start to the regular season. Jay helped his team gain momentum with big wins over Cushing and Pomfret as the Boys Varsity soccer team head into the heart of their season.
Andrew Doubleday ’29- Boys JVA Soccer
Andrew has quickly become a critical player for the JVA soccer team this season, consistently leading the offensive attack with his speed, smart decision-making, and crafty play. He found the back of the net against both Eaglebrook and Berkshire, but his impact goes well beyond the scoreboard. His consistent effort and coachability offer a model of can-do attitude for all his peers, and his team can always count on him to show up and compete. His coaches particularly appreciate his focus and his enthusiastic attitude in drills and before games. His work ethic pushes both himself and his teammates to compete, improve, and stay focused. Going forward, it’s certain that whatever success the Wildcats have this season will depend a lot on his attitude and effort.
Kellen Ge ’30- Boys JVB Soccer
Kellen is a new member of the JV B soccer team, and he has fit in well with the team from the very beginning. He is a smart soccer player who understands what to do both with and without the ball. He moves well with the ball, has a good sense of the field, and does a great job finding and connecting with his teammates. He works hard at every practice and always gives his best during games. What stands out the most is his passion for soccer. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and you can see how much he enjoys competing and being part of the team. He brings a positive attitude every day and has already become an important part of the group. His hard work and commitment have helped the Wildcats remain undefeated so far this season. His teammates and coaches look forward to his continued growth and success in the upcoming matches.
Deven Shukla ’32 – Boys Junior Soccer
When the clock clicked to zero on Wednesday afternoon, the Williston juniors soccer team earned a 2-2 tie versus a talented Kingswood Oxford club from West Hartford, CT. The lion share of the workload was shouldered by an excellent performance from goalkeeper and seventh grader Deven Shukla of Northampton, MA. Deven made countless heroic and acrobatic saves that would have put 1990s US goalie Tony Meoloa to shame. He brought a level of poise and competitiveness that inspired his mates throughout the match and that the team will use to build upon for the rest of the campaign. Deven always comes to the pitch with a ready and willing attitude that raises the bar for practices and games. His coaches and teammates love his compete!
Hiya Patel ’28- Girls Thirds Volleyball
A veteran member of the Thirds Volleyball team, Hiya Patel has been a consistent and important presence for the team this season. Last week, she played a crucial role in the team’s first game and first win of the season against Kingswood Oxford. Hiya brings a steady attitude and strong work ethic to every practice and game. When she faces adversity or makes a mistake, she has an incredible ability to laugh it off, reset, and keep moving forward. Her teammates value her reliability and effort, but just as importantly, they appreciate the energy, humor, and positivity she brings to the group each day. Hiya is a great example of what it means to be a supportive teammate and a positive contributor to a team.
Shintaro Tsushima ’28-Boys Varsity Water Polo
Shintaro has been a critical part of water polos early season. His swimming and endurance have been tested every game, with Shintaro playing nearly every minute of every game. He has worked hard on his ball skills during practice, leading to a team-leading 4 goal performance against Exeter on Saturday. Shintaro pushes the other players to work hard and improve during swim sets in practice. Shintaro is in the water many hours per week, finding time to swim whenever he can. The Wildcats will count on Shintaro throughout the year!