Athletes of the Week

Olivia Zaiken ‘27- Varsity Girls Squash

Olivia has had another incredible week for the girls varsity squash program. In a grueling match on Saturday, she took a tough opponent from Hotchkiss to five games. Then, in the final game, she showed her focus and determination by winning that game in extra points 12-10. It was a match that showcased Olivia’s physicality as she successfully lunged for several balls that her opponent had probably thought were put out of reach. Another aspect of her game that shines is her tactical acumen. She is fantastic at adroitly setting up strong attacks with precise ball placement into the back corner followed by a strong attack into one of the front corners. In addition to her squash skills, Olivia’s drive and determination know no bounds. Playing first on the ladder, she often encounters opponents from other schools who are highly ranked in New England. Olivia is never cowed by these fierce competitors and gives every match her full effort regardless of the odds. Finally, Olivia has a real team first attitude, and is fully committed to not only improving her personal squash every day but in pushing everyone else on the team to be better as well.

Getchell Gibbons ‘23 -Boys Swimming & Diving

Getchell has been an important cog in the wheel of boys swimming and diving all season. He continued his dominating performances on Saturday, picking up wins in the 100 fly and 100 backstroke against a strong team from St. George’s. After 4 meets, and 8 individual swims this season, Getchell remains undefeated in individual races. His relentlessly positive attitude in practice and his leadership on deck have been critical to the team’s success this season.

Campbell Collins ’23- Girls Swimming & Diving

Campbell has had an excellent season in the water for the Wildcats. She picked up individual wins in the 200 and 500 freestyles against St. George’s on Saturday and was the only double event winner for the girls on the afternoon. She continues to put up fast times and has the fastest swims this season in Division 2 for all distance events. Campbell leads by example both in the pool and on deck and the team has responded well to her leadership. The Wildcats will continue to lean on Campbell for her leadership and point scoring ability as they head into the back half of the season.

Jayson Alegria ’23- Boys Varsity Hockey

Jayson has been a valuable contributor to the boys varsity hockey team this season. He scored 2 goals in the Wildcats 3-3 tie against Winchendon on Friday night in front of a home crowd. This performance moved his point total to 14 with 4 goals and 10 assists on the season. Jayson has been an integral part of the team and hopes to help spark the squad offensively down the stretch for the remainder of the season.

Ava DeCoste ’23- Girls Varsity Hockey

As a four-year player on the girls varsity hockey team, Ava has been a critical piece to the success of the squad. She has always had a strong hockey IQ and a serious knack for the net. This past week, she scored three goals in the team’s 12-0 win over Berkshire and had an assist in the 5-1 over Frederick Gunn. Ava has always been a “go to” player for the offense since arriving, but she’s really worked on her defensive game and had some key back checks in both games to limit opponent’s scoring opportunities. Ava plays on our power play and penalty kill as well. She has had some key moments in both situations in the last two games, which has also helped the team. Her coaches look forward to her continued leadership and contributions as the team heads into the second half of the season.

Orion Minton ’23- Boys Varsity Squash

Boys Varsity Squash had its best week in 3 seasons, winning two matches in a row over Trinity-Pawling and Suffield. This Wednesday, after our win over Suffield, the team honored Orion for the support he has provided the team on and off the court this season. Orion is a master of silver linings; in any and every situation he can find a lesson to be learned. He shows up early to every practice with a no frills, no excuses mentality. He strives to improve every day and accepts defeat with a growth mindset. Orion has improved tremendously over the season, even placing 4th in a inter-team, one-set tournament. When the 10th person on the ladder can place 4th in a team tournament, you know he has something special in his approach to the game. His teammates and coaches look forward to his continued growth this season.

Will Vachet ’25- Boys JV Basketball

Will’s love for basketball and commitment to being a better player is evident every day in practice. He goes hard during practices, including in the drills that are less fun. The result is that he is off to a great start this season. Through the first six games, he is leading the team in scoring and rebounding. His recent game against Suffield Academy was a particularly good one for him, as he scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and had three steals. His defensive intensity in the game was also a significant step up from previous contests, showing that he is trying to implement his coaches’ advice to become a more complete basketball player. His coachability and leadership are a great model for his teammates and the Wildcats will continue to rely on him as they work through the rest of the season.

Zoe Melia ’27- Girls JV Basketball

Zoe’s play as a point or shooting guard for the girls JV basketball team has been the key to the team’s offensive consistency helping the team get off to a 5-1 start. When the team is going through an offensive drought, it is Zoe’s stop and pop jump shot that helps us to stabilize the game. Zoe is always looking to push the pace and her speed has helped propel her to be one of the leading scorers for the Wildcats this season. Zoe is also a supportive and caring teammate, as she runs to high five her fellow players when they do well or when they make a mistake. While playing the point-guard position, her head is always up searching for her teammates so that she can share the ball by throwing it ahead for an easy layup. Her coaches and teammates feel so lucky to have Zoe on the team this year and they look forward to her continued contributions this season.

Clark Evelti ’28 -Boys 4ths Basketball

Clark has been a key contributor for the boys fourths basketball team this year. He has shown an innate ability to stretch the floor, knocking down shots and battling down low on defense. His consistent defensive efforts alter shots and lead to important rebounds. Clark brings an enthusiastic passion for basketball each day, working tremendously hard in practice and in games to improve his own skills setting an excellent example for his teammates. The Wildcats look forward to his continued growth and contributions this season.

Jack Berrien ‘25- Boys Thirds Blue Basketball

Jack has been an invaluable member of the thirds blue basketball team this season. Jack is willing and able to play any position on the floor. This year he has added point guard duties to his repertoire managing this floor leader position very well.  Jack is always willing to do whatever is best for the team. His selflessness and consistent effort stand out on a weekly basis. Jack is also a player who fills the stat sheet in many ways as his all-around play impacts the game in multiple ways. The team will continue to count on Jack for his leadership and dependable play.

Ryan Brooks ‘25-Thirds Green

Ryan is a valuable member of the green thirds basketball team playing multiple positions. In the green team’s big win over Bement, Ryan came up huge by making key baskets in the second half when Bement was mounting a comeback. He finished as the game’s leading scorer with 8 points. Ryan brings a positive energy to practice each day and is always willing to contribute to the team’s success. The green team will continue to look to him for his steady, dependable play as the season unfolds.