For the fourth time in the last five seasons, the Williston Northampton boys swimming & diving team is a New England champion. The boys team won the 2025 New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Division II championship over two championship meets—one for diving, one for swimming–adding to their trophies earned in 2020, 2022, and 2023 (there was no 2021 championships). In addition, Herrick Stevenson ’25 was named the 2025 Babcock Award winner, given to the outstanding performer at the NEPSAC championship meet.
Williston won the D-II championship with a score of 440 points—109 more than Greenwich Country Day School (331) in second. St. George’s School finished third.
The girls swimming and diving team also had an excellent championship meet, finishing sixth as a team.
“It was another incredible end to the season for the boys and girls swimming and diving teams,” head coach David Koritkoski said. “We were thrilled with how well everyone competed last week.”
Boys
The Wildcats’ quest for a championship started in the friendly confines of the Wilmot S. Babcock Pool, as Williston hosted the diving portion of the D-II championships. Swimming in their own pool, the Wildcats found themselves all over the medal stand as Cole Cavanagh ’26 won the D-II title, with Cole Blanchard ‘25 finishing second and Gabe Follone ’26 finishing sixth.
At the swimming championships, Williston opened with a bang as the 200 medley relay team of Will Lee ‘26, Aaron Entebi Sheinberg ‘26, Shinatro Tsushima ‘28, and Stevenson took first place in the opening event. The foursome swam the race in 1 minute, 38.97 seconds, just over one second off the meet record.
Other All-NEPSAC performances for Williston in the championships included: Stevenson in the 50 freestyle (2nd, 21.24) and 100 freestyle (2nd, 47.25, Tsushima in the 100 butterfly (2nd, 52.71), the 200 free relay team of Sheinberg, Beckett Collins ’25, Cavanagh, and Yuki Sato ‘28 (2nd, 1:32.53), and the 400 free relay team of Lee, Tsushima, Sato, and Stevenson (2nd, 3:17.73).
Stevenson took home the Babcock Award for his four podium finishes. The meet marks the end of a glittering career for Stevenson in the pool, which also included standout efforts for our water polo program.
“A special congratulations to Herrick, who finished his Williston career being honored by the league’s coaches,” Koritkoski said. “It is an incredible and well-deserved honor for him.”
Girls
The girls team had a strong showing at the diving portion of the championships, with Francesca Gionfriddo ’26 finishing second while Mel McCullough ’26 finished fourth to each earn All-NEPSAC honors.
In the swimming portion of the meet, the 200 free relay team of Audrey Dowsett ‘29, Lucy Hoyt ’25, Gabi Bobiak ’25, and Mya Schattin ’25 finished in third (1:43.95) to also earn All-NEPSAC honors.
