On Thursday May 22, 2025, the Williston Northampton School community gathered in the Phillips Stevens Chapel for our spring Athletic Awards assembly. In addition to honoring our spring sports teams for phenomenal seasons (read more about the spring here), the assembly also honors our top senior athletes for their contributions to athletics at the school. You can see pictures from the assembly here. Below are the remarks made by Director of Athletics Jade Morris.
Good afternoon, everyone—and welcome to the Spring Athletics Assembly!
Before we dive into team recaps, I want to take a moment to reflect on what an incredible year it’s been for Williston athletics. And what better way to do that than with some fun stats?
This year, across all sports and levels, we played 871 games. We brought home 5 NEPSAC championship titles. We weathered the weather—literally—canceling 52 competitions this spring alone. We took 149 Michaels bus trips, ordered way too many Village Pizzas to count, and burned through 800 rolls of stretchy tape. Over 700 ice cuts were done for skates at Lossone, and I personally picked up what felt like 400 plastic straws outside the fueling station—so please, let’s do better and pick up our trash. And on Wednesdays? We averaged 2,150 meatballs consumed in the dining hall in one day—fueling your pregame meals.
To cap us off- we had 144 seniors this year, and 40 of them are heading off to compete in college sports—which is incredible and speaks volumes about your talent, dedication, and love for the game.
But beyond the numbers, what truly made this year special were the moments and the people behind those stats. At the end of the fall season, a few members of the field hockey team—came into my office with a note and gave me two bracelets, each with a simple but powerful phrase.
The first was Joy not fear — a reminder that the field hockey team showed us on that NEPSAC Championship Sunday. Even in the biggest moments, they chose to find joy, refusing to let fear or doubt take hold.
The second phrase was Next play — a mindset that kept them moving forward. They met setbacks with grit, lifted each other up, and supported one another every step of the way.
Thank you to those girls for allowing me to be part of something truly special—and for showing all of us, through your actions, what it means to lead no matter what team you play on. Let us not forget those key phrases as we move past this year.
Now, with that spirit in mind, let’s celebrate our spring teams!
This assembly provides an extra punch, we will hear from our captains about the spring season, and then move onto the athletic awards for the 2024-2025 year. So, without further ado—let’s get started!
I’d like to welcome the leaders of:
- JV Baseball- Cole Cavanaugh
- Varsity Baseball- Riley McDonald and Jake Smith
- Boys JV Golf- Zach Tremblay
- Boys Varsity Golf- Mike Saliba and Teppei Morita
- Girls Varsity Golf- Gavin Kim and Rinka Okuno
- Girls JV Golf- Mei Gazama and Mina Sugiyama
- Boys JV Lacrosse- Winston Karlin
- Boys Varsity Lacrosse- Bennett Barlett, Rylan Padelford, Joseph Killcommons
- Girls JVB Lacrosse- Casey Mattis and Mia Pasternak
- Girls JVA Lacrosse- Audrey Capshaw, Maggie Duffy, and Caroline Webster
- Girls Varsity Lacrosse- Hazel Jacobs and Gemma Polino
- Varsity Softball- Violet Carroll
- Boys JV Tennis- Bennett Evelti and Shane Sexton
- Boys Varsity Tennis- Kei Imai and Omar Santoyo
- Girls JV Tennis- Nina Kou and Ashley Sarmanian
- Girls Varsity Tennis- Annika Song, Maya Zesiger, Mia Townshend
- JV Ultimate- Lateef Aiyeyemi and Richard Yu-Hwang
- Varsity Ultimate- Liam Barry and AJ Songini
- Girls Varsity Water Polo- Juno Aselton and Lucy Hoyt
- Girls Track and Field- Elle Ash and Liv Ferebee
- Boys Track and Field- Jackson Ayers, Rylan Shibley, Gab Quereshi and Jacob Waah
In addition to the team championship this season, we had several record-breaking performances, please stand to be recognized:
- Gab Qureshi broke the 200M and 400M record
- Brody Richardson broke the 800 and 3K
- James Courtney broke the record for 300 high hurdles surpassing a record that stood for 21 years
- Troy Worrell, Brian Lloyd, Jameson Dion, and Gab Qureshi broke the record for 4×100
- Jack Nolan, James Courtney, Brody Richardson, Gab Qureshi ran the 4×400 in 3:26.58 surpassing a record that stood for 35 years
Lets give another round of applause for all of our spring teams and leaders as they join you back in the chapel pews.
To kick off the awards portion of our assembly, we are going start with our Blanket Awards. As you know, students at Williston are encouraged to participate and get engaged in all aspects of student life here. Many of our graduating seniors have made an exceptional commitment to participating in our competitive athletic program. To honor this distinguished level of participation, the Blanket Award recognizes students who have been at Williston for more than one year, they are eligible for the award if they missed only one season not including their senior year. I would like to ask the following 23 seniors to come forward when I read your names. Please remain up front and we will applaud you as a group at the end.
Blanket Award Winners
- Malaya Anaba
- Elle Ash
- Jaxon Axelman
- Bennett Bartlett
- Jack Berrien
- Gabi Bobiak
- Violet Carroll
- Nora Curtis
- Soph DiTerlizzi
- Christopher Doubleday
- Maggie Fay
- Liv Ferebee
- Alyssa Frazier
- Luke Grabowski
- Lucy Hoyt
- Kei Imai
- Gemma Polino
- Olin Rose-Bardawil
- Hadyeh Saborouh
- Michael Saliba
- Herrick Stevenson
- Viktoria Valdimarsdottir
- Graham Williams
Next up, we are proud to introduce the Wildcat Varsity Legacy Award, a special honor recognizing student-athletes who have earned a varsity letter in every season—fall, winter, and spring—throughout all four years at Williston. This remarkable achievement reflects an unwavering commitment to athletic excellence, team leadership, and school spirit. We are proud to celebrate their lasting impact on our athletic program.
- Elle Ash
- Lucy Hoyt
- Violet Carroll
- Liv Ferebee
- Gemma Polino
- Kei Imai
Next will be the Athletic Leadership Award
The Athletic Leadership Award is presented to seniors who have distinguished themselves through exceptional leadership, character, and sportsmanship. These student-athletes lead by example, elevate those around them, and represent Williston with pride and integrity.
This year’s recipient, Jake Smith, has embodied leadership in every sense—and then some. A four-year member of the baseball team and a three-year member of the hockey team, Jake served as captain in both sports during his senior year. He was honored with the sportsmanship award in hockey for three consecutive seasons and received the same recognition in baseball this spring.
Jake is the kind of leader every team hopes for: selfless, hardworking, humble, and deeply committed to his teammates and the Williston community. His presence elevates those around him, and his legacy will be felt long after he graduates.
As Coach Cunha shared, “From his first weeks on the hockey team as a sophomore, Jake exuded leadership. Even in a year with limited ice time, his voice was consistently heard—offering insights that coaches and older teammates quickly came to value. Over time, Jake became the model of what every coach hopes for: a selfless, hardworking athlete who always puts the team first. Whether on the ice, on campus, or representing Williston elsewhere, Jake has led with integrity, humility, and class.”
It is my honor to present the Athletic Leadership Award to Jake Smith.
Our next recipient, Lucy Hoyt, has been a standout athlete and an unwavering leader throughout her Williston career. A five-year member of the water polo team, a four-year swimmer, and a four-year cross-country runner, Lucy has led by example in all three seasons—serving as captain for each.
She is a multi-season recipient of the sportsmanship award and a two-time MVP in cross country. But Lucy’s impact goes far beyond accolades. Her steady presence, tireless work ethic, and deep commitment to her teammates have made her a leader in the truest sense. She inspires through action, carries herself with grace, and has left a lasting legacy on every team she’s been part of.
As Coach K shared: “When we were thinking about captains last year, Lucy was one of those automatic choices. She has earned the respect of her teammates and coaches and has never failed to have a positive impact on those around her. The unselfishness she has displayed over her four years is what I will remember most.”
It is my pleasure to present the Athletic Leadership Award to Lucy Hoyt.
Now we will move to our final two athletic awards;
The George Denman Bowl (boys) and the Alumnae Bowl (girls) are “awarded to seniors whose contribution to the athletic program have been characterized by exceptional achievement, faithful participation, and loyal devotion to the best interests of the school.”
This year’s George Denman Bowl recipient has defined what it means to achieve at the highest level while staying grounded in team values, loyalty, and humility.
Herrick Stevenson has had a storied four-year career at Williston. He’s a two-time NEPSAC Champion in both the 50 and 100 freestyle, and this year he was named the NEPSAC Outstanding Performer, earning the prestigious Babcock Award. His name is all over the record board—ranking second all-time in the 50 free, 100 free, 500 free, medley relay, and 400 free relay. Incredibly, he has never lost a 100 freestyle race as a Williston swimmer—and only placed second three times in the 50.
But what sets Herrick apart is not just the medals or the records. It’s his unshakable commitment to his team, his selfless leadership, and his ability to lift those around him. As a captain, he leads with empathy and humility, always asking how he can support his teammates or improve the team as a whole.
His coach put it best: “Herrick is the best example of a captain and a teammate a coach could ask for. Coaching Herrick for four years has been one of the great pleasures of my 26 years at Williston.”
It is an honor to present the George Denman Bowl to Herrick Stevenson.
Alumnae Bowl
This year’s recipient of the Alumnae Bowl, has left an indelible mark on Williston athletics. A four-year, three-sport varsity athlete in field hockey, hockey, and softball, who has earned All-NEPSAC honors in all three sports, served as captain in all three sports, and covering all the bases with team awards over the years earning MVP, Most Improved, and Sportsmanship on multiple occasions. She surpassed 100 career points in hockey and came just shy of that same milestone in field hockey. And in what may be a first in school history, Violet Carroll was part of NEPSAC championship teams in all three of her varsity sports. (I am still fact checking this with Mr. Conroy.)
As Coach Talbot shared, “While Violet has grown so much since freshman year, one thing has never changed—her contagious energy, passion, and intensity. Every day, she brought her love for the game and competition to the rink. She encouraged and inspired her teammates through both her words and her actions.”
That spirit has been the foundation of Violet’s impact across every team she’s led. Her relentless work ethic, competitive drive, and deep loyalty to her teammates have elevated not only her own performance, but the culture of each program she’s been a part of. Whether on the field, in the rink, or at the softball field, Violet has embodied what it means to lead—with heart, humility, and pride.
It is my honor to present the Alumnae Bowl to Violet Carroll.
As we wrap up today’s assembly, I owe a special thank you to my incredible Athletic Department staff for guiding me through my first year. Your support has been invaluable. I’m also grateful for the amazing faculty and students who continually lift our programs and help create a vibrant, supportive community.
And now, what you’ve all been waiting for, let’s turn it to our slide show—Thank you, Ms. B, for all of your hard work on this!
Thank you all for coming- make it a great day!