WMA Awards
Athletes of the Month
December 2024
Adrianna Chechile ’26
Winter Track
Adri was outstanding throughout December and helped to lead the Titans in so many critical areas. She was key to competitive performances at both the Boston University and the Tantasqua Regional High School invitationals.
Adri has simply crushed the competition in short distance races, often obtaining a solid lead when crossing the finish line. She experienced a notable first-place finish in the 300-meter dash with a startling 43.9 seconds at Tantasqua.
Caterina Ravosa ’26
Basketball
Caterina was the catalyst for the Titans in December. Cat has adjusted to how opponents are guarding her, as she has learned how to affect the game on multiple levels.
Through 10 games, Caterina averaged 18.5 points and 8.4 rebounds, and was named to The Hill School All-Tournament Team for the second consecutive season. But for us, Caterina's growth is in her navigation of becoming a leader. Being the youngest in the program for so long, Caterina is finally one of the oldest on the team, and she is trying to balance the responsibility of performing at a high level while also leading her teammates when she may not be having the best day individually.
Other nominees
Vivi Venkat ’25 - Riflery
Rosie Rodriguez ’27 - Swimming
Giordana Valerio ’25 - Skiing
Rebecca Kakule ’25 - Wrestling
Sam Fleming ’26
Prep Basketball
During December, Sam shot 45% from the field while shooting 35.7% from 3 and 85.7% from the foul line. Sam averaged 18.5 points, 7.8 rebounds per game and 1.5 steals per game.
Sam is usually tasked with guarding the opponent’s best big man, which usually means he's giving up 2 to 3 inches and 20-25 pounds in size difference.
In spite of that, he has battled and never complained and has, more often than not, won the battle handedly. Sam plays three different positions for our team offensively. There aren't a lot of 6- foot 7.5-inch forwards in the country that can seamlessly transition over to the point guard position, and go from scorer to distributor with the ease that Sam is able to. He does whatever he has to do for his team.
Tanner Goodwin ’25
Hockey
Tanner experienced an incredible December for the Titans. He provides strong leadership as their team captain and scored five goals in December. This included three at the Albany Invitational Tournament and two against Vermont Academy, just before Winter Vacation.
Tanner also has three assists for a total of eight points in seven games. Tanner has great speed, an amazing shot and obviously a "nose" for the net. He is also the consummate teammate, making sure everyone on the team is valued.
Other nominees
TJ Jaravaza ’25 - Indoor Track
Eoin Cavanaugh ’27 - Swimming
Pietro Avanza ’25 - Skiing
John Crocker ’25 - Wrestling
Bruno Alvarez Camacho ’26 - Varsity Basketball
Past winners: Athletes of the Month
November 2024
Elle Poonsornsiri ’25
Field Hockey
Brant Stoltz ’26
Soccer
October 2024
Selah Prignano ’26
Volleyball
Robbie McAllister ’25
Football
September 2024
Ally Orquiola ’25
Girls Soccer
Jefferey Zeng ’28
Cross Country
Athletes of the Week
Jan. 27 - Feb. 1
Sophia Nguyen ’26
Winter Track
Sophia has significantly contributed to the sprinting events throughout the season. Her quick feet and stamina have gained her success in the 300-meter dash with an impressive time of 52.26 seconds. This natural speed has also contributed to our performance in the 4x200 meter relay helping our athletes earn a seasonal best of 2:04. Overall, her excellence is commendable in practice and in meets. We are excited to see her compete during the remainder of our competitions.
Hannah Grudzien ’25
Basketball
This has been an extremely emotional season for Hannah, her last as a Titan. As the lone senior, there has been a wealth of emotions to overcome this season for her, but she is in the midst of playing the basketball of her career. And it was so fitting that in a 3-0 week for her Titans, she got two of those huge wins back near home in her area. Hannah, from Brooklyn, Connecticut, grew up not too far from Marianapolis Prep, so going 2-0 in their AA Midwinter Showcase (defeating Storm King 69-40 and Winchendon 48-35) was great. Hannah is our glue girl, and her stats are never indicative of her importance to our team. But what we have seen of late is how the game is slowing down for her, and she is seeing the game much clearer. And our team is reaping the benefits of her strong play on both ends of the court.
Chinedu Okpara ’25
Prep Basketball
In our lone game last week, Chinedu carried us for a good portion of the game and made sure the team secured a Class AA win over Cheshire Academy. Chin scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half and ended the game with 14 rebounds and one blocked shot. He has given our team a lift each and every game, especially in the last three weeks when we have dealt with injuries and sickness. His work rate never falls off and he continues to be a tremendous teammate.
Emerson Baril ’27
Hockey
Emerson has been improving all season and added another goal to our scoresheet last week. He is a hard-working, hard hitting, focused player with a great nose for the front of the net. Emerson is also an excellent teammate with his positive attitude and practice engagement, no matter what the situation might be.
Athletes of the Week
Jan. 20 - 25
Dakotah Thomas ’26
Swimming
Dakotah is a veteran swimmer on our team, though new to the sport when she started. She grinds out every difficult practice with persistence and strength, and has proven herself to be an exceptional leader by example. At our last December meet, after taking on the breaststroke for just the second time, Dakotah was part of the most exciting race of the afternoon, the 100 breaststroke, earning a PR and winning the heat by a fraction of a second. Since then, she has PR'd two more times, taking 3.5 seconds off in our meet against Westminster, Eaglebrook and Ethel Walker. Dakotah is on her way to a sub-1:30 time and with some more work on her stroke and kick, that's within reach. She puts in the effort every day.
Shuhan "Zoe" Li ’27
Skiing
Zoe has had a great impact on the Ski team this season. She has pushed herself each day, as well as having the ability to adapt and improve each week. Zoe's commitment to hard work and focus in practice, both with dryland workouts and on the ski slopes at Bousquet Mountain, has been outstanding. She finished seventh in her league race at Berkshire East last week.
Gavin Woolridge ’26
Winter Track
Regardless of the drills performed or frigid weather endured during the seasons, Gavin has consistently given his best effort and maintains an infectious positivity for his teammates. Last week at Phillips Andover, his dedication was on full display as he jumped into three new events without question and helped score our team many points. In particular, his performance as our anchor in the 4x400 meter relay illustrated true grit and determination as Gavin maintained the lead helping our team finish in first place with an impressive time of 3:44.24, a seasonal best.
Eoin Cavanaugh ’27
Swimming
Eoin continues to walk the walk for the team. He encourages his teammates to do their best and push themselves beyond their perceived limits. Then he gets in the lane and shows them how to do it. Eoin understands that leadership starts with setting a good example - completing the workout, sticking to time goals and pushing your teammates to do the same. It’s not easy but he knows the benefit that comes from it. As a result, he is the most versatile swimmer on the boys side and with two years still ahead of him, he still has time to grow and improve. At Eoin's level, improvement is slow and incremental. He has been frustrated by the lack of a PR in recent weeks. However, Eoin has remained consistent in practice and patient as he rides out this plateau. That can be one of the hardest things a swimmer can do, but Eoin believes in the value of putting in the hard work in practice
Past winners: Athletes of the Week
Yuka Okuma ’25
Riflery
Rebecca Kakule ’25
Wrestling
Lily Meier ’26
Winter Track
Iyanna Hodge ’27
Basketball
Eliza Leach ’25
Wrestling
Julia Choi ’26
Riflery
Alex Torres ’25
Basketball
Pietro Avanza ’25
Skiing
Yejun Lee ’27
Riflery
Nick Betancourt ’26
Wrestling
TJ Jaravaza ’25
Winter Track
Trey Kuzmeski ’25
Varsity Basketball
Commencement Awards
Dr. George E. Rogers Scholar Athlete Award
In 1966, the Monson Academy faculty established the George E. Rogers Award to honor a member of the graduating class for scholarship and participation and sportsmanship in athletics. The members of the faculty have recognized the following students as having those qualities indicated in the award.
- 2024 - Evan Reeves
- 2023 - Ava Aguiar
- 2022 - Kyle Filipowski
- 2021 - Khalil Kamara
- 2020 - John Adams
- 2019 - Ania Axas
- 2018 - Wenjun Chang
- 2017 - Emma Kindblom
- 2016 - Julian Alexis
- 2015 - Margaret Harrington
- 2014 - Jackson FrenchRobitaille
- 2013 - Phillip Antonacci
- 2012 - Michael Mendes
- 2011 - Jeremy Gilfor
- 2010 – Adrianne T. Hanson
- 2009 – Russell Dinkins
- 2008 – Brigid M. Jurgens
- 2007 – Matthew D. Pentkowski
- 2006 – Olivia C. Clement
- 2005 – Alexander Ely
- 2004 – Stacie Brzoska
- 2003 – Anthony Choquette
- 2002 – Kathryne Scyocurka
- 2001 – Jennifer Reid
Phil Shaw Award
Phil Shaw joined the Wilbraham faculty in 1934 and served well as a teacher, Chairman of the Science Department, varsity soccer and track coach, and Athletic Director until his retirement in 1969. His portrait hangs in an honored place in our Athletic Center Board Room. Mr. Shaw dedicated his life to developing character in young people. He believed in healthy competition and a high degree of sportsmanship. This award is presented by the faculty to the male and female students in the junior or senior class who have shown hard work, perseverance, unselfishness, and a spirit of cooperation in athletics.
- 2024 - Abigail Dorunda; Brett Bucktooth
- 2023 - Madeleine Hong; Keigo Koyasu
- 2022 - Cara Murphy; Deven Austin
- 2021 - Rhaymi Porter; Conor Murphy
- 2020 - Xin "Julie" Xiong; Will Crocker
- 2019 - Alana Perkins; Idan Tretout
- 2018 - Kayla Mokwuah; Andrew Nagle
- 2017 - Katelyn Cronin; Alexander Claudio
- 2016 - Sydney Liptak; Wenyen Gabriel
- 2015 - Molly Socha; Evan Roy
- 2014 - Megan Pehoviak; Olexandr "Sasha" Oliinyk
- 2013 - Carly Cronin; Joe Thibault
- 2012 - Marissa McDermott; Ryan McLarney
- 2011 - Chloe Snyder; Derrick Barnagian
- 2010 – Michaela A. Rollings; Adam J. Ginsberg
- 2009 – Chelby J. Wakefield; Aaron P. Haas
- 2008 – Rosalyn C. Chesky; Joseph T. Salomone
- 2007 – Kristin M. Coderre; Gregory J. Balicki
- 2006 – Laura E. Coderre; Jacob R. Eddy, David J. Kreps
- 2005 – Katelyn Stolpinski; Benjamin Primo
- 2004 – Marisa Barone; Colin Cook
- 2003 – Stacie Brzoska; Jeffrey Adams
- 2002 – Angelique Kelley; Sherod Harris
- 2001 – Lauren Pinkston; Charles Bridge
Trustees Cup
The annual Trustees Cup is the most coveted athletic team award at the Academy. The award takes into account a team’s success on the field, grade point average, team spirit and community service.
- 2023-24 - Girls Cross Country
- 2022-23 - Girls Basketball
- 2021-22 - Girls Track & Field
- 2020-21 - None chosen (COVID-19)
- 2019-20 - Boys Basketball
- 2018-19 - Boys Track & Field
- 2017-18 - Riflery
- 2016-17 - Girls Basketball
- 2015-16 - Softball
- 2014-15 - Baseball
- 2013-14 - Softball
- 2012-13 - Boys Lacrosse
- 2011-12 - Girls Swimming
- 2010-11 - Girls Volleyball
- 2009-10 - Girls Lacrosse
- 2008-09 - Girls Soccer
Hall of Fame
Harold 'Bud' Porter '44W
Harold Bud Porter '44W was honored for his remarkable athletic ability. At Wilbraham Academy, he was a five-sport athlete, playing both baseball and track in the spring. More than once he trotted across the field from his baseball game, changed his footwear, and ran a heat in a track meet. Bud had a 75-year association with the Academy, having entered the Winchester School as a fifth grader.
Capt. Timothy Jessup '87 USMC
The late Captain Timothy Jessup '87 USMC was the heart and soul of the Varsity Water Polo team during his tenure at the Academy. Coach Steve Gray '70W credited Tim's energy and magnetic personality for the longevity of the water polo program, which celebrated its 35th season in 2019.
Philip H. Shaw Sr.
Former coach and faculty member Philip H. Shaw Sr. of Wilbraham Academy was posthumously inducted into the WMA Athletic Hall of Fame during inaugural ceremonies held on campus. Philip H. Shaw Jr. '57W gave an eloquent induction speech to honor his father of his coaching prowess in football, soccer and track as well as his time as Athletic Director at Wilbraham
Track & Field 1989
The 1989 Track & Field Team were New England Champions. Coach Jeff Siekierski remembered the runners, jumpers, sprinters and throwers as all having the four elements of team success: passion, work, knowledge and a common goal.
Philip J. Cardone
Phillip J. Cardone, former coach and faculty member of both Monson Academy and WMA, was honored for his many legendary contributions to the football, wrestling, and lacrosse programs before a large gathering of alumni, family, and friends. Andrew Bazarian '86 gave the induction speech, which pointed out the many ways that Coach Cardone formed the characters of the young men and women he taught. Phil remained a fixture around campus as a volunteer landscaper, keeping WMA beautiful before his passing in Jan. 2019.
Monson Football 1966
The Monson Academy Football Team, coached by WMA Hall of Fame coach Phil Cardone and Ed Baker, was undefeated in 1966. Coach Baker remembered the transformation of the players from a "ragtag group that were not a pretty sight" into a team of self-confident athletes who completed a season that "changed them forever."