WMA Awards
Athletes of the Week
March 25 - April 6
GIRLS
Rose Marie Sadlak '25
Rugby
Rosie has been a positive influence on the team since the first day of practice. She always looks to better herself and to come to a better understanding of the game of Rugby. She has stayed after practice to work on her technique and form. Rosie experienced a strong performance in the first match of the season against Lincoln-Sudbury.
Jala Witherspoon ’27
Track & Field
Jala came out for track this season with a great deal of natural talent. She comes to practice ready to put the work in. At the meet on Saturday with Kingswood and Pomfret, Jala won the 100. She also won and broke school records in the 200 and the 4x100.
Other nominees
Tennis - Yijia Qu ’24
Lacrosse - Natalia Cedeno-Villegas ’25
BOYS
Jiwoong Hong ’26
Tennis
Jiwoong had a great start to the season and has really improved his game. He is currently playing the second single position. Jiwoong has won all of his matches and scrimmages this season.
Liam Shea-Gallagher ’24
Baseball
Liam had a great start to the season, playing multiple positions and being the leader of the Titans. He had a huge double against Austin Prep and was a dominant force behind the plate at Williston in the season opener. Liam threw out a base runner, which helped contain the Wildcats' running game. Liam has been a leader through some very difficult games early in the year.
Other nominees
Lacrosse - Ben McDonnell ’24
Golf - Chris Paquette ’24
Track & Field - Michael Dorunda ’24
Rugby - David Wibiralske ’24
Athletes of the Month
February 2024
Girls
Adrianna Chechile ’26
Winter Track
Adrianna experienced a great month of February. She has been such a consistent point scorer at each meet, winning top five in the 300 meters, long jump and helping us as a key member of the 4x200 relay. She had a personal record in the 55m dash in February at the Andover meet, clocking 7.89; and she also had another personal record in the long jump, leaping 15 feet, 9 inches. She showed up big at the Armory meet in New York city and has been a key member of our sprinting team.
Selah Prignano ’26
Basketball
Our defensive specialist, Selah, is one of the best two-way players in New England. We task Selah to guard the other team's best perimeter player night in and night out, while also asking her to give us an offensive punch. Through the month, Selah put together an impressive month on both ends of the floor, averaging 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4.5 steals, 4 deflections, 1 blocks; and shoots the ball on 55% FG, and 46% from 3FG. Selah was voted by NEPSAC coaches to the Class C All-Star Game to represent the West, and Selah was named the Class C Defensive Player of the Year!
Selah is a complete pleasure to coach, and she is an amazing teammate.
Other nominees
Rebecca Kakule ’25 - Wrestling
Sarah Laporte ’28 - Swimming
Vaishnavi “Vivi” Venkat ’25 – Riflery
BOYS
Ben Morin ’24
Skiing
Ben completed his final season (and WMA) Mount Institute Ski League race with a strong 11th-place finish. The MISL league is the toughest alpine race league that includes three NEPSAC class A and one NEPSAC class B school. Week after week, Ben steps up to put his strongest effort forth for the team in a very demanding league. He approached his last WMA race with confidence, leadership and a smile that also elevated the rest of the team.
Tobias Dohrmann ’24
Varsity Basketball
After joining our team late at the start of the season, Tobias experienced a very good season. February was a particularly challenging month for Tobias, being unable to play in some of our first couple games. However, as the month went on, Tobias was able to play in our remaining games, helping to lead us to a 2-2 record with 11 points and 7 rebounds per game. Tobias was a very strong addition to our team and we are glad he was able to finish the season on a high note.
Other nominees
Cole King ’25 - Hockey
Gabe Cruz ’25 - Indoor Track
Sebastian Medina ’27 - Swimming
Patrick Healy ’24 - Wrestling
Luka Damjanac ’24 - Prep 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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."