Spring Sports Awards 2018
As the spring trimester came to a close, our teams and activities groups gathered in Shepardson Center to celebrate the season. Seated by team, they reminisced on their seasons over dinner and settled in to listen to their peers and teams be honored.
Alexei Sotskov, Interim Athletic Director, began the evening giving a short address and then introduced the student-athlete guest speaker, Will Svensson '18.
Crew
Boys’ Most Improved: Siyang Wang '20
Boys’ Most Valuable Rower: Zoee Blossom '18
Girls’ Most Improved: Eva Wu '21
Girls’ Most Valuable Rower: Caitlin McDermott '18
Equestrian
Most Improved: Grace Boynton '21
Coaches' Award: Hannah Sethi '20
Golf
Most Improved Player: Sammy Paprin '20
Most Valuable Player: Mason Cipriano '19
Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse
Most Improved: Jonne Ijas '19
John Lord Most Valuable Player Award: Robbie Ferreria '18
Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse
Most Improved Player: Jordan Loya '20
Dorothy Sener Most Valuable Player Award: Ani Kapral '19
Girls’ Varsity Tennis
Most Improved: Ella Bushee '20
Most Valuable Player: Kexin Xu '18
Girls’ JV Tennis
Most Improved Player: Olivia Wang '21
Back
Svensson reflected on his four years at Vermont Academy and how sports became a part of his everyday life. He said, “I think [sports are] something we should, and hopefully do, appreciate. Sports teach us a lot about ourselves, and a lot about things bigger than ourselves. How to strive for greatness, to have tenacity without ferocity. How to deal with failure, move on, and give it more next time. Sports teach you to be the best you not for yourself, but for the team.” He used examples from his time on the Crew team with Coach Thom Collins. In closing, Svensson celebrated the community, saying, “So let us do what Vermont Academy does best and celebrate our successes, our athletics, and our students not just tonight, but every day.”
Awards and recognition continued with the following presentations:
Bob Harrington Coach of the Year Award: Chris Marks
Dedicated to excellence in coaching, this award was established in honor of Mr. Bob Harrington, who taught, coached, and managed many areas of the Academy for over 40 years. Mr. Harrington still regularly volunteers his time helping out teachers and students with math.
Coach Marks demonstrates the quality of leadership with compassion, while bringing out the best in his students/athletes. Coach Marks goes above and beyond with the skiing team, spending countless hours at Okemo and Magic Mountain during the winter, as well as bringing members of the Freeski team to various mountains around the United States on breaks and weekends. Thank you, Coach Marks, for all your hard work!
Dedicated to excellence in coaching, this award was established in honor of Mr. Bob Harrington, who taught, coached, and managed many areas of the Academy for over 40 years. Mr. Harrington still regularly volunteers his time helping out teachers and students with math.
Coach Marks demonstrates the quality of leadership with compassion, while bringing out the best in his students/athletes. Coach Marks goes above and beyond with the skiing team, spending countless hours at Okemo and Magic Mountain during the winter, as well as bringing members of the Freeski team to various mountains around the United States on breaks and weekends. Thank you, Coach Marks, for all your hard work!
Varsity Letterman’s Jacket Award: Chloe Aurard '18, Dariel Echanis '18 and Holly Meredith '18
Presented to seniors having been at Vermont Academy for all four years of high school and having played at the varsity level for all seasons during each year.
Presented to seniors having been at Vermont Academy for all four years of high school and having played at the varsity level for all seasons during each year.
- Chloe collected four letters in soccer, four in hockey, three in tennis, and one in softball.
- Dariel collected one letter in soccer, cross country and spring crew, two letters in fall crew, three letters in tennis, and four in Nordic skiing.
- Holly collected four letters in field hockey, hockey, and lacrosse.
Baseball
Coaches Award: Jeremy Fleming '18 & Brady Clark '20
Most Improved: Brian Anderson '18
Pi Beta Phi Award: John Peloso '19
Given to that member of the varsity baseball team who during the season has compiled the best batting average and fielding percentage.
Richard Burton Award: Logan Cota '18
Given to that Junior or Senior member of the varsity baseball team who has contributed the most to the team.
Coaches Award: Jeremy Fleming '18 & Brady Clark '20
Most Improved: Brian Anderson '18
Pi Beta Phi Award: John Peloso '19
Given to that member of the varsity baseball team who during the season has compiled the best batting average and fielding percentage.
Richard Burton Award: Logan Cota '18
Given to that Junior or Senior member of the varsity baseball team who has contributed the most to the team.
Crew
Boys’ Most Improved: Siyang Wang '20
Boys’ Most Valuable Rower: Zoee Blossom '18
Girls’ Most Improved: Eva Wu '21
Girls’ Most Valuable Rower: Caitlin McDermott '18
Equestrian
Most Improved: Grace Boynton '21
Coaches' Award: Hannah Sethi '20
Golf
Most Improved Player: Sammy Paprin '20
Most Valuable Player: Mason Cipriano '19
Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse
Most Improved: Jonne Ijas '19
John Lord Most Valuable Player Award: Robbie Ferreria '18
Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse
Most Improved Player: Jordan Loya '20
Dorothy Sener Most Valuable Player Award: Ani Kapral '19
Girls’ Varsity Tennis
Most Improved: Ella Bushee '20
Most Valuable Player: Kexin Xu '18
Girls’ JV Tennis
Most Improved Player: Olivia Wang '21
Boys’ Varsity Tennis
Most Improved: Jamie Kuesel '18
Nathaniel Niles Award: Aaron Gong '19
“Nat” Niles coached tennis at Vermont Academy from 1945 to 1978, which is the longest continuous stretch that anyone has coached tennis at the Academy. The award given in his name recognizes the interest, dedication, and positive influence that all leaders possess.
Most Improved: Jamie Kuesel '18
Nathaniel Niles Award: Aaron Gong '19
“Nat” Niles coached tennis at Vermont Academy from 1945 to 1978, which is the longest continuous stretch that anyone has coached tennis at the Academy. The award given in his name recognizes the interest, dedication, and positive influence that all leaders possess.
Boys’ JV Tennis
Most Improved Player: Peter Zhao '20
Most Improved Player: Peter Zhao '20
Rock Climbing
Iron Fist Award: Taylor Hennum '20
The Iron Fist Award is given to a member of the Rock Climbing team who, like Reinhold Messner, demonstrated sheer tenacity and dedication to his daily work on the wall and the crag, improving everyday.
Iron Fist Award: Taylor Hennum '20
The Iron Fist Award is given to a member of the Rock Climbing team who, like Reinhold Messner, demonstrated sheer tenacity and dedication to his daily work on the wall and the crag, improving everyday.
Theater Technology
Most Improved: Lee Isaacs '21
Most Dedicated: Gabriel Jacobs '19
Most Improved: Lee Isaacs '21
Most Dedicated: Gabriel Jacobs '19
The evening closed with Mr. Sotskov wishing farewell to our coaches who are leaving Vermont Academy in pursuit of different opportunities, thanking our amazing dining hall staff for all their hard work throughout the year, and recognizing athletic trainers Skylar Snyder and Josh Underwood and the equipment manager, Russ Williams, for their work all year.
Photos from the evening can be viewed here.
Photos from the evening can be viewed here.
Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.
