Campus Life
The VA Community
Winter Sports & Activities Awards 2024
On Monday, February 26, Vermont Academy held its annual Winter Athletics and Afternoon Activities Awards during Community Meeting in the Nita Choukas Theater in Horowitz Performing Arts Hall. It was a time to gather and celebrate the hard work of the coaches and athletes on a successful end of the 2023-24 winter season. Each coach had a moment to step up to the podium and honor their teams. The following are the award recipients.
Boys’ JV Basketball
Most Improved Player Award – Milo Tucker '26
Girls’ JV Hockey
Most Improved Player Award – Leo Plansky '25
Greatest Contributor Award – Sofia Bianconi '24
Boys’ JV Hockey
Most Improved Player Award – Flynn Dennis '25
Dance
Most Improved Dancer Award – Alexis “Lexi” Berrettini '24
Greatest Contributor Award – Grace Duffy '24
Rec. Skiing
Most Dedicated Award – Dodge Zaccara '25
Coaches Award – Emily Swanson '26
Robotics
Team Inspire Award – Sydney Palmiotto '24
This award is given to a member of the team that is a strong ambassador for Vermont Academy, a role model, a gracious competitor, and an inspiration for the rest of the team as demonstrated by their ability to communicate their experiences, enthusiasm, and knowledge of the game.
Team Innovator Award – Oliver Walsh-Fischetti '25 and Mason Evans '26
The Robotics Team Innovator Award celebrates a person who not only thinks outside the box but also has the ingenuity and inventiveness to make their designs come to life. Elements of this award include elegant design, robustness, and ‘out of the box’ thinking related to design.
Wired Cats Coaches Award – Luke Pennell '26 and Laura Daum Iglesias '26
Alpine Skiing
Most Improved Skier Award – Hugo Ruiz Castillo Tricas '26
Greatest Contributor Award – Cooper Spielman '25
Nordic Skiing
Most Improved Skier Award – Yousong Huang '27
The Roger Emerson ’42 Award – Yuliang “Raymond” Feng '25
Awarded to an athlete from the Nordic Ski team “For excellence in all-around performance in practice and competition”.
Freestyle Skiing
Most Improved Skier Award – Jack Citera '24
Greatest Contributor Award – Jake Varga '26
Snowboarding
The Burton Snowboard Award – Westley Wlodyka '25 and Elizabeth Thompson '27
Awarded to riders who have shown the greatest improvement in his or her snowboard racing ability throughout the season.
Greatest Contributor Award – Dane Mulverhill '24
Snow Sports
The Peter J. MacKechnie Ski Program Award – Ellis Dunbar '24
Given annually to a member of the VA Ski Program whose quiet determination and perseverance reflect the honor at Vermont Academy and its Ski Program. Their contributions are not measured by statistics, but rather by their industrious and conscientious approach to snow sports which exemplifies a genuine love for the sport. This is considered the highest award for the snow sports program.
Girls’ Varsity Hockey
The Mark Peabody Award – Honora Walsh '26
Given annually to the member of the girls' hockey team who shows the most improvement over the course of the season.
Coaches Award – Delaney Cox '24 and Kailin Sullivan '25
Girls’ Varsity Basketball
Most Improved Player Award – Danae "Melodie" Gilbert '26
Greatest Contributor Award – Ty’Lah Washington '24
Given to the player who has made the greatest contribution to the team. The contribution is to be measured by her interest in and enthusiasm for the game; the intensity of her effort; her sportsmanship as shown by her spirit in victory or defeat; and most of all by her constructive influence on other members of the team.
Coaches Award – Cecilia "M.C." Coldwell '24
Given to the player who shows intensity, tenacity, toughness, and dedication to the betterment of the team both on and off the court through triumph and adversity.
Boys’ Varsity Hockey
Coaches Award – Owen Willgos '24
The Daniel MacFayden Award – Shane Prusak '24
Given annually to that member of the boys’ varsity hockey team who has made the greatest contribution. That contribution is to be measured by his spirit in practice and games, by his positive influence on his teammates, and his sportsmanship exhibited in both winning and losing
The Eric Charles Ostebo ’83 Award – James Mikos '24
Given in memory of Eric C. Ostebo ’83 whose cheerful attitude, devotion, and hard work often went unnoticed. Eric was a player who was easily coached, would play any position asked of him, and often played when injured without complaint. Although not a flashy player, Eric typified the “coach’s player,” He was steady, dependable, and a hard-working team player.
Boys’ Prep Basketball
Most Improved Player Award – Isiah Rose '26
Greatest Contributor Award – Jayden James '24
Given to the player or manager who has made the greatest contribution to the team. The contribution is to be measured by his interest in and enthusiasm for the game; the intensity of his effort; his sportsmanship as shown by his spirit in victory or defeat; and most of all by his constructive influence on other members of the team.
The Keron Deshields ’11 Award – Chike Ndefo '24
Goes to a member of the boys varsity basketball team, who, like Keron, will not let any circumstance deter him from an unyielding commitment to the team and Vermont Academy as a whole.
The full album of photos can be found here.
Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.
