Wellesley Athlete of the Week is made possible with sponsorship support from Deland, Gibson Insurance. The family-owned and operated business has carried on this Wellesley tradition for over 30 years.

Athlete of the Week: Paxton Lee (9th grade)

Sport: Volleyball (setter)

When & how you got involved in volleyball: I started playing volleyball at the age of 11 by doing clinics over the summer. Then I started playing club volleyball at the age of 13.

What you love most about volleyball: Being in club volleyball has allowed me to meet people from across the country. I have built relationships with my teammates that I know will last me a lifetime with the memories that we have created. There is a large sense of camaraderie in volleyball.

Pre-match routine: I listen to music before a game and have a protein bar.

Top goal for this season: To be a better all around volleyball player and help my team improve and win.

Thoughts about this year’s team: We are still getting used to each other and we’re getting better with each game.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: My club volleyball team is very successful. We are the highest ranked volleyball team in our age group in New England. The last tournament of this past season I received an All Tournament recognition.

A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement with this team: For me the inspiring story on this team is that I have been able to join the varsity team as a setter being an “undersized” freshmen. A setter is equivalent to being the quarterback of the team and that is a lot of pressure as a freshmen. I hope to come out of this experience being a more vocal and better leader by the end of the season.

Interests outside of volleyball: Outside of volleyball I enjoy playing video games and hanging out with friends.

What other sports do you play, if any? I used to play club and town basketball.

Coaches Carlos Mercado and Vivien Huang: “Paxton has truly earned recognition as Athlete of the Week for his outstanding performance and leadership on the court. As a freshman setter for Wellesley Boys Volleyball, he demonstrates a level of poise, vision, and consistency well beyond his years, making smart decisions and elevating the play of everyone around him. His experience competing at the club level with the 15s National Team has clearly shaped his high-level skill set and competitive mindset. Volleyball has been part of Paxton’s life from an early age, inspired by his family’s deep roots in 9-man volleyball, and that passion shines through in every match he plays. With his strong work ethic and natural feel for the game, Paxton is already making a significant impact. We look forward to seeing how he continues to grow and contribute throughout the rest of this season and the years ahead of his high school career.”

(Athletes of the Week are nominated by their coaches.)

Past Athlete of the Week profiles