Wellesley Athletes of the Week: Sailing’s Brady Welburn and Zach Bender

May 10, 2024 by admin

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: Brady Welburn, Wellesley High School senior

Sport: Sailing (crew/skipper)

When & how you got involved in this sport: I started sailing when I was five at Stone Horse Yacht Club.

What you love most about this sport: I love all the friends that I’ve made and have really enjoyed to the team’s atmosphere.

Pre-race ritual: I’m always drinking Vitamin water while sailing.

Top goal for this season: I really hope to win Mass Bay Leagues at CBI in Boston.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: I’ve really liked being on this team. I’ve known a lot of people here for so long that this year, being our last year, is really special.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: We won the Sharon Invitational, which was awesome.

A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: Fun fact: Zach Bender and I have been sailing at the same sailing club since we were five.

Interests outside of your sport: I really enjoy English class. I’m also a member of the school’s jazz choir, the Rice Street Singers.

What other sports you play, if any: I play tennis, but not at our school.

Athlete of the Week: Zach Bender, Wellesley High School senior

Sport: Sailing (Skipper)

When & how you got involved in this sport: From the age of about 3 my parents, who were a part of Stone Horse Yacht Club, got me on the water as much as they could and into sailing classes.

What you love most about this sport: What I love most about the sailing team is the community of it. I feel that we are very close as a team, having team dinners almost every week, making it always enjoyable. As far as the sport itself I just love how many variables there are in it, the conditions are never the same as the day before, it’s like a new experience every sail.

Pre-race ritual: Sometimes before an away race we will grab a speaker and play “I’m Shipping Up To Boston” by Dropkick Murphys

Top goal for this season: My main goals for this season are to place first in the Mass Bay League for team racing and leave the team better off than this year. I hope for next year’s team to be even better than this year’s, so I’ll do what I can to improve the team as I go.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: I feel very good about this year’s team. I think that we are in a strong position in the league and everyone has been doing great in fleet and team racing. I’m very impressed with everyone’s performance. I also feel that this year’s team is a great group of fun people all just sharing a common interest, always a blast at practices.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: An accomplishment I’m especially proud of is winning the Fleet Race MBL Championship two years ago.

A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: A funny story of me on the team was losing a rudder in the lake during my freshman year. It was incredibly embarrassing for my first year on the sailing team and I have yet to live it down.

Interests outside of your sport: I’ve always been obsessed with anything engineering related so I’m a huge car guy. I do all of my own maintenance on my car and work on it in my free time.

Coach Larry Lovett’s take on Brady and Zach: Both Brady and Zach are great sailors. They have been sailing since early childhood during the summers at the Stone Horse Yacht Club in Harwich. Both were part of the Mass State Championship team of 2022, and an integral part of our team racing titles for the last 3 years. Most importantly, both have been coaching up our team for the last 2 years. They know way more about sailing than I do having taught at their yacht club now during summers. When I have a rules question, I go to them first.

Wellesley Athlete of the Week: Boys tennis team’s Griffin Jordan

May 5, 2024 by admin

Athlete of the Week: Griffin Jordan, Wellesley High School senior

Sport: Boys tennis (co-captain)

When & how you got involved in this sport: I first started playing tennis with my dad when I was around 4 years old. I played casually until I was 12, which is when I got involved with the New England Tennis Academy, playing more seriously by doing weekly clinics and playing tournaments.

What you love most about this sport: I love the respect component of tennis. You can have a hard-fought match with your opponent and still shake hands and show appreciation towards them, no matter if you win or lose. In fact, some of my best matches were the ones that I played again the strongest opponents who beat me but who challenged me to be a better tennis player. I also love that you can still generate a team atmosphere even though tennis, in and of itself, is a very individual sport.

Pre-match ritual: Pre-match, I usually eat whatever fruit I can find and drink a Gatorade. I also try to kind of zone out, letting go of whatever stressors or distractions I might have outside of tennis.

Top goal for this season: Individually, I’d say my goal is to continue to improve and become more consistent with my play as the season rolls on. For the team, I’d say our goal would be to reach the quarterfinals of the state tournament.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: So far, the team has competed really well against top opponents. We lost a lot of strong seniors from last year’s team but I feel like we’ve done a good job of replicating the same dedication that brought a lot of success in previous years.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I’m proud to have been selected as a co-captain for this year. I take seriously my role as a leader for this team and I do my best to give advice and answer questions and, most importantly, to act as a role model for our underclassmen. There are so many motivated and talented players on the team and I am grateful to have a strong co-captain in Chris Johnson, whose leadership qualities I admire.

A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: I won my first tournament when I was probably around 13 or 14. After winning the final match, I packed up and started walking toward my dad’s car. I heard someone yelling behind us and turned to see the tournament supervisor chasing after us with a trophy I forgot I had won. Needless to say, it was an interesting and rewarding experience.

Interests outside of your sport: Outside of tennis, I like to hang out with friends and engage in other passions, such as movies and history. I also like to run whenever I have the time. I also love following many sports teams, including our Boston teams and F1 racing.

What other sports you play, if any: Cross-Country

Coach Mike Sabin’s take: Griffin is a senior co-captain, and our 2nd singles player. He always competes the way a coach would want. He works hard and has improved steadily each season. There’s never controversy on his court, he displays good sportsmanship and I can use his matches as a model for our younger players for how they should play a match. Our schedule is filled with difficult opponents, both in-league and non-league, and he sometimes goes into a match as a bit of an underdog. He will give his best effort no matter what. I have very much enjoyed coaching him.

Wellesley Athlete of the Week: Volleyball’s Nathan Sierra-Suan

April 26, 2024 by admin

Athlete of the Week: Nathan Sierra-Suan, Wellesley High School senior

Sport: Boys volleyball (Position: Outside Hitter)

When & how you got involved in this sport: I started playing the summer of my sophmore year at 16 years old through some family and friends. I played a lot of outdoor volleyball in my backyard with family when I first began playing, then started going to the YMCA where I met a few friends who helped me get better. From there I decided to join the boys volleyball team my junior year at 17 years old.

What you love most about this sport: What I love most about the sport is the competition. As someone who is really competitive and wants to win all the time, the competition between our team against another makes it so thrilling. The fact that we are in the top league in the state makes it even more fun because we get to play against all the top teams.

Pre-match ritual: A pregame ritual I have between me and a teammate is a special handshake we do before every game. We made it before the season started and have been doing it after the pre-game huddle.

Top goal for this season: Mine and the team’s top goal this season is to make it to the semifinals of the playoffs. A more personal goal of mine is to make the all-states list.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: Though we started off kinda slow, I believe this year’s team will be really good. Not only has our team chemistry got so much better from the start of the season, but the team is filled with skilled players who I think can make a good playoff run this year.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: An accomplishment I’m proud of is receiving a medal at the Boston Volleyball Festival. Not only was it our last tournament but probably our biggest tournament, so I was super happy when we received a medal.

A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: The day before I played a grass volleyball tournament it had rained making the morning games super muddy. The mud had gotten all over the ball while playing and during one of the points the team we were playing against spiked the ball straight into my face splattering mud everywhere. I ended up playing the entire rest of day with the right side of my face super red from the hit and mud splattered all over my face.

Interests outside of your sport: Outside of sports, I love going out to Boston to hang out with friends. I also like going out to try new things whether that be food, activities, etc. Video games are also something I enjoy playing with friends.

Coach Lexi De la Cruz’s take: In numerous ways, Nathan has been a key element to the varsity volleyball team. With his unwavering positivity, responsibility, and kindness, Nathan sets the standard for greatness in everything he does. Excelling in his performance isn’t enough, Nathan goes above and beyond to uplift his teammates and the underclassmen. His selflessness is unmatched, whether it’s encouraging, sharing valuable tips, or sitting on the JV bench during games. His determination and hard work are the key to his success, inspiring those around him to strive for excellence. Nathan leads by example not just in athletics but his poise off the court; it reflects his values of integrity and fairness. With Nathan, we have not just a talented athlete, but a truly wonderful and kind individual who embodies the spirit of leadership and compassion.

Wellesley Athlete of the Week: Alpine skiing’s Spencer Brown

March 1, 2024 by admin

Athlete of the Week: Spencer Brown, Wellesley High School Junior

Sport: Boys alpine skiing

When & how you got involved in this sport: I started skiing for fun at the age of 2, and by age 9 I began competitively racing. Every weekend for the last 8 years I have been training and racing at various mountains in New Hampshire.

What you love most about this sport: I love skiing because it is a way to be active outdoors in the winter months. I love the connections that can be made with the athletes across teams. After years of racing in New Hampshire, I have friends from all over New England in this sport, and regardless of which mountain we represent it is great fun to hang out together at races each weekend all around the region. I also love how ski racing is an individual sport that rewards hard work and dedication.

Pre-meet ritual: Before races, I always wake up early and stretch, and listen to music on the way to the mountain.

Top goal for this season: To individually get top 10 at states, and for the Wellesley Boys team to win it all.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: Coming into the season, on paper our roster had a lot of boys who love to ski but were inexperienced with ski racing. But every day at practice the boys put in countless hours of work and it has shown. At the end of the regular season, the Wellesley boys came in second in our league of twelve schools.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I am very proud of captaining a team and being a mentor to newer skiers, teaching them how to inspect a course and develop strategy, tune skis before a race, and get the most out of a training day. I’m proud of getting top ten individually this season in a league of over 150 racers.

A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: Most of my funny stories related to this sport involve having fun in the snow after a race or training and enjoying the mountains with friends.

Interests outside of your sport: Outside of skiing, I enjoy math, playing golf in the spring and summer, going to the beach, hiking, and hanging out with my friends.

What other sports you play, if any: Soccer and Lacrosse

Coach Cory Tusler’s take: Spencer is athletically determined to succeed. He has an excellent attitude and had a top 10 placement in our league during this past season. Spencer is always helping out the underclassmen. He helps with taking skis in the back of the bus and helping parents with team food and making sure that the team is taken care of. Additionally, Spencer helps me with on-course inspections with his teammates. It has been awesome to see him grow throughout the years and I look forward to him continuing to lead the Alpine Ski team into his Senior year.

Wellesley Athletes of the Week: Nordic skiing’s Arielle Wember & Luca Scirica

February 16, 2024 by admin

Athlete of the Week: Arielle Wember, Wellesley High School Senior

Sport: Nordic skiing

When & how you got involved in this sport: I started Nordic Skiing as a freshman, knowing nothing about the sport and just looking for a
fun, outdoor activity during Covid. From that first day, struggling to put on my skis, I have loved every second of these past four years.

What you love most about this sport: I love the energetic and competitive environment of the team that makes everyone feel welcomed. Skiing is a sport where your teammates are always by your side cheering you on, simply because they want you to perform to the best of your ability. When you’re skiing in a race, everything around you disappears and it’s just you and the course with the finish line in sight.

Pre-meet ritual: Before races, I eat a sandwich a few hours before and then listen to music in the car with my sister (who is also on the team). Also, before every race, I try to take a power nap!

Top goal for this season: My top goal was to have both the girls and boys teams win the league. The girls came in first, winning every week, and the boys came in a close second!

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: For the past four years, I have loved the energy and compassion this team embodies. This year,
the girls team has excelled and won the league! This individual sport involves an immense amount of teamwork, with each skier pushing one another during practice and races to work even harder. The ski coaches have really helped create this welcoming, fun atmosphere, inspiring all skiers to do their very best!

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I have raced at the State Championship since my sophomore year. My standings have improved every year and this past week I placed 1st for Wellesley and in the top 20 girls in Massachusetts! This year I also placed fourth in my team’s division, coming in as the top Wellesley female skier.

A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: During a race last year, my skis got tangled up in the poles of a Wellesley senior who was right in front of me. We both went tumbling to the ground right in front of all the parents and had to
figure out how to get up as skiers started passing us. Eventually we untangled our skis and poles (it was a process), and got back up. After losing time, we both sped off and caught back up with the girls who had passed us and in the end, we still had an amazing race.

What other sports you play, if any: I run track

Interests outside of your sport: Outside of skiing, I like hanging out with friends, traveling, and drawing.

Coach Mark Jacobson‘s take: Senior Arielle Wember capped off her 4 seasons of nordic skiing with a 4th place finish in the final Mass Bay East league race helping the girls complete a sweep of first place finishes in league races. At the at the MIAA Nordic State Championship at Prospect Mountain she secured a top 20 individual result to lead the Girls to a 6th place finish in the State. Arielle finishes as Mass Bay East All Star skier coding in 4th place in overall league scoring.

Athlete of the Week: Luca Scirica, Wellesley High School Senior

Sport: Nordic skiing

When & how you got involved in this sport: I started skiing in 4th grade through the EMBK program.

What you love most about this sport: I love how everyone pushes each other to perform their best. It’s such a mentally difficult sport but always easier when you have teammates that are working with you and motivate you.

Pre-meet ritual: I almost always have a mint flavored Clif bar since it has a bit of caffeine for extra energy. It’s great for race days but it means that any time I eat one when I don’t have a race I get some pre-race jitters automatically.

Top goal for this season: I want to perform well at the Eastern High School Championships.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: It is such a fun team. Everyone is excited to get on the snow and work out. Going to states with everyone was a great time and I think we all bonded as a team.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I have made the Massachusetts State Team for the last three years and am very proud of that. It is always fun to represent the state and compete against everyone else in New England. I also get to ski with a bunch of people I don’t normally get to.

An inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: This is slightly embarrassing actually. The night before the state championship I prepared all my equipment and put it all out for me to bring the next morning. When I left for the bus, though, I grabbed everything but my skis. Thankfully, I was able to get them before the bus left, but it was a stressful start to the day that my teammates enjoyed poking fun at me for.

Interests outside of your sport: Singing (A Cappella, Jazz Choir), anything math related, hanging out with friends.

What other sports you play, if any: I am on the sailing team.

Coach Mark Jacobson’s take: Senior Luca Scirica had an excellent final week of his Wellesley Nordic Racing season. Last Wednesday, in the final Mass Bay East league race of the season Luca led the team with a 7th place finish to secure second place in league standings for the season. Luca continued to lead the boys team with a 12th place finish at the MIAA Nordic State Championship at Prospect Mountain helping the boys team secure a third place finish in the State. He also is a Mass Bay League All Star tied for 7th place in the overall standings.

Wellesley Athletes of the Week: Gymnastics’ Caroline Martin & Wrestling’s Jonah Ginsberg

February 9, 2024 by admin

Athlete of the Week: Caroline Martin, Wellesley High School senior

Sport: Gymnastics (All-Around—Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor—and Captain

When & how you got involved in this sport: When I was 3 years old my mom put my twin sister, Rebecca, and I into gymnastics classes. I was an energetic kid and gymnastics was the perfect sport to tire me out.

What you love most about this sport: I love going for new skills, competing at meets, and hanging out with my teammates.

Pre-meet ritual: Before meets I drink kombucha

Top goal for this season: My top goals are to have our team go as far as we possibly can, hopefully qualifying for the MIAA Sectionals Competition, and to individually qualify, in the All-Around, for the MIAA Individual Competition.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: I love the team this year. The team is very hardworking and everyone is always having a fun time. Even though gymnastics can be a very individualistic sport everyone on the team is constantly supporting one another, everyone is constantly cheering each other on, and no matter what we make the best out of any situation we are in. I am so grateful for all of my teammates and the immense amount of talent they have.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: During my Junior year season I won 1st place on Vault during our Bay State Competition and I qualified for the MIAA Individual Competition my Sophomore and Junior year.

A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: During my first competition of the season, against Needham, I had messed up my first tumbling pass. I was supposed to complete my double-full; however, during the tumbling pass my tiger paw (wrist support) velcro detached causing me to wipe out. While I finished my routine I was disappointed with my overall performance. Instead of letting my floor performance get into my head, I laughed and joked about it with my teammates and put the routine behind me so I could focus on beam. I ended up nailing my beam routine and during my next meet I successfully completed my double-full.

Interests outside of your sport: I like hanging out with my friends and family.

Coach Melissa Flemming‘s take: “Caroline Martin is an incredible student-athlete. Caroline has consistently been one of the team’s top performers, but it is her ability to lead the team that stands out even more. Her calm and quiet work ethic helps the team tremendously. She always puts 100% into what she does and understands the importance of supporting her teammates. It’s really been amazing to watch her this year.”

Athlete of the Week: Jonah Ginsberg, Wellesley High School senior

Sport: Wrestling (175 lb weight class, Captain)

When & how you got involved in this sport: I started wrestling in 6th grade.

What you love most about this sport: The individuality of the team sport.

Pre-meet ritual: Always eat a pack of Skittles.

Top goal for this season: Win states

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: Phenomenal. In 10th grade we had 6 kids on the team and basically lost every match. Now we have almost 30 and are 16-6 right now. Program grew a ton.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I won sectionals last year. Committed to NYU to continue wrestling. Bay State All- Star.

An inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: We used to wrestling in the cafeteria. Kids and school athletics looked down upon us. We grew and now we are a respected team. I was a part of the growth and helped it happen.

Interests outside of your sport: Skiing, the gym, wakeboarding.

Coach Chris Sywetz’s take: “Jonah is an amazing young man with dedication and a competitive spirit. He has been a leader in this program for 3 years and is a very important part of why our program has grown and found success. He is a top notch student as well as a high quality human being. My favorite Jonah story was in the Spring. I saw him walking home with his sister, who had recently suffered a gymnastics injury. Jonah was not only carrying her bag for her, he was walking alongside her, not rushing her, and the best part was he had a big smile on his face because he was talking about laughing with his young sister. Something most high school kids would never do. Everybody is too cool to be kind, but not Jonah. He’s an extremely kind, caring young man off the mat but he is an aggressive competitor that will stop at nothing to break his opponents’ mentally and physically. The world needs more people like Jonah and I am extremely honored that I had the privilege to work with this amazing young man the last 3 years. Since there was no season for Jonah his freshman year, he will fall a few matches short of the 100 wins mark, but please know that he is one of the best wrestlers Wellesley has had since Josh Cohen, Matt Wassel, Rollie Peterkin, and all the other historic legends that have graced the mat at WHS.”

Wellesley Athletes of the Week: Ice hockey’s Emery McGraw & Max Paladino

February 2, 2024 by Bob Brown

Athlete of the Week: Emery McGraw, Wellesley High School junior

Sport: Girls ice hockey (center, captain)

When & how you got involved in this sport: My dad played hockey when he was younger and my mom figure skated. This led to my older siblings and I all growing up skating. I then started to play hockey in kindergarten.

What you love most about this sport: I love the competition it brings. I also love growing closer with my teammates and making memories along the way.

Pre-game ritual: Before games I eat a banana and listen to my favorite pump-up music.

Top goal for this season: To make it as far as we can into the playoffs.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: I have enjoyed getting to know the new people on the team and getting closer with the returners. We all make each other laugh, while also pushing each other to our potential. We are lucky to have coaches who encourage and motivate us, while also making it fun.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I am proud of being a part of a team that goes into competitive games with positivity, grit, and belief. We all strive to support each other. It is great to see us connect as a group and work together to achieve our individual and team goals.

An inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: After the first and second period against Newton North, the team was frustrated because we knew we weren’t playing to our fullest potential. In between the second and third period we play the song “Calabria” and go around a circle, each person taking turns dancing. Everyone hyped each other up, while singing and laughing. Then during the third period, we played much better, scored multiple goals, and ended up winning the game.

Interests outside of your sport: I love hanging out with my friends, family, and dogs.

Other sports that you play, if any: Lacrosse

Coach Ashley Means’s take: Emery McGraw is an outstanding student athlete. It has been a pleasure getting to know her and see her compete. Emery brings an unmatched intensity and dedication to the team. She always gives 110%, supports her teammates, and goes the extra mile. She challenges her teammates to be better players. Emery consistently keeps a positive attitude and is unwavering in her work ethic. She is a fierce competitor who loves a battle and does it with a smile on her face. She is a calm and respectful leader who is accepting of her teammates while also having high expectations for their performance.

Athlete of the Week: Max Paladino, Wellesley High School senior

Sport: Boys ice hockey

When & how you got involved in this sport: I started skating ever since I could walk. My dad has played hockey his whole life so that’s what really got me playing. I began playing Wellesley Youth Hockey when I was around 4.

What you love most about this sport: I love how fast paced hockey is. I also love how much of a team game hockey is. Coming together as a team to win a game is a great feeling.

Pre-game ritual: I always eat two clementines and one banana.

Top goal for this season: My top goal is to get a home playoff game.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: I have enjoyed every second of hockey this year. Coming off a phenomenal year last year, we have a great core of guys from that team. The bond has been awesome, and everyone is close.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I’m proud that after making JV as a freshman I’ve been able to be a part of the varsity team for three years. I grew up going to Wellesley high school games and I’m proud to be able to be a part of it now.

An inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: A lot of guys on our team have grown up playing hockey together. Most of the Juniors and Seniors have played together on youth teams throughout our hockey career and it’s been cool to see us all end up on the same high school team. We talk a lot about the memories we have from youth hockey teams, especially our tournament in Lake Placid that we won on the same ice where the Miracle on Ice was played.

Interests outside of your sport: I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family, and playing golf when it’s nice out.

Other sports that you play, if any: Football and baseball

Coach Paul Donato’s take: Max is a senior forward for the Wellesley High Boys Varsity Hockey Team who plays multiple roles for the team. So far this year, Max has played on multiple lines in multiple different positions and has made the transition flawlessly. Max is always willing to do whatever is needed for the team, including playing penalty kill, power play, and switching positions in the middle of a game. Just last week, Max had the game winning goal late in the third period to help the Raiders beat Weymouth 5-3 on the road.

Wellesley Athletes of the Week: Basketball’s Tara Battaglino & Justin Williamson

January 26, 2024 by admin

Athlete of the Week: Tara Battaglino, Wellesley High School sophomore

Sport: Girls basketball (power forward/center)

When & how you got involved in this sport: Formally at 8 y/o, but I played a lot of pick-up with my older brother and his friends before that.

What you love most about this sport: I love the competition and rivalries that come from basketball. I also love my team and how much fun we have playing together. We make memories that I am so grateful for.

Pre-meet ritual: I listen to music, do form shooting, think about my goals for the game, and eat a banana.

Top goal for this season: To win a state championship.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: I love our team. We have a lot of fun together and are always encouraging one another. We
laugh, sing, and dance and I am so grateful for every single one of my teammates. I feel that we truly see each other as family.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I am proud to be part of helping build our team back up. Wellesley had gone through a couple of tough seasons and getting to be a part of the rebuilding last year, and seeing our team continue to grow this year has been a huge accomplishment. I love being able to be in during high-pressure situations, and bringing my team together through hugs, celebrating, and laughing. My captains, Avery Moore, and Laura Girouard, have been amazing in leading our team this year. I have learned so much from them about team spirit and they always keep our team going no matter what.

An inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: This year against Walpole we had a tough game. There was a high intensity coming from both the opposing players and parents in the stands. There was tension, and it was hard to keep our heads on straight while having to deal with constant fouling and pressure. My captains led me and my team to keep fighting. We were down 14 points in the fourth quarter and getting hammered in the paint. They had an aggressive inside defense, and I was being double-, and triple-teamed every time I got the ball. It was a hard and frustrating defense. I was getting knocked around a bit, but my teammates picked me up and kept me fighting till the end. It was an amazing game and I felt so lucky to have such a great team and set of captains to fight with. We ended up losing by 3, but I was so proud of how hard our team fought and everyone contributed. I am excited to get another chance at Walpole this week!

Interests outside of your sport: Lacrosse, coaching, reffing, and volunteering to work with youth to help them build confidence and skills. I remember learning from Coach Magpiong and Shannon and TJ Magpiong when I was younger and want to give kids the same great experience they gave me. I also love listening to music, playing guitar, reading, and writing. I do Key Club as well.

Other sports that you play, if any: Lacrosse

Coach Glen Magpiong’s take: Tara, like the rest of her teammates, is a tireless worker, extremely competitive, very coachable and is relentless in her support and encouragement of others. Her infectious spirit on the court, league leader in on court hugs, inspires not only her teammates and coaches, but also the fans who are watching. She is our leading scorer and rebounder and is averaging a Double-Double through 9 games (13.9 Points and 10.2 Rebounds).

Tara not only excels on the basketball court, but she is also one of the top lacrosse players in the state and her willingness to support also spills over into the classroom. One of her former teachers recently shared with me, “Tara used to work with one of my students-she took such care to include her and support her.”

Tara and her teammates have a uniquely special bond, which they hope helps propel them to an even better 2nd half of the season.

Athlete of the Week: Justin Williamson, Wellesley High School senior

Sport: Boys basketball (guard, captain)

When & how you got involved in this sport: I have been playing basketball since I was 3. My mom used to coach at Weston High School
so I have been in a gym pretty much my whole life.

What you love most about this sport: I love the competitiveness and how fast paced it is.

Pre-meet ritual: I eat a sandwich and listen to music.

Top goal for this season: My top goal for this season is to make the playoffs but I would also like to create strong
relationships with my teammates that last longer than just while I’m playing.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: I have really enjoyed becoming closer with the younger guys that I have not gotten to play
with yet and doing other activities with the team such as bowling and team dinners.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I am proud that I started on the Freshman team, worked my way up to JV and eventually becoming a starter and a captain of the Varsity team.

An inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: I have met some of my best friends through basketball all the way from youth teams to middle school to AAU to high school.

Interests outside of your sport: I love to hang out with my friends and family.

Other sports that you play, if any: I play football and run track.

Coach Mike Reidy’s take: “Justin is a remarkable teammate and leader. He maximizes every opportunity in practice to get better by giving maximum effort, trying to learn and do what may be new or less comfortable, and asking questions. During practice, he competes against his teammates with intensity, and can then transition into walking and talking the younger or less experienced players through drills and schemes. He translates these strengths into games, too. He’s developed into a starter/finisher this season, largely through how often and how consistently he makes the right plays, and certainly because of our comfort assigning him the most challenging opponent to guard each game. He is the kind of player and person that would make every team that I’ve ever coached in my career a better one. His teammates and the younger players in the program are fortunate to have him as a role model, and I am grateful for knowing and coaching him.”

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