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: Nick Nicolazzo, Wellesley High School senior

Sport: Jumper and captain on boys indoor track & field team

When & how you got involved in this sport: Spring of sophomore year just trying to stay in shape for basketball.

What you love most about this sport: The community is my favorite part. Everyone is super supportive in every event.

Pre-meet ritual: Pre meet I always eat honey sticks and listen to music.

Top goal for this season: My main goal this season is to the break the school record in the high jump, which is 6′ 5″.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: I really like this year’s team. We have a lot of talent and I’m excited to see how we continue to grow over the rest of indoor and into the outdoor season.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I’m very proud of my 6′ 3″ PR I got in high jump 2 weeks ago along with my 42′ 8″ PR in the triple jump, which was 2 feet longer than my previous PR. 

An inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: I hadn’t gotten a personal best in high jump since the same meet last year. So I spent that entire year working on my craft and never giving up despite my many opportunities to get a personal best.

Interests outside of your sport: Outside of school I play saxophone and like hanging out with friends.

Other sports that you play, if any: The only sport I play in school is track, but outside of school I play football and basketball for fun.

Coach Larry Corda’s take: Nick has worked extremely hard at perfecting his jumping skills. He’s already reached 6’ 3” in high jump, a new PR this indoor season. His leadership and positive attitude has rubbed off onto his teammates. I’ve watched him develop as an athlete and a leader these past years. He is a valuable captain and member of our indoor track team.

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: Annie Comella, Wellesley High School junior

Sport: Girls indoor track & field: Captain for sprinters and long jumper

When & how you got involved in this sport:  When I was a freshmen in high school. My older sister had done track all four years of high school and was very successful so I wanted to follow in her footsteps.

What you love most about this sport: I love how even though it can be very individual I have my teammates to work out with and support each other. Cheering each other on is so fun. Also, it can be super rewarding when you are successful after putting in a ton of hard work.

Pre-meet ritual: I always eat a peanut butter sandwich before a meet.

Top goal for this season: To continue getting personal bests in my events.

Thoughts so far about this year’s team: The environment is really close and positive and everyone supports each other during meets and when working out at practice.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: Long jump school record

An inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: Winning Division 2 titles indoor and outdoor freshmen and sophomore year

Interests outside of your sport: Spending time with my family and friends. My favorite subject is history.

Other sports that you play, if any: Soccer

Coach John Griffith’s take: “Annie is very goal oriented, she takes on every challenge in the classroom and on the track to its completion. I have never met a student/athlete that has had more drive to be the best than her. Even though she is blessed with a lot of God-given talent she still works harder than anyone else on the team.

While some leaders are outwardly demonstrative, I have always found Annie to be a leader by example. She is extremely generous and always willing to lend a hand when needed. She is very competitive and uses that drive to get better. She is not only the best athlete on the team but she really enjoys everything to do with the sport. She cherishes all of the aspects of being on a team, whether it be working late after practice or bonding time with her teammates. People tend to gravitate to her positive attitude and enjoy being around her.”

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.

Favorite thing about running: It’s the feeling you get once you cross the finish line

Mentor: Megan Webb, who competes in 400-meter hurdles now at UPenn

An accomplishment you’re proud of: I went to Nationals for the first time for indoor track.

Lillie Caiazzo ’23 has been involved in sports since she was only six years old when she began playing soccer. On the junior varsity soccer team her first two years of high school before moving up to varsity, Caiazzo also participated in sports during the off seasons to stay in shape for soccer in the fall. During winter she was a part of the girls’ gymnastics team and in sophomore year joined spring track alongside her friends, going into the sport with a casual mindset.

“I did [hurdles] for the first time, and I wasn’t awful at it. So I was like, ‘okay, maybe I’ll start doing this,’” said Caiazzo. 

The event of hurdles consists of two different distances: the 100-meter and 400-meter race, both consisting of ten hurdles. The 100-meter race has higher hurdles that are a shorter distance apart while the 400-meter race has shorter hurdles that are a longer distance apart. While she initially thought the 400-meter race wasn’t for her, Caiazzo eventually saw her knack for hurdle racing and began to participate in both events. She has always run both events, but now prefers the 400.

Caizzo recently finished her final meet when the girls’ track team won the Division II State Championship. She ran new personal records in all of her events: 103.7 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles, 15.4 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, and a 58.5 second split in the 400×400 relay. 

Caiazzo not only is a talented athlete, but also is a talented mentor for her teammates. A week before the winter indoor track session during her senior year, one of the coaches moved away for a different job, resulting in a new coach. Stepping up, Caiazzo helped with planning and organizing practices as well as acclimating the new coach to the team.

“It was tough because you have to step up and make up workouts and be a leader. It taught me how much work it is and how grateful I was to have such awesome people like my sophomore and junior year when I did it to do that for me,” said Caiazzo. 

Following in the footsteps of her team captains when she first joined the team, such as Megan Webb ’22, Caiazzo takes pride in being a mentor for others. 

“Lillie is one of the most naturally gifted athletes I have ever coached and she has a true passion for the sport of track and field. There isn’t an event she wouldn’t try for her team,” said John Griffith, one of the track coaches at the high school. 

Being a part of a track team, to Lillie, has been a new experience from playing soccer because while she is part of a greater team that wins as a whole, the sport is also very individualized.

“It’s on your own. And I think track is more like that. It’s more about trying to beat yourself, you’re not really like, ‘I need to beat this person, I need to be the best.’ No, I want to beat my record,” said Caiazzo. 

Caiazzo will be attending Florida State University as a part of the class of 2027. While she is not officially running for the school team, she hopes to always have running as a part of her life, as sports have always been an important part of her. 

As a pastime outside of track, Caiazzo has begun weightlifting with her friends. For her senior project, Caiazzo is working as a pilates instructor. Movement and athletics, as Caiazzo expresses, are an integral part of her identity. 

“I definitely think I’m gonna continue running for fun, running for myself. Honestly, I’m going to be really sad not being an athlete, officially, anymore. But, I’m gonna find a group hopefully, like a running group or something to keep me active because, running, it’s just so cool,” said Caiazzo.

Article written by Clementine Zei, Bradford ‘24

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.

Favorite Game Day Tradition: Playing “I Just Wanna Rock” before games

Ultimate Goal: Leave a lasting impact on all players

Best Part of Basketball: We are not a team, but rather a family

The Wellesley girls’ basketball team is having a fantastic year. The team is on an 8-1 winning streak, which included a recent 13-point victory over Needham. Through this stretch, no player has been more valuable to the Raiders than senior captain Alli Jones. Jones has provided the Raiders with consistent offense, lockdown defense, and has boosted the team’s morale. 

After a 3-17 season in 2021-2022, where the team missed the playoffs, the future was murky. A complete overhaul of the Raiders’ coaching staff occurred during the offseason. Athletic Director Brown recruited coaches Jenn Berkowitz and Steve Balter to restore a winning culture. 

Balter has coached the Wellesley’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team since 2018, and led the Raiders to a state title in 2019. He has established a powerhouse program built on team chemistry. Coach Berkowitz has been around basketball her whole life. She played Division 1 basketball at Yale, where she scored over 1,000 points and was named to the All-Ivy First Team and the All-Ivy Academic Team her senior year. She also received the Nellie Pratt Elliot award for the female senior athlete who embodies exemplary sportsmanship at Yale. Balter and Berkowitz are the perfect complements for each other. 

They decided to try coaching together this year after meeting through a mutual friend. They bonded over shared principles about team leadership and the importance of a close-knit team. Having been around competitive sports for a long time, Balter and Berkowitz can spot a great leader, and they named Kate Morrow and Alli Jones as their captains based on those attributes. They selected Jones as Athlete of the Week, describing her as “the core to our team,” and “one of the best human beings that we have ever met.”

By preaching team play, tenacious defense, and a never-say-die attitude, Balter and Berkowitz got the Raiders ready for the season. Although the team started slow at 0-5, the Raiders have dominated for the last month and a half improving to an 8-6 record and being ranked 19th in Division 1 in Massachusetts.  

As the back end of the season approaches, and the Raiders start to prepare for the playoffs, Jones is “determined to end the season on a high note, and make a deep run in the playoffs.”

Jones has been around basketball all of her life. As the youngest of 4, she described her childhood as “growing up in the WHS gym watching my siblings play basketball.” She started playing as soon as she could pick up and dribble a ball. 

Jones started organized basketball through the Mini-Raiders weekend skills training and continued through the Metrowest (Wellesley travel team) program, the Middle School basketball team, and up to high school. Her extensive background in basketball is reflected through her play and game IQ. 

The coaches were fascinated to see how Jones, as a senior captain, would lead this young and inexperienced team. As they hoped, Jones galvanized everybody by focusing on camaraderie, chemistry, and inclusiveness. She made it her mission to make everyone feel comfortable because she felt “as if it was the key for us to unlock our potential as a team.”

Coach Balter recalled one of his favorite moments of the year involving Jones. He was helping her put together a highlight tape for colleges, and he wanted to include Jones on the bench for the last video. This was not her sitting watching the game, but instead “jumping through the roof for her teammates during a 20-point blowout victory.” Balter felt as if this perfectly encapsulated who she was as a leader on the team. “She can dominate during the game, but it’s never about her. When she is on the bench she is all in for her teammates, not focusing on how she played. Seeing her go crazy for her teammates is a rarity I have seen in so few girls, and she does it all the time.” 

Not only is Jones a fantastic leader, but she is also a force on the court. Her offensive skill set has allowed her to rack up points and rebounds, averaging about 9 points per game and 8 rebounds. She has also played tenacious defense for the Raiders, averaging 2 steals and 1 block per game. Jones’s consistent contribution to the surging Raiders has cemented her as a dominant player in the conference. 

Jone’s skills were on display during the Raiders’ 5th game of the season when they faced the Framingham Flyers, a Top 10 program. One of the Raiders’ starting post players went out with an ankle injury early in the game. Jones anchored the inside game for the Raiders. Even though they lost a close game, Balter couldn’t have been more impressed with the way Jones played saying, “Alli battled the whole night without the help of her partner in crime, Tara Battaglino. She didn’t back down from the challenge but instead almost carried us to victory with a dominant performance of 16 points and 15 rebounds. She also guarded a girl who is committed to play Division 1 basketball next year.” 

The Framingham contest was one of many strong outings for Jones. Against another Top 10 program, Weymouth, Jones again had a double-double. She scored 17 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and had 2 blocks and a steal in the Raiders’ victory.  

“Alli is easily one of, if not the best, centers in this league,” Berkowitz says. “She is a perfect role model for the team, and also a baller on the court. She can take over games whenever she wants and however she wants if it’s through scoring, defense, and/or rebounding.” 

Thanks to Jones, the Raiders have a chance to clinch a postseason berth for the first time in 3 years. She’s amped for the playoffs to start with a chance for her to “end my career on a high note, a state championship.”

Article written by John Battaglino, Bradford ‘24

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.

Pregame Rituals: Keep to myself and listen to my pump-up playlist

School/Sports Balance: Strict schedule, get everything done ASAP, no wasted time

Fun Fact about Wrestling: Way more conditioning than people think

Goal for the Season: I want to make states

Darren Jimenez is a versatile Wellesley High School athlete. In the fall, he starts as an inside linebacker for the football team, and in the winter, he is one off the wrestling team’s top performers. Coming off of a victory over Milton, where Jimenez remained undefeated (4-0), the Raiders’ wrestling squad (4-7) hopes to continue its winning streak for a chance to compete at states.

Jimenez has worked to become a vital piece to this Raiders team, but he almost chose a different path. 

During his sophomore football season, Jimenez played on the D-Line, where he got to know Chris Sywetz, an assistant coach. As the season closed, Jimenez went to see Coach Sywetz, curious about an off-season workout plan. When Sywetz first recommended wrestling, Jimenez was skeptical, fearing he could hurt himself. After several attempts, Sywetz convinced Jimenez to try wrestling that winter.

Coach Sywetz himself was a highly decorated wrestler. He originally got into wrestling for the same reasons as Jimenez: He wanted to stay in shape for football. Having wrestled in high school, Sywetz saw how much it helped him on the football field. After playing football at Bryant University, Sywetz joined the Framingham High wrestling staff as an assistant in 2016, where he stayed until he landed the head coaching job at Wellesley in 2021.

Given his experience, Sywetz can judge what makes a successful wrestler. Jimenez has impressed Sywetz:  “I selected Darren Jimenez for Athlete of the Week because he has that ‘it’ factor coaches look for in athletes.” 

The “it” factor refers to intangible qualities that include work ethic, commitment, focus, and leadership. It is essential for an athlete to be internally motivated to possess the “it” factor. They must be able to do extra workouts on their own and not care if anyone finds out how much time they are devoting to getting better. They must be able to play harder than everyone when things get tough. Jimenez’s natural instincts, innate abilities, and constant desire for success have helped him excel in a sport that he hasn’t participated in for very long.  

Jimenez has already seen progress, according to Sywetz, “After coming out last year in hopes of becoming a better football player, he’s transformed his body while shaving off the baby fat and packing on the muscle.”

Sywetz further expounded on Jimenez’s commitment: “He is also a fierce competitor.” 

He has the unique ability to flip a switch, going from calm to locked in. Jimenez’s acute focus allows him to elevate his performance on the mat while also inspiring his teammates to work harder. 

Praising Jimenez’s leadership, Sywetz said, “He’s the glue to the team.” Although only a junior, so many look up to him on the mat and also in how he interacts with others. “As a kind kid, he always tries to bring people together; he never wants a rub between teammates.” 

Sywetz also lauded how Jimenez has helped to rebuild the Wellesley wrestling team. “Darren has had numerous moments of being a great leader at the high school, but none more special than what he’s doing with the wrestling program. As he helps Wellesley build back their struggling wrestling program, he’s creating a team where hard work, focus, and respect are the core values.”

Finally, Sywetz noted how Jimenez’s grit has helped him dominate this year. He mentioned how countless times Jimenez rallied during tough matches to help seal the victory for Wellesley. Although Jimenez had many memorable moments, Sywetz’s favorite came during Jimenez’s match against Milton. “He was going back and forth until Darren went into beast mode and dominated his opponent. Pinning the other athlete and following it with a grand gesture of emotion, flexing his muscles and letting out a big scream. That was when I knew Darren would be a great wrestler.”

Proud of his rise to become one of the best wrestlers in the MIAA Bay State Conference, Jimeniz said:, “I hope that I can continue to win my matches, not only for my record but most importantly, so that our team can continue to emerge victorious.” 

Jimenez expressed gratitude for his peers. He said he would not have achieved his success to date if it weren’t for his “teammates and coaches who push me to get better every day. Even when I feel like I can’t give it anymore, they instill belief in me that I can conquer anything in my way.”

Article written by John Battaglino, Bradford ‘24

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: Ryan Keyes, a junior on the boys’ golf team

Siblings: 3 sisters. 1 older, 2 younger

Extra Golf Practice: Attends the “Golf Performance Center” in Connecticut and Florida during the second semester

Student-Athlete Balance: Completes homework by 9 pm, then practices short game

Pregame Ritual: Starts warm-up with 7 iron

Ryan Keyes, a junior at Wellesley High School, is widely known for his abilities on the golf course. In his freshman year, Keyes made the varsity team and was one of the best players. During his sophomore year, he won the Massachusetts Individual Division 1 Championship. This season, Keyes was the top player on the team and helped carry the Raiders (16-2) to yet another state championship appearance.

Keyes was exposed to golf at a young age playing rounds with his family, which fostered his love for the game. He started to play competitively in middle school and participated in tournaments at local golf courses. During 8th grade, Keyes got a job at the Kohr driving range in Natick. After school and after matches, he would go straight to Kohr and hit a few buckets of balls and practice his putting on the nearby greens. 

During this time, Keyes created his very own backyard putting and chipping green. Although COVID hit soon after, he didn’t let the weeks where courses were shut down deter him. Keyes began working on trick shots in his basement, in the backyard on the putting green, and even on the stairs. Chipping all sorts of objects from golf balls to ping pong balls, and even Xbox discs, Keyes became a masterful short-game player because of his hours of practice. 

When the courses opened up, Keyes played multiple rounds each day, followed by work on the range. Although these days required lots of mental strength and hard work,  Keyes saw the results as his scores dropped quickly during the summer before 9th grade.  

With this hard work, Keyes made the varsity team after only one day with a 37 (+1) on nine holes. His tryout previewed the rest of the season; Keyes proved to be one of the top golfers on the team. 

During the summer of his sophomore year, he continued practicing through tournament play. One of his most successful rounds came at the Massachusetts Junior Amateur championship. During this tournament, Keyes shot an amazing round of -1 (69), his first-ever sub-70 score. As a leader on the team this year he shot a +2 (74) during the Bay State Conference Championship at Easton Country Club.  

Coach Kenneth Bateman, an avid golfer who has coached for 13 years, couldn’t be happier to have Keyes on the team. Words he used to describe Keyes during our interview:  “motivated, honest, leader.” 

Bateman complimented Keyes’s skills, but noted more importantly how he has helped everybody, from seniors to underclassmen. Bateman commented: “He made the team like a community, and he brought everybody together.”

Bateman also emphasized Keyes’s leadership on a larger scale. He referenced how the student helped to organize a fundraising tournament with the Weston and Wellesley golf teams. The teams, with his guidance, raised over $6,000 for First Tee and Dana Farber.” Keyes’ larger-than-golf view of the world has earned him the respect of his teammates. 

When asked about his favorite moments on the golf course, Keyes focused on the Raiders’ victory at Cape Cod National. “I think the proudest moment I’ve had is probably seeing our team win the Cape Cod National Tournament. I was not there because I was away, but it was a big tournament and I was very proud to be a part of the team that won.”

Although Keyes is a team player at his core, he does have one individual goal: To play golf in college. His hopes of playing beyond high school and into college are surely within reach thanks to the combination of his natural ability and outstanding work ethic. 

Article written by John Battaglino, Bradford ‘24

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: Kira DeOliveira

Siblings: 3 older siblings, all of whom played soccer

Most memorable soccer experience: Playing with my sister during her senior year

Favorite pregame traditions: Team playlist on bus rides, team time in the locker room

Favorite part of WHS soccer this year: Game at Gillette Stadium 

The girl’s varsity soccer team (8-1-6), led by senior defender and co-captain Kira DeOliveira, advanced to the semi-finals of the Massachusetts state tournament on Saturday. The Raiders are on a roll after a 2-0 victory against Marshfield, a 2-1 win on the road against Franklin, and then Saturday’s 3-2 triumph over Lincoln-Sudbury. Powered by DeOliveira’s lockdown defense, the Raiders are ready for the state semi-finals.

DeOliveira has loved soccer for as long as she can remember. With 3 older siblings who played, she was always around the field watching them compete and practice. Her early exposure piqued her interest in the sport and she began participating in the Wellesley United town league when she was 4. 

DeOliveira looked forward to town games every Saturday morning. She described her love for playing in the cool brisk morning air. “Saturday mornings were my favorite. Getting to see my friends who went to different schools, playing in soccer games, and then hanging out afterward are memories that I won’t ever forget.”

Even at such a young age, DeOliveira’s charismatic spirit made her beloved among her teammates. She met many friends through the town league. 

To this day, DeOliveira is known for her energetic personality and consistent support of her teammates. She is always the first to congratulate others on their success, earning her the friendship of teammates and admiration of her coaches, including head WHS Varsity Girls’ Soccer Coach Steve Bailen. 

A 20-year veteran of soccer coaching, Bailen highlighted DeOliveira’s leadership and work ethic as exemplary. He praised DeOliveira as “the best leader I have ever coached. Her infectious spirit spreads positivity throughout the team and brings everybody together.” 

Bailen raved about DeOliveira’s outgoing personality and attributed the team’s chemistry to her bridging the gap between seniors and freshmen. “We have had valuable contributions from the underclassmen throughout the year, and their confidence in games and at practices has surely stemmed from their comfort with the team.” 

DeOliveira prioritizes the team over anything else. When asked about her favorite moments of the year, she downplays her success as a shutdown defender, and instead focuses on the team’s success: “My favorite moments are our team dinners and time after practice. We hang out not as teammates but also as friends. We all help each other with personal problems. I love not only the team but also the friendships that I have made because of it.” 

The team’s strong sense of community has created tight bonds where students trust and look out for each other. DeOliveira makes it her mission to foster an environment where people are not afraid to make mistakes.

DeOliveira is a wing defender who shuts down speedy and skilled players on the other teams. She forces them outside and away from the goalie. She also starts offensive breaks and clearing the ball to offensive middies. 

Coach Bailen spoke highly about DeOliveira’s game IQ. “Kira very rarely makes poor decisions. When we are clearing the ball and need an offensive break, we look to Kira.” 

DeOliveira’s poise in the face of pressure has been key. “Even when she is under duress with multiple people pressuring her she takes her time and makes the right pass. Even though she might not have many stats, her great decision-making, and strong game IQ help start our offensive strategies,” the coach says. 

Off the field, DeOliveira is a dedicated student. She must keep herself organized to succeed as a multi-sport student-athlete. DeOliveira stays focused daily so she can also have free time on the weekends. “I love soccer and hanging out with my friends, so I don’t want anything to come in the way of that. I plan my homework out accordingly and get my work done whenever I have free time.” 

DeOliveira’s dedication both on and off the field has helped to position the team well for its run during the tournament.

Article written by John Battaglino, Bradford ‘24