On Tuesday, May 30, Weston High School student-athletes were recognized and honored at the conclusion of their senior year. Wildcat Pride Night has quickly become a highly- anticipated event when the senior student-athletes, their families and coaches come together to celebrate their dedication to Weston Athletics. Awards are given to each student-athlete who participated in a sport during their senior year. In addition to each senior student-athlete being recognized, the following prestigious athletic awards are given.

The name of the winning senior(s) follows the name of each award:

William Calvert Newell Award – Sean Balbale

Will C. Newell was a junior when he came out for Weston-Wayland Crew as a novice in the fall of 2005. Seven years later he was an Olympian who rowed for the U.S. in the 2012 London Games. This award is given to a rower who embodies the same passion and dedication that Will had for his team as well as the love of the sport.

Andrew Pastor Memorial Award – Zunian Luo & Olivia Chen

Andy Pastor was an accomplished tennis player at Weston High School.  Andy always displayed sportsmanship to his opponents and leadership to his fellow teammates. He was dedicated to always improving as a player and worked hard to accomplish his tennis goals. Andrew passed in 1988 and this Memorial Award was established to recognize both a male and female senior tennis player who display the same passion as Andrew did towards tennis. Pastor Park located just outside the tennis courts was also established in honor of Andy and is used frequently by players and spectators alike. 

Joseph Naughton – Sofia Moukaddem & Michael Pastrone

This award recognizes both determination and dedication to the sport of track and field. Joe Naughton was an incredible athlete and former Chandler Award winner at Weston High School. He held the State and New England shot put record for 30 years and is a member of the Massachusetts Track and Field Hall of Fame. This award is presented to a male and female track standout each year.

Hobey Baker Award – Deven Dacey

In 2003 the Hobey Baker High School Character Award was established to honor high school hockey players who exemplify the Hobey Baker ideal that “Character Builds Excellence”. Candidates for the High School Hobey Baker Award are selected by their coaches based on the following criteria: Integrity and positive attitude, Coachability, Outstanding sportsmanship. Each year a single senior hockey player from each school is honored with this award.

Nancy Healey Unsung Hero Award – Grace Kirk

The Nancy Healey Unsung Hero Award is given to a senior field hockey player who has committed herself to the program. Nancy Healey was a long-time freshman coach at Weston High School, whose commitment and knowledge of the game of field hockey went beyond most freshman coaches. Nancy’s impact on the sport may have gone unnoticed by some, but never by those who knew her or had her as a coach.

Tucky Gee Memorial Award – Holden Langanhagen & Erik Lambert

This Memorial Award is given annually to a male soccer player who has demonstrated tremendous fortitude, determination, and sportsmanship throughout their years representing Weston High School Soccer. The same qualities which reflect Thomas “Tucky” Gee, a former Weston High School soccer standout. This student-athlete must be committed to always putting the team first ahead of personal accolades.

Ash Baird Memorial “Go Fight Win” Award – Julia Hanson

Ash Baird came to Weston from her native Japan in 2012 and entered 7th grade that fall. Ash was an exceptional soccer player, earning All-State honors as a sophomore. Her future seemed limitless until the following year when she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. She fought without fear but lost her battle in April 2018. Ash’s goal was to unite people through soccer. She was courageously, authentic, and a natural and charismatic leader with the ability to transcend barriers and connect with her peers, her teachers and her opponents with playful and genuine joy. Her enthusiasm for the present moment was boundless. The Ash Baird Memorial “Go Fight Win Award” will annually recognize the Weston Girls Varsity Soccer player whose ability and character most inspire and unite her teammates as Ash did so powerfully.

Marie Butera Award and Scholarship– Ava Dreyer

This memorial award & scholarship is given in honor of Marie Butera, a dedicated physical education & wellness teacher in Weston for 38 years, until her retirement in 1994. Coach Butera started the girls’ lacrosse program in 1958 making it the first public high school girls lacrosse program in the State of Massachusetts and was a tremendously successful field hockey coach with an 84% winning percentage and 3 Boston Globe Coach of the Year honors. Coach
Butera also prided herself on her teams’ outstanding sportsmanship, which was often noted by her peers in the coaching community. This award recognizes a girl’s lacrosse and/or field hockey player who has displayed motivation and dedication throughout her high school career. This athlete will have been persistent in her pursuit of success, team-focused, and receptive to coaching and reflect the type of student-athlete Marie Butera would love to coach. This award is presented to a field hockey and/or girls lacrosse player. There is a bench dedicated to Coach Butera outside the high school gym doors.

Peter Condakes Award– Dana Williams & Hunter Gutting

Peter Condakes was an accomplished basketball player at Weston High School before taking his basketball talent
to Harvard University. While at Weston he led his teams to two consecutive sectional championships and set a Weston High School varsity scoring record. Peter had passion for both basketball and academics and his determination on the court and in the classroom was impressive. The recipients of this award will have represented and played major roles in the success of their team this past year. The two scoreboards in our gymnasium are donated by the Condakes Family in Peter’s honor.

Stephen G. Howard Award – Thomas Sacco & Maddy Schiller

This memorial award in its 5th year is in honor of Steven G. Howard, father of WHS Alums and friend to many within the Weston community. This award recognizes multiple-sport athletes who have displayed motivation and dedication
throughout their high school careers. These athletes have been persistent in their pursuit of success, team-focused, receptive to coaching and reflect the type of student-athlete Steve Howard would love to coach.

Robert Chruz DCL Sportsmanship Award – Ava Angelucci & Davis Palmer

Robert Chruz was a longtime Athletic Director at Newton South High School. Mr. Chruz was someone who always embraced the ideals of Sportsmanship. Each year in honor of Mr. Chruz, the Dual County League awards a male and female from each school with this award. These individuals must be student-athletes who always possess great sportsmanship on all levels.

Payson Corbiere Memorial Award and Scholarship – Analeise Shact

Payson Corbiere was an accomplished swimmer at Weston High School. He had a fun-loving attitude and zest for life. He was an all-scholastic in high school and an All-American in college. While in 7th grade he contracted the HIV virus through a blood transfusion; however, that did not stop him from excelling in the water. His heart and determination were second to none. The recipient of this award will have exhibit many of these same qualities. There is a bench in his honor in the hallway of the middle school by the ramp to the pool. It is a great tribute to Payson.

United States Army Athletic Award – Jojo Uga, Finn Maher

Each year the United States Army Athletic Awards are presented to Weston High School senior student-athletes for their outstanding athletic accomplishments over the course of their high school career. These student-athletes must have experienced both personal and team success and exhibited true leadership qualities both on and off the field during their high school career.

Claude Valle Award – Natalie Rassinger & Hunter Stofer

This new award will be given to one senior girl and one senior boy to recognize unique and significant contributions to the swimming and diving team. Not an MVP award, this honor goes to an athlete who bought into the culture of the program and developed into a teammate whose actions filled a void to truly impact the squad.

John Monz Award – Chase Hinton & Ella Sweeney

The John Monz Award is open to athletes from any sport, one male and one female per year. This award
recognizes personal and athletic growth over the high school years.The recipients should be a 4-year member of a Weston HS athletic team and must be a contributing (playing and/or scoring) varsity athlete during his/her senior year.
These athletes must have begun their careers as a freshman at the JV or freshman level with uncertain potential for improvement, but through consistent effort became a solid varsity performer.

Father Graf Award – Matt Korbin & Haven Trodden

This award is given annually in memory of Father Graf who was a parish priest at St. Julia’s here in Weston in honor of his tremendous spirit. Father Graf took great interest in the youth of Weston, always cheering on Weston sports
teams at all levels. His presence inspired the spirit of all Weston teams and the spectators attending these contests. This award represents four years of extraordinary school spirit – someone who is truly vested in the school, attends most all events – home or away and just loves being around the teams.

Peter J. Foley ICE Award – Max Nelson & Jake Shulkin

This award was instituted 33 years ago in honor of former Weston High School Athletic Director Pete Foley. This award embodies all that Pete stands for and what he wanted for his athletes while here in Weston. The initials – ICE stand for: Involvement, Commitment, Excellence. The recipients of this award have exemplified the ideals of what Pete envisioned this award to stand for.

John S. Proctor Award – Kaitlyn Ewald & Mack McManus 

This is given for outstanding commitment, sportsmanship and athletic achievement. John Proctor was a teacher, coach, athletic director and above all a friend to Weston students for 34 years. When John Proctor arrived in Weston in 1934 there were 3 sports offered at the high school. Today we offer 34 at the high school and 12 at the middle school. He was instrumental in building this well-rounded program. Proctor Field is named in his honor. The John S. Proctor Award is given annually to a male and a female athlete who has excelled athletically in one or more sports at the high school.

Theodore Chandler Award – Nick Cross & Olivia Jackson

This award is presented annually to the senior boy and girl who best exemplifies the following 3 qualities: athletic accomplishment, scholarship and school spirit. This award is considered one of our most prestigious school awards. The multiple sport athletes who receive this award have exhibited tremendous athletic fortitude, excelled in the classroom and have been true leaders for their teams. This year’s recipients represented Weston in 3 sports each their senior year and excelled in all. They are tremendous leaders and truly outstanding people.

MIAA SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS:

Hamish Bremner

Lila Jylkka

Mackenzie Morong

Ella Kim

Julia Barber

Madison Jenkins

Julia Barlow

Maggie D’Amaro

Gauthier Bodet

Anthony Jorajuria

Trevor Gold

Michael McLoughlin

JP Noone

Leo Wisnia

+++

Go ‘cats!