Seniors of the Week: 1/22/21

Ryan Chen '21 - Boys’ Squash 
Ryan has worked very hard in his desire to reach his goals, at Hackley and in the outside squash world. His teammates speak highly of the qualities that he brought to the team and they always looked up to him when he played. In return, Ryan would always deliver a performance that highlighted his passion and competitiveness for playing squash. In his huge win at Nationals 2020, against a much bigger and stronger opponent, Ryan demonstrated physical, mental, and tactical ability, leading his team to victory. Ryan is a fantastic squash player and we wish him continued success with his training and tournaments.

Sophie Thomas '21- Indoor Track and Field  
Sophie is one of the team’s fearless leaders and captains. Though fairly new to running, Sophie has had an enormous impact on her teammates in a relatively short period of time. She is known for her athleticism, enthusiasm, and team spirit, but even more so, for her empathy. Sophie has an innate ability to connect with her peers and always ensures everyone is feeling included. Though Sophie primarily trains with the distance team, she supports all of her teammates equally regardless of age, experience, or event specialty.

Isabel Francis '21 - Girls’ Squash 
Izzy is a pleasure to coach; She works hard, shows great dedication to improving her game, and is a fierce competitor in match play. Although Izzy is one of the quieter characters on the team, her positive attitude and work ethic are demonstrated in how she carries herself in practice and matches. Always ready to work hard and push herself, she is a great example to her teammates. 
 
Mary Rotenberg '21- Girls’ Swimming 
Mary served as captain and MVP of the Girls Varsity Swim Team during the ‘19-20 season. She can always be counted on for morale boosts and helpful tips for technique improvement.  A leading scorer, Mary guided the team to multiple wins throughout her years on the team. The team appreciated her willingness to swim, and usually win, events that were not her favorites. She is a great example of tenacity and collaboration. 

Alex Crispi '21- Wrestling  
Alex has been the most improved wrestler for the past 4 years.  Each year he has worked hard and grown tremendously.  Alex had a wonderful season last year with 13 wins and positioned himself to have an even better senior season.  There is no doubt that this would have been the year for Alex to break out and win a tournament.  Even without that opportunity, Alex has been working every practice this year as if he is preparing for competition.  On and off the mat, Alex is a true gentleman, sportsman, and teammate, always thinking of others first.

Gracelynn Green '21- Indoor Track and Field  
Gracelynn is a well-rounded athlete; She sprints, jumps, and throws. She is also very compassionate, celebrating when her teammates perform well and sympathizing when they don’t. Her hard work produced respectful results. But most importantly she likes to share her knowledge with athletes on the track team. Gracelynn is a patient and focused athlete who knows how to deal with challenges at practice and pressure at meets. Her respectful behavior is well appreciated by opponents, officials, coaches, and her teammates.

Lily Napach '21- Indoor Track and Field 
Lily is a selfless leader. Each and every day, her priority is always her teammates. Going into every workout, for as long as she has been with the team, she is equally invested in her teammates’ performance and effort as she is with her own.  In her training group, she always takes it upon herself to pull her teammates through the entirety of the workout, never letting them take their metaphorical feet off the gas pedal. The program could not ask for a better role model for the younger runners. Lily has successfully shown her teammates that the team is a place for all. 

Andrew Davis '21- Indoor Track and Field 
Andrew Davis, the fashionista of the Indoor Program, impresses equally with his speed and style on the track. Through his years with the program, Andrew has carved out a reputation as the tech-savvy, nutrition-conscious, middle-distance runner of the squad. Andrew has given three seasons every year and the entire summer to the distance program. Throughout his four years at Hackley he has always trained hard and smart with one single goal, to contribute to the team that has given so much to him. Throughout the years, Andrew has shown tremendous patience and dedication to his running. Regardless of his season’s performances, he always trusted the training and his teammates. His unwavering trust and dedication paid off, as he developed into a key member of the fastest boys’ team in school history. Andrew’s athletic accolades are plentiful, but there is no doubt that he values the friendships he has developed with his teammates most of all.