Seniors of the Week: 5/14/21

The Athletics department celebrates the Class of 2021 through a Seniors of the Week series honoring Hackley’s graduating athletes.

Alexander Klein '21 - Baseball 
Alex has been a dedicated member of the baseball program for four years and has been part of the Varsity Baseball team for two years. He is an outstanding outfielder with good power to all fields. Alex continuously puts forth an outstanding effort, comes to practice with a positive attitude, and is a quiet team leader. His character and determination have a lasting impression; he will be missed next year. 

Anna Sanzenbacher '21 - Girls’ Golf  
Since joining the sport in her sophomore year, Anna Sanzenbacher has been a driving force on the Girls’ Varsity Golf Team.  Her competitive spirit, determination, and work ethic have set the tone for the rest of the team and have provided a strong example for younger players.  Beyond her success in matches, Anna pushes herself to improve at every opportunity, and her swing and shot-making ability have improved considerably over the past three years.  Her tenacity, positive attitude, and sportswomanship are but a few of the reasons why Anna was named captain prior to her senior year, and her leadership and impact on the team will be sorely missing in the coming years.

Will Kneisley '21 - Boys’ Lacrosse
Will Kneisley is a three-year member of the varsity lacrosse team. A core member of the 2019 Ivy and NYSAIS championship team, he played fantastic short stick defense and contributed huge offensive minutes (including a key, beautifully worked goal in the semi-finals against Long Island Lutheran). Named one of the three captains on the team this year, his attitude during the limitations of the pandemic has been inspiring. From sharing the Haudenosaunee lacrosse origin myth with the team last spring over Zoom to lugging an outdoor speaker to practice to liven the opening workouts in 2021, he is the kind of player who always puts the team first and pays as much attention to everyone’s morale as he does his own effort. He’s an exceptional player and exceptional person and will be missed next year.

Charles Rosenblum '21 - Boys’ Lacrosse
Charlie is a wonderful athlete who joined the team late, but with great determination. Charlie’s ferocious competitiveness and defensive IQ have frequently been on display during practice. He continually works hard to improve his game, even during challenging circumstances. Charlie will certainly be an amazing asset during the RCDS game, and will undoubtedly be an everlasting example of drive and tenacity. 

Ocean Saric '21 - Boys’ Track and Field
Ocean has been a great addition to the outdoor track and field team this spring. He is completely new to the sport but has immersed himself in his events and uplifts the team with enthusiasm and positivity every day. Ocean has spent the bulk of his time learning the ins and outs of the throwing events where he can use his natural power to produce good results. He has also dabbled in the jumps, where he has shown a natural ease with elements that can often be difficult to master. Above all, Ocean’s greatest strengths are his positive attitude and fearless willingness to dive into new challenges. Ocean will certainly find success in new areas long after his time on the field.

Sadie Nipon '21 - Girls’ Lacrosse
Sadie is a two-year varsity lacrosse player and has a strong impact both on and off the field.  On the field, she has become a strong attacker whose confidence continues to grow.  She is not afraid to go to goal, but she is also always looking to help her teammates by creating space and looking for open players to feed.  Her speed and athleticism make her an integral leader in the offensive end of the field. Off the field, Sadie’s positive attitude, a strong sense of commitment, and ability to make everyone feel comfortable helped create positive energy this season.  She starts practice with a smile on her face and consistently exudes excitement. In recognition of Sadie’s strength of character, her teammates voted her as co-captain. The example Sadie sets on and off the field will impact this team far beyond her graduation.   

Abigail Schiller '21 - Softball 
Abbey is a four-year varsity starter. She won MVP several times and earned the Coaches Award. This year, she was voted by her Peers as captain. She also has the highest batting average on the team these last 2 years; every time she steps into the batter’s box she is sure to hit one out of the ballpark. Abbey has been an intricate part of the team, bringing the group to the Championship game two consecutive years in a row. Her teammates respect her and look up to her. She is a team player and always eager to jump in to help in any way she can. She will go on to play softball in college and her Hackley coaches are sure she will make a tremendous impact on the sport. 

Benjamin Kirsch '21 - Boys’ Tennis  
Ben is a four-year starter on the varsity tennis team and has proven himself to be a clutch and productive doubles player.  Ben has contributed to season and playoff wins, his best play coming with his doubles partner and Hackley alum Ethan Yablon—Ben’s monster serve and Ethan’s immaculate net play created an unstoppable duo in Ben’s sophomore year.  Over the past two years, Ben has been grinding groundstrokes, adding pace to his serve, and continuing to declare to the entire team that he “loves big points.”  A fierce competitor and an emotional leader, Ben’s intensity sets the tone for our practices and our matches—the team is lucky to have him and the younger guys are fortunate to be learning from him what it means to play big on big points.  

Ava Roberts '21 - Girls’ Track and Field 
Ava Roberts, aka Ninja #1, has led the team alongside fellow seniors through the most trying seasons the distance program has ever endured. The program has continued to thrive because of her upbeat attitude, swag ordering skills, concern for others, and jump-kicking abilities. Ava will always be remembered for her signature grit and tenacity. Each day, regardless of it being her best or worst, Ava has always put forward her best effort. She inspires by example, never holding back her competitive fire or passion for the sport. The younger generation of runners couldn’t ask for a better role model. Ava will forever be remembered by her teammates as a tenacious competitor, a trusted, and an empathetic friend. 

Oliver Griffen '21 - Boys’ Track and Field 
Winslow has been a calm and steady presence on the outdoor track and field team throughout his high school years. He’s established many close friendships and enthusiastically encourages all his teammates to run personal bests. Winslow puts forth a great effort as he completes track workouts alongside a core group of runners. Due to injuries, he keeps his mileage low but adds additional core and strength workouts to enhance his overall fitness level. Winslow consistently demonstrates responsibility, flexibility, and determination, and is an inspiration to students and adults alike. The Hackley track and field team will miss Winslow, and hopes to cross paths with him on the trails or track in the near future.
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