Seniors of the Week: 5/21/21

Arav Misra '21 - Baseball 
Arav comes to varsity baseball as a first-year player, leaving the tennis courts to do so. This illustrates so much about who Arav is—someone who is never afraid to try something new and who gives everything he has. Arav made an immediate impact on the team, impressing everyone with his speed in the outfield, and he has continued to improve each day.  His positive attitude and willingness to try new things have greatly impacted the team.  He will surely continue to excel through his journey on the Hilltop and beyond. 

Charles Wind '21 -  Baseball 
Charlie is a 4-year member of the varsity baseball team and played numerous positions over the years: he pitched, played SS, second base, and third base. Charlie has been one of the hardest-working players on the team and is willing to play wherever the team needs him the most. He embodies the school’s core values and always puts the team first, leading by example and with friendliness. We wish Charlie all the best in his college journey and beyond.

Tyler Wyman '21 - Boys’ Lacrosse 
Ty is a perfect example of how multi-sport athletes elevate Hackley sports. Although wrestling has always been his first love, Ty’s effort, intensity, and skill have made huge contributions to the boys' lacrosse team at Hackley. From his enthusiasm at scoring his first varsity goal in a playoff game as a freshman to his key points in the 2019 NYSAIS championship game, Ty is an inspiring member of his team. When he was just a 9th grader, the seniors would joke, “Don’t sleep on Ty Wyman!” after seeing how hard and well he played during the 2018 preseason. Opponents and teammates have since learned the lesson of this warning. Ty leaves an indelible, positive mark on this program as he heads off to college. 

Audrey Pizzalato '21 - Girls’ Lacrosse 
Audrey has wowed her team and coaches this spring. As a defender, she is relentless and powerful. She has stepped onto the field with confidence and as a leader in the defensive end of the field. Audrey’s enthusiasm is contagious as she works hard every second she is on the field. Above all, she brings fun into everything that she does and the team truly appreciates her sense of humor.  Audrey has the inspiring gift of making everyone feel comfortable and included. Her coach shares, “It has been such a pleasure having Audrey on the team! We will certainly miss her next year!”

Sarah Shapiro '21 - Softball  
Sarah started playing softball at Hackley in the 7th grade. In these two years as a varsity player, she has demonstrated determination and dedication to growing in the sport. Sarah has a wonderful positive attitude, and above all, demonstrates the power of collaboration and team spirit.  She will no doubt continue to learn and adapt to softball, and to her role on the field. We wish her all the best in her journey. 

Alex Kyimpopkin '21 - Boys’ Tennis  
Alex is brand new both to tennis and to the tennis team this year but has taken up the challenges of the sports with a smile and an awesome attitude.  Excited to help out in any way possible, Alex is always soliciting advice from his teammates on how to hit a particular shot, working on his hand-eye coordination during breaks, and always at the front of the line for our dynamic warm-up.  Never getting down about missing a shot and eager to learn, Alex has found himself right at home on the team. We wish him the best of luck next year.

Jordan Johnson '21 - Boys’ Track and Field
Jordan has been an outstanding competitor and leader on the outdoor track team. In fact, he seems to have mastered both the track and field components of the sport. Jordan has excelled in each of the sports throwing events. His power and technique are rewarded by soaring throws in the shot put, discus, and javelin. His explosiveness also transfers to the track, where Jordan is a top sprinter and anchor of the boys 4x100m relay. Beyond his accomplishments in the sport, Jordan motivates, inspires, and supports his teammates at every turn. His spikes and throwing shoes will be difficult to fill when he moves on to college.

Henry Knapp '21 - Boys’ Track and Field
After a brief hiatus rowing crew, Henry was welcomed back to the distance program with open arms. Since his freshman year, Henry has contributed greatly to the program. Over the years, he has developed into a pure distance specialist, excelling most in the longer events. His hard work and progress was always most evident when competing against ex-teammates and rivals from his previous school, Avenues. Henry was always particularly proud of how he fared in those epic showdowns. Beyond athletic accomplishments, Henry has been able to cultivate strong friendships with several teammates past and present. Henry has a promising future as a marathoner/half marathoner beyond the hilltop. 

Ethan Lin '21 - Boys’ Track and Field
Ethan has evolved into one of the most dedicated members of the distance program. Even on the chilliest days of the winter, when formal practice ended, Ethan voluntarily chose to run extra miles or complete a few extra repeats. Ethan has gained a well-deserved reputation for his commitment to workouts. Regardless of the number of repeats or speed, he is somehow always able to casually chat while simultaneously maintaining a blistering pace. It has been inspiring to watch him fall in love with the sport. For Ethan, running has firmly established itself not only as an athletic endeavor but also, a social and emotional outlet. Ethan has been able to discover running as not only a sport but as a lifestyle over the past four years.