Student Voices Take the Lead at The Williams School’s Fall Sports Night

As the fall athletics season nears its conclusion, The Williams School brought together student-athletes, coaches, and families in the Daren Performing Arts Center for its annual Fall Sports Night. Held following an impressive performance by the Girls Varsity Soccer team in the HVAL Semifinals, the evening celebrated the season while recognizing individual accomplishments, team success, and the relationships built through Williams Athletics.

 

A distinctive part of the ceremony is that it is led by students, with team captains taking the stage to reflect on their seasons, recognize their teammates, and thank the coaches who supported them along the way. For many seniors, the evening also offered an opportunity to look back on their years representing Williams and the friendships and memories made along the way.

 

As part of this student-led tradition, two keynote speakers shared more personal reflections on what it means to be a Williams athlete. Liah Llanos-Reyes ’27, a captain of the Varsity Cross Country team, and Ethan Perl ’27, a member of the Boys Varsity Soccer team, each spoke about their experiences and the impact their teams have had on their time at Williams.

 

Llanos-Reyes emphasized the role athletics plays in bringing students together across grade levels and creating a sense of belonging.

 

“If you take anything away from my speech, remember that this is the true meaning of Williams sports. These teams allow everyone in our school to build friendships with people who are older or younger than themselves. They give us a place to belong, opportunities to grow, and memories that extend far beyond the playing field.”

 

Perl reflected on the Boys Varsity Soccer team’s growth throughout the season, describing how the players developed a stronger sense of identity and commitment to one another.

 

“As the season progressed, the culture of the team began to shift. What had once been an unorganized group of individuals gradually became a family, united by a shared commitment to soccer. We stopped being students who happened to play soccer and started becoming soccer players.”

 

Together, their remarks offered a reminder of what makes athletics meaningful at Williams. Beyond the results of any game or meet, students develop friendships, learn to support one another, and become part of teams that bring together different grade levels, experiences, and perspectives.

 

The evening also recognized student-athletes for their individual achievements, leadership, and contributions to their teams throughout the fall season.

 

Fall Athletics Award Recipients

Listed in order of the ceremony.

 

Boys JV/MS Soccer

 

Offensive MVP: John Paul Champagne ’31

Defensive MVP: Calvin Rossman ’31

Coaches Award: Connor Ma ’31

 

Girls JV/MS Soccer

 

Offensive MVP: Lex Gjonaj ’31

Defensive MVP: Lucy Zanchetti ’32

Coaches Award: Emilia Bloxsom ’31

 

JV/MS Cross Country

 

Boys MVP: Matt Lathrop ’33

Girls MVP: Alice Webster ’33

Coaches Award: Madeline Muench ’31

 

Varsity Cross Country

 

Boys MVP: Hutch Walsh ’30

Girls MVP: Lena Cosentino ’29

Coaches Award: Sabine Balentine ’27

All-HVAL: Lena Cosentino ’29 and Hutch Walsh ’30

 

Boys Varsity Soccer

 

Offensive MVP: Liam Kelly ’27

Defensive MVP: Jay Robinson ’29

Coaches Award: Erick Lopez Baigts ’27

All-HVAL: Liam Kelly ’27 and Valentin Vasquez ’30

 

Girls Varsity Soccer

 

Offensive MVP: Greta Field ’30

Defensive MVP: Yvanna Lopez Baigts ’27

Coaches Award: Victoria Falkenstein ’28

All-HVAL: Victoria Falkenstein ’28, Greta Field ’30, Sarah Harvey ’27, and Sarah Steffian ’27

HVAL Honorable Mention: Veronica Falkenstein ’29, Yvanna Lopez Baigts ’27, and Annie Shay ’27

WNEPSSA All-Star Team Game: Victoria Falkenstein ’28, Sarah Harvey ’27, and Sarah Steffian ’27

 

While the awards recognized individual accomplishments, the stories shared throughout the ceremony reflected something equally important: the experiences students take with them long after the season ends. From the friendships built across grade levels to the challenges faced and successes shared as teammates, the evening celebrated the many ways athletics contributed to the Williams experience.

 

Additional awards will be announced soon and featured in the upcoming season recap.