NEPSAC News ®
NEW ENGLAND PREPARATORY SCHOOL ATHLETIC COUNCIL
Portsmouth Abbey Celebrates Centennial with Field Update
FALL 2026
We are excited to announce the release of the 2026-2027 NEPSAC Buyers Guide!
NEPSAC Buyers Guide
This comprehensive resource is designed to support our member schools by connecting you directly with trusted industry partners, service providers, and vendors dedicated to serving New England independent school athletics. Whether you are looking for facility upgrades, team apparel, equipment, streaming solutions, or specialized services, the Buyers Guide serves as your go-to directory for the upcoming academic year.
2026–2027
We extend our sincere gratitude to all of the corporate partners, sponsors, and vendors whose support makes this guide possible. We encourage you to explore their offerings and reach out to them as you prepare your athletic programs for a successful year ahead. Thank you for your continued dedication to NEPSAC athletics and our student-athletes.
2026–2027 NEPSAC Buyers Guide
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NEPSAC® Executive Board 2026–2027
President Tim Joncas Westminster School Vice President Lisa Joel Phillips Academy Secretary Sean Kelly The Wheeler School Treasurer Jamie Arsenault New Hampton School Co-Directors of Championships Geoff Barlow Avon Old Farms School Ryan Frost Tabor Academy Jason Baseden Phillips Exeter Academy Director of Classifications Sue Cabot Loomis Chaffee School Coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lamar Reddicks Milton Academy Coordinator of Membership Courtney Callanan Rectory School Coordinator of Sport-Specific Rules and Regulations Jenna Simon Holderness School Coordinator of Compliance (Grievances, NIL Included) George Tahan Belmont Hill School Coordinator of All-NEPSAC Josh Balabuch Kingswood Oxford School Past Presidents Ryan Frost Tabor Academy George Tahan Belmont Hill School Jamie Arsenault New Hampton School Middle School Representatives Rob Feingold The Fay School Courtney Callanan Rectory School District I Representatives Meredith Hanby Hebron Academy Mark Godomsky Gould Academy Abbey Quinn Gould Academy Bob Coppola Kents Hill School District II Representatives Jenna Simon Holderness School Gregor Makechnie Proctor Academy District III Representatives Sean Kelly The Wheeler School Caroline Langhurst Montrose School Jaye Locke Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School Julie Berberian Worcester Academy District IV Representatives Geoff Barlow Avon Old Farms School Andy Dunn Taft School Courtney Callanan Rectory School Josh Balabuch Kingswood Oxford School Operations & Communications Specialist Laurie Sachs The Rivers School “NEPSAC” and the NEPSAC logo are registered trademarks of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council and may not be used or displayed without permission. New England Preparatory School Athletic Council qualifies as a public charity under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).
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NEPSAC News ®
In this issue:
15 17 25 27 33 38
Final Gatorade Players of the Year Honors Announced
41 42 43 46 49 51
St. Luke’s Ali Truwit Supports Paralympians
Pomfret Alumus Provides Courtside Care for the NBA
Kingswood Coach Runs Free St. Lucia Hoops Clinics KUA Coach Connects Cultures Through Hockey
Loomis Alumnus Plays Major League Soccer
Williston Alumna Plays Lacrosse for Team Italy
Greenwich Alumnae Sisters Honored for Field Hockey Exeter Names Indoor Track after Alumnus Holderness Alumnus Founds College Freeski Team
Brunswick Student Plays U18 Team USA Waterpolo
Winchendon Alumnus Plays in Historic Bentley Season
From our Partners
19
L ifting for Life at Brunswick School
37
Winning at Procurement
20
Portsmouth Abbey’s New Turf
45
Holderness Athletic Village
29 54
P repared for the Moment
Setting Process Goals
Departments 4 Around NEPSAC
9 Laurels
56 #ICYMI
ON THE COVER: Portsmouth Abbey’s updated turf field.
NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 | 3
AROUND NEPSAC
President’s Letter Tim Joncas Westminster School
Hands on the Oar
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elcome back, everyone. I hope the summer offered each of you a chance to recharge, reconnect, and perhaps find a little inspiration for the year ahead. As we begin another school year across NEPSAC, I find myself returning to two experiences from this summer that reminded me why educational-based athletics matters so much. The first came from watching the World Cup. There are few things in our world that have the power to bring people together quite like sport. For a few hours, nationalities, languages, backgrounds, and differences give way to a shared experience. We celebrate together, suffer together, and find ourselves connected to people we may never meet simply because we are cheering for the same team. The Norwegians offered another image that stayed with me: everyone having their hands on the oar and rowing in the same direction. It is a simple metaphor, but one that feels particularly relevant as we begin a new school year. Across our campuses, we are all in the same boat. Our work is to bring students, coaches, faculty, and families together around a shared purpose, with everyone contributing to the journey. The second came from a book I particularly enjoyed this summer, Theo of Golden. What struck me most was the book’s beautiful portrayal of relationships and the way one meaningful connection can extend outward, touching other people and creating something much larger than the original relationship. That feels at the heart of what we do as educators. We are in the transformational business. Every day, we have the privilege of
Got news to share with other NEPSAC schools? Send the details to communications@nepsac.org and we’ll put it in the next issue.
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working with young people and helping them become their best selves. Through our athletic programs, we have a remarkable classroom in which to develop the skills and habits that will serve our students long after their playing days are over: resilience, accountability, humility, leadership, courage, sacrifice, and care for others. But transformation begins with relationship. Students need to know that they are seen, known, and valued before they can truly feel that they belong. When they experience that meaningful connection, something powerful happens. They begin to trust. They become willing to be challenged. They invest more deeply in their teammates and their communities. Those relationships can drive performance, certainly, but they also create the conditions for something more important: genuine growth and transformation. This is the promise of educational-based athletics. We are not simply preparing students to compete. We are using competition, teamwork, challenge, failure, success, and relationships to help young people become the people they are capable of becoming. As we begin this school year, perhaps our challenge is to keep our hands on the oar. To remember that while we may coach different sports, lead different schools, and work with different students, our purpose is remarkably shared. We are rowing toward the same horizon: creating athletic experiences rooted in relationships, belonging, shared purpose, and the belief that sport can be a powerful vehicle for education and transformation. Wishing everyone across NEPSAC a wonderful school year. May it be filled with meaningful relationships, purposeful work, and plenty of reasons to row together.
SAVE THE DATE!
NEPSAC Annual Meeting Monday, November 9, 2026 Phillips Academy Andover, Massachusetts www.nepsac.org
AROUND NEPSAC
NEPSAC 2026–2027 UPCOMING MEETINGS
TREASURER’S REPORT by Jamie Arsenault, New Hampton School
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s we begin another school year, thank you for your continued support of NEPSAC and for your attention to the financial responsibilities that help our organization serve our schools, coaches, and student-athletes.
EXECUTIVE BOARD Tuesday, October 6 Remote 8:15 Sunday, November 8 Phillips Academy
3:00
MONDAY, November 9 Annual Business Meeting, Phillips Academy Tuesday, January 12 Remote 8:15 Tuesday, February 9 Remote 8:15 Tuesday, April 27 TBA
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Thursday, April 1 Fay School
10:00
DISTRICT I Monday, November 16 Gould Academy
10:00
Monday, March 1 Hyde School
10:00
Monday, May 17 Kents Hill School
10:00
DUES
NEPSAC, District, and Coaches Association dues should be paid online by October 15th. Timely payment helps us keep our records current and allows us to focus on supporting the work of the league throughout the year.
ONLINE PAYMENTS
All NEPSAC payments must be made online. Due to our accounting process, we are unable to accept paper checks. Please note that each online transaction includes a processing fee, which cannot be refunded. We ask that schools carefully review their payment information before submitting a transaction. When making payments online, please make sure your school has only one account associated with its NEPSAC payments. If you have forgotten your username or password, use the “Forgot your username or password?” option to reset your login information. Please also check your spam or junk folder for reset instructions. Thank you for your prompt attention to these items and, most importantly, for your continued partnership and support of NEPSAC. I look forward to working with all of you throughout the coming year.
2026–2027 Corporate Sponsors and Partners
Zoom meetings may be held if needed in October, January and April
DISTRICT II
Thursday, October 15 Holderness School
9:00
Thursday, February 11 Tilton School
9:00
Thursday, April 29 New Hampton School
9:00
Bi-weekly meetings on Zoom from August to May; day of week TBD
DISTRICT III Tuesday, January 26 Remote
9:00
Tuesday, April 13 Belmont Hill School
11:00
DISTRICT IV Thursday, April 23 Westminster School
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9:00
NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 | 5
AROUND NEPSAC
SPORTS MEDICINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT
Winners Circle!
by Zac Kershaw, Phillips Academy
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reetings to all, and welcome back for another exciting school year! My name is Zac Kershaw, and I will be taking over as SMAC Chair this coming year for Grady Congleton. We thank Grady for his many years of service to NEPSAC and the SMAC committee. As we enter the new academic year, we will also be welcoming Meredyth Joly, a current member of SMAC, into the position of Vice Chair. We are additionally seeking another SMAC representative for Districts 1 and 2; as well as one more representative for District 3. This year the SMAC committee looks forward to the continued work alongside the NEPSAC Executive Board to ensure all our student athletes in their respective sports can participate in the safest manner, adhering to the most up to date safety policies and procedures. With that, one of our many initiatives is to review and update current standing policy statements to make sure we are updated to the most recent policy recommendations. Additionally, we continue to work with the executive board on reviewing possible changes to the out of season coaching policy. Lastly, we are encouraged and hopeful to see many of our fellow NEPSAC Athletic Trainers at this Fall’s NEPSAC annual conference meeting. SMAC has worked hard on putting together another CEU event that we think our Athletic Training colleagues will be very excited about. SMAC is here to support all our NEPSAC Athletic Trainers. Please do not hesitate to reach out at: smacchair@nepsac.org. I look forward to a tremendous year!
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Inchendon School Athletic Director Dan Chretien was the winner of the Raffle for Athletic Directors at the 2025 NEPSAC Annual Meeting. This summer, Dan and his wife Keeley enjoyed the Premium Yankee Stadium Experience sponsored by Andrew Levy (Hopkins ’83) at Wish You Were Here Productions. They watched both the Yankees and Red Sox batting practices and then took in the game from behind home plate. Dan reported: “My wife, Keeley, and I had a blast at the game!”
Look for the athletic director raffle at the 2026 Annual Meeting, coming right up on November 9. Don’t miss it!
NEPSAC Annual Meeting
Monday, November 9, 2026 Phillips Academy | Andover, Massachusetts
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FROM THE ARCHIVES ST. MARK’S SCHOOL | SOUTHBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS
A Bit of Baseball History
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ith the St. Mark’s gathering at historic Fenway Park in September, we’re digging into a remarkable piece of our baseball history. At just 15 years old, Billy Howe (pictured far right) was the starting catcher for the St. Mark’s First Nine. After breaking his nose twice behind the plate, he was told he could no longer play. So, Howe found a way back onto the field. He borrowed a fencing mask from a class-
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mate and worked with Southborough blacksmith Francis Warren Walker to modify it, cutting eyeholes and reinforcing the mesh with copper wire. Howe wore the mask in 1875 in a game against Harvard featuring Fred Thayer and Jim Tyng. Two years later, Thayer created a catcher’s mask for Tyng and eventually patented his design, later acknowledging Howe’s influence. More than 150 years later, as we prepare to gather at one of baseball’s most iconic ballparks, it’s fun to remember that St. Mark’s has its own fascinating place in the history of the game. Story from The Echoes of Their Voices: 150 Years at St. Mark’s School by Richard “Nick” E. Noble ’76.
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CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL | WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT
Whittaker Named National High School Equipment Manager of the Year
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n Monday, June 15, 2026, Assistant Athletics Director Justin Whittaker (on the right in the photo) received the 2026 Booker Kilgore National High School Equipment Manager of the Year Award at the 2026 Athletics Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) Convention in Ohio. Presented annually at the AEMA Convention, the award is bestowed upon a high school equipment manager of exemplary character and service with more than five years of experience. Whittaker is a beloved member of the Choate community, who arrived in Wallingford and served as the interim Varsity Baseball Head Coach in 2022. Since then, he’s worked tirelessly to support every coach and student-athlete who set foot inside the Worthington Johnson Athletic Center (WJAC). From serving as the Head Equipment Manager and WJAC Scheduling Supervisor to his current role as the Assistant Athletics Director, he has made a meaningful impact on the daily life of Choate Athletics through his steady leadership, work ethic, and deep commitment to the community.
Whittaker’s win at the 2026 Athletics Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) adds to a growing list of recent accomplishments among student-athletes, coaches, and staff. This spring,
more than two dozen students were named to All-NEPSAC honors. Furthermore, the School has had an incredible 17 student-athletes selected for All-American recognition as of June 1.
HOPKINS SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
Varsity Volleyball Earns Academic Recognition
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he team was recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for their academic achievement. This year, 1,432 collegiate and high school programs across the country were recognized with the 2026 Team Academic Award. Teams must maintain a 3.3/4.0GPA for the academic year to be considered for the award. Congratulations to the team for their achievements both on and off the court! Courtesy of Hopkins School
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NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 | 9
LAURELS RECTORY SCHOOL | POMFRET, CONNECTICUT
Coach Bradley Recognized for NEPSAC Spirit Award by Jacob Guertin, Associate Director of Communications
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ongratulations to Coach Erin Bradley on receiving the Spirit Award from the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), a recognition that reflects her exceptional dedication to student-athletes at the junior boarding school level, from the classroom to the dormitories and to the fields and courts. As head coach for Rectory’s Varsity Girls’ Soccer and Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse programs, and assistant coach for Varsity Girls’ Basketball, Coach Bradley brings the same incredible spirit and sportsmanship to every team, every practice, and each game. She never fails to bring a positive attitude while coaching her athletes to be the best people they can be, while also holding knowledge of the game to develop skilled players and even more thoughtful leaders. But her impact extends far beyond the athletic field. As a teacher by day, coach by afternoon, and dorm parent at night, Coach Bradley embodies the whole-child approach that defines Rectory. An excerpt from her NEPSAC recognition captures this perfectly, “at the junior boarding school level, Erin fully embraces the true purpose of middle school athletics, which often presents unique challenges beyond those at the high school level.” Read her full recognition here. Director of Athletics Courtney Callanan witnesses Coach Bradley’s impact every single day. “She is the master at planning team bonding activities, which is a crucial part of building a team culture,” Courtney shares. As a fellow coach on the soccer pitch, Courtney has also witnessed her infamous Low Ropes Course practices—where she challenges her athletes with the mental side of the game and what it truly means to be a teammate. If you spent time at Rectory, you surely can understand the impact she has on this community. Way to lead The Pack, Coach Bradley.
Coach Erin Bradley talking to the middle school girls soccer team.
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NEPSAC Spirit Award
he NEPSAC Executive Board is excited to announce a new initiative designed to recognize the outstanding professionals within our athletic departments. We are launching The NEPSAC Spirit Award to formally acknowledge athletic department members who demonstrate integrity, sportsmanship, dedication, and positive behavior that reflects the collective values of NEPSAC. Any NEPSAC professional community member is eligible to submit a nomination. We encourage you to recognize deserving colleagues across your staff. Winners will be announced on a rolling basis and you will be reminded to submit nominations regularly through the year. NEPSAC SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATION FORM
We look forward to celebrating the exceptional spirit and dedication within our NEPSAC community.
The NEPSAC Spirit Award Committee: Tim Joncas, Westminster School Jamie Arsenault, New Hampton School Courtney Callanan, Rectory School Rob Feingold, Fay School Laurie Sachs, NEPSAC, The Rivers School
See all the awards here
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LAURELS HOPKINS SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
Athletic Director Rocco Demaio Inducted into Hall of Fame
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opkins Director of Athletics Rocco DeMaio Jr. ’86 was inducted into the New Haven Gridiron Club Hall of Fame on September 9, 2026, recognizing a distinguished football career that began on The Hill, continued at Trinity College, and has included more than three decades of coaching and service to Hopkins Athletics. DeMaio was a standout three-sport athlete at Hopkins, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball. On the football field, he developed into one of the area’s top players, earning All-Fairchester League honors and serving as team captain. He scored 39 career touchdowns, including 18 during his senior season, and was among Connecticut’s scoring leaders throughout his career. He was also recognized as Hopkins’ Bill DeGenarro Outstanding Male Athlete. DeMaio continued his football career at Trinity College, where he became a record-setting tight end. As a senior, he earned All-NESCAC and All-ECAC honors and was named Trinity’s Senior Offensive Player of the Year. His career included several school records for a tight end, including 143 receiving yards in a game against Williams and 583 receiving yards during the 1990 season. Baseball was an equally important part of DeMaio’s athletic career. As a senior at Hopkins, he helped lead the Hilltoppers to the program’s first Fairchester Athletic Association championship. At Trinity, DeMaio was a four-year starter at
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shortstop while also serving as the team’s closer. He captained the Bantams as a senior under head coach Bill Decker and finished his career as Trinity’s career saves record holder. DeMaio earned All-NESCAC and All-ECAC recognition in both football and baseball, and his two-sport collegiate career culminated with the George Sheldon McCook Trophy, Trinity’s top athletic award presented to the outstanding senior male athlete. Following college, DeMaio returned to Hopkins, where football remained an important part of his life. He spent 23 seasons as an assistant football coach on the Hopkins sideline under longtime head coach Tom Parr, helping mentor generations of Hopkins student-athletes. DeMaio has served Hopkins for more than three decades as a coach, teacher, and administrator and has been Director of Athletics since 2015. He currently also serves as the school’s varsity baseball coach. His induction into the New Haven Gridiron Club Hall of Fame recognizes an accomplished playing career and a lifelong connection to a game that has shaped him both on and off the field. “Football gave me much more than wins and losses. It taught me leadership, discipline, mental toughness, loyalty, how to handle adversity, and the importance of being accountable and understanding that you are part of something bigger than yourself. For me, football has always been a metaphor for life.” DeMaio said. To read more about the Gridiron Club Hall of Fame and this year’s inductees, click here. Congratulations, Rocco, for this outstanding achievement!
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LAURELS MONTROSE SCHOOL | MEDFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
International Award for Athletic Director Caroline Langhurst
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ontrose Athletic Director Caroline Langhurst spent her summer vacation coaching Team Ireland in the 2026 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan! Ireland finished 11th in the world with a very young team, after exciting victories against Chinese Taipei and Wales. After the final game of the tournament, Caroline was honored with the Spirit of Lacrosse award for the Irish national team. This prestigious
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award is bestowed upon an individual from each team who has made the most significant contribution to the team’s program and its success. The recipient of the award receives a Daruma doll, symbolizing the pursuit and achievement of goals. “I am not surprised by the award recognizing Caroline’s magnanimous and outstanding leadership,” said Head of School Katie Elrod. “The Irish are blessed to have her, as are we at Montrose.”
Caroline has led the Montrose Athletics Department through a period of growth and expansion, including the construction of two brand-new regulation-sized turf fields. The Montrose varsity lacrosse team has won the league championship for five straight years. Congratulations to Caroline on this achievement! photos by World Lacrosse
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NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 | 13
COMPETE. GET SEEN. BUILD YOUR FUTURE.
Bay State Games is Massachusetts' premier olympic-style sports festival, bringing together talented athletes from across the region to compete, develop, and connect through high-level athletic experiences.
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Athletes From 11 NEPSAC Schools Earn Gatorade Player of the Year Honors
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he Gatorade Player of the Year award was established in 1985 to recognize the nation’s most elite high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character.
In each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, one Gatorade State High School Player of the Year is chosen in each of the following sports: football, volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, softball, baseball, and boys and girls track and field. One winner from each of the twelve sports is chosen from each state and the District of Columbia. The Gatorade State Player of the Year award winners are evaluated and selected on the basis of three criteria: » Athletic Excellence - Standout performance in their respective sport made at the high school, club, national or international levels of competition.
BOYS TRACK & FIELD NATHAN LEE ’26 Brunswick School Greenwich, Connecticut ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
The 5-foot-9, 130-pound senior distance talent swept the 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs at the New England Private School Track Association Division I Championships this past season, leading the Bruins to third place as a team. Lee’s winning time of 8:20.21 in the 3,000 ranked No. 12 nationally among prep boys competitors this spring, while his 3:56.01 mark in the 1,500
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» Academic Achievement - Review of GPA and class rank, as well as SAT and ACT scores, and academic honors distinctions. » Exemplary Character - Commitment to sportsmanship, character and community through membership and participation in positive activities. In 2025–2026, 13 NEPSAC athletes from 11 schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island were named Player of the Year in football, volleyball boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, and baseball. These three athletes were honored in June, and wrap up the 25–26 honorees.
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athan is a great kid. I’ve been watching him grow and compete since he was an eighth-grader. His work ethic is second to none. His respect for his competition is first class. ~ Glen Colello, Head Coach, Greens Farms Academy
ranked No. 39. The state’s 2025-26 Gatorade Boys Cross Country Player of the Year, Lee took sixth in the mile run at the Brooks PR Invitational and his time of 4:03.08 set a state record in addition to ranking No. 15 nationally in 2026. He capped his season with a fourth-place finish in the 5,000-meter run at the USATF Under-20 Championships.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Lee has maintained an A average in the classroom. He will continue his athletics career at Harvard University this fall. EXEMPLARY CHARACTER
A senior prefect at Brunswick, Lee has volunteered locally with Sneakers4Good and has donated his time to multiple community service initiatives through his church.
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BOYS SOCCER EMMANUEL MARMOLEJO ’26 Berkshire School Sheffield, Massachusetts ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior keeper posted seven shutouts and made 80 saves this past season, leading the Bears to a 10-7-2 record. The Boston Globe New England Prep School Athletic Council Defensive Player of the Year, Marmolejo is a member of the Canadian Under-20 Men’s National Team. He participated in the Top Drawer Soccer High School All-American Game last December and was also a NEPSAC Class A All-Star. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Marmolejo has maintained an A-minus average in the classroom. He has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play soccer at Georgetown University this fall. EXEMPLARY CHARACTER
The president of both the Berkshire School senior class and the schoolwide student council, Marmolejo has volunteered locally with the Berkshire Belonging Collective, promoting inclusion, empathy and a sense of belonging on campus.
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mmanuel was hands-down the best goalkeeper we faced this past season. His command, presence and composure in the back were massive difference-makers for Berkshire. Whether it’s with his hands, either foot or his punts, he has a complete arsenal of tools. ~ Carl Stensland, Head Coach, Avon Old Farms School
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NICHOLAS ALBERGA ’26 St. George’s School Middletown, Rhode Island ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
The 5-foot-9, 150-pound senior midfielder scored six goals and passed for four assists this past season, leading the Dragons (10-6-3) to the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class B tournament quarterfinals. Alberga is a twotime Class B All-Star. He is also a two-time All-Independent School League First Team honoree.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Alberga has maintained an A-minus average in the classroom. He has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play soccer at Oakland University in Michigan this fall. EXEMPLARY CHARACTER
A native of Montreal, Canada, Alberga is a member of the St. George’s French National Honor Society and has volunteered locally as a peer French tutor.
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ico was a highly impactful player in our league and the biggest driving force behind the success of that St. George’s team this year. He’s a fantastically talented attacking player who can produce goals and moments of brilliance on the ball. He was the player you always had to account for. ~ Chris Kane, Head Coach - Milton Academy
2025–2026 Winners at a Glance FOOTBALL
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Peter Bourque ’27 Tabor Academy
Fope Ayo ’26 Austin Prep Lauren Bousquet ’26 Moses Brown School
VOLLEYBALL
Emily McKee ’26 King School BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Nathan Lee ’26 Brunswick School GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Blair Bartlett ’27 The Lawrenceville School BOYS BASKETBALL
Alex Egbuono ’26 Lawrence Academy Antonio Pemberton ’27 Brewster Academy Kamari Whyte ’27 Vermont Academy
BASEBALL
Will Haggerty ’27 Moses Brown School Kaiden McCarthy ’26 Vermont Academy TRACK AND FIELD
Nathan Lee ’26 Brunswick School BOYS SOCCER
Emmanuel Marmolejo Berkshire School Nicholas Alberga ’26 St. George’s School
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POMFRET SCHOOL | POMFRET, CONNECTICUT
Courtside Care
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hile at Pomfret, Dr. Abdul-Aziz “Aziz” Ahmed ’02 (second from right) played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. Today, his passion for sports extends far beyond the stands. After completing an emergency medicine residency, Dr. Ahmed pursued a fellowship in sports medicine. He now serves as an event physician for the NBA, providing medical coverage for select domestic and international events each year. Last summer, he traveled to Africa for the NBA Basketball Without Borders camp, where he oversaw the care of forty-eight athletes, along with coaches, staff, and chaperones. His responsibilities
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ranged from coordinating emergency action plans with local hospitals, EMS teams, and paramedics to treating everything from sprains and fractures to infectious diseases such as malaria. He also served on the physician team covering the NBA Cup in Las Vegas. When he is not working courtside, Dr. Ahmed is an attending physician in the emergency departments at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. Photo courtesy of Dr. Abdul-Aziz Ahmed Reprinted from Pomfret Magazine. 2026 by Pomfret School.
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Team UA provides athletes of all levels with the opportunity to use their passion for sports to raise awareness and support for the rare disease community.
Made for Every Athlete
Build Leadership & Life Skills
Be Part of Something Bigger
Whether it’s a Lift for Life, charity game, tournament, or your own idea, Team UA gives athletes at any level the freedom to use your sport your way to create change
An opportunity to take initiative, organize events, and inspire others—all while gaining valuable leadership experience.
Help change lives and make a difference beyond sports by joining a movement of athletes using their platform to support the rare disease community.
www.upliftingathletes.org/team-ua/ Contact: Jeff Baxter | Manager of Team UA 18 | NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 Jeff.Baxter@UpliftingAthletes.org
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NEPSAC CORPORATE PARTNER BRUNSWICK SCHOOL | GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT
Bruins Raise More Than $36,000 in Third Annual ‘Lift for Life’
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he Brunswick School football program once again made a powerful impact in the fight against rare disease, raising more than $36,000 through its third annual Lift for Life event in partnership with Uplifting Athletes. For the third consecutive year, Brunswick was the top fundraising high school football program participating in the Uplifting Athletes initiative, which turns strength and conditioning workouts into an opportunity to raise awareness and support for the rare disease community. Led by Madsen Ehrhart, Ryder Swenson, Ben Rolapp, Sawyer Bligh, Noah Park, and James Cragin, the Bruins lifted in support
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of families facing rare disease, using the power of sport to make a difference. Brunswick first participated in Lift for Life in 2024, becoming one of the first high school football programs to take part in the initiative, which originated at Penn State in 2003 and has since grown into a nationwide effort involving collegiate athletic programs. Since its inaugural event, Brunswick football has raised more than $100,000 for the rare disease community. Every lift. Every teammate. Every dollar. Every story. It all matters.
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NEPSAC CORPORATE PARTNER
NEPSAC CORPORATE PARTNER
Portsmouth Abbey School Celebrates Centennial with FieldTurf Upgrade at St. Hilda Turf Field
Rhode Island boarding school’s new artificial turf will host soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey
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Text and photos by Tarkett Sports
alling this a landmark year for Portsmouth Abbey School wouldn’t do the occasion justice. Founded by Dom Hugh Diman, O.S.B. in September 1926, the Rhode Island-based institution, originally called the Portsmouth Priory, has an array of centennial celebration activities planned for the 2026–2027 calendar. While they will largely pay tribute to Portsmouth Abbey’s rich history, current students are also benefiting from related initiatives that support their continued growth, including in athletics.
Portsmouth Abbey, a coeducational Catholic Benedictine boarding and day school (grades 9-12), empowers its 350 students with an athletics philosophy that nurtures a courageous mindset and a willingness to go outside of their comfort zone. With program pillars that include promoting multi-sport participation and embracing a teacher-coach model, the school’s 44 teams provide student-athletes various opportunities to engage in activities that teach diligence and teamwork. Maintaining access to reliable facilities that offer both safety and performance is critical to supporting a wide range of athletics through the fall, winter, and spring. Portsmouth Abbey’s commitment to providing such resources was most recently highlighted with the artificial turf replacement at the campus’s St. Hilda Turf Field.
St. Hilda FieldTurf Upgrade
Originally constructed in 2014, the field’s new system from FieldTurf by Tarkett Sports was installed a few weeks before the start of the school year. With markings for soccer, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, and field hockey, St. Hilda Turf Field is a focal point for the campus both practically and aesthetically. “The community excitement for the new field has been through the roof since the time that it was announced,” said Director of Athletics Christopher Milmoe, who has held the position since 2022. “St. Hilda Turf Field is like a flame that attracts the
moths. Tons of athletes across different sports can enjoy it, along with so many who use it as a gathering spot when it’s not being used for sports.” Situated alongside the Narragansett Bay, Portsmouth Abbey offers scenery that rivals any of New England’s most stunning campuses. The playing field, which now uses a FieldTurf Classic HD system, rests on the shore of the bay and provides a particularly breathtaking view that could appeal to any student, current or prospective. The picturesque view does not come without corresponding challenges. Chief among them is the region’s spring weather and its potential impact on field conditions as schools navigate the often-volatile transition from March through May. A reliable artificial turf system can make it much easier to overcome this and other hurdles throughout the year, such as unexpected rainfall, and keep players on the field. That need led to FieldTurf, which has built a strong reputation across New England, being chosen for St. Hilda Field’s first turf replacement in 12 years. “Field conditions are a constant conversation among athletic directors in the region,” said Milmoe. “We need to provide our student-athletes with a field that will continue to support them for years to come, and working with FieldTurf to make that happen was a great experience throughout.” As Milmoe goes on to explain, there is another aesthetic component to the
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NEPSAC CORPORATE PARTNER multi-purpose field, key to the Portsmouth identity, that the school community has been excited to see front and center. “It was important that for this new field we got the School’s Veritas logo on there,” he said. “This is the premier field on campus, and a showcase of our commitment to multi-sport participation. We love having the parents line up along the hill so that we can show it off to them.” As “Veritas,” Latin for “Truth,” is the official school motto, that same logo is displayed throughout the campus. It reflects the love of learning fundamental to the Benedictine tradition, grounded in wonder, undertaken in humility, and fueled by a hunger for truth.
Celebrating Another Milestone
2026 also marks 35 years since Portsmouth Abbey embraced a coeducation model, positioning it as the nation’s top coeducational Catholic Benedictine boarding school. That change, in turn, significantly increased the number of student-athletes requiring top-tier facilities. Girls’ teams currently account for 20 of the school’s 44, which encompass both varsity and junior varsity, while four other teams ([i.e., wrestling, squash, and sailing (varsity and JV)] are coed. Now, after more than three decades of coed athletics, it’s appropriate that the centennial also includes the unveiling of a new Portsmouth Abbey School Athletic Hall of Fame, which will “honor individuals and teams whose dedication, achievement, and service have made a lasting impact on Raven athletics.” Members of the school community can nominate former student-athletes,
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coaches, teams, and athletic supporters who exemplify excellence, leadership, and commitment to the school for inclusion. As the Portsmouth Abbey community celebrates its past while simultaneously looking towards the future, it remains more committed than ever to helping students realize their own greatness as they prepare for a life of purpose and meaning. Through that lens, St. Hilda Turf Field is more than just a trusted playing surface. Its location, updated design, and role as a gathering space all emphasize Portsmouth Abbey as fertile ground for inspiration and transformation where students have the space to grow into the person they are meant to be.
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ARTIFICIAL TURF
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NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 | 23
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LOOMIS CHAFFEE | WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT
Remaining Clear-Eyed, Keeping His Eye on the Ball by Loomis Chaffee Communications Department photos courtesy of Charlotte FC
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hen Will Cleary ‘22 was growing up on the Loomis Chaffee campus, his favorite thing to do in the fall was watching the soccer teams in the Meadows. “I thought the players were so old, so good, so cool,” Will said recently. “I wanted to be like them. I looked up to them so much and thought I didn’t know if I’d ever be good enough to play for Loomis. They inspired me so much. So then the goal was to work hard enough to put the Loomis shirt on.” He not only put the LC shirt on but was captain for two years. He then put the Stanford University shirt on and was captain there as a senior. And now he wears the Charlotte FC shirt in Major League Soccer. “I always had a lot of pride playing for Loomis and wanted to push to be the best I could be,” Will said. That desire to give it his all not only spilled over into other sports — but in all aspects of his life at Loomis. He earned 12 varsity letters (four each in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse). As a junior, he received a Founders Prize in recognition of his scholarship and citizenship. As a senior he received the Sellers Faculty Prize, given for personal achievement and service to the LC community. He graduated with cum laude honors. Will’s accolades on and off the pitch continued at Stanford, ranging from being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team to earning College Soccer Coaches first-team Academic All-America honors. So it might come as no surprise that in his first MLS start on May 23, he was named Man of the Match, given to the player judged the most outstanding player in the game. Will completed 34 passes and assisted on the game’s only goal as Charlotte beat New England 1-0 in North
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Carolina. Will was selected 22nd overall by Charlotte in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. Will’s parents, Director of Admission and Financial Aid Nancy Cleary and math teacher Joe Cleary, were both college athletes. Nancy played volleyball and basketball at Williams College. She scored 1,472 points and had 962 rebounds in her basketball career and was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. Nancy’s father, Bill “Moose” Hedeman ’54, played basketball and at Loomis Chaffee and at Williams. Joe played soccer and lacrosse at Siena College and still plays in a men’s league. Will texted his parents the night before the New England game saying he thought he would be starting the game. They flew down Saturday morning. So did an aunt and uncle. It was a day the family won’t soon forget. “There was a lot of joy, happiness, pride, and getting to see my family really brought out the emotions even more,” Will said. “For me, I’m always trying to move forward. That was a great day, a great moment, and I’m glad I got to share it with my family, and now it’s how do I make [starting] a more consistent thing?” “This has been his dream since I can remember,” Nancy said. “For him to step
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Will: “I always had a lot of pride playing for Loomis and wanted to push to be the best I could be.” That mindset took him from Loomis Chaffee to Stanford University to professional soccer.
on that field and reach that ... it was super emotional, as you can imagine.” Commencement at Loomis Chaffee was the next day, Sunday, May 24. Being back in time for Commencement was important. Nancy had multiple advisees graduating, including the Class Speaker, Max Shactman. Nancy and Joe flew back at 6 a.m. The MLS is on break now for the FIFA World Cup. Charlotte’s next game is July 27. Will had a short break but is back working with Crown Legacy FC, the reserve team of Charlotte FC. “I want to keep working, keep pushing, so when the season starts, I’ll be good to go.” At the moment, the soccer world — and many who generally don’t pay attention to the game — is caught up in the World Cup, an event that comes around every four years. There are 48 teams in this year’s tournament, the most in the history of the event, and games are being contested in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The World Cup began on June 11 and continues through July 19. FIFA, which is the governing body of the sport, estimated 6 billion people will watch games in some form. Will said the only thing he can think of that comes close to the global appeal of the World Cup is the Olympics. “Every soccer player dreams of representing their country and being on that stage. It really is the biggest stage in sports. I don’t think there’s much like it.”
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He said what he enjoys most about playing soccer is the team aspect. “There is individual brilliance,” he said, “but at the end of the day if you are not surrounded by people working as hard as you are, you have no chance at succeeding, so it’s about the group. How you fit into the group and how you can make that group the best it possibly can be. And that will change because the starting lineup changes and you’re filling a different role. There are tweaks you have to make.” Will has had to tweak his game. He is a defender in the MLS, the position he played at Stanford. At Loomis Chaffee he was a center midfielder. “Another thing I loved about being at Loomis was I wasn’t limited to just playing soccer,” Will said. “I could compete across all three seasons, and I think that helped me in soccer when I went to Stanford and switched positions, becoming a defender. It was similar to defending in basketball, so I didn’t have much trouble getting used to that.” Will also enjoyed the social aspect outside of sports at Loomis and the tight-knit community. “I made great friends and met people from around the world,” he said, “and that has helped me connect to my teammates now, who are from all over the world and from all different walks of life. Being exposed to so many others at Loomis was a blessing.”
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GREENWICH ACADEMY | GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT
Greenwich Alumnae Inducted into Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame
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reenwich Academy alumnae Elizabeth and Phyllis Fogarty ’87 were inducted into the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame on Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. The Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame was founded in 1999 to recognize, honor, and perpetuate the memory of those who support, participate, serve, or enhance field hockey in Connecticut. The Fogarty sisters played under legendary Greenwich Academy head coach Angela Tammaro, anchoring a dominant era for the program. Undefeated in three seasons, they led the Gators to three consecutive FAA Championships from 1984 to 1986 as part of a remarkable 56-game winning streak (New England Tournaments began after their graduation). Both sisters earned High School All-American honors in 1986 and won Bronze Medals in Jr. Olympic Field Hockey. Individually, Phyllis was the team’s field hockey scoring leader in ’84, ’85, and ’86, finishing with 96 goals, and was named Greenwich Time Athlete of the Year in 1986. Beyond field hockey, both Elizabeth and Phyllis were standout three-sport athletes for the Gators, also competing in basketball, and lacrosse. Following their storied high school careers, both sisters transitioned seamlessly to the collegiate level, building stellar athletic and academic careers with the Princeton Tigers and cementing their status among the region’s top athletic talent. Elizabeth and Phyllis Fogarty are part of a distinguished class of fellow high school and collegiate honorees recognized for their lasting contributions to the sport in Connecticut.
From left: Phyllis Fogarty ’87, Coach Angela Tammaro, Elizabeth Fogarty ’87.
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Official AED Partner of NEPSAC
Because cardiac emergencies don’t wait for the final whistle. From practices and competitions to classrooms and campus events, Avive helps schools strengthen cardiac emergency preparedness with connected AED technology.
Learn how Avive can help strengthen your school’s AED program.
28 | NEPSAC News | Fall 2026
Member Benefits Exclusive discount for NEPSAC member schools. Connected AED with automatic readiness monitoring. Lightweight design for portability and flexible campus placement. Child mode built in. No pediatric pads re¨uired.
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Prepared for the Moment
How one athletic trainer’s preparation and quick response helped save a student-athlete’s life
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thletic trainers prepare for emergencies they hope will never happen. For Dr. Peter Koeniges, athletic trainer at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, New Jersey, that preparation became lifesaving during a varsity basketball game earlier this year. Late in the first half of a January game, Koeniges was already responding to an injury. A Northern Highlands player had hit his head on the court, and Koeniges was helping him off the floor when another emergency began unfolding near the visiting team’s bench. A student-athlete had suddenly collapsed. “I heard someone say ‘Man down, need an AED,’ so I ran over there,” Koeniges recalled. Within moments, the situation had changed from a basketball game to a fight to save a young life.
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KEVIN R. WEXLER / NORTHJERSEY.COM
When Training Takes Over
Koeniges reached the student-athlete and joined two physicians who had come down from the stands to help. The athlete had suffered sudden cardiac arrest. Koeniges had an AED positioned with him at the game. He used the device to deliver a shock, then continued the emergency response with CPR as others assisted and first responders made their way to the gym. The student-athlete’s heartbeat was restored, and by the time paramedics arrived, he had begun breathing on his own. For Koeniges, a veteran athletic trainer who has spent more than three decades in the profession, the response was rooted in preparation. “Your training kicks in,” Koeniges said. “You figure out what’s most important and you go from there.”
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NEPSAC CORPORATE PARTNER gency preparedness: How quickly can an AED reach an athlete when sudden cardiac arrest occurs? For athletic trainers, portability can help bring the device closer to the people they are responsible for protecting. The AED Koeniges used during the lifesaving response was an Avive Connect AED®. Designed to be lightweight and portable, the device can travel with athletic trainers rather than relying solely on fixed AED placement throughout a campus. That gives schools another option for putting lifesaving technology closer to practices, competitions and other athletic activities. The importance of that proximity becomes much clearer when an emergency is no longer hypothetical. As Koeniges later said of the response, “It only took a couple of minutes, which is good. The longer it takes, the poorer the outcome.”
Preparation Before the Emergency
KEVIN R. WEXLER / NORTHJERSEY.COM
But he is also quick to point to the team around him. “I’m thankful others were there to step in. Our whole training staff was prepared.” That preparation was not accidental. Northern Highlands has an emergency action plan, and its staff practices how they will respond when an emergency occurs. “We have an emergency action plan that we practice a few times a year,” Koeniges said. “What happened on Tuesday night was not very different from those procedures that we run through.”
The Critical Role of the Athletic Trainer
The events at Northern Highlands offer a powerful reminder of the role athletic trainers play in keeping student-athletes safe. Their work extends far beyond evaluating injuries and helping athletes return to play. Athletic trainers prepare for the moments when seconds matter: recognizing an emergency, coordinating a response, beginning lifesaving care and making sure the right equipment is available when and where it is needed. That last piece is especially important in athletics. Games and practices do not happen in one place. Athletic trainers move between gyms, fields, courts and training spaces. A school may have AEDs strategically mounted throughout its facilities, but in an emergency, someone still has to reach the device and bring it to the person who needs it. Koeniges had an AED with him that night. That seemingly simple detail demonstrates an important consideration for any athletic program evaluating its cardiac emer-
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There is no single piece of equipment or individual action that tells the entire story of what happened at Northern Highlands. There was an athletic trainer who recognized the emergency and responded. There were physicians in the stands who stepped in to help. There was an AED immediately available. There were school staff and first responders working together. And behind the response was an emergency action plan that had been practiced before anyone knew it would be needed. The Northern Highlands Board of Education later formally recognized Koeniges and the two physicians for their actions, stating that their quick response and medical attention saved the student-athlete’s life. For athletic trainers throughout the NEPSAC community, the story is both sobering and inspiring. Much of emergency preparedness happens quietly. It is reviewing an emergency action plan. It is running another drill. It is checking equipment. It is thinking through where an AED will be during a practice or competition. It is making sure other staff members know their roles. Most days, that preparation will never be tested. But on the day that it is, it can make all the difference. Peter Koeniges and the team at Northern Highlands were prepared for the moment. And because they were, a student-athlete went home.
About Avive
Avive is the Official AED Partner of NEPSAC, helping schools strengthen cardiac emergency preparedness with connected AED technology. The Avive Connect AED® combines a lightweight, portable design with automatic readiness monitoring, making it easier for schools to keep lifesaving equipment ready and accessible across athletic facilities and campus environments. NEPSAC member schools receive exclusive partner pricing on the Avive Connect AED®. Learn more at avive.life/nepsac.
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NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 | 31
Moove is a fun, six-week fitness competition that helps teachers, coaches, and staff connect, move more, and support each other — all through a gamified experience that feels like fantasy football meets wellness. Teams compete in a private league, score points for activity, in hopes of making the playoffs, where one champion will be crowned. The Moove platform helps strengthen community, boost engagement/culture, and promote wellbeing across school communities.
32 | NEPSAC News | Fall 2026
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PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY | EXETER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Long Run
Exeter honors K. Tucker Andersen ’59 during indoor track dedication by Brian Muldoon
Group running across a finish line at Thompson Field House
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hen the community gathered in May inside the William Boyce Thompson Field House, it wasn’t simply to name the indoor track for K. Tucker Andersen ’59. It was to honor Andersen’s life, built on the belief that each generation should support the next. Andersen “has served Exeter with distinction for decades as a trustee, volunteer and steadfast supporter,” Principal Bill Rawson ’71 said at the event. “His efforts have truly helped shape the Exeter experience for so many students and will continue to impact future classes.” Andersen responded: “I am extremely appreciative of this honor. I am where I am because I allowed myself to accept helping hands along the way, learn from them, benefit from them — and hopefully I can pass that on.” He spoke of the friendships he forged at the Academy, of Hammy Bissell ’29, who was instrumental in his coming to Exeter as an upper on financial aid, and of a philosophy he has carried
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ever since: “My goal in life has been to allow the students to stand on the shoulders of the classes before them,” Andersen said. “Allow them to benefit from our friendship, learn from our mistakes, and understand that making mistakes is a central process to learning.” Andersen was quick to add he was “not much of an athlete” during his Exeter years, but he found running as an adult. At 84, he has become, by his own admission, “obsessed.” In November he completed his 47th New York City Marathon and is training for his 48th. The ceremony closed, fittingly, with running a lap. Andersen took to the track alongside current students, Rawson, faculty and staff for 200 meters, the first officially run under the track’s new name. This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 issue of The Exeter Bulletin.
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HOLDERNESS SCHOOL | HOLDERNESS, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Bram Hikmate ’22 Founds Competitive Freeski Team at Westminster University by Maxfield Paro
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hen Bram Hikmate ’22 arrived on campus, Westminster University did not have a freeski team. However, the school did have a competitive snowboard team competing in the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA). Seeing the opportunity to continue competing in the sport he loves, with the help of two friends on the snowboard team, Bram put together a pitch to begin a freeski team: “It was something I really wanted. I just wasn’t quite done competing.” While it didn’t happen overnight, Bram’s hard work eventually paid off, and the team received approval from the school at the end of his sophomore year.
Building a Program
The team competed in three events during the 2024-25 season, including the USCSA National Championships. Reflecting on the team’s first trip to nationals, Bram said, “ It was cool to see how many schools were a part of it and how many like-minded individuals wanted to ski in college. It meant a lot to me just being able to continue to ski in college.”
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For his work helping launch the program, Bram was awarded the 2025 Westminster University Freeski Backbone Award. “Recognizing Unity, Commitment, and Reliability,” the Backbone award is given to the athlete who is the heart and glue of the team and goes beyond to uplift others and support their teammates. Fully deserving of this recognition, the award highlights Bram’s vision for the team: “Providing people with a place to improve and achieve their goals, I think that’s really what I set out to do.”
Success on the Slopes
Bram’s dedication to the team was rewarded entering the team’s second year: “That first year was awesome, but then the team doubled in size this year. Being able to welcome 12 or 14 new athletes and share the experience with them was amazing.” The team was also excelling on the slopes. At the 2026 USCSA National Championships, Westminster Men’s Freeski took first place in Big Air, Slopestyle, and Rail Jam, sweeping the podium in all three events. The Women’s team placed first in both the Rail Jam and Big Air, with both teams winning the overall team National Champion-
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IT MEANT A LOT
ships. Bram claimed the top step of the podium that meant beyond just skiing. I played both JV in both Big Air and Slopestyle, closing out his coland Varsity soccer at Holderness. Then I joined TO ME JUST BEING legiate career as a two-time National Champion. the club soccer team at Westminster. HolderABLE TO CONTINUE While investing his time into the success of ness instills in its students a love of the outdoors, the freeski team, Bram had also taken on a large being outside, and wanting to get the most out TO SKI IN COLLEGE. role in Westminster’s Ski and Snowboard Club. of your body.” One of the largest clubs on Westminster’s camFinding a balance between his academics pus, Bram didn’t pass up the opportunity to get and athletics has been crucial to Bram’s sucinvolved. Joining as a board member his sophomore year, Bram cess in college: “As a student-athlete in college, in the same way served as the club president his senior year: as when I was a student-athlete at Holderness, you need to effec“Westminster, being where it is, right in the Wasatch Mountains, tively manage all of your responsibilities, projects, and homework, there’s this huge ski culture. There’s freestyle, freeride, backcounwhile still traveling and competing. Holderness teaches you how try, touring, heli-skiing; there’s every type of skiing and snowboardto balance everything, and I’ve carried that into my college career; ing you can imagine. From the club’s perspective, we just try to it has been life-saving at times.” bring everyone together and create a community.” As he moves on from collegiate skiing, Bram hopes others will From organising the sale of student ski passes, to hosting waxtake the initiative to start programs at their schools: “Creating ing nights, and running an outdoor gear drive in support of unshela team through the USCSA portal is pretty easy. If you get to a tered persons in Salt Lake City, the club is a hub for those that school, they don’t have a freestyle team, and you really want one, enjoy snowsports. please hit me up. I can help you. It just depends on how bad you want it. If you wanna keep skiing competitively, it’s actually not as hard as you think to make it happen. It definitely takes time, but A Love of Competition you’ll find a lot of people, whether that’s faculty, staff, professors, Bram’s love for the outdoors and competition was fully realized or other students, who are willing to help you and support you.” at Holderness: “Holderness teaches you a love for sports. For me,
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NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 | 35
EVERYTHING YOU NEED. BRANDS YOU TRUST. SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. MHEC is New England’s nonprofit purchasing consortium, helping schools access trusted supplier. Whether you’re outfitting a team, upgrading a weight room, replacing scoreboards, or planning a
facility project, MHEC helps simplify purchasing with contracts that have already been awarded through a fair, open, and competitive process.
Fitness Centers & Weight Rooms
Uniforms & Team Apparel
Athletic Equipment & Team Gear
Gymnasium & Athletic Facilities
Athletic Flooring & Synthetic Turf
Scoreboards & Athletic Technology
Sports Medicine & Athletic Training
Field and Facility Maintenance
Save time. Skip the search.
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Tell us what you need and MHEC’s Quote Desk will help you find suppliers that can help. NEPSAC News | Fall 2026
Need Help with a Project? Connect with an MHEC representative. LINDSAY DUTCHER Member Services Manager Municipalities, K-12, Libraries Eastern MA, ME, and RI ldutcher@mhec.net 413.992.2510
JAMES ANDERSON Member Services Manager Municipalities, K-12, Libraries Western MA, CT, NH, and VT janderson@mhec.net 413.992.2504 www.nepsac.org
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Make Procurement Part of the Game
Y
ou probably didn’t become an athletic director because you wanted to compare contracts for weight equipment, turf, team uniforms, scoreboards, transportation and custodial supplies. But purchasing decisions like those can consume a surprising amount of your time and budget. Today’s athletic directors are expected to do more with less. You’re managing multiple programs, facilities, staff, travel, equipment, and every-increasing expectations, all while making sure purchases are cost-effective, compliant, and supported by suppliers you can trust. That’s why procurement deserves a place in the conversation when it comes to athletic program strategy. Strategic procurement isn’t simply about finding the lowest price. It’s about making it easier to access the brands your program already knows and trusts, while having the support to move quickly when needs arise. The goal isn’t simply to spend less. It’s to make every purchasing decision work harder for your program. Athletic Departments Buy More than Most People Think Athletics purchasing extends far beyond uniforms and equipment. Depending on the size and scope of your program, you may be buying: Each category creates another decision, another supplier search, another comparison and another administrative process. That time adds up. And the true cost of purchasing isn’t always visible on the invoice because the time you’re spending here is time taken away from your teams, coaches, facilities and students.
A Simpler Way to Buy
Our goal is simple: To make it easier for schools to access the solutions they need so they can focus on what matters most: their students ~ Michael DiYeso, CEO, MHEC
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NEPSAC has partnered with MHEC, a nonprofit, member-driven purchasing consortium serving educational institutions and public entities across New England. Cooperative purchasing contracts, like those offered by MHEC, can help schools reduce the amount of work required to find and evaluate suppliers. Instead of beginning every purchase with a blank page, you may already have access to competitively-bid contracts that can help you move more quickly. That can mean: » Saving money through competitive pricing.
» Reducing risk by working through established contracts and trusted suppliers. » Expanding options by accessing a broader range of suppliers and purchasing categories. » Simplifying the process with a clearer path from need to purchase. » Getting support when the purchase is complicated or you’re not sure where to begin. For many athletic departments, that support may be just as valuable as the contract itself.
» Saving time by reducing research and administrative work.
NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 | 37
NEPSAC CORPORATE PARTNER
Procurement in Action In fiscal-year 2026, NEPSAC members utilized MHEC contracts for more than $25.8 million in campus-wide purchasing, including $22.4 million on athletic and recreation contracts. And using those contracts allowed for $2.9 million worth of cost avoidance.
You Have a Team in Your Corner For athletics departments, accessibility matters. Needs can change quickly, projects move on tight timelines, and finding the right product or supplier shouldn’t require starting from scratch every time. MHEC gives you several ways to find what you need, get answers and move a purchase forward. Whether you prefer to search on your own or want someone to help, there’s a resource designed for the way you work.
Explore MHEC.net
Start with the website to browse contracts, search suppliers and explore the range of products and services available through MHEC. It’s the best place to see what may already be available before you start sourcing from scratch.
Ask Ribbit
Ribbit is MHEC’s custom-built AI chatbot designed specifically around MHEC contracts. Rather than searching through contract documents yourself, you can ask questions in plain language and essentially talk directly with the contracts to find the information you need.
Talk with a Contract Expert
Not sure which contract applies, what options are available or where to begin? MHEC’s contract experts know the portfolio because all of their contracts are created and managed by their Strategic Sourcing Managers.
Use the Quote Desk
Not enough time to get quotes? Have a hard-to-find item? Send your request to Quote Desk and MHEC can help identify appropriate suppliers and gather quote options for you.
Access the Service Desk
Have a question and don’t know where to turn? Service Desk is your general point of contact when you need help navigating a purchase, finding information or figuring out the next step.
Learn in Person
MHEC’s EXPO, their annual tradeshow held in September, and other events give members opportunities to meet suppliers, see products and solutions firsthand, learn about available contracts and talk directly with the MHEC team.
Names You Know, With Even More Options These are the suppliers NEPSAC members purchased from through MHEC contracts in the last year. You’ll likely recognize many of the names and are probably already doing business with some of them. And because MHEC’s contracts include a much broader range of suppliers and solutions, you may also find additional options you haven’t considered before. » Action Apparel, LLC » Ardent Fitness LLC » Bluehouse Designs LLC DBA Premier Park and Play » BSN Sports LLC » Centurion Partners Health and Fitness LLC dba Fitnessmith » Cintas Corporation » Discount School Supply » Eleiko Sport Inc » Fitness Ventures International, LLC DBA Aktiv Solutions » G&G Fitness Equipment, LLC dba Gronk Fitness » Grand Slam Safety, LLC » Hertz Furniture Systems LLC » M.E. O’Brien & Sons Inc. » Matrix Fitness a division of Johnson Health Tech » Medco Supply Co. » MFAC, LLC dba MF Athletic » National Equipment and Facility Solutions, Inc » New England Recreation Group, Inc. » Northeast Promotion & Apparel
» Pop Tops Sportswear » Power Systems » Precor, Inc. a subsidiary of Peloton Interactive » Pro-Quip Inc » R.A.D. Sports » Riddell / All American » Ringside / Fitness First / Combat Sports International » Robert H Lord Company, Inc » School Health Corporation » Scoreboard Enterprises, Inc. » Sentry Uniform and Equipment » Sport Pro Surfacing » Stadium System, Inc. » Survival Armor, Inc. » Three T Enterprises DBA Grogan Marciano Sporting Goods » TJF Ventures LLC dba Fitness Superstore » Trippi’s Uniforms » True Fitness Technology » TurfOptix » UltiPlay Park & Playgrounds, Inc » UniFirst Corp.
sourced contracts, a broad network of suppliers and brands, practical tools to help you find what you need, and real people who can step in when the process gets complicated. Whether you’re looking for a contract, a quote, a supplier or simply a better place to start, MHEC is there to help make the path from need to purchase a little easier. At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to make athletic directors better at procurement. It’s to make procurement take up less of your day, so you can stay focused on your programs, your teams and your students.
Go Further
NEPSAC has partnered with MHEC to give its members an easier way to navigate purchasing. That means access to competitively
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www.nepsac.org
Athletic Director | Green Level High School
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NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 | 39
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ST. LUKE’S SCHOOL | NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT
Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve:
Ali Truwit ’18 Champions Paralympic Swimming
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hen Ali Truwit graduated from SLS in 2018, she carried our motto, “Enter to learn, go forth to serve,” with her. Today, she is an international symbol of the Paralympic movement, working to better the lives of athletes across the globe.
At the 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships in Walnut, California, Truwit delivered another standout performance, earning two runner-up finishes and breaking her own American record in the S10 100meter backstroke. But what happened off the blocks may have been even more significant than what happened in the water. Through her nonprofit, the Stronger Than You Think Foundation, Truwit made a $500,000 gift to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation to launch the Stronger Than You Think Performance Incentive Fund: a first-of-its-kind program that provides financial awards to U.S. Paralympic swimmers who place first through third or set world records at designated competitions on the road to the LA 2028 Paralympic Games. The fund debuted at Para Pan Pacs, where eligible swimmers earned $3,472 for first place, $2,083 for second, and $1,389 for third, with a $10,000 bonus for breaking a world record. “When I look at Olympic swimming and see the checks the swimmers get to hold when they win events at various world competitions, I want that for Para athletes too,” Truwit told Team USA. “Providing financial rewards to U.S. Paralympic athletes adds legitimacy and drives support and excitement around athletes, helping to drive awareness and momentum for the overall Paralympic Movement.” The initiative addresses a real gap. Paralympic athletes face the same training, travel, equipment, and medical costs as their Olympic counterparts, often with far less financial support. Truwit’s fund aims to ease that burden so athletes can focus on training and competing. Additional awards will be distributed at World Series meets in 2027 and 2028, and Truwit’s long-term vision is to scale the fund across the entire Paralympic movement. “My big
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goal for this initiative is that it scales across the Paralympic movement to other sports, as well as in the number of competitions it’s offered at each year, with increased pools for even more impactful financial rewards for athletes,” Truwit said. From the SLS hilltop to the Paralympic podium to the boardroom of a foundation changing lives, Ali Truwit entered to learn, and she has gone forth to serve in extraordinary fashion. To learn more or support the Stronger Than You Think Foundation, visit strongerthanyouthink.org.
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KINGSWOOD OXFORD | WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
Basketball Coach Held Free Clinics for Locals in St. Lucia by Jackie Pisani | photos courtesy of Brad Seaman
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hat began as a postgame conversation last winter has grown into an international partnership that is already changing lives through basketball. Earlier this summer, varsity basketball coach Brad Seaman traveled to St. Lucia to lead a free three-day basketball clinic for more than 20 young athletes, sharing not only the fundamentals of the game but also lessons in leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. The opportunity came about in an unexpected way. After KO faced Marianapolis during the basketball season, Seaman struck up a conversation with one of Marianapolis’ players, a native of St. Lucia. That introduction led him to the player’s AAU coach, who invited Seaman to work with a youth basketball program on the island. Rather than viewing the invitation as a business opportunity, Seaman saw it as a chance to give back. “I didn’t charge anything,” he said. “I wanted to do it for the experience.” For three days, Seaman worked with players ranging from elementary school students just beginning their basketball journeys to older teens hoping to elevate their games. Practices focused on ball handling, shooting mechanics, defensive fundamentals, footwork, and decision-making, while reinforcing the importance of discipline, communication, and playing for one another. “I wanted them to experience the same values we emphasize at Kingswood Oxford,” Seaman said. “Basketball is about so much more than putting the ball in the basket. It’s about learning how to work hard, trust your teammates, and keep improving every day.” The enthusiasm was contagious. On outdoor courts in the Caribbean heat, players eagerly absorbed every drill and every lesson. Between instruction, laughter, and conversation, rela-
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tionships quickly formed. For many of the young athletes, it was their first opportunity to work closely with a coach from the United States. According to local organizers, the clinic was designed not only to develop basketball skills but also to expose players to educational and athletic opportunities that exist beyond the island. By connecting local athletes with experienced coaches, the program hopes to broaden horizons while continuing to grow the sport in St. Lucia. For Seaman, however, the greatest takeaway wasn’t what he taught; it was what he learned. “It was a wonderful time,” he said. “The people were incredibly welcoming, and the kids’ passion for basketball was amazing. They wanted to learn, they asked great questions, and they worked hard every single day.” The success of the clinic has already sparked plans for the future. Seaman is now collaborating with the program’s director to expand the initiative, with hopes of returning next summer for an even larger event.”We’re already talking about how to grow it for next year,” he said. “This was really just the beginning.”
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KIMBALL UNION ACADEMY | MERIDEN, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Connecting Cultures Through Sport
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enya isn’t the most obvious destination for summer hockey clinics, but for 10 days in August, Girls’ Varsity Hockey Coach and Learning Center Teacher Bella Parento ’20 shared her passion for the sport with children in the East African nation. Parento joined seven people from the non-profit organization Sticks Together, founded by her former St. Lawrence University teammate and roommate, Sarah Thompson. They hosted on-ice workouts with local athletes and traveled to various schools throughout Kenya to play roller hockey — the off-ice variant of their on-ice specialty. “The organization’s mission is really centered around using hockey to create opportunities for young people around the world to learn, play, connect, and experience something that might otherwise feel very far Girls’ Varsity Hockey Coach and Learning Center Teacher Bella Parento ’20 fist bumps a away from them,” Parento explained, addyoung athlete in Kenya. ing that Sticks Together has also worked in Argentina, the Philippines, and South Africa. “The destinations may change, but the heart of the organization ment and made me appreciate how much talent and potential stays the same — using hockey as a common language.” exists when athletes are simply given an opportunity.” With only one hockey rink in Eastern and Central Africa — in the Off the ice, Parento and her group visited several local schools Panari Hotel in Nairobi — Sticks Together played a key role in supwhere they played roller hockey with students and took time to plementing cost barriers and transportation hurdles that prevent talk about shared experiences. many from ever taking up the sport. “Those visits were particularly meaningful to me because they Though many of the athletes had never stepped onto a clean were all girls’ secondary boarding schools, which is the age group I sheet of ice before, Parento said it was exciting to see how their now teach and coach,” Parento said. “I felt like I had an immediate previous experiences on roller skates helped ease the learning point of connection with these young women. I was also once a girl curve. She said she was also moved by the athletes’ thirst for feedin a boarding-school environment and so I found myself constantly back and willingness to learn. comparing our experiences.” “As a coach, that was incredible to witness,” Parento said. “It Parento said preparations for their trip began well before sumgave me a completely different perspective on hockey developmer, with fundraising efforts kicking off as early as January. She credited the KUA community for donating more than $700 for the trip, as well as a large bin of hockey equipment and uniforms greatly appreciated by the Kenyan athletes. Now in her first full season at the helm for the Wildcats, Parento said she’s eager to share her experiences with her team and remind them that hockey is about being a part of something bigger than yourself. “I want to create more opportunities for our girls to connect with the local community, learn from people outside of our school, and understand that they have the ability to use the sport they love to positively impact other people,” Parento said. “Hockey can connect people across cultures and communities. I never want to lose sight of how powerful this sport can be when we use it to connect rather than simply compete.” Coach Parento recently visited Kenya with the non-profit organization @stickstogether, whose goal is to spread opportunities for learning, play, and connection through hockey.
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NEPSAC News | Fall 2026 | 43
80+ Completed Athletic Facilities
PLAN
DESIGN
BUILD
Proven Cost Saving Strategies Without Compromising Quality Stanmar - Official Planning, Design & Construction Partner of NEPSAC 44 | NEPSACdmiller@stanmar-inc.com News | Fall 2026
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(508) 242-3820
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NEPSAC CORPORATE PARTNER HOLDERNESS SCHOOL | HOLDERNESS, NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Athletic Village Stanmar’s Role » Re-evaluate prior athletic facility plans » Align program, budget, and campus goals » Build stakeholder and donor consensus » Develop and evaluate building and site alternatives » Create a phased Athletic Village framework » Integrate athletics and outdoor education » Preserve Holderness’ campus character and identity » Lead campus planning and design through construction The Holderness School learned about Stanmar through our recent work at Worcester Academy, where we designed and constructed a new Athletic Facility for significantly less than prior design estimates. After visiting our recent projects, Holderness hired Stanmar to re-evaluate their athletic capital needs. Holderness’ prior efforts to design an athletics village had stalled due to significant cost and a vision that ‘fit’ the campus culture and aesthetics. Stanmar reimagined the project based on a more focused analysis of the site and programming requirements. The result is a village concept that broke the programmatic needs into distinct,
interrelated facilities that made sense. Future locations for an indoor turf facility and tennis pavilion were identified with logical, achievable utility needs and campus circulation impact. The architectural vernacular was reimagined to fit both New Hampshire and Holderness’ perception of itself. As an institution that prides itself on the outdoors, the idea of multiple facilities kids walk to and from that are sited adjacent to snow-sport activities galvanized the community behind the project. The design reflects Stanmar’s ability to listen to our clients and then creatively and iteratively arrive at a solution that makes sense to all constituents. The Athletics Village has an estimated construction start next summer. Drawings provided by Stanmar
To schedule your complimentary project evaluation from the Stanmar team contact: Dawson Miller, Project Development Coordinator
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THE WILLISTON NORTHAMPTON SCHOOL | EASTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Francesca Gionfriddo ’26 Helps Italy Capture Gold at World Lacrosse Championships by Geoff Smith ’07
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illiston lacrosse alumna Francesca Gionfriddo ’26 capped off a monumental summer by helping Team Italy take home gold at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship Division II in July in Poland. Gionfriddo and her Italian teammates won gold after defeating Mexico 11-4 in the championship game. The win not only gave the Italian team gold but served as a bit of revenge after Mexico beat Italy in pool play during the eight-day tournament. “Each part of the experience was incredible,” Francesca said. “I am so grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way and contributed to my lacrosse journey. It’s very special to be able
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to play lacrosse with people from around the world, all with such different experiences and perspectives. I feel like I learned a lot just from being surrounded by different styles of play.” The chance to play for Italy started through an Instagram ad. Francesca, who is Italian-American and has family in Italy, saw an ad for a tryout and took a chance to try. “I knew I was eligible for citizenship but had never really looked into doing the paperwork until it became a possibility to play for Italy,” Francesca said. “After the initial tryout (September 2023), my sister [Catherine] and I attended annual training camps in Italy and a few more as selections were being made for the world championship roster. Once I learned that it existed, this certainly became something that I wanted to do.” During the championship game, Gionfriddo won 7 of the 11 draws she took for Team Italy, serving as the main draw taker for the team. For the tournament, she finished with three goals and two assists. In addition to the success on the field, Francesca noted the experience of being in Wroclaw, Poland, with a group of teammates was amazing. “I had never been to Poland so it was fun to try all types of new food. We were there on National Pierogi day so the tournament organizers set up a tasting for the players. “The team dynamic is also very unique because we all have a lot in common but also many differences. Everyone was focused on working their hardest and making everyone around them better.” Being able to showcase the sport to her family in Italy meant a lot to Francesca, as well. During her time at Williston, Francesca
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would make her grandmother’s tiramisu for the Community Connections fair to showcase her heritage. With lacrosse, she’s able to share her passions back with her Italian family. “It’s not super popular there yet so they were a little confused at first,” Francesca said. “It was also very special because some players have been involved with Italy lacrosse since it was started in Italy so winning gold was especially powerful in showing all that they have achieved. The team is very hardworking and fun, both components which I believe led to our success.” The gold is a fitting finale for a busy summer and spring of lacrosse for Francesca. At Williston, she was named a U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American and earned the school’s “White Blazer” award at Convocation, given to the top female student in the graduating class. She will continue her athletic and academic career at Colby College.
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A BSN SPORTS GIRLS' SPORTS PROGRAM
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SURGE is a BSN SPORTS customer-exclusive girls' sports program in partnership with NEPSAC.
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BRUNSWICK SCHOOL | GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT
Shaw ’28 Represents Team USA at U18 World Championships
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ackson Shaw ’28 has spent much of his summer preparing for and representing the United States on the USA Water Polo U18 Men’s National Team against the world’s best youth water polo players. After months of preparation in California and international competition, Shaw helped Team USA advance to the World Aquatics U18 Water Polo World Championship Final and earn the program’s first-ever silver medal in Rio Maior, Portugal. Although Team USA ultimately fell to Croatia in a 21-20 penalty shootout, the silver medal stands as the highest finish in United States history at the U18 World Championships, capping a remarkable summer for both the national program and one of Brunswick’s rising stars. Shaw played an integral role throughout the tournament, winning key swim-offs to secure possessions while contributing offen-
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sively at every stage of the competition. He scored in four consecutive matches, including three goals and four assists in the championship game. Shaw’s summer continues Brunswick’s growing tradition of producing student-athletes capable of competing on the international stage. He follows in the footsteps of Ryan Ohl ’24, who continues to compete with the USA Men’s Senior National Team alongside Olympians after completing another successful season at Stanford University. Ohl represented the United States on the Men’s Senior National Team against China, Montenegro, and Italy while continuing to establish himself as one of the nation’s top young players. Together, Shaw and Ohl exemplify Brunswick’s growing presence within the USA Water Polo pipeline.
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THE WINCHENDON SCHOOL | WINCHENDON, MASSACHUSETTS
Nick Pappas ’21’s Path from Winchendon to Bentley’s Historic Baseball Season
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he Winchendon School alumnus Nick Pappas ’21 just came off of being an essential player in Bentley University’s most successful baseball season in history. From a transformational postgraduate year at The Winchendon School to gaining some of the highest achievements in college athletics, Nick describes this journey as, “nothing short of a dream.” Despite only playing baseball for one year at Winchendon and being faced with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nick and his teammates felt the impact that the year would bring to their future careers as student athletes. Strict schedules, adapting to early morning training and late night games, and making strides in the weight room provided that next level for an athlete looking to make a difference in the program they would attend next. With an appearance in the NCAA Division II College World Series to finish his college career, it can certainly be said that Nick achieved all that he set out to do.
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PHOTO BY BENTLEY COLLEGE
Nick arrived on The Winchendon School’s campus in the fall of 2020 as a postgraduate student after graduating from Boston Latin School. After speaking with Varsity Baseball Head Coach John Toffey about the program and the success stories of the players he had previously coached, Nick knew that Winchendon was where he could take his game to the next level. “Coach Toffey had an impressive resume when it came to coaching and playing baseball,” noted Nick. “I knew that I wanted to be a part of his program.” Nick described the team that year as, “absolutely loaded,” where over 20 players ended up committing to play college baseball by the end of the season. The standards were high from the start, and therefore Nick pushed himself to be the best player that he could throughout the year. As an athlete, Nick’s postgraduate year at Winchendon was a transformative experience. He came into the year having missed the previous baseball season due to COVID-19 and was an under-
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of the year on Wilmington’s team. Nick got up to the plate with two sized player. There were many things about Winchendon that Nick outs and a runner on third. He ended up hitting the game-winning attributes to his smooth transition to college athletics, but the RBI double to send the team to the Division II East Super Regional. main two aspects were his improved physicality and mental matuTo top it all off, he did this on Coach DeFelice’s birthday which was rity as a player. The importance of the weight room was something meaningful as the last player on the team to have ever played for that was instilled in him by the coaching staff. “I came into the him. year weighing about 135 lbs and left campus at 165 lbs, largely in The Division II East Super Regional against Molloy University part to my work in the weightroom, protein shakes, and countless came down to game three once again. The teams were tied 2-2 hours spent in the dining hall after workouts and practices,” Nick going into the bottom of the 9th inning. Bentley was one run away recalled. from advancing to the NCAA Division II Along with improving in the weight room, College World Series for the first time ever. Nick also learned what it meant to be a The team and fans were sent into an absofully committed player. Little things like COACH TOFFEY HAD AN lute frenzy of cheers when Bentley won on strictly wearing Winchendon gear at pracIMPRESSIVE RESUME WHEN a walk-off wild pitch. While Bentley ultitices, knowing the date and time everyday mately lost to Catawba College in the world (something that is largely overlooked by IT CAME TO COACHING AND series, they achieved their goal of being younger players), and knowing that being the best team not only in the Northeast, early is being on time, were beneficial tools PLAYING BASEBALL. I KNEW but the entire East Region. For Nick, this that he took to Bentley. The intense schedwas more than he could ever ask for after ule also improved the way he organized THAT I WANTED TO BE A coming to Winchendon as a player trying his time, a necessary part of living on your PART OF HIS PROGRAM. to get his footing back after COVID-19. own. “Being able to live on my own and “Leaving the program better than I found it have a strict schedule rapidly improved my has made me incredibly proud to be a part time management skills at Winchendon,” of Bentley Baseball,” he noted. “Knowing Nick said. “As a student-athlete, you have that I had a significant role in shaping the future of the program to learn how to operate on a much different schedule than your means everything to me.” The Winchendon School congratulates peers.” Arriving at Bentley and being in that similar routine was Nick on his amazing baseball career at Bentley and looks forward second nature to him, whereas some of his new teammates inito seeing the success of all of our future student athletes. tially had trouble managing their schedules. In his first year at Bentley, Nick and his team were coached by the late Coach Bob DeFelice in his final year as coach. After a 54-year career as the founder and only head coach of Bentley University’s baseball program, the torch was passed from Coach DeFelice to longtime Assistant Coach Mike Hill. Coach Hill’s mission was straightforward: to be the best team in the Northeast. Living up to those expectations was easier said than done, but the team had a vision and they would do everything they could to achieve it. Bentley had never won a conference championship before, let alone make it to a regional tournament, so their work was cut out for them. The 2025-2026 baseball season for Bentley University was record-breaking in numerous ways. To start, they had a 44-17 season, their best ever record, which secured their place in the Northeast 10 Conference Championship. Nick describes it as, “poetic,” that they beat their longtime NE 10 Conference rival Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) in the conference championship on SNHU’s home field. At the end of the season, including the conference championship, they had a 6-0 record against them which had never been done before in the history of the program. Moving onto the regional tournament was a first for Bentley, let alone being there as the #1 seed. They made it to the championship against Wilmington University where they lost the first of three games and had to win twice in a row or face elimination entirely. After a dominant win in the second game, tension was high during the third game when Wilmington was up 5-0 in the 5th inning. What happened next was something Nick described as feeling, “supernatural.” Bentley tied the game up 5-5 in the bottom of the 7th inning, all while facing the East Region pitcher
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NEPSAC CORPORATE PARTNER
Why Setting Process Goals Makes You a Better Coach — And How to Do It
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inning the big game, taking a state title, or finishing top 10 at nationals—these outcome goals are exciting to set with your team. But because they often take months to achieve and are influenced by factors beyond your control, focusing only on outcome goals can leave your team unmotivated when things get tough. That’s where process goals come in. Here, TrueSport Expert Kevin Chapman, PhD, clinical psychologist and founder of The Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, explains what process goals are and how they can help your team stay focused, motivated, and on track toward achieving those big goals.
What exactly are process goals?
“Process goals are sport-specific instructions and habits related to competing as an athlete that lead to positive outcomes,” says Chapman. In other words, process goals break down the big dream—like winning a championship—into the smaller, daily actions and skills that make that dream possible. “Process leads to outcome,” Chapman explains. “In order for your team to achieve those outcome goals you’ve set, like winning state championships or hitting a certain batting average, you’re going to need process goals that break down the targets that will make those big goals possible.” Chapman identifies four main types of process goals to work on with athletes: 1. Tactical or strategic: Define and practice overall strategies or tactics your athletes will use in competition. 2. Mechanical or technical: Focus on improving specific techniques, such as batting stance, shooting form, or passing mechanics. 3. Mental: Develop habits around self-talk, emotional regulation, breathing, imagery, and other mindset skills. 4. Physical: Build physical capacity through measurable targets, like strength training three times a week or improving sleep and nutrition habits. Athletes should have several process goals, with each tied to the bigger outcomes they want to reach. When executed well, these smaller goals add up to meaningful performance improvement.
Why process goals matter for coaches
Process goals aren’t just beneficial for athletes— they help coaches measure progress more effectively. “You can’t gauge how good an athlete is by how well they play in any one game,” says Chapman.
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“To me, you can only actually gauge a good athlete by the process goals that they set and accomplish.” This perspective is especially useful when working with youth athletes. Because they develop at different rates, results may not always reflect effort or potential. One athlete might suddenly grow six inches and start winning races easily, while another—who’s been diligently sticking to their process goals—might still be waiting for that growth spurt. But when that happens, the work they’ve done will pay off in a big way.
How coaches can help set process goals
As a coach, you play a key role in helping athletes translate big aspirations into actionable steps. Start by identifying the season’s primary outcome goal, then work backward to define the small, controllable process goals that will help make it happen. Once an outcome goal is discussed, process goals should naturally follow. “At the outset, from a team standpoint, a coach needs to create a team culture that values process goals more than outcome goals,” says
Chapman. “They should understand that outcome is important, but your process is what leads to it. Let the team know that from a cultural standpoint, the focus is on the process of competing and getting better.” And don’t stop there. Help athletes personalize their plans. “Help athletes identify the areas that would enhance and optimize their individual performance, and based on that, help them set process goals,” says Chapman. Individual goals aren’t selfish, he adds. “Individual process goals will support not only the athlete, but the whole team,” Chapman explains. “If one athlete’s goal is to be more aggressive to the basket on the basketball court, the team stands to benefit from more points because of that goal.” Once goals are set, keep them visible. Chapman recommends listing team goals on a whiteboard and encouraging athletes to keep personal goals in a notebook, binder, or note app. Checking in regularly helps keep the process—and the motivation—alive. A goal that isn’t written down or tracked is far less likely to become reality.
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NEPSAC CORPORATE PARTNER Measuring process goals
Process goals can be trickier to measure than outcome goals because they focus on habits rather than results. The key is consistency. For example, if an athlete sets a goal to improve recovery, you don’t track it by whether they win the next game. Instead, track how often they get eight hours of sleep, eat protein within an hour after practice, or stretch in the evening. Over time, those habits lead to better results—even if you can’t see them right away. And remember, success doesn’t always mean hitting the ultimate outcome. “We can’t control the uncontrollable,” says Chapman. “Coaches need to be very explicit with their athletes that performance doesn’t equal identity. We want to set realistic outcome goals, and process goals do tend to lead to outcome goals, but the real goal is improvement.”
The takeaway
It’s natural to focus on winning championships and titles, but real progress happens when your athletes commit to their process goals—the small, sport-specific habits and skills that make big goals possible. By helping your team set and stick to process goals, you’re not just improving performance, you’re building consistency, confidence, and a lasting love of improvement.
About TrueSport
TrueSport®, a movement powered by the experience and values of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, champions the positive values and life lessons learned through youth sport. TrueSport inspires athletes, coaches, parents, and administrators to change the culture of youth sport through active engagement and thoughtful curriculum based on cornerstone lessons of sportsmanship, character-building, and clean and healthy performance, while also creating leaders across communities through sport. For more expert-driven articles and materials, visit TrueSport’s comprehensive library of resources. This content was reproduced in partnership with TrueSport. Any content copied or reproduced without TrueSport and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s express written permission would be in violation of our copyright, and subject to legal recourse. To learn more or request permission to reproduce content, click here.
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November 4, 2026 – Live from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum Digital tools and media narratives are reshaping how athletes see themselves, their sport, and their worth, often prioritizing metrics, rankings, and online perception over play, growth, and connection. As stories from grassroots athletes to elite competitors reveal the toll this can take on joy, mental health, and identity, sport must take an honest look at its evolving relationship with technology and storytelling, and lead with intention to protect what matters most for the next generation. During this FREE virtual event, broadcast live from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, we’ll explore when digital culture supports healthy sport and when it quietly erodes it. Together, with athletes, coaches, experts, and sport administrators, we’ll examine how thoughtful storytelling can humanize athletes and preserve their dignity, rather than flatten them into brands or viral moments, and how reclaiming joy as a central goal and not a ‘nice to have’ can reshape sport for the better. Drawing on real stories from those who’ve stepped back to reset boundaries and rediscover why they love their sport, we’ll equip participants with practical strategies to challenge harmful myths, set healthier digital boundaries, and build sport environments rooted in perspective, connection, and long-term well-being.
GUEST SPEAKERS
SCHEDULE
Jessica Bartley, PsyD, MSSW, LP, LCSW, CMPC – Sr. Director, Psychological Services, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Steve Borelli – USA TODAY editor Christine Brennan – author and sports columnist Kevin Chapman, PhD – Licensed Clinical Psychologist; founder, Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders Jessie Diggins – Team USA Olympian, CrossCountry Skiing Jeffrey Durmer, MD, PhD – sleep & circadian neurologist & neuroscientist Deborah Gilboa, MD – board-certified family physician Michele LaBotz, MD, FAAP – Associate Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine/MaineHealth Kate Hartman Rosenzweig – Chief External Affairs Officer for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Jack Wallace – Team USA Paralympian, Sled Hockey
8:30-9:00 a.m. - Session 1: Symposium Kickoff 9:00-10:15 a.m. - Session 2: Beyond the Podium: Lessons from the 2026 Winter Games on Telling the Whole Athlete Story 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Session 3: Media, Myths, and Mental Wellness: How Storytelling Shapes Sport Culture 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Session 4 | Workshop #1: Always On: Hyperconnectivity, Social Media Pressure, and the New Performance Environment 1:15-2:15 p.m. - Session 4 | Workshop #2: Wired and Tired: The Mind-Body Cost of an Evolving Sport Landscape 2:15-3:15 p.m. - Session 4 | Workshop #3: The Modern Pressure Playbook: Your Emotional Regulation Toolkit 3:15-3:30 p.m. – Closing
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