May / June 2026
GUIDANCE REMINDERS
REMINDERS:
Villa Walsh Academy NEWSLETTER
Seniors:Justa reminder that your naltranscriptswill besentto thecollegeyouareattendingduringtheweek ofJune 8,2026.
Juniors have metwithMrs.DevinsduringtheirEnglish classtodiscussthe CollegeEssay,BragSheetand StudentResume.
Allstudents areencouraged tochecktheGuidance websiteforsummeropportunities andcollege information.
Classof2027:Studentsandparentsareencouragedto submittheirbragsheets tothe GuidanceOfficenolater thanJune24,2026.
eGuidanceDepartmentwillbehostingtwo sessions ofCollegeApplicationBootCampforseniors on August17th:Session1at9:30amorSession2at 1:30pm
erewillbea mandatorycollegemeetingforall parentsandstudentsoftheClassof2027onSeptember 15,2026.
Classof2027&2028: Agoogleformwillbesentout inJuneto sign upfortheSATand/orACTthatwillbe givenon aschoolday,hereatVillaWalshAcademy, in October.
Questionsabout workingpapers,course selectionor college optionsshouldbesentto devinse@villawalsh. org. Workingpapersarenowfoundonline.
AWARDS
e JuniorScholarsProgramatHighPointUniversity recognizes and awards outstandinghighschool juniors for theirexceptionalacademicachievement,leadership, demonstratedinterest in HPU andremarkable extracurricular involvement.Scholars receiveaninitial $2,500scholarshipperyeartoHPUandwillhave the uniqueopportunity toreceive anearlyadmissions decisiontoHighPoint University.efollowingstudent recognizedasa High PointUniversity JuniorScholaris CeciliaTimmons’27.
eAlfredUniversityScholarsAwardisawardedto anextraordinaryhigh school junior whois “outside of ordinary.”LifeatAlfredUniversityis far fromordinary andthis awardseeks torecognizestudentswho have demonstratedwho theyareas anindividualandhow theycanbring thatsame inspirationto theAlfred University community.Notonlyaretheyoneofthe rst higher educationinstitutionsin theUnitedStates to admitwomeninto programswheretheytookcourses alongside men,but their commitmentto inclusivity continuestobe partof theirmissiontothisday.e recipientofthisawardis LaurenPetrie’27.
eSt.BonaventureBookAward recognizes junior studentsfortheir academicachievementandservice tothe schoolandtheir community.e Bonnie ScholarAwardquali esawardwinners foran annual scholarshipof$20,000. eBonnieScholar Awardis beinggiven toEllaTrzesniowski’27
eSacredHeartUniversityBookAward ispresented toa high school student in their junior yearin recognitionof theiroutstandingachievementsduring theacademicyear.isyearthe SacredHeartUniversity Bookawardisbeinggivento CarolineTully’27
eSt.Michael’sCollegeBook Awardfor Community Engagement recognizesoutstandingstudentsin theirjunioryearwhohavedemonstrated asincere commitmenttocommunity service,issues of peace andjustice,andconcernforothers and demonstrates academicexcellenceandrigor.estudentnominee will beconsideredforafull tuitionscholarshipto Saint Michael’s,contingent on an offer ofadmission tothe College.isyear’srecipientis IsabellaOrosz’27.
UniversityofRochester presentsthe Bausch& LombHonoraryScienceAward toa high school juniorwhodemonstrates exceptional promisein the sciences. Recipientsarechosen on thebasis oftheir high school curriculuminthe sciences,academic excellenceandstandardizedtestscores.Winnersof theBausch& LombHonoraryScienceAwardare automaticallyconsidered fora fouryear scholarship tothe UniversityofRochesterwhichtotalsatleast $20,000. Itisour pleasure to givethisawardto KatherineTreacy’27.
eUniversityofRochester offers eFrederick DouglassandSusanB.AnthonyAward toa high schooljuniorwho exhibitsscholarship in arigorous curriculum,a commitment tounderstandingand addressingsocial issues,leadership anddedication tocommunity. Recipients ofthisawardare automaticallyconsidered fora scholarshipworthat least $30,000overfouryears of study attheUniversity ofRochester. We are delightedto presentthisaward to AnneRionda’27.
withanability toservemankind, one’scountry,friends andfamily:whichability isto beacquiredorgreatly increased bytruelearning:and shouldindeed bethe greataimandendofalllearning.” erecipientofthis awardisLexiStappas’27.
ePrincetonBookAwardforSecondarySchools ispresentedbythePrincetonClubto outstanding studentsat theendof theirjunioryear atpublic and private secondaryschools across thecountry. e awardrecognizesoutstandingpersonalcharacter and intellectualpromise.eaward’spurposeistohonor localstudents,andrecruit thebestandbrightest studentsto theUniversity.isyear’s recipient is MaeveDam’27.
eEastmanKodakCompanyandtheUniversity ofRochester sponsorthe GeorgeEastmanYoung LeadersAward,aninternational programthat recognizes outstanding achievementby highschool studentsinleadershipandacademics. Winners ofthis awardare automaticallyconsideredfora scholarship worth$20,000over fouryears. Forher academic excellenceandforhercontinued leadership,itis our honorto present thisaward to BiancaPetrucci’27.
eXeroxCorporationcombinedwiththefounder’s almamater,UniversityofRochester,present the XeroxAwardforInnovationandInformation Technologytoa juniorwhoexhibits astronginterest ininnovation andanappreciationforthe possibilities oftechnology.erecipientofthisawardwillbe eligiblefora scholarshipofatleast$20,000overfour yearsatthe University ofRochester.We arepleasedto presentthisawardto MaesonHonan’27.
eYaleClubof CentralNewJerseygrants the Yale BookAwardtoajuniorwhodemonstratesintellectual promiseandacademic excellence,exemplaryservice orextracurricular activities;andexceptionalcharacter andintegrity.isyear’s recipient of theYaleBook Awardis EmilyMurphy’27.
e UniversityofPennsylvaniaBookAward is offeredthrough the effortsof theAssociationof Alumnae andisawarded toajuniorstudentoftrue merit,which,in thewordsofUPenn’sfounder, Benjamin Franklin,re ects,“An inclinationjoined
For morethan85years,RensselaerPolytechnic Institutehasawarded the RensselaerMedal Award torecognizethe superlative academic achievement ofyoungmenandwomen,andtomotivatestudents towardcareersinscience,engineeringandtechnology. is $25,000peryear meritscholarshipisguaranteed for fouryearsfor eachmedalist who applies,is accepted,andchoosesto enrollatRensselaer. Itis awardedto promising secondary school studentswho have distinguishedthemselvesinmathematicsand science,andweareproudto presentthisawardto OliviaBarsemian’27.
NATIONALMERITAWARD:
Morethan1.3 millionjuniorsenteredthe2026National Merit Programby takingthe 2024PSAT.Fromthisgroup oftest-takers,34,000students wererecognized fortheir exceptionalacademicpromiseandnamedNationalMerit CommendedStudents. Wecongratulatethe following studentsforbeingnamedNationalMeritCommended Students: ElizabethEdattel’26andBryannaLiu’26.
VILLA SERVES
On Saturdaymorning,April21,CarolineTully’27,Emily O’Malley’29andRiley Murphy’29alongwithMrs.Tullyjoined thechildrenandfamiliesatStMargaret’sChurchinMorristown for a dayofFaithand Fun. e girlsspreadtheir Villajoy byapplyingtemporarytattoos, painting,andotherarts and cras. Over ahundred people were inattendance.
VillaServes
DiversityCAFE(CulturalAcceptanceforAll)
DiversityCAFEhelditsInternationalTastingasawayof sharingthefoods of ourdiversecultures.eauditorium was lled withthe aromasfrom aroundthe world. We had DonutsfromCanada, (Blythe Dudley’26)Garlic Salad and BakedZitifromItaly (EllaandAlexaVanSlyke’31), Plantain Chips(Eriel Porter’29),BabkaBread (KendallKiraly’28), WontonsandIrishSodaBread (MaeveDam’27),Pierogi(Sierra Warjanka’26),Cannoli(SamanthaInnella’26),Blintzes(Isabella Propper Stuehr’27),PtasieMlecko& Torcik(LaurenPetrie’27), VietnameseDessert(Satine Nader’28)andTacosdonatedby GG’sCafe.
Inaddition, students participated inadress-downortagdayto raisefundsforWe’veGotFriends, acommunitythatbrings teens withintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilities togetherto form meaningfulconnectionswiththeir peers. We’ve gotFriends believesthatfriendsshouldbeaccessible toall. ankyouto AnnieRionda’27for organizingthis event andformakingus awareoftheseresources.
EmmaMurphy’29 organized a TopO’ theMorning Bake Sale to raisefundsforacharityacrossthepondcalled FocusIrelandthat challengeshomelessnessandchangeslives.
HOSA(HealthOccupationsStudents ofAmerica)
HOSAisan internationalstudentorganizationwhose mission istopromote careeropportunities in thehealthcareindustry andtoenhance thedeliveryof qualityhealthcareto allpeople. Membersfromallaroundthestategatheredto participateinthe HOSAcompetitiveevents attheStateLeadershipConference heldinApril. Mila Chevallier’29,BridgetDrew’26,Lia Griffin’27andVivienne Qiao’28attended,and Mrs. BetsyDrew accompaniedthesestudents.
WORLD LANGUAGES
NationalSpanishExam
NationalSpanishExamWinners: Congratulationstothosewho optedtotakethe NSEdespitea heavySenior Yearschedule. Silver MedalsofExcellencewereawardedto BryannaLiu’26,Emma Naughton’26,JohannaAguilarYáñez’26,andAnneRionda’27 for theirhigh scoresonthischallengingexam. Honorable Mention medalswereawarded to AvaSeaman’26and TessCoffey’26
!Felicitaciones!
SpanishEssayContest
EachyearNJAATSP sponsors aSpanish essay contest.EachNJ Chaptermaysubmit theessayof oneSenior,ona topicknown onlyto,andproctored by,aGuidanceCounselor.eessaymust behandwritten in45minutesusingnotechdevices.Judgeshave chosen theessayof VWA’s EmmaNaughton’26 asNJ’s1stplace winner,with acerti cateandmonetary prize.
¡Enhorabuena,Emma!
ItalianNational Exam
InMarch,the followingstudentsparticipatedintheItalian NationalExamsponsoredbythe AATI:
Seniors: ValentinaCalipa and ElizabethEdattel
Juniors: AlexaBarravecchio,ValentinaDePaco,AlexaLombardi, EveLoughran,KatelynMcGowan,IsabellaNilio,Bianca Petrucci,SarahPorr,MiaSpataro
Sophomores: EllaAllocca,SamanthaInnella,SienaLanni,So a Marcello,AvryRiley,SerenaSabatella
Freshman: ElyseDeLuca,KayleighHatton,NorahKennedy, EmmaMurphy,BriannaPolito,LeilaSexton,AudreyStreem, ElodieTuck and CamillaZazzali
Awards:
On April 24,thesophomoreclasshadtheopportunitytosee Shakespeare’swordsbroughttolifein Macbeth.is production wasperformed byShakespeare eatreofNewJerseyonthe Drew University campus.Aerdissectingthethemesofambition,guilt, andthesupernaturalin class,seeingthe400-year-oldScottishPlay liveonstagesolidi edtheir understandingofone of Shakespeare’s mostfamousworks.Aerthe performance,theactorslined the stagetoanswer questions for the studentaudience.Everything frombuildingacharacter,to memorizingan extensiveamount oflines,toperforming ghtchoreography was discussed.e production helpedbridgethe gapbetween theclassroomandthe stage,deepeningeveryone’sunderstandingof,andappreciationfor, Shakespeare’swork.ankyouto Mrs.Oliveros,Mrs.Lanniand Ms. DiMarzio for organizingandchaperoningthisexperience.
Goldmedalanda$100monetaryawardto ValentinaCalipa’26 and ElizabethEdattel’26 forlevel 4,categoryA,and Kayleigh Hatton’29 (level1,categoryA).
GoldmedaltoAlexaLombardi’27 and BiancaPetrucci’27 (level 3,categoryA), EllaAllocca’28,SamanthaInnella’28 and Audrey Streem’29 (level2,categoryA).
Bronzemedal toNorahKennedy’29 and CamillaZazzali’29 (level 1,categoryA)and IsabellaNilio’27 (level3,categoryA).
Certi cateofAchievement toEmmaMurphy’29(level1, categoryA), So aMarcello’28(level2,categoryA), Eve Loughran’27 and AvryRiley’28(level3,categoryA).
Complimentiragazzeecongratulazioni!
CAMPUS MINISTRY
St.Joseph’sFeastDayLiturgy
On ursday,March19the 8thGrade studentsplayed an important rolein preparingforandparticipatingin ourschool’s St. Joseph’sFeast Day Liturgy.estudentshelped organize thecelebrationby assistingwith thereadings,petitions,music, andother partsofthe Mass.eir reverence,leadership,and participationhelpedmaketheliturgya meaningfulandprayerful experienceforourentireschoolcommunity aswehonoredSt. Joseph,amodel offaith, service,anddevotion.Itwas alsoa wonderfuldaycelebratingwiththe manyfathersandfather gures whojoinedusforthe liturgy.
DuringtheMass,thefathersinattendancereceived aspecial blessing,fromBishopArthurSerratelli,inrecognitionof their love,guidance,andexample within their familiesandfortheir protectionandfor themtofollow St.Joseph’sexample.Weare gratefulto allwho attendedandhelpedmakethecelebrationsuch amemorableandfaith- lledoccasionforourschool community.
CovenantHouseSleepOut
On ursday,April30,VillaWalsh Academyhostedour third annualSleep Outtobene teCovenantHouseFoundation! Covenant House isa shelterthatprovides pertinentresourcesto helpkidswhoexperiencehomelessnessand traffickingtogetback ontheirfeet,go tocollege,andmore.
Inanactof solidarity with4.2million youngpeoplewho experiencehomelessness eachyear, VWAparents,families,and faculty,sleptoutsideundertheVillaWalshAcademyTower. Studentswho participated included SophieSims’29,Norah Kennedy’29,andAudreyGuerrero’31. efamilieslearned aboutthe incredibleworkof Covenant House,andparticipatedin empatheticactivitiesthat directlyput eachperson intothe shoesof peoplewho ndthemselveswithoutahome.
Wearegrateful toallwho cameoutto supportsuch aworthy cause.We raised$4,722!Allproceeds directlybene te Covenant House Foundation. ank youtoallwho participated anddonated!
MayCrowningMassinPaterson,NJ
On Tuesday,May12,VillaWalshAcademystudents(Ella Trzesniowski’27,MiaSpataro’27,KieraVowells’27, MaeveDam’27,IsabellaNilio’27,AvaSansano’27,Cecilia Timmons’27, KendallKiraly’28,MaryCafasso’28,Juliana Kenworthy’28,SarahShalhoub’28,SerenaSabatella’28, Norah Kennedy’29,LucySmart’29,MiaMarulanda’29,GraceBoler’29, GraceCosta’29,LeilaSexton’29,CatherineAzares’29, andEmily O’Malley’29),Sr.ElaineandMissGeraghtyjoineda varietyof CatholicschoolsthroughouttheDioceseofPatersontoparticipate intheMayCrowningMass hosted byBishopSweeney atthe CathedralofSt.Johnthe Baptist inPaterson, NJ.
Itwasa beautifulMass, lledwithmusic,prayers,and aspecial processionandCrowningofMary.A bigthankyouto Ava Sansano’27 foraltar servingand MaeveDam’27 for beingapartof theprocession.
HSALiturgy
One rite of spring at VillaWalsh AcademyistheannualHome SchoolAssociation Liturgy and Brunch,heldthis year inSt.Lucy Chapelon Sunday,May3. Itis aspecial waytobuildcommunity amongour school families, andtheopportunity for Villa Walshto demonstrateitsgratitude forallof thehardwork anddedicationthat makes VWAsuch anexceptional place.
Followingtheliturgy,whichwascelebratedbyFr.DanMurphy, families were invited tosharebrunchintheauditorium as Sr. Elainewelcomed thenew HSABoardforthe2026-2027 school year. anks to EmilyO’Malley’29,MichelaVaccaro’26, CatherineAzares’29,EmmaTerrone’30,SamanthaInnella’28, AvaSeaman’26,KendallKiraly’28,KieraVowells’27, andMaeve Dam’27forwelcoming the congregation,readingfromScripture, orleadingtheUniversalPrayer;and to Mr.PaulDaherandVilla’s Chorusfor guidingthemusicfortheliturgy.
Grandparents’DayLiturgy
VillaWalsh Academylaunched anewtraditioninApril withthe rst-everGrandparents’ Day,whichincludedaliturgycelebratedby Fr.BrianSullivaninSt. LucyChapelonFriday,April17.Students, seated with theirfamilies,prayedtogetherin gratitudeforthegreat giofourgrandparents,role modelswhoteachussomuchaboutthe loveofGod.Manythanks tothe followingstudents,whowelcomed thecongregation,carried crossand candles,andreadfrom Sacred Scripture: AlexaLombardi’27,ErielPorter’29,EmmaMurphy’29, CeciliaTimmons’27,and AmeliaKleinle’26. Specialthanksto thefollowingstudents,accompaniedbytheirgrandparents,who led thePrayerofthe Faithfulandcarriedthegis atthe Offertory: MaeveDam’27,MichelaVaccaro’26,AnnieRionda’27,Sheridan Davidson’31,MiaMagnier’26,andLexiStappas’27 eChorus, onceagaindirected byMr.PaulDaher,ledthe congregationinsong andpraise
MayCrowning
VillaWalsh AcademyhonoredOurLadyinthismonth of Mayat ourannualMay Crowning onFriday,May8 inthegardenoutsideSt. LucyChapel. ecool,sunnyspringaernoon providedtheperfect backdrop forourschool community,alongwith many parentsand families,togathertogether inprayer andsongin amonthdevoted to theBlessedMother.
Inadditiontoprayingthe rosaryina varietyoflanguages,Villa Walshcommemoratedthe250thanniversaryofthe foundingofthe United Statesby prayingforeverystatewitheachHailMary. Bridget Boler’26assistedbyClodaghBateson’26crowned thestatueofOur LadyofFatima,followed bymembersofthe Classof2026,whoeach placed owersbeforeher.
anks toErinJacobs’26,andKathleenDugan’29,for leading openingandclosingprayersorintroducingthemysteriesofthe rosary,andto LyraKirby’30 forprayingHailMary’sinLatin; toElodieCooney’26and KayleyBascom’26(English), Emma Murphy’29(Gaelic),AnneRionda’27 (Spanish), BriannaLiu’26 (Mandarin),SamanthaInnella’28 (Italian), EmmaGubernat’29 (Polish),MilaChevalier’29(French),JulianaKenworthy’28 (Croatian),andMiaMarulanda’29(Japanese).
Junior/SeniorProm
VillaWalsh Academy’sClass of2027hosted the annualJunior/Senior Promforthegraduatingclassof 2026on ursday,May21atthe OldeMillInninBaskingRidge. etheme, ANightonNantucket, servedasanappropriate kickoffforthe longMemorial Dayweekend. ePromCommitteevolunteers included studentsfrom theJunior Class: AlexaBarravecchio’27,ValentinaDePaco’27,Gabriella Farag’27,KatelynMcGowan’27,IsabellaNilio’27,AvaSansano’27, MiaSpataro’27,CeciliaTimmons’27 whomet frequentlybeginning inlatewinterto planthe evening’sevents,menu,anddecor. Many thanks tothe facultyand staff whosupported theProm Committee’s planningefforts,greeted the studentsandtheir dates on thereceiving line,andvolunteeredto chaperonetheevening.
ROBOTICS
InMay,twelvemembersofVillaWalsh Academy’sSisters1stFIRST RoboticsCompetition Teamtraveledto Houstonto competeonthe worldstageagainst600ofthe best teamsfromacrossthe globe.Facing offin adivisionpackedwith multiple"Top 25"teams in theworld, thegirlsheldtheirown, nishingquali cations withanimpressive 8–2recordin7thplace.Duringtheir dominantrun,8513set ateam high scoreof 803points!Enteringtheplayoffs Sisters1st servedas theCaptain of Alliance6,partneringwiththe #1rankedteamsfrom ChinaandKansas.eirtechnical skilldidnotgounnoticed.Sisters 1st washonoredwiththe IndustrialDesignAward for the team’s exceptionaldesign prowess.
Recappingthishistoricseason,theVillaWalshroboticsteam nished witha50–13record,broughthometwo moreblue banners,ranked 2ndinthestate,49th inthe country,anda staggering64thin the WORLD,thetop1.7%globally.Additionally Sisters1st wonanaward ateverysingleevent theyattendedthisyear which only45teams have EVER accomplished!
Studentswho attendedWorlds:
ShaliniPatel’26
KarinaSiegel’26
OliviaBarsemian’27
LiaGriffin’27
MaesonHonan’27
GraceSokol’27
KatherineTreacy’27
NatalieBrinkworth’28
VivienneQiao’28
RileyMurphy’29
CristiannePerez’29
AudreyStreem’29
Coaches:
Mrs.Nugent
Mr.Busler
ART SHOW
BlackwellHighSchoolArtShowAwards
reeoutofthe eleven Villaartistsreceivedawards atthe Blackwell High SchoolArtShow atthe AtriumGalleryin Morristown. ejurychosethirteenVillaartworksoutof800entriesfrom seventeendifferent regionalhighschools.
ElizabethLebowitz’27 receivedhonorablemention for her photograph,“Flyin.” SorayaTamas’28 receivedthirdplacefor heracrylicpainting,“reeCompanions.” ElizabethCullen’29 received third placeon twoartworks,“StorgeLove”a pastel drawingand“La Velata”an oilpainting.
CongratulationsVillaartists!
ATHLETICS
GolfVarsity
Withthe season windingdown,theVWA Varsity golfteamis tiedforthe conferenceleadwith aconferencedivision recordof 6-1,andteamrecordof 8-3.Teamco-captains BridgetDrew’26 and AvaSansano’27have done agreatjob leading the team, whichconsistsofKristinaDangler’26,KieraVowells’27,Sarah Porr’27,OliviaBarsemian’27, and AveryDraeger’28. eteam hasbeenveryconsistentthis year,with everymembershooting theircareerlowscoreat some pointduringtheseason.
ehighlight for the seasonso farwasa greatteameffortin the MorrisCounty Tournament, wherethesquad nishedin third place behindacouple of strongindividualefforts from Kiera Vowells’27who nished hoverall,and BridgetDrew’26,who placed eenth.OnMay13,theteamshottheirall-time lowteam scoreat ourhomecourse,SpringBrookCountry Club,ina win over astrongMadisonteam,with theentire team averaginginthe fortiesforthenine-hole match. eteamislookingforwardto continuingtheir strongplayas theseason comesto acloseatthe endofthemonth.
GolfJV
eVWA Junior Varsity golfteamplayedmore matches this seasonthaninthepastand nishedwith a0-2-1 record.Despite lossestoMorristown Beardand Pingry,the teamplayedwell.
elastmatchoftheseason endedin anexcitingtie against Lawrenceville.Inadditiontothe regular seasonmatches,the teamenjoyedseveral 9-holeintra-squadmatchesatFlanders ValleyGolfCourse to honetheir skills,which provedworthwhile. Eachplayerimproved theirgameand showeddedicationtothe teamthroughout thisseason.e team membersare as follows: KatelynMcGowan’27,EllaTrzesniowski’27,OliviaLeuzzi’28, ArayaSingh’28,WhitneyWitko’28,EmmaMurphy’’29,Audrey Streem’29, ElodieTuck’29,and ClaireWitko’29
LacrosseVarsity
e2026VillaWalshlacrosseteamhasputtogether an impressive10–6season,highlighted byresilience,teamwork, andrecord-breakingaccomplishments.isspring,seniorcocaptain, eresaBowers’26 reached theincrediblemilestone of 200 careergoalswhilealso surpassing along-standingschool recordwithmore than245careergoals,andcounting.e teamalsocelebrated amemorableSeniorDayvictoryover AcademyofSt.Elizabeth,makingthedayevenmoremeaningful for the program’sgraduatingplayers.With strongleadership andcontinued momentum,theVikings haveshowcasedthe competitivespiritandtraditionofexcellence thatde ne Villa Walshathletics.
is year’svarsitylacrosseteamconsistsof: Co-captains eresa Bowers’26 andSo aKearns’26,GiseleLongo’26,AlexisSica’26, AngelinaDattolo’27,EmilyMurphy’27,GraceSokol’27, CeceliaTimmons’27,CarolineTully’27,EmmaAllen’28,Leah Bourdoin’28,GaliniDangler’27,MariaKalavrouziotis’28, JulianaKenworthy’28,SienaLanni’28,AvryRiley’28,Chloe Scheuerman’28,BrookeKenny’29,CarolineMcAdams’29,and RylieMcAloon’29. Ourtwoteammanagersare IsabellaNilio’28 and ValentinaDePaco’27.
SpringTrack
eVilla springtrack team,aka“Sprack”,consists of senior captains BridgetBoler’26,BlytheDudley’26,Emma Naughton’26,senior BerniceFernando’26,juniorsAzariah Andrews’27,MaeveDam’27,IsabellaOrosz’27,Anne Rionda’27,LexiStappas’27,sophomores MaryCafasso’28, KatherineCanon’28,LaurenDoss’28,ElizabethKinney’28, LyndsaySheaffer’28,HaileySimmons’28,So aVelez’28, AbigailWright’28,andfreshmenCatherineAzares’29,Natalia Bruzzichesi’29,CarolineCaughey’29,MilaChevallier’29, LaurenDischinger’29,HelenaEast’29,GraceGreguske’29, EmmaGubernat’29,eodoraHronides’29, Georgiana Hushon’29,JulianaJoshi’29,NorahKennedy’29,Richa Lanjewar’29,NoreenMack’29,AlyviaSimmons’29,Lucy Smart’29,Ashleyaler’29,andAvaVanEtten’29.
SPRACKstarted outthe seasonby winningallthree in-division dual meets (versusMountainLakes,Parsippany,HanoverPark, Morristown Beard,andMadison),claimingtheNJACLiberty Division Titleforthe rst timeever.
e rst partof theseasonis alsowhen relaymeetsareheld. AttheDodgertownRelays,Villaearnedseveralsecondplaces (distance medley,sprintmedley, and4x800m)andthirdplacesin boththelongjump and triplejump relay.e polevaultduo of HaileySimmons’28and AbigailWright’28 won rst place!
AttheMorris Hills Relays,Villaplacedseventhoutof25teams andsecondplaceoverallinthe "smallschoolsdivision".Silver medalswentto thedistancemedley crew(CatherineAzares’29, CarolineCaughey’29,LucySmart’29,andBlytheDudley’26) andourpolevaulters HaileySimmons’28-with apersonal recordof10',AbigailWright’28-with aPRof8'and Alyvia Simmons’29 with aPR of7'.
Sprintmedley runners, EmmaGubernat’29,LexiStappas’27, EmmaNaughton’26,andBlytheDudley’26,triplejumpers, AzariahAndrews’27,MaeveDam’27,andEmmaGubernat’29, and javelin throwers,EmmaNaughton’26,MaeveDam’27,andHailey Simmons’28,earned fourth-placemedals. AzariahAndrews’27 had thesecond-bestlongjump ina eldof59longjumpersandthe fourthbesttriplejump ina eldof45.
erelaymeetseason reached itspeakwith theMorrisCounty Relays onApril29th.Inthe nalteamscoring, Villa nished9th.Pointswere earnedbya secondplaceinthe javelin,a fourthplacein thedistance medley, hplaces inthe high andtriplejumps,andsixth placesin the4x1600and4x200.Polevaulters HaileySimmons’28,Abigail Wright’28,and IsabellaOrosz’27,brokethepolevaultrelayschool recordforthe secondtimethisseason,withcombined marksof10’6’, 8’,and7’,respectively.etrioearnedthird placeasa team in Morris County.Villa’s 4x100mteam,consistingof MaeveDam’27,Katherine Canon’28,LexiStappas’27,andAzariahAndrews’27,broketheschool recordwitha timeof51.87!
e10’6”polevault markforHaileySimmons’28 isthe16thbestvault inallofNew Jerseyat thispointinthe season.
AttheNJAC-EastchampionshipsonMay5th and6th atMorrisHills, ourtop performerswere HaileySimmons’28with asecondplacein thePV,MaeveDam’27 with athirdin thejavelin (100feet!!!),Blythe Dudley’26withafourthplacein the1600m, EmmaNaughton’26 with asixthplacein thejavelin(95feet),andAzariahwitha sixthplacein thelongjump. ElizabethKinney’28 celebrateda bignew personalbest with29’½”in the shot put! Villa’s 4x400msquad: EmmaNaughton’26, LexiStappas’27,MaryCafasso’28,andEmmaGubernat’29 rana new season'sbestwitha timeof4:18.34.
Twodayslater,theVillafreshmen andsophomoreswenttoworkatthe MorrisCounty Frosh-SophChampionships,andthefreshmen brought homethe rst-placetrophyforthe rsttime ever.Congrats! EmmaGubernat’29 wonthree ofherevents (400hurdles,100hurdles, and200m- allwithpersonalbests)andshe alsoearneda thirdplace inthetriplejump. CatherineAzares’29 receivedsecondplaceinthe 1600m(bya margin of threehundredths),eodoraHronides’29 placed thirdinthehigh jump,and HaileySimmons’28won the sophomorepolevaultcompetition.
On Wednesday,May13th,the entireteamtraveledtoNewarkAcademy for the Prep-BChampionship.etravelingtrophycame backonthe Villabus onceagain,aer anexcitingandclose meet,duringwhich Montclair Kimberley,Morristown Beard,and Villatraded the lead severaltimes.Inthe end,Villa’s eldeventathletes onceagain “took careofbusiness”andpushedVilla to122 points,28 pointsaheadof second-place,MorristownBeard. BlytheDudley’26wonthe 1600m and3200m,earningbig timepointsforVilla!Our javelin throwers, HaileySimmons’28,EmmaNaughton’26, and MaeveDam’27,went two,three,andfour,while Maeveaddeda thirdplace in thetriplejump. AzariahAndrews’27 placedsecondin thelongjump and triplejump andthirdplacein the100mdash, whichshedidina newpersonalbest of12.60.EmmaGubernat’29 cameinthirdin the400hurdlesevent, andfellowfreshman CatherineAzares’29crossed the nishlinein thirdplaceforthe 1600m.
Villapolevaultersclaimed the rstthreespotsinthe polevault, with HaileySimmons’28in rst, IsabellaOrosz’27 in second,and AbigailWright’28 in thirdplace.Isabellahita big-timePR at7’6”. Waytogo!
eVilla “sprackletes” are preparingfortheMorris County ChampionshipsonMay19th and20thatBoonton HighSchool andforthe NJSIAANon-Public BGroup ChampionshipsonMay 29thand30th atBuena High SchoolinSouthJersey.Itisthe goal oftheathletes and coachesto defendthestatetitleandtosend numerousathletes tothe “MeetofChampions” on June3rd,2026, atPennsauken High School.eMorrisCountyChampionship at BoontonHighSchoolisa greatopportunity tocheeronVilla!
Go Sprack!
MiddleSchoolSpringSportsClinic
MiddleSchoolSportsClinicsandFun Fridayswereheldfrom April13toMay21.irty7thand8thgradersparticipatedinthe clinics,whichincludedvolleyball,lacrosse,soball/wiffleball,track events,and teamgames.On “FunFriday,”thegirlstook eldtripsto MennenIceArena,HanoverBowlingLanes,HanoverGolfRange, andtheFunplex.
Scholar-Athletes
Congratulationsto EmmaNaughton’26for beingnamed theVWA NJSIAAScholar-Athlete.Emma was honoredata statewide luncheon onMay17that thePines Manor inEdison.
CongratulationstoBlytheDudley’26 for beingnamed the VWA MorrisCounty Scholar-Athlete.Blythewashonored atthe MCSSADAscholar athletedinner onMay18th atthe Hanover Manor.
Congratulationsto eresaBowers’26 forbeingnamedtheVWA, NorthwestJerseyAthleticConferenceScholar-Athlete. eresawill behonoredattheVWA SeniorAwardsCeremonyonMay29,and theVillaWalshAcademyScholar-Athlete willbe announcedalong withspecialathleticawards. Congratulations, scholar-athletes,you makeVWA proud!
AthleticLeadershipCouncil(ALC)
Drive-In Movie Nightled bytheALC washeldonApril 24th. It was afuntime for all VWAstudents,abigsuccess onceagain!
FallSportsSign-UpandInformationalMeeting
efallsportssign-upmeetingwillbe heldon May26in theSDLAC from2:45pmto4:00pm. is meetingisforstudent-athletesonly.
SportsPhysicals
On Wednesday,June10,from10am-12pmin theSDLAC, school physician andalumnae parent,Dr.EdwardMcManuswillcomplete physicalsand physicalpaperworkfree ofchargeforallfall,winter, andspringstudent-athletes.Student-athletes areencouragedtotake advantageofthisopportunity.
