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Alpine Ski Racing

Most Improved: Melanie M. ’25
This athlete demonstrated a notable improvement in her skiing skills over the course of the season, as well as a dedication to the process of learning. Congratulations, Melanie!

Coaches' Award: Marigold P. ’27
This year’s recipient demonstrated a dedication to the while learning process. Often asking questions to prepare herself for practice, having conversations with her coach about her performance and how to change, learning how to execute those changes, and getting ready for practice expediently. Congratulations, Marigold!

 

Varsity Basketball

Most Valuable Player Award: Alison O. ’26

Ali thank you for being the player that we could all always depend on. She would play until the whistle blew and would find a way to pump all of her teammates up. Every time she stepped foot on the court she was working hard. This player would own her mistakes and strive to get better after each one. Thank you for being a constant positive player, teammate, and captain.

Coaches’ Award: Carly H. ’25

This year, the Coach’s Award is going to a captain on the team who truly embodies the lead-by-example mentality. She is strong, courageous, and does not back down from a fight. She is my go-to leader on the court. For constantly being present and willing to try new things,  for being open to new coaching ideas, and for being a leader this season, this award goes to Carly H. ’25.

 

JV Basketball

Most Improved: Jisu B. ’27

The most improved award goes to a player who has shown continuous growth and improvement throughout the season. She came into tryouts a bit tentative but has come out of her shell over the course of the year. Her layups and confidence in her shot have grown drastically, as has her confidence on the court. In our first few games, I could see this player was still adjusting to the level of aggression in our league. By our last game, Jisu was holding onto balls and staying ready for high levels of competition. However, it is not just Jisu’s skill level that has improved but her basketball IQ. Jisu has learned how to look for her teammates and find the open player. This is a skill that takes players years to learn, and it has been wonderful to watch her grow in this regard. We are honored to present Jisu with the Most Improved Player Award. 

Coaches' Award: Sofia P. ’25

This year's Coach’s Award goes to a powerful positive force that held our team together as she supported her teammates on and off the court. She had some of the best rebounds this season, is a fierce defensive player, and showed amazing strength and stamina, seemingly never tiring, all while consistently encouraging her teammates to strive for their best. She has helped shape Emma Willard JV basketball for the last four years and also for years to come—a kind, calm mentor to underclassmen, her influence will continue to be felt through 2028. From day one of tryouts where we witnessed her nurturing leadership style, to her personal improvements on form and follow-through, to those wonderful words of encouragement in our final game, her dedication, compassion, and support have been unwavering. She has led our team through warm-ups, tip-offs, tough games, cheering, and the spectrum of emotions felt this season. It can be tough sitting out with an injury, but her continued leadership was felt in every game. Sofia, thank you for the heart and soul you’ve poured into our team.

 

Crew

Rising Star: Margaret L. ’26

The future is bright for this rower, who brings positivity, openness to new challenges, and a teamwork mentality to practice each day. This rower listens intently, cheers on teammates, and always pitches in to keep our space ready for the next day’s practice. They combine a natural talent with exceptional focus and effort to achieve a lightning-fast 2k time. Strength and speed are only one part of the equation- this rower’s growth mindset, patience, and kindness encourages the rest of the team to achieve their best as well. For their dedication, supportive mentality, and incredible potential in the sport of rowing, I am happy to award the rising star award to Margaret L. ’26.

Outstanding Novice: Lily B. ’28

This novice athlete infuses our team with boundless enthusiasm, determination, and a sense of humor. While the days were cold and the workouts intense, this athlete’s infectious energy never wavered. She embraced every erg session, lift, and circuit with a smile or a joke, showing that true strength is not only measured in speed but in attitude. As one of the fastest novices and freshmen, her natural talent is undeniable, but it is her work ethic, resilience, and drive for improvement that is truly admirable. She not only pushes herself to excel but also inspires teammates to dig deeper, push harder, and find joy in the process. For her outstanding spirit and immense potential in the sport of rowing, I’m happy to give this outstanding novice award to Lily B. ’28

Top Banana: Tessa H. ’28

This athlete is always striving to improve, not just for herself, but for her boat and the entire team. Her steady support is always there for her teammates- an encouraging word, a shared laugh, or simply coming to practice and giving her all. This year, I’ve seen her mature and gain responsibility through the seasons, dedicating herself more and more each month. She balances her drive to succeed with her signature sense of humor that keeps us laughing. As one of the experienced freshmen on the team, she helps set the tone amongst her peers. For her spirit and hard work, I’m happy to award this top banana to Tessa H. ’28.

Top Banana:  Zoe X. ’26

With unwavering determination and a patient approach to progress, this rower sets a strong example for her teammates. Her warm smile and kindness uplift teammates, fostering an environment of support and camaraderie. This athlete is a true asset to our team. Through perseverance and hard work, she has faced the challenge of recovering from a serious injury with commitment and grace. For the positive impact she brings to this team, I am happy to award this top banana to Zoe X. ’26.

Indoor Track and Field

Most Improved: Jumping: Liji H. ’27

This player has demonstrated significant growth as both an athlete and a leader. Her leadership skills were evident as she guided numerous training sessions and supported her teammates. In competition, she achieved remarkable milestones, securing a season-best long jump of 15' 3", placing her third in school history. She also achieved 4' 10" in the high jump, ranking fifth all-time, and a personal record triple jump of 33' 2", placing fourth all-time. Impressively, she became the first athlete in school history to qualify in all three jumping events for the Indoor Track New York State Section 2 Qualifier. Her dedication to improving her technique was clear through her focused practice and goal-setting, which boosted her confidence and performance. She was a joy to coach and left a lasting impact on her team through her support and quiet enthusiasm. A big congratulations goes to Liji H. ’27, our most improved athlete in the jumps.  

Coaches’ Award: Sprinter: Hazel L. ’27

This season alone, the sprinters have taken five school records and very nearly taken several more. I could give an award to each one of them—MVP, Most Improved, Funniest Joke-Teller, etc.—so this season’s coach’s award goes to someone who embodied all of these things. When we started this season, she was relatively quiet and reserved. The thought of running a 300M dash initially made her sick to her stomach, white as a ghost, and I was met with wide, terrified eyes and an “Absolutely not.” Every week, this athlete achieved personal records in her events. In addition to running faster and faster every week, she began to come out of her shell. She cracked more jokes and always carried an excellent attitude. She was always punctual for her check-ins and was right on the heels of our fastest runners, pushing herself. Therefore, this year’s Coach’s Award goes to Hazel L. ’27, who will be a force to be reckoned with for future seasons as she continues to improve and be a beacon of Emma Pride.

Coaches’ Award: Mids and Longs: Ana V. ’25

This year’s award recipient has demonstrated her leadership in multiple ways, from motivating and encouraging her fellow runners through workouts to running practices in my absence to serving as a steady and experienced figure at our competitions. This year’s recipient brings a serious commitment to hard work that is nicely balanced with playful enthusiasm. You’re as likely to find her building a snowman or flinging a well-crafted snowball at a teammate’s head as you are to see her running the 600-meter. The literal anchor of our 4x800 relay team, this year’s mids and longs squad would not have been the same without our captain, Ana. We are sad to see you go, but grateful for the many seasons you gave to this program. The very best to you next year as you continue your journey beyond these “grey walls.”  For your hard work, leadership, and commitment to keeping track fun, we present the Coach’s Award to Ana V. ’25.

 

 

Congrats to all of our winter athletes on a great season!