This student had one of the most challenging roles in playing singles against a very talented and accomplished opponent. She never shied away from the task and took the most points any student has obtained when playing this athlete. She came to practices intent on improving her performance and forced her opposition to raise her standard of play.  For her never ending competitive and spunkiness of spirit, the Most Tenacious Award goes to Audrey.

 

This athlete might be quiet off the court, however, her presence on the court continued to get bigger and better every match. She has some of the quickest hands in the sport and along with her unique hair accessories, showed just why she is 1/2 of the #1 doubles pair representing Emma. As the season progressed, she could be found teaching others how to play the front of the court with both precision and aggression. For her love of playing with delight and competitiveness at the same time, the Most Improved Award goes to Preme.

 

Each spring it’s bittersweet to see our seniors leave Emma Crew as they follow the path forward to exciting and diverse futures. This season we have three seniors, all tri-captains, whose absence next fall will be a difficult void to fill as, over many seasons, they have brought an immense amount of talent, spirit, and dedication to Emma Crew—we are certainly sad to see them leave but are excited for them as they turn the next page in their educational journey.

What takes the “sting” out of their departure is having such a fantastic group of girls that will both carry on Emma Crew’s tradition of excellence but also welcome new members to the team in August. While this spring has had its competitive challenges at the Varsity level, there were certainly bright spots. 

Over the season many team members have not only improved their skills but also have had significant positive influence on camaraderie and esprit de corps of the team. Our Most Valuable Rower is one such athlete. While she generally flies a bit under the radar, she is an excellent and ever-improving oarswoman and a solid, trustworthy member of our team, albeit not an especially talented “dolly driver.” The icing on the cake demonstrating her dedication to Emma Crew was her participation in the State Championships, telling her brother that unfortunately I can’t attend your graduation because “I have crew.” Emma Crew is proud to present our MVP award to Charlotte Lucarelli.

 

Our freshman 8+ crew team placed first and the novice 4+ placed third in the New York State Scholastic Championship on May 14! The students in the freshman boat were: Fiona K., Leslie M., Grace S., Katie H., Mariela A., Jane K., Victoria L., Jane K., Olivia D., and Jiho Y., all of the Class of 2026. In the novice 4+ were Clio N. ’24, Isla B. ’26, Izzy S. ’24, Julia W. ’24, and Carly H. ’25. “This is a historic win,” shares Crew Coach Julie Matthews. “We have never won the state scholastic championship in a freshman 8+, and we have never qualified a freshman 8+ for nationals to the best of the memory of all of us involved.” If you’d like to relive the moment, click here to watch the recording of the live feed. The freshman 8+ victory qualified them for the national Scholastic Rowing Association of America Scholastic Championship Regatta in Oak Ridge, TN, May 26-27.

 

When this student joined the crew team in the fall, we knew she wasn’t the tallest or the strongest student who was trying out but she had this incredible grit and drive that let us know she would be successful with us. When we got on the water, she tried just as hard all day as she did in tryouts and that persisted through winter crew as well. This spring, we have seen her truly blossom into the reliable and talented rower that we always knew she would be. In fact, the only practice she missed this whole season was when a field trip got back late and she couldn’t make it to the bus. For trying hard every day, working to her full potential, and being reliable and talented, this season’s most improved goes to Victoria.

 

We have been trying to snag this kid for a while now and all the coaches collectively agree that we are so happy she finally joined the team. In fact, when we were making spring rosters Bob threw her on his roster and I had to step in and say, “Oh no, she is with us this season.” He immediately replied, “Well we can start off that way and see. If she is as good on the water as she is on the erg, she’ll probably move up.” Well she was just as good on the water as she was on the erg but somehow we were able to keep her with the novices. I’ve been privileged to teach her in the classroom as well and I can say that her enthusiasm and positivity is unmatched across the board. There is never someone happier or more excited to be rowing than she is. For all of these reasons, this season’s rising star is Julia.

 

 

 

The first Coaches' Award goes to a player who showed up for every practice and game ready to give 100%. Your understanding of the game, skill, and ability to make good passes, catches and ground ball pickups are critical to every game we play! Without your contributions, we would not have many of the successes we experienced this season. Although you were our statistical offensive leader in goals scored this year, with 28 goals, You also played an important role at the center draw causing countless draw wins. You are our connector from defense to attack. We can’t imagine what your mileage count is per game. You lead this team well on and off the field. You are respectful to both teammates, coaches and your opponents. You are a great role model for others and you show and encourage players what it takes to get better. You are a committed teammate who cares about creating a positive environment for everyone. Ceci, congrats for being the recipient to our team coaches’ award, Most Valuable and the recognition as a Colonial Council first team all-star! 

 

The second Coaches' Award goes to a first year lacrosse player who is also playing her first year at varsity level. You have shown a tremendous amount of growth over the season and are our most improved player. You came to us with no lacrosse knowledge nor experience, but came with enthusiasm and steadfast will. You exemplified dedication and hard work. You came to every practice looking to improve your skills and quickly did so by staying focused, applying feedback and giving your all each day. At first we weren’t quite sure which position to play you, but your toughness and natural field sense earned you a spot on our defense. You utilized self starts well and with your speed you got the ball quickly out of our defensive end. As the season progressed it became very clear that you are developing into an all round player, playing defense, midfield and also from time to time on the attack. You started in every game, didn't miss a practice and could be considered as a quiet achiever. For honing all of these skills over the course of the season, we are proud to give our Coaches’ Award- Most Improved to Haruru.

At its core, being a team player means being ready, willing, and able to support the team—no matter what lies ahead. In sports, the best team players are the ones who act unselfishly and make decisions for the good of the team. The recipient of this award does just that. She shows up to every practice and game ready to work hard, improve her skills and she strives to be the best athlete and team mate she can.This athlete takes time to seek feedback for ways to improve and then begins to implement the feedback immediately. She supports her teammates, makes others around her better and does whatever the team needs: whether that is playing a position she does not prefer to picking up after games and everything in between. The recipient of the first Coaches Award is Nini.

 

This athlete is the epitome of a team player. She is always willing to stay behind and help clean up. She is willing to play any position we need her to but are also an integral part of our defense. She always gives her all in practice and has been known to practice on her own time. She scored a goal in the first game she won as part of an Emma team. She also scored in our second game against Holy Names. This award goes to Coco.

 

 

Our most valuable player award this season goes to an athlete who is valuable in every sense of the word: in the field, up to bat, as a teammate, and as a leader. She filled any hole we had defensively this season, playing four different positions over the course of the year, but consistently batted in the same spot in the lineup and earned a .410 league average. She’s the first one to cheer for her teammates when they are up to bat, and mentally stays in every play as she checks to see that she’s in the right spot in the outfield. Perhaps nothing highlights her valuable glove more than the 6 diving catches she made this season! Her defensive and offensive efforts did not go unnoticed as she earned a spot on the second team league all stars. For making us a threat in every game, we are proud to give this year’s MVP to Margarette.

 

Our Coaches’ Award this season goes to the most improved player who has demonstrated tremendous dedication to building her softball skills and her knowledge of the game. She has improved steadily, both in terms of her defense and hitting, and also her awareness of gameplay and strategy. This player has an analytical mind, and she excels at learning and implementing situational thinking in the sport. She has made tremendous contributions to the team with her positive attitude and persistent support for teammates. This athlete has a tremendous capacity to learn because she constantly seeks out instruction, and eagerly applies what she learns to her play. For her passion for learning the sport of softball, for improving as a ballplayer, for seeking to understand the sport on an intellectual level, and setting a tremendous example for teammates, we are pleased to give this year’s Coaches’ Award to Kiki.

 

 

Throughout the season this athlete proved herself to be one of the most well rounded leaders I have ever seen in the middle and long distance group. The list of things she does for her teammates is truly selfless and incredible. I can always rely on her to provide a hand wherever needed without even thinking twice about it. From helping to run warmups, to being a model athlete during workouts, to running practice every Wednesday she is dependable without a doubt. At meets, without a thought she is out in the field leading her teammates in dynamic warmups. This relentless dedication to the team has also come along with enormous improvements on the track. Through a combination of hard work in practice and taking the time to learn the ins and outs of the event she has brought her time in the 800 down significantly. During the 2022 outdoor season the best time she posted for this event was 3:34. Throughout this season she proceeded to repeatedly lower that time until she finally broke 3:00 at the league championship meet and recorded a 2:57. This season’s coaches award goes to Madie Monteith. Thank you for everything you do!

 

It never fails. There is a truism to be said about achievement and improvement. When you make a commitment to something and develop a passion to be better the possibilities are boundless.  

This year’s coach’s award in the field events goes to an athlete whose accomplishments as a quiet motivator and competitor, both on and off the field, have contributed considerably to the unprecedented success of the jumping squad this season. She is the personality that binds this group together and a calming, reliable presence at meets. A consummate team player, she is always willing to help and encourage her teammates. Team contributions aside, she has also had an exceptionally strong season as an individual, achieving personal records of 12’ 7 ½ “ in the Long Jump and 30’ 2” in the triple jump. To put this in perspective, in the 2022 outdoor season, this athlete jumped 24’ 7” and this season jumped over 6ft further in the triple jump. She is incredibly smart and very conscientious about weight room workouts, practicing the drills and supporting her teammates. And some of you may not know this but she is a Coach Tony impersonator! Congratulations goes to Zaniyah! 

 

I remember meeting this athlete for the first time in the gym. She was quiet, a bit nervous, unsure of whether she was in the right place. After that first practice I wasn’t sure if she would return the next day. But, she came the next day and with the team supporting her began to learn the events. Next, there came this little spark in her eyes as she began to understand the nuances and intricacies of each event. She began to work harder, ask more questions, stay longer at practice. And then it happened, PR after PR after PR was being made during practices and at meets. Soon Confidence began to emerge as goals started to develop. This was mixed with disappointment when her performance was not the best that day. We saw this student grow and mature as an athlete during the season. What an amazing journey we witnessed! Her shot put improved by an astonishing 6ft during the season. Her discus improved by an impressive 10 ft during the season. And through all of this change she embraced her teammates and listened to the coaches who give her advice on how to  improve each day. I always loved her last act of the day. After a PR at a meet she would call her biggest fan—her Mom. This season’s most improved athlete award in the field events goes to Raign.

 

Choosing the Most Improved award for the sprint squad involves surveying the quantitative improvements runners make over the course of the season, the willingness of runners to step outside of their comfort zone, and, of course, objective success on the track. Zoe meets all these criteria and then some. She worked hard all season, devoting herself to additional practice sessions to hone her skills in hurdles and other pentathlon events. Her hard work earned her falling personal records throughout the season and, ultimately, a masterful performance winning the pentathlon at the Wasaren League Championships. I was particularly impressed by the boldness with which she ran the final 800 meter race. She is a well-rounded, natural athlete, she is willing to expand her repertoire of track and field events, and she puts aside any hesitations and leaves it all on the line when the gun goes off. Considering she is only in her first year of high school, I can scarcely predict the heights she will attain if she continues capitalizing on her natural talents with a steady, consistent work ethic. The sky's the limit!