Varsity Awards Dessert Night Recognizes Fall Student-Athletes

The Thayer Academy Athletics Department held its Varsity Awards Dessert Night for fall sports teams Dec. 2 in the Center for the Arts (CFA). 

“We have so much to celebrate today,” Athletic Director Bobbi Moran told those gathered for the celebration. 

This fall’s event included something extra: in addition to season recaps from team coaches, a captain from each fall varsity sport addressed the crowd and shared what it means to wear the black and orange. The combination of remarks from both coaches and captains yielded some interesting highlights, including that: the field hockey’s motto for the season was “For Each Other”; the boys soccer team earned the Fritz Weidergott Most Improved Program award as voted on by ISL coaches; the football team enjoyed some high-decibel music following its big win against St. Mark’s; all cross country runners from both the boys and girls squads ran their personal bests in the ISL championships; and the volleyball program’s Dig Pink game raised $2,652 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

Moran thanked student-athletes, their families, coaches, trainers, and Athletics Department staff for their hard work this past season. She then singled out seniors for their leadership and contributions over the years and reminded them that they are always welcome at Thayer. 

“Once a Tiger, always a Tiger!” said Moran. Please come back and visit us.” 

Continuing a relatively recent tradition, all senior varsity student-athletes received Thayer cardigan sweaters, reintroducing the “varsity sweater” from decades past.

The night’s award winners included: 

Boys Cross Country: 

Team MVP: Owen Haskell ’29

Coaches Award: Seamus McFarland ’28

Girls Cross Country: 

Team MVP: Alaina Millian ’26

Coaches Award: Alyssa McGuirl ’26

Field Hockey: 

Team MVP: Dakota Adams ’26

Coaches Award: Mikayla Barry ’26 and Tess Harper ’26

All-ISL: Dakota Adams ’26

ISL Honorable Mention: Beatrix Cohen Raymond ’27

All-NEPSAC: Dakota Adams ’26

NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Beatrix Cohen Raymond ’27

Football: 

Team MVP: Drew St. Pierre ’26

Coaches Award: John Sullivan ’26

All-NEPSAC First Team: Drew St. Pierre ’26, Will Bewley ’26, CJ Talabi-Oates ’26

All-NEPSAC Second Team: Neil MacKinnon ’26, John Sullivan ’26

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Joey Fisher ’27, Dante Lamonica ’27, Nate Martin ’27, Finn Forger ’28, Sully Carven ’27, Davens Lazarre ’29

Boys Soccer: 

Team MVP: James Morrison ’27

Coaches Award: Will Sentnor ’26

All-ISL: James Morrison ’27, 

ISL Honorable Mention: Khaio Pelegrini ’27

Girls Soccer: 

Team MVP: Osie Fuqua ’27

Coaches Award: Emma Cox ’26

All-ISL: Osie Fuqua ’27

ISL Honorable Mention: Kate Brooks ’28, Phoebe Catlin ’28

All-NEPSAC: Osie Fuqua ’27

NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Kate Brooks ’28

NEPSAC Girls Soccer Junior All-Stars: Osie Fuqua ’27, Gabriella Berardi

Volleyball: 

Team MVP: Kaitlyn Butkuss ’26

Coaches Award: Naraya Dasilva ’28

ISL Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Butkuss ’26, Naraya Dasilva ’28 

NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Butkuss ’26