Introducing our Athletes of the Week program! Each week, Williston coaches nominate one student-athlete from their team who stood out by demonstrating our core values of purpose, passion, and integrity. These athletes show exceptional dedication, leadership, and sportsmanship, both on and off the field, embodying what it means to be a Williston Wildcat. Read below for more information on each of the Athletes of the Week.
Audrey Dowsett ’29 – Girls Varsity Cross Country
This week, we recognize Audrey Dowsett ’29, who has demonstrated exceptional resilience and dedication throughout the season. Despite battling injury for much of the year, she continued to show up every day, pushing herself to contribute meaningfully to the team. Her grit and mental toughness were on full display this past weekend at the NEPSAC Championships, where she exemplified what it means to push beyond one’s limits. She has been an inspiration to her teammates, showing true perseverance and heart. We look forward to her continued growth and contributions next season!
Sofia Oblomkova ’28 – Girls JV Cross Country
This week we’re celebrating Sofia Oblomkova ’28, a newcomer to cross country who has quickly become an integral part of our team. From the moment she joined, she has embodied the true spirit of the sport — showing up with a positive attitude, an eagerness to learn, and a growing love for the process of becoming a runner. Throughout the season, she has discovered that she is a runner at heart, embracing the joy of training alongside her teammates and pushing herself in every race. This Saturday, all of her hard work and dedication paid off as she achieved a new personal record of 27:54! We are so proud of her progress and can’t wait to see all the amazing things she will accomplish in the seasons ahead.
Zola Piekarski ’26 – Varsity Field Hockey
Zola has been an offensive force since the moment she arrived at Williston. She is as much of a goal scorer as she is a playmaker. Over her career, Zola has developed her defensive abilities and is an integral part of our corner unit. Her speed and decision-making help with transition and create scoring chances consistently. This season, Zola has led the team with confidence on and off the field. She is someone who consistently puts in extra work. Regularly, she is up at the field early, getting extra shots in or working on her stick skills. Zola is an inspiration to her teammates, motivating them to work hard and always bring their best. On Saturday, she hit the incredible milestone of reaching 200 points in her career. Zola has forever changed the Williston Field Hockey program, and we could not be more grateful and proud of her.
Nora Penney ’31 – JV Field Hockey
Nora had her best game of the season against NMH. Though the wildcats ended up losing in a tough fourth quarter, Nora sent the whole team into wild cheers when she scored in the second quarter. After an exciting breakaway, Nora received a pass cleanly and took a strong shot on goal. The NMH goalie was fooled and caught off balance, allowing the ball to enter the cage. Throughout the season, Nora’s hard work and dedication to the team always shown through. Her coaches and teammates thank her for a strong season of play!
Dean Ruksnaitis ’26 – Varsity Football
Dean Ruksnaitis had a monster game for the Wildcats on Saturday in their 29-25 win over Brunswick. It was the first win the Wildcats had over Brunswick in team history. On the day the Wildcats ran for 313 yards and 7.3 yards per carry. Furthermore, they had four rushing TDs and two 2-point conversions on the ground. Dean has been a four-year starter and a two-year captain.
Bella Marinello ’26– Girls Varsity Volleyball
Her body of work through the season has been consistently admirable. Her ranging contributions this term include opening up her home for a team gathering during preseason, actively seeking input to improve her game, and putting the team first during practice and matches- all combined with her cerebral, diverse net play and steady back row defense as our starting outside hitter.
Sara Xiao ’29 – Girls 3rds Volleyball
Sara has shown tremendous growth in her volleyball game this season. Her passing has become consistent and dependable, and she approaches every practice and game with a positive attitude. Even when things don’t go perfectly, she stays composed and focused, setting an example for her teammates. Sara’s hard work and steady presence have made her someone the team looks to for support and leadership on the court.