Williston Class of 2023 student-athletes honored at collegiate signing ceremony

By HANNAH BEVIS

Staff Writer

Published: 02-07-2023 12:33 PM

EASTHAMPTON — The Phillips Stevens Chapel was full of smiles and laughter on Monday night as 33 student-athletes from the Williston Northampton School participated in the school’s college signing day, committing to play their respective sports at the next level. 

The 33 signees will go on to play 10 different sports at over 25 different colleges. Five athletes from the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s coverage area were part of Monday’s festivities – Florence’s Quinn McDonald, Amherst’s Katherine Kang and Louisa Coughlin, South Hadley’s Greta Saxe and Northampton’s Will Chalfant. 

Each student was recognized individually and called up to sign their National Letter of Intent at the front of the chapel, taking photos with coaches, teammates, friends and family. 

“It was so special getting to be surrounded by all the people that have helped me throughout the process, both coaches and parents, but also teammates who have pushed me these six years to be the best person that I can,” said Coughlin, who will continue her field hockey and lacrosse careers at Haverford College in Haverford, Penn. “So being able to celebrate with them was truly something really special that you couldn't get anywhere else.”

Saxe will also attend school in Pennsylvania; she’ll be on the track and field team at Gettysburg College. Saxe ran on both the cross-country and track team for the Wildcats, competing in the 100 and 200 meter dash. She was drawn to the environment at Gettysburg, reminiscent of the one at Williston, which helped ready her for the next step both academically and athletically. 

“Being a college preparatory school, I think (Williston) definitely prepared me for the college environment,” Saxe said. “I also think that my coaches really helped support me and get used to what a college atmosphere would be like, especially in terms of the program.” 

Kang will play ice hockey for the Ephs at Williams College, staying nearby in Williamstown. She liked the distance from her hometown in Amherst – close enough that she could visit home easily, but far enough away to still feel like a new place. The campus and coaches drew her to the Ephs program as well. 

“Williams stood out to me because academically, it felt really fitting and when I visited campus, it felt like a place I could envision myself being and fitting in really well,” Kang said. “I think there's a lot of great opportunities there and I really liked the coach.” 

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

McDonald will head north to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where he’ll play baseball at Skidmore College. Competing at the collegiate level has been a goal of McDonald’s since he was young, and seeing that come to fruition amidst family and friends on Monday was an important moment for him. 

“I think it's great for everyone to be there who's really supported me throughout this whole thing,” McDonald said. “This has really been a dream of mine since I was young, and to really see people that really care about me come out was great.”

Chalfant, who will run on both the cross-country and track and field teams at St. Lawrence University, didn’t begin running competitively until the ninth grade, but he quickly realized that his talent could carry him a long way. After meeting the coaches and some of his now-teammates at St. Lawrence, he realized it was a good fit for him to build a new community.

“I really liked the community feel when I went and visited,” Chalfant said. “I got to meet a lot of the guys on the team and they all seem like a really tight knit group and also like people that I'd want to spend time with.” 

]]>