Athletes of the Week for February 14, 2021

Congratulations to Domineaq “Dom” Taylor ’21 and Dohyun “DK” Kim ’23 for receiving Cardigan’s Student-Athlete of the Week Award. Read what their coaches have to say about them below, and meet all the students who were nominated.

Varsity Student-Athlete of the Week

Domineaq “Dom” Taylor ’21 - Green Basketball 

Dom's overall improvement as a basketball player has been tremendous. He's gone from being a contributor at the JV level to a bonafide varsity competitor. He does not give up on any play, and he is very coachable (even when I'm calling him out for something he did wrong). He is always looking to improve his game and his conditioning, and the progress he has made from last year to this year is evidence of that.

Sub-Varsity Student-Athlete of the Week

Dohyun “DK” Kim ’23 - Gray Hockey

DK worked hard in practice all year and was an outstanding captain for us all season. Since the majority of our players were in the sixth and seventh grade, it was helpful to have a strong leader in the locker room. He did a great job, showing by example, how to do all of the little things right. His hard work on the ice also resulted in improvements in his skills, leading to practice time with the White team by the end of the season. 

Other Varsity Nominations

Sungsan “John” Park ’23 - Nordic Skiing

John had a great week of skiing. He has been prepared for practice and has been enthusiastic to ski everyday. John's skills have continued to improve. He especially enjoys the downhills where he can go fast and challenge himself. Well done, John!

Channing Rice ’24 - Alpine Skiing

Channing's race achievements speak for themselves: he won the New Hampshire State Western Division U12 race at Sunapee last week, a feat that hasn't been accomplished by a Cardigan athlete in recent memory. His improvement on the hill and his work ethic in training is something to which the older boys should aspire. Although he may be the smallest on the team, he is mighty and isn't afraid to tell his teammates to wear their masks properly, get to work, and do what's right. He had a great week of racing and of training, earning this week's Student-Athlete of the Week. Keep it up, Channing!

Zi “Damian” Zhu ’21 - Snowboarding

The resilience that Damian has demonstrated throughout the past three seasons on the Varsity Snowboard Team represents his commitment to improvement and leadership. His season was cut short last year after an injury, but he came to practice this year ready to ride and energized by the prospect of competing. He has been a great leader and mentor to his teammates; he pushes others outside of their comfort zones and has set a high bar. In the last weeks of practice, he took the time to work with teammates to get faster and more comfortable on technical terrain. He has been an asset to the snowboard program and his role as team captain for two years is a testament to his character. Excellent job, Damian!

Other Sub-Varsity Nominations 

James Morse ’22 - White Hockey 

James has been working really hard the last few weeks for the White Hockey group. He has improved his skating skills tremendously by practicing every chance he gets. He has great stick handling skills and is learning to shoot the puck more quickly, allowing him to score some nice goals in our small competitions. He is always looking to improve and carries a positive attitude along the way. Keep up the great work, James!

Alexis Santini ’23 - Gray Basketball

In our shortened season, Alexis earned his captaincy through his relentless work ethic and willingness to improve each day in practice. The coaches were impressed with his effort throughout each drill, and the team benefited greatly from his effort. During our scrimmages, he showcased his ability to find the hoop and score. He also helped set the tone defensively by hustling to make plays and communicating with his teammates, always working hard to improve and develop a strong team culture. While it is sad to see the season end early, we know Alexis will continue to lead and succeed as an athlete at Cardigan. 

Donald “Eddie” Andrews ’23 - Black Basketball 

Eddie is a great leader and a great teammate. He has an impressive knowledge of the game and seeks to help out his teammates, always giving his best in terms of basketball skills, enthusiasm, and joy for being there. Eddie has an amazing spirit and dedication. He has never once had an ego, despite being an experienced player on the reserves team. To him, being a captain isn't about directing but supporting his teammates. He is humble in his skills and walks away from practices having really enjoyed the time spent working on getting better. He is there for the love of his teammates and the love of the game. He gives everything he has and always has a smile on his face, even when he's running gassers...and we've all seen him run.