Athletes of the Week for November 3, 2024

Congratulations to Tony Fernandez ’25 and Santi Leon ’25 for earning Cardigan’s Student-Athlete of the Week Awards. Read what their coaches have to say about them below, and meet all the students who were nominated.

Varsity Student-Athlete of the Week 

Tony Fernandez ’25 - Varsity Soccer

Our team has selected Tony Fernandez as Athlete of the Week and in many ways, he could be the athlete of the season. He has exceptional soccer touch and skill, loves the game, and plays with passion and fire. His ability to lift the team onto his shoulders and carry it to the end of the game was unmatched this year. In this final week, he added four goals and two assists to his season totals. He is the type of player who sees the game and understands how it is progressing. He anticipates opportunities both offensively and defensively, finds goals when opposition players surround him, and makes 50-yard sprints to come back and support his defensive unit. Because of his heart, passion, and skill, he is our final Athlete of the Week selection for the fall 2024 season. 

Sub-Varsity Student-Athlete of the Week 

Santi Leon ’25 - Fourths Soccer

The Fourths Soccer Team proudly nominates Santi Leon for Athlete of the Week. He has consistently demonstrated an incredible work ethic throughout the season. From day one, he was fully committed to enhancing his skills for the benefit of the team. His determination to work hard and prioritize his teammates showcases his unwavering passion for the sport and his camaraderie. Outstanding performance this season, Santi!

Other Varsity Nominations 

James Frost ’25 - Varsity Cross Country

James had a great week on the Varsity Cross Country Team. He gives full effort at all practices and encourages his teammates to do their best. He is determined to run faster in competitions and pushes himself to improve. He had a great race at the Lakes Region Championship on Wednesday at St. Paul’s School which helped the team earn second place overall in the region for the entire season.

Zack De Pretis ’26 - Varsity Mountain Biking

Zack De Pretis earned the Athlete of the Week honor for our team. He persevered through a post-long weekend respiratory illness to complete the season, riding with the team during the final week. He was always a positive teammate, who quickly absorbed coaching and improved his tactics and technique. He will be a core part of the squad next year.

Colton Boorda ’25 - Varsity Football

As the quarterback, Colton has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled impact on our team’s performance, elevating not only his game but that of his teammates as well. This year, he amassed over 1,000 yards of offense, showcasing his exceptional skills both in the air and on the ground. He accounted for nine of our 18 offensive touchdowns. He averaged 13 yards per rush and 23 yards per completed pass. He ranked fifth on the team in tackles. Above all, what truly sets him apart is his ability to make decisive plays when the stakes are highest. Every game, he faced the pressure of leading the team and making critical decisions that influenced the outcome. Colton’s relentless competitiveness ensured that he gave his best effort on every down, earning the trust of his teammates and coaches alike.

Other Sub-Varsity Nominations 

Baxter Hunt ’28 - CORE

Baxter Hunt is this week’s Athlete of the Week for CORE. He has shown tremendous growth this season. This week he was a leader on the low ropes course and volunteered to demonstrate several of the activities. He was particularly impressive on the rope swing. Great work this season, Baxter!

Ryan Pfeiffer ’28 - JV Mountain Biking

All season long Ryan has checked in each morning with curiosity and enthusiasm. On the trails, it’s easy to forget that he’s a sixth grader because of the way that he pushes our team. He’s a whole lot stronger going downhill than uphill, but his development over the season is that of a rider headed to the varsity level. He rides his bike like a daredevil, but he is more calculated than you might think. Our program was great for him, and he was great for our program. Thank you Ryan!

Mac Navins ’26 - Rowing

Mac subbed in for a teammate and raced in all three races on Saturday, winning them all.

Kayden Im ’27 - Reserve Soccer

Kayden has shown such great growth as a leader and a player on the field for our team.

Logan Shainker ’28 - Thirds Mountain Biking
Logan has worked hard this season and really pushed himself to be his best on the trails! He recently displayed tremendous courage and composure despite a challenging injury, and his grit and positive attitude serve as an inspiration to his teammates.

Carlos Xie ’26 - JV Cross Country 

Carlos was taking his training seriously at the end of the season as his results showed. He finished the last two races with great gains and ran the 5K course at St. Paul’s for the Lakes Region Championship. He surprised himself with an excellent finish time of 26:08! Way to go Carlos!
 

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Athletics Program at Cardigan

Known as the Cougars, Cardigan athletic teams foster sportsmanship, teamwork, and School pride. We support multiple teams in 17 sports to meet the interests and develop the skills of all Cardigan student-athletes. Every boy has the opportunity to play, learn, and have fun.

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