Athletes of the Week for October 28, 2019

Congratulations to Oskari Hakkarainen ’20 and Owen Reilly ’20 for receiving Cardigan’s 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

Oskari Hakkarainen ’20 – Varsity Cross Country

Oskar has been an instrumental part of our team as a leader, as an athlete, and as a friend. Throughout the season, his contributions have resulted in our successes—namely our first victory against Eaglebrook in over a decade—and every single race this season he has finished in the number two spot. He has been unwavering in his effort, and truth be told, we could not have asked him to give more effort than he already has. He is a role model for his younger teammates and balances leadership and play with more maturity than we would normally expect.

Sub-Varsity Student-Athlete of the Week

Owen Reilly ’20 – Rock Climbing

Owen has been a positive, motivating force on the rock climbing team. He is motivated to learn and practice his skills every day in practice. He climbed well at Evo Climbing Gym last weekend, but his biggest climbing accomplishment came recently when he finished a climbing project he has been working on for the past year. It was a great finish to his rock climbing season and his time here at Cardigan.

Other Varsity Nominations

Diego Carrancedo Moreno ’21 – Varsity Soccer

Diego is a talented player who quietly, but very effectively, plays a holding central midfield position for the squad. He is skilled with his feet and at any speed, but more importantly, he has excellent awareness and game I.Q. He is rarely beaten by an opponent, as he is almost always in the right position and works arduously to slow down the opposition's point of attack. He also has great vision and knowledge of the game, so that when he has control of the ball, he distributes passes intelligently and positively for the team. While he is not often on the scoresheet for points in a game, he is always a major contributor. His play this season is certainly one reason our team has enjoyed a 10-2-0 record going into our final week of play.

Wilfrido “Will” Castillo Topete ’20 - Varsity Mountain Biking

Co-Captain Will earned this nomination for his career best race, a podium second place, in the B class at the Northern New England High School Mountain Bike (NNEHSMTB) race series, held at Cardigan on October 16. His leadership both at practice and at races has been a fine example for his teammates. His skills on the bike, combined with elite fitness and boundless determination, make him one of the top B riders in our 30-team league.

Conley Bohan ’21 – Varsity Football

Conley has been a source of positivity and commitment throughout the entire season. He is a workhorse who relishes every opportunity to compete, and the example he sets has helped the entire team continue to focus on growth in the face of a losing season. From arriving early to practice each day, to competing in every drill with the utmost sportsmanship, to shaking each coach's hand as we finish, Conley has been a source of encouragement for all and galvanized our group at the end of the fall season.

Other Sub-Varsity Nominations

Jaeson Cabrera ’22 – Thirds Mountain Biking

Jaeson found tremendous personal success in the home mountain bike race on October 16. Not only was it the first race he’d ever completed, but he was also the team’s top finisher. He set off with sheer grit and determination, pedaling to a personal best. He finished in the middle of the pack of 74 riders, ahead of a handful of Cardigan JV riders. Keep up the great work, Jaeson!

Ian McDonnell ’22 – JV Cross Country

Ian has been a steadfast champion of his fellow teammates and of Cardigan cross country in general. He is a strider and has exceeded his potential as a long-distance runner. In addition, his constant support of his teammates is a wonderful development this season!

Charlie Wilson ’21 – Sailing

Charlie has been excited about sailing since the first day and has shown huge improvements throughout the season. He started the season not knowing much about sailing but by Family Weekend he was able to skipper (steer) a boat during our Family Weekend Regatta. He is a great teammate and is always looking to help wherever he can. For his major improvements, his willingness to help, and his love for the sport, we nominate Charlie for student-athlete of the week.

Connor Pollard ’20 – JV Soccer

Connor scored his first goal of the season this week when he stepped up from his center back position and drilled home the first goal of the game with a left-footed rocket. He has played virtually every minute of the season as the key anchor for a defense that has only allowed nine goals all year. Connor's leadership has been critical as the team has crafted an eight-game winning streak.

Estyn Elkouh ’22 - Thirds Soccer

Estyn is one of the hardest working defensive backs on the team. Our plan for each game is a defensive-minded scheme and relies heavily on our ability to get back on defense. Speed is essential. Estyn is not only a fast player but a smart one as well. He is a great communicator and often directs traffic from his position. He is a consistent presence for our team both at practice and during games. He plays with heart, speed, and a keen sense of spacing and field position awareness. He works hard and pays attention to directions and defensive plays and schemes. Estyn is a joy to have on the team.

Ho Seok “Ryan” Ham ’22 – Fourths Soccer

Ryan is a talented player, but more importantly, he loves to compete. He is always working his hardest to help the team, leaving it all on the field. When we play a challenging team, he is the first to rise up to the competition's level. He smiles and laughs, and maker soccer fun for everyone. This week, we played a skilled Indian River team, and he gave 100%, keeping the team in the game. Thanks, Ryan!

Darius Yarborough ’23 – Reserve Soccer

Darius has been improving each week in soccer, and this last week showed great play as a forward wing in both Indian River games. He was dogged in being first to the ball and used great footwork to maneuver around defenders, work the ball up the sideline, and then into the middle. He has excellent team play and knows when to pass the ball off to get it up the field. In a recent win against Indian River, he was a key to the victory, placing a perfect assist for the winning goal. Darius is a positive, hard worker and makes the whole team have fun.

Jihun “Eric” Lim ’20 – JV Mountain Biking 

Eric has consistently gotten faster throughout the year. He was second for the JV team at the home race.

Chris Kinne ’22 – JV Football

Chris was the backbone of the defense. At his nose guard position, he had 16 tackles in the game.

Solmon Kim ’22 – Reserve Mountain Biking

Solmon worked incredibly hard all season and constantly pushed himself to be a better rider every day.