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Storm Athletes Receive All-NEPSAC Honors
Congratulations to the nine St. Luke’s athletes who were named in the 2018 New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) All-League teams for their respective sports.
St. Luke’s was represented in five out the six fall varsity sports offered at the School.
In Football, Austin Andersen ‘21 and Jordan Robinson ‘20 were selected for their outstanding contributions on the field. Andersen led the team with 88 tackles, including nine for a loss, as well as two interceptions. Robinson was instrumental in the team’s success on both the offensive and defensive line.
Head Coach Noel Thomas said: “Austin was recognized for his defensive prowess and was one of the top tacklers in Class C Schools. He was relentless every week and was a tackling machine. I am not surprised he was recognized for his efforts. Jordan has the rare combination of size and agility and made a lot of athletic plays that you don’t always see from a man who is 6’ 3” and 320 pounds. He was one of the most dominant linemen in Class C and I am excited to see what he does next year and beyond.”
Varsity Volleyball received two nominations to the All-NEPSAC team as Elyse Kim '21 and Karey Balkind '22 were both chosen to represent St. Luke’s.
Head Coach Abby Bielski was full of praise for her two players: “Elyse has been a natural leader from day one. She is the first to practice, the last to leave, has a perpetually positive attitude and is always open to learning new techniques. Elyse is always looking for ways to make the team better and is a great role model for younger students. Karey is an up-and-coming superstar. As a 9th grader, she stepped onto the Varsity team and immediately earned the highly coveted Outside Hitter position and lead the team with her explosive approach and athleticism.”
In Girls Soccer, Lea Panagiotidis ‘20 and Julia Lombardo ‘21 scooped the awards. Panagiotidis led the team in scoring this season with 22 goals while Lombardo capped off a terrific first season with the Storm leading the team in assists with 12 and scoring 14.
Head Coach Dan Clarke said: “Lea and Julia were a huge part of the team’s success. They are both extremely talented soccer players and thoroughly deserve this accolade. I am thrilled for both of them and can't wait to see what they continue to do on and off the field.”
Phil Platek ‘20 and Jake Kavan ‘21 were rewarded for their notable contributions for Boys Varsity Soccer, which saw the team advance to finals of the FAA tournament and reach the NEPSAC Tournament for the first time under Head Coach Ryan Fairhurst. Kavan led the team in scoring with 14 goals with Platek chipping in with nine goals and eight assists.
Coach Fairhurst said, “Phil and Jake were instrumental for us this year in attack. They contributed heavily in the majority of the goals we scored. I’m very happy that they are getting the recognition for their efforts this year.”
In Field Hockey, Emma Cropper ‘19 was named All-NEPSAC for her amazing performances in the St. Luke’s goal. She made countless saves during the season including five shutout games. Head Coach Seeley Fancher said, “There is no more consistent player than Emma Cropper. Whether the Field Hockey Team was winning, losing, or tied during a game, we knew our goalkeeper would never let up. Her ability to see the field, communicate with our defense, and instill confidence in our team was indispensable in our success this season. I have no doubt in my mind that Emma will continue to grow and succeed as a player and a compassionate teammate as she takes the next step in her Field Hockey career in college.”
St. Luke’s was represented in five out the six fall varsity sports offered at the School.
In Football, Austin Andersen ‘21 and Jordan Robinson ‘20 were selected for their outstanding contributions on the field. Andersen led the team with 88 tackles, including nine for a loss, as well as two interceptions. Robinson was instrumental in the team’s success on both the offensive and defensive line.
Head Coach Noel Thomas said: “Austin was recognized for his defensive prowess and was one of the top tacklers in Class C Schools. He was relentless every week and was a tackling machine. I am not surprised he was recognized for his efforts. Jordan has the rare combination of size and agility and made a lot of athletic plays that you don’t always see from a man who is 6’ 3” and 320 pounds. He was one of the most dominant linemen in Class C and I am excited to see what he does next year and beyond.”
Varsity Volleyball received two nominations to the All-NEPSAC team as Elyse Kim '21 and Karey Balkind '22 were both chosen to represent St. Luke’s.
Head Coach Abby Bielski was full of praise for her two players: “Elyse has been a natural leader from day one. She is the first to practice, the last to leave, has a perpetually positive attitude and is always open to learning new techniques. Elyse is always looking for ways to make the team better and is a great role model for younger students. Karey is an up-and-coming superstar. As a 9th grader, she stepped onto the Varsity team and immediately earned the highly coveted Outside Hitter position and lead the team with her explosive approach and athleticism.”
In Girls Soccer, Lea Panagiotidis ‘20 and Julia Lombardo ‘21 scooped the awards. Panagiotidis led the team in scoring this season with 22 goals while Lombardo capped off a terrific first season with the Storm leading the team in assists with 12 and scoring 14.
Head Coach Dan Clarke said: “Lea and Julia were a huge part of the team’s success. They are both extremely talented soccer players and thoroughly deserve this accolade. I am thrilled for both of them and can't wait to see what they continue to do on and off the field.”
Phil Platek ‘20 and Jake Kavan ‘21 were rewarded for their notable contributions for Boys Varsity Soccer, which saw the team advance to finals of the FAA tournament and reach the NEPSAC Tournament for the first time under Head Coach Ryan Fairhurst. Kavan led the team in scoring with 14 goals with Platek chipping in with nine goals and eight assists.
Coach Fairhurst said, “Phil and Jake were instrumental for us this year in attack. They contributed heavily in the majority of the goals we scored. I’m very happy that they are getting the recognition for their efforts this year.”
In Field Hockey, Emma Cropper ‘19 was named All-NEPSAC for her amazing performances in the St. Luke’s goal. She made countless saves during the season including five shutout games. Head Coach Seeley Fancher said, “There is no more consistent player than Emma Cropper. Whether the Field Hockey Team was winning, losing, or tied during a game, we knew our goalkeeper would never let up. Her ability to see the field, communicate with our defense, and instill confidence in our team was indispensable in our success this season. I have no doubt in my mind that Emma will continue to grow and succeed as a player and a compassionate teammate as she takes the next step in her Field Hockey career in college.”
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
