Fall 2025 Athletic Awards

St. Sebastian's School is proud to recognize its student-athletes for their performance on the Arrows varsity cross country, football, and soccer teams. Awards and letters were given at the Fall Athletic Awards Assembly on November 18. Congratulations to all our athletes on a great season!

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CROSS COUNTRY

All-NEPSAC
Sebastian Culleton ’26, Jack Halloran ’29, John Joyce ’27

NEPSAC Honorable Mention
Joseph Koh ’26

All-ISL
Jack Halloran ’29, John Joyce ’27

ISL Honorable Mention
Sebastian Culleton ’26

Coaches Award
For the Runner who in his performance, leadership, and example best contributes to the success of the St. Sebastian's Varsity Cross Country Team.
Sebastian Culleton ’26, Joseph Koh ’26

Captains-elect
Ryan Connolly ’27, John Joyce ’27

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FOOTBALL

Ennis Award
Presented to a senior who displays the qualities of commitment, teamwork, and dedication to the football program.
Joe Poulos ’26

Big Hit Award
Presented to the player who makes a positive impact on our opponents.
Brendan McHugh ’26, Cam Steele ’26

Tom Stratton Award
For Grit, Resilience, and Enduring Passion for St. Sebastian’s Football.
George Kelly ’26

Special Teams Award
For Outstanding Performance in and Commitment to Special Teams.
Michael DeMatteo ’26

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SOCCER

All State for Massachusetts
Griffin Collins ’26

All-ISL
Griffin Collins ’26, Finn Noonan ’26

ISL Honorable Mention
Sebastian Martinez-Moule ’26, JD Munro ’26

Peter Kerr Memorial Coaches Award
Presented to the soccer player who displays sportsmanship, dedication, and commitment to the soccer program.
Tony Petruzziello ’26, Dylan Van Biert ’26

Captains-elect
Tristen Alexander ’27, Matteo Fainelli ’27

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Athletic Director's Appreciation Award
Trey Sutphin ’26

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During the Assembly, Director of Athletics Jon Bartlett delivered the following remarks:

Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Nerbonne, and Fr. Boyle, Faculty and Staff, Students of St Sebastian’s: Welcome to the 2025 Fall Sports Assembly.

First and foremost: thank you to the Athletic Department for everything you do: a group committed and dedicated to you the student-athletes: Mr. Duffy, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Carpino, Coach Carr for all your work. And newcomers, Coach Kurker and Coach Silipo, who have made an immediate impact. A sincere thank you to our Facilities Department for always getting the fields and campus ready, Paul, Doug, Francisco. Mrs. Joyce with Medical Clearances, And of course, Rob and Robin, the best Security Team in the ISL.

Reflections on the Fall Season:

Honestly, the best recap for our sports teams will not come from me. The best analysis of our Fall season has come from our seniors during Chapel Speeches. Younger students, if you want to know what it means to be a Sebs varsity athlete, to understand the values of our school, then listen to the messaging our seniors give with their speeches:

To hear how sports have impacted their lives in a positive way. How sports gave them discipline and a work ethic. How sports create a tight-knit bond with teammates, on and off the field. A bond that evolves over time into a brotherhood.

We hear the trials and tribulations of how athletes develop in their sport over 6 years – experiencing hardships, but regardless of the setbacks, these athletes still put countless hours into their craft. Hear how coaches have become not just mentors to our athletes over time, but friends.

And you will always hear how parents and families have supported their passion in athletics since they were young.

My brief recap will give you a glimpse into how the season went. An overview. But you, students, will truly understand what it means to be an Arrow from our seniors.

One Hour.

Within one hour, on Saturday, November 8, Senior Day, we witnessed our Soccer team walk off the field for the final time with a 3-2 win over Thayer. The football team literally had a last-second walk-off with a 15-14 win over Thayer, and Cross Country raced across the finish line, earning a Division 3 NEPSAC Championship.

These victorious endings all came within one hour. A thrilling moment for all our fall sports teams. But what was more meaningful from the smiles and hugs that teammates, coaches and parents gave one another at that moment, was a bigger celebration. For those who understand sports, these hugs were for something far greater than the 3 teams’ wins. The smiles and hugs were to celebrate perseverance, over the course of a long season: the hard work and the long hours of practice and preparation, day in and day out. Getting home late each night with hours of homework. Watching teammates limp off the field because they gave everything they could for the team, but had to come off the field. Backups who, for 3 months, made starters better in practice by giving extra effort every play.

The hugs in that one hour remind us of our mission here at Sebs. Mission, the word given to us this year by Mr. Sullivan. The mission for any organization explains the ‘why to our existence’, how it operates. These fall athletes competed for themselves, of course, but they were out there representing their team and coaches, and representing all of us as a school. That is how we operate. And for the cherry on top, to finish off that 1 hour, we had athletes change from their Arrows uniform, only to walk onto the stage a short time later to act in the play.

So today is a day to reflect and offer gratitude. Thanks to all our fall coaches, at every level, for the time they put into their season. Servant leadership each day as role models to our athletes.

For our fall athletes, it was a great Fall. And we thank you for representing our school, always as the model of the ISL.

To Varsity Football – You overachieved this year. Returning starters were minimal. Tougher schedule. Yet you played motivated football all year. You showed us what a tight team, a cohesive locker room, looks like. You battled hard for one another every week; it was inspiring to watch.

To Varsity Soccer- Our soccer program is now at a level in NEPSAC that the coaches and players are disappointed if we do not make the playoffs. That is how far the program has come. That we are beating teams like Worcester and Milton Academy, teams we would not have matched up with in the past. This senior class has left a great legacy and has taken the program to soaring new heights.

And what if you were on a team that had only 1 home game all season, and no Henry’s Corner except for that 1 game. You traveled the rest of your schedule, and yet you still earned a Championship? Well, that is our Cross Country team.

Another program experiencing great success. Winning their 2nd Division 3 NEPSAC title in 3 years.

Finally, to Henry’s Corner, as always, you are the best fanbase in the ISL. Not because of how loud you cheer during the game, but how you show care for your brothers after the game.

And before we bring up our Fall Coaches to introduce our teams, I do want to make 2 quick announcements, or statements, that impact our student-athletes.

1. Fall participation rate. I want to give a plug for our multisport athletes. Participation numbers were slightly down this Fall, especially in Grades 7, 8, and 9 - compared with the past few Fall seasons.
   
   Having Multi-sport athletes is critical to the overall success and make-up of St. Sebastian’s athletics. To field a healthy roster, we need students to play multiple sports. Also, sports help with the overall fitness, well-being, and camaraderie – and it is proven students do better academically when they are in-season with a sport. So if you have any thoughts on going out for a sport, my advice, do it. We need you.
    
2. Speaking of well-being, I know you have heard that November is Mental Health Awareness Month for Males. I feel this subject matter is very important for us to recognize here at this assembly, because most St. Seb's students are Type A – males. What does this mean, Type A. Highly motivated, driven to succeed, always on multi-tasking overload. “I can do this.” It is a highly successful trait to have.
   
   But another trait for many Type A males – you do not want to show any cracks in the armor, especially to friends. You don’t want to show any weakness and you tend not to open up when stuff hits the fan.
   
   So it is important that you hear, as human beings, just as Jesus taught us, that for every human being, life is not easy at times. That everyone has bad days. There are times you prepare and play your heart out in athletics, and end up losing. Or maybe it’s not making a team. Or if you study all night and receive a B. Know it’s going to be okay, and it happens to everyone.
   
   But when you do have a tough stretch in life, just make sure you have someone you can go to. An outlet. A family member, teacher, coach, or professional. And if you don’t have someone to go to, know there is one professional mental health counselor who is the best in the business…and also free of charge. He is there on the Cross, and as Fr. Boyle reminds us, God hears you at all times and is with you. Talk to God. He will get you through tough days. Open your heart to Him.