NWC’s Gillespie, Stites Are Named CIAC Scholar-Athletes

West Hartford – Sarah Gillespie ’13, an outstanding track athlete, and Tyler Stites ’13, an accomplished swimmer and golfer, have been named Northwest Catholic's CIAC Scholar-Athletes for 2013.   “Sarah and Tyler are excellent examples of students who work extremely hard at their studies and carry their work ethic over to their chosen sports,” said NWC Principal Margaret Williamson. “They have also exhibited leadership skills and helped other athletes on their teams become better.”

Gillespie, of Manchester, ran indoor and outdoor track and played varsity volleyball for NWC. She has had an impressive track career at NWC, including holding over a dozen school records and several conference and state records in both indoor and outdoor track. Sarah is a 2013 All-American in indoor track for the one mile. She won the Class S State Championship in the 1000m all four seasons of her indoor track career, and in 2012, she was the Outdoor Track State Open Champion in the 1600 meter and the Class M State Champion in both the 800 and 1600 meter. Sarah has been named All-New England, All-State, All-Conference and All-Academic multiple times in both indoor and outdoor track, as well as team MVP. She will attend Harvard University in the fall and run on the track team.

Stites, of Kensington, has been a member of the swimming and diving team for three years and a member of the boys’ golf team for four years. He has been named All-Academic in both sports and is a team captain for the boys’ golf team this year. As a swimmer, his events included the 100 meter backstroke as well as the 100 meter, 200 meter and 500 meter freestyle. He will be attending Boston College in the fall and hopes to continue playing golf on a club team there.
“We are so proud of who Sarah and Tyler have become during their years here at Northwest Catholic, and can’t wait to see what they achieve in the future,” said NWC Athletic Director Matthew Martorelli ’03. “They are the epitome of excellent student-athletes.”

The Scholar-Athlete Program recognizes a boy and girl from each high school “whose academic and athletic careers have been exemplary, whose personal standards and achievements are a model to others, and who possess high levels of integrity, self-discipline and courage,” according to the CIAC.

Since 1961, Northwest Catholic’s mission has been to educate the whole person: mind, body, spirit, and soul. Enrollment for the Class of ’17 is now under way. For more information, contact Maryann Lacouture (860-236-4221, x140 or mlacouture@nwcath.org).