PCA Updates
Four exceptional high school seniors in New England have been selected for Positive Coaching Alliance’s Triple-Impact Competitor® scholarship in recognition of their steadfast commitment, throughout the pandemic, to making themselves, their teammates, and the game better. All four hail from programs that have partnered with PCA, and were honored on the scoreboard at Fenway during PCA’s STADIUM STAMPEDE at FENWAY this summer, together with all eight finalists for this program.
The four winners come from programs with a positive sports culture and demonstrate the power of sports done right. Sports helped them find joy, resilience, challenge, gratitude, confidence, and their voices. Read on to learn more about them.
KATE COLLINS
FOXBOROUGH HS, FIELD HOCKEY AND LACROSSE
“I found my voice playing sports” says Kate Collins, a field hockey and lacrosse player at Foxborough High School. Kate has earned the respect of her coaches and teammates as a hard worker and a truly compassionate leader. Sports and family have shaped Kate as a person. Kate learned to “enjoy small victories” from her sister Annie and to appreciate the bonds built putting in extra training side-by-side with her sister and teammate Mary.
RHODENISCHELAH (“RHODE”) LIMAGE
JOHN D. O’BRYANT SCHOOL FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE, BOSTON SCORES, SOCCER, SOFTBALL
“Sports helped me build confidence, and find joy,” says Rhode Limage, a soccer and softball player at Boston’s John D. O’Bryant School for Mathematics and Science. Rhode credits her coaches at Boston SCORES with helping her overcome her initial nervousness about playing soccer, saying she “found people who motivated me.” Her coaches, in turn, describe Rhodes as “honest, open, receptive to criticism, determined to improve, a high energy teammate who sees mistakes an opportunity to learn.” The sixth of nine children, Rhode balances responsibilities at home with school work and her teams. Rhode has learned from sports that “there is always room to learn” and adds “sports helped me get fit, and sports helped get me out of my comfort zone.”
SHEALIN SARACINO
NORTH HAVEN HS (CT), LACROSSE, FIELD HOCKEY
“Sports has taught me to bounce back, and to be more grateful,” says Shealin Saracino, a two-sport athlete at North Haven High School in Connecticut. Shea maintains an exceptionally positive growth mindset, and is committed to turning obstacles into opportunities. After losing two seasons of high school lacrosse, one to COVID and the other to a torn ACL, Shea has a deeper appreciation of the importance of gratitude. Shea has learned to bounce back and to help her team succeed through positive sideline support. Her club lacrosse coach agrees, and says: “Every team needs a Shea.”
ELLIE STREEPER
NEEDHAM HS, VOLLEYBALL
“Sports helped me develop leadership skills,” says Ellie Streeper, who captains Needham High School’s storied volleyball team and champions its positive culture with hard work and caring leadership. Under PCA award-winning Coach Courtney Chaloff, the team went from zero wins to state champs in just six years, and was undefeated in a 2020 season shortened by COVID.
Winning the 2019 state championship is one of Ellie’s highlight moments. She also treasures “playing backyard volleyball with my parents and my sister/teammate Izzy on COVID lunch breaks!” Family backyard volleyball helped her through the challenges of the pandemic.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL EIGHT FINALISTS
CHRIS HERN
HINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL, FOOTBALL, BAKETBALL, LACROSSE, SOCCER
NICOLE SALANTAY
KING SCHOOL, VOLLEYBALL
EVA SIMMONS
CHARIHO HIGH SCHOOL (RI), SOCCER
SANDRA WATNE
SHAWSHEEN VALLEY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL, CROSS COUNTRY, SOFTBALL, VOLLEYBALL
