By Andrew Wyshner ’18, Staff Writer

With the NFL playoffs now in the rear-view mirror, the next major sports tournament is the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball tournament, commonly known as “March Madness.” During this three-week period, the nationally televised tournament garners almost all the attention in college sports, but many other college winter sports are wrapping up their seasons with national tournaments, and spring sports seasons are beginning at universities across the country.

One former Newark Academy athlete in the middle of a push to qualify for the NCAA Championship tournament is Jocelyn Willoughby ’16. Willoughby is playing major minutes as a freshman for the Virginia Cavaliers, and on Monday, January 30, she was named ACC Rookie of the Week. It  was the first conference award for any Cavalier this season. Newark Academy junior and current women’s basketball team captain Maria Armas ‘18 says that winning this award “speaks to how much potential she has.” Maria went on to say, “Jocelyn was so selfless, and, even if she was having a great game, she always complimented someone else on how they were doing. Off the court, she was just so nice and easy to talk to.” Jocelyn’s raw skill sets her apart at every level she plays at, and her personal qualities make her a great teammate, friend and leader. She has started in all 21 games for UVA, and she is averaging over 10 points a game, even as a freshman. As of February 9, she has helped the Cavaliers to a 15-8 record, including a stellar 10-2 record at home. Their push for the NCAA tournament will continue in the coming weeks with the end of their regular season and the ACC conference tournament.

A second recent Newark Academy graduate excelling at the collegiate level is George Haglund ’16. Currently fencing foil for No. 7 ranked Harvard, George is another college freshman already leading his team. In Harvard’s final meet prior to the Ivy League tournament George was the top foil for Harvard in a 16-11 victory. He compiled a 2-1 record on the day. He will attempt to help his team repeat their success in the NCAA Championships in March, where last year they finished seventh overall. Senior Shane Iverson ‘17 said that, over the eight years they fenced together, “George was always the hardest working person. He was always supportive and a great teammate.” Harvard came in fourth at the Ivy League Championships, and they will try to continue their success in the Beanpot Tournament and over the rest of the regular season.

Dylan Flanagan, another 2016 graduate, is now beginning his season with the Villanova tennis squad. On February 6, Villanova opened up their season against Temple with a 5-2 defeat. However, Dylan was one of only two victorious Wildcats on the day, notching a 7-6, (6), 6-0 victory. This strong start to the spring season built off of his strong fall, in which he finished fifth at the Villanova Invitational and automatically qualified for the main draws at the ITA Regionals. Junior member of the NA tennis team Thomas Ito ‘18 believes that Dylan’s start is just a preview of great things to come. Thomas says that “not only was he a ridiculous competitor, but also he demonstrated how to be a leader both on and off the court.” Dylan’s strong fall and impressive start to the 2017 spring season set the stage for  another Newark Academy graduate’s immediate success at the college level.

Across many different college sports, recent Newark Academy graduates have been excelling for top teams in their respective sports. It is apparent that through their time at Newark Academy, they have learned a great deal about what it means to be a leader, and the intangibles these athletes possess will allow them to continue to flourish for years to come.