Boys Varsity Volleyball

The Washington International School boys varsity volleyball team capped a standout ISVBL regular season with a near-perfect record, dropping only one game before advancing to the league tournament finals.

Having won the tournament in 2024, the team was full of confidence and optimism. However, some uncertainty remained due to losing two key senior players who graduated, Marco Opertti and Antonio Giorgianni. 

The team also gained a new player, WIS junior and club volleyball player Refik Hurcan. Hurcan’s experience and leadership proved to be instrumental in continuing the team’s success this season. 

WIS powered through the postseason, earning decisive victories over Berman and PVI to secure their spot in the championship match. The team ultimately fell to Covenant Life in the final, but their strong tournament run underscored a season marked by resilience and growth.

Junior and middle blocker Monroe Mossman said he was most proud of how the squad developed over the season, emphasizing the close-knit bond that formed among teammates. “We really grew together as a team and felt like a family,” Mossman said.

Junior and setter Ben Galbraith showed confidence in the team’s trajectory. “Next season, we will win the championship,” Galbraith predicted.

Track and Field

The track team overcame early setbacks to complete a season of success, recuperating after having lost access to their regular training facility. The season ended with an impressive third place finish for the girls team at the PVAC Championships. 

“This season for track was a great one!” said Evie Cushnie, WIS junior and track team member. “It got off to a rough start when we found out we could no longer practice at Georgetown track, however this didn’t stop the team from training! Everyone came together and worked hard in practice to improve their times at meets” Cushnie said. 

Despite the initial obstacle, the team’s determination was evident throughout the spring. The team worked on each of their individual performances, and the results were evident. 

The season’s highlight came at the PVAC Champtionships, where the girls team’s efforts paid off. The team got third overall with seven top three finishes. This feat, ending a season that already had a lot of achievement, was a praiseworthy achievement. 

Looking forward, Cushnie notes that the girls team is already setting their sights on even greater success. “Next year the girls’ team is determined to improve our performance in meets throughout the season and build up to an even better result at Championships,” she said. 

Cushnie also notes that she hopes to see more boys join next season, which would allow the boys squad to be able to have a full team and compete for placements. 

Boys Varsity Tennis

The WIS Boys’ Varsity tennis team came into the season suffering a huge loss of key players and senior last year, Sam Huffard. Additionally, the year prior, they had suffered a close and crushing defeat to St. Anselm’s Abbey School 3-2 in the PVAC finals. 

Therefore, there was much uncertainty coming into the season. The regular PVAC season went well for the team, finishing 7-3, compared to last year’s 10-0. 

The team was extremely unlucky, as they lost two key players to an ACL tear and appendicitis surgery. However, two talented freshmen players, Zaid Zamani and Maxime de Monvallier, stepped up to play in the #1 and #3 singles spots. 

Much of the team’s challenges came from having to organize a stressful season with weather complications and injuries. The team’s adaptability must be commended, much of it coming from the team’s coach, WIS teacher Guy Neal’s organization and strategic capabilities. Simeon Bayer, WIS junior and tennis player highlights this. “Mr. Neal helped us stay organized in a season where we faced unfortunate circumstances,” he said. 

The team went into the PVAC tournament finals, arguably the underdogs compared to a strong St. Anselm’s team. However, the #2 doubles had a chance to knock out St. Anselm’s in the first round, giving the team an advantage in the final round, going in 1-0. 

They followed through, and the team’s hopes for winning the title were brightened. The second round of the tournament, where WIS would play four matches against St. Anselms, was interrupted by weather but resumed on May 19th. 

WIS ultimately tied St. Anselm’s, sharing the PVAC tournament championship. Although hopes were high to defeat St. Anselms, the team still views this season as a success with its many challenges. “We did the best we could and because of the challenges we faced, we all view this season as a great success,” Bayer said. 

Several members of the team have high hopes for next season. “Next year, with the right preparation and luck, we should be able to win both the regular season and the tournament,” Bayer said. 

By Zack Worth