13 Woburn High Student-Athletes Up for Hood Sportsmanship Scholarship

Thirteen Woburn High School students are candidates in the annual Hood Sportsmanship Scholarship Program. 

They need your help if they're going to win. 

You can go to the site and vote from now until 3 p.m. April 18. The top 10 students who receive the most votes will be selected as finalists. They will be interviewed in May by a panel of judges. Three students per state will be selected as winners and they will receive $5,000 scholarships each. 

Each entry included an essay on why the participant should be selected for the scholarship. 

Here are each of the 13 students from Woburn High along with their essays:

Ryan Connolly

Originating as a sport played mostly by noble upperclassmen, golf has been termed the “gentleman’s game”, and with this designation has emerged a set of unspoken rules of civility. As part of a team, I represent not only myself but the rest of my community as well, and therefore these rules are increasingly important. Despite the relative slowness of the sport, golf can also be immensely frustrating. A slight mistake in a player’s swing can cause the ball’s flight to go completely awry, and any golfer knows just how infuriating this can be. Unlike other sports where players are allowed to take their aggression out physically and verbally on other players, golf requires players to suppress their emotions and maintain composure. In fact, we are expected to congratulate our opponents on a good shot even that shot results in our loss. The ability of golfers to preserve their equanimity and chivalry in emotionally agitating situations displays their mental maturity and athletic integrity. It is also important that an athlete exemplifies sportsmanship outside beyond their own athletics. This year, I was admitted as a member of the School Resource Officer Mentoring Program which works with the city’s local Boys and Girls Club to host an “open gym” every Friday night from 6:00-9:30 for elementary and middle school students. This program provides a safe indoor environment in the winter for kids to be active and provides the mentors an opportunity to encourage sportsmanship and character to the younger kids.

Joseph Filardo

Nikkie Huynh

I consider myself as a good sport both on and off the field because even if the other team/opponent is incredible rude and have no good sportsmanship at all, I will try my absolute hardest to keep cool, calm and collected. By staying cool, calm and collected, I can stay focused on my own team and try to help them out with the game. By focusing on my team, it makes me forget that the other team did something rude or awful. I might be mad or disappointed that the other team would do such a thing but by the end of the game, supporting my team and playing our game mattered the most. If the other team made a great play or had an amazing game, I would congratulate them or say "Awesome job!" or "Great game!" because admiring how they play only makes yourself a better player. If you dislike them, then you will not learn from them and will not become as good of a player as them. Also, when I'm on the field and if the other player falls down or gets hurt, I'd make sure that they are alright and see if they need help. Being a good sport doesn't only feel good but one day you don't know if one day you and your opponent would meet again and become best friends.

Stephanie Kerrigan

As captain of the softball team, it is my responsibility to take charge and be the leader of the team, especially in hard situations. If we lose a game or a player is having an off day, I am always there to support the girls and tell them to keep our heads up and that we will do better next game. I am also the team's voice as I constantly cheer on my teammates and give direction. The team looks up to me and it is my job to be their role model which puts pressure on how I act not only on but off the field as well. In order to achieve my goal of being a great role model for my teammates, I do my best to excel in school and shape myself into a good person. In order to be a good role model, I try extremely hard in school and try to get the best grades possible because getting good grades makes a person seem more admirable. In addition, I want my girls to look up to me as a person and think of me as someone with a big heart. Every day I try to be the best person I can be to my peers, family and my teammates, in hope that they will be inspired and carry on my positive energy for the team. Being captain and a good role model to my teammates is one of the most important things to me.

Erin Kimmelman

In participating in sports I have learned as much on how to act appropriately and be a good sport as I have about the technicalities. These teachings have given me an attitude which allows me to strive to be a better sport. As a senior, I had the opportunity to become a captain on my varsity soccer team, something I had worked towards my entire life. Being that symbol that people look to as a leader and having the honor to influence my team is something that I believe allowed me to showcase that I wanted not only to win as a team, but I wanted to win as a team who could look themselves in a mirror and be proud of how they had won. I was able to gather everything I had been taught about proper conduct and ultimately have an effect on the rest of my team. However important it is to showcase good sportsmanship by yourself, I believe that teaching others to do so is how we continue to improve as athletes. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to do just that when I coached a youth soccer team. Being able to share and teach them with my experience brought me the most spectacular amount of joy possible. Being a good sport is one of the aspects I pride myself on as an athlete, and I feel as though a good sport on the field must also show even more graciousness off the field as a person

Casandra Magro

Being a good sport on and off the field is one of the most important ways to express sportsmanship. Everyone, whether it may be a coach, a parent, or even a student, loves to look at an athlete and think wow, they love doing what they do and they would not change it for the world. I, personally am one of these people. I started my senior year playing my last year of varsity soccer and it's one of my favorite memories. About three games in, all three of the captains were injured so my coach pulled the team aside and presented two new captains to add to the list. He chose me and one of my other teammates because he wanted a captain presence on the field and he decided that we had the qualities to be role models on and off the field. A real accomplishment. I also help out to teach young girls how to play softball. Not only is it fun teaching something I love but the girls look forward to seeing my team and I every Sunday morning. I knew I had made a difference when a girl named Emmey, about 6, was talking to me about softball and asking why I play because she wanted to be like me. I also like the conversations where the girls are appalled that we don’t have recess in high school. Beside the point, being a good sport is critical to sportsmanship and it's my favorite aspect.

Rachel Mandeville

I have never been the fastest runner on the cross-country team. Despite that fact, I was elected captain of the team this year. Becoming a captain of a sport that I am passionate about truly made my senior year a memorable one. I was proud of myself when I was awarded captain of my team because even though I am a varsity runner, I am not the best. It’s not easy to stand out on a big team if you’re not crossing the line two minutes before everyone else, but I knew my teammates voted for me for other reasons. I have always strived to demonstrate essential leadership qualities to my teammates, and I work hard at running every day. Four years on the team went by quickly, but in those four years I have learned a few things. One of those things is that some people are truly gifted. There are runners on my team who do not train at all over the summer and can easily make states during the cross-country season. Meanwhile, I’m waking up at early hours of the morning to get in a six mile run before the heat approaches. Being on the team has taught me that there are lucky people out there who are naturally talented, but most importantly it has taught me that working for success is something you’ll need to do for the rest of your life, and I might as well learn to push myself now rather than later.

Adrianna Manzi

Throughout my high school career of sports, I have experienced many victories, but also many defeats. Even after a terrible loss I always find a way to keep my chin up and play on. My high school field hockey team suffered many defeats and as a team we would lose our spirit. I learned that we weren't going to win every single game, but we had to keep our heads up in order to have fun. As a captain my senior year and experiencing these heartbreaking loses for 2 years in a row, I knew that above all I had to keep my team smiling and keep the spirit of the team high. The biggest challenge was a game that we were already losing by 6 goals, but when our opponents kept on scoring they began to scream with joy. In that moment I knew that my team's spirit was completely shattered. It was games such as that one that taught me to keep my head up and play the game I know how to play no matter what level the other team has stooped to. These experiences have taught me to get back up when I get knocked down, which has carried over to many aspects of my life off the field, like school. School can be just as competitive as a sport and from playing sports I have learned to turn the other cheek whenever necessary, which has helped define me as the person I am today.

Nicolette Manzi

In my experience with field hockey, my team didn't always win. Yet no matter what the score I always tried to play the game and fight until every last second. There were even times when my team was down by 10 and looking at the scoreboard truly felt like defeat. But I always tried to keep my head up and encourage my teammates to keep fighting. Even with defeat I never spoke badly of the other team and always tried to keep my poise and try to get a goal for my team, even if it was only one. Learning how to properly deal with defeat has helped my in other endeavors in my life. For example I didn't always get the best grade in the class or the star lead in the musical but I always tried to put my best foot forward. It has been through my experience with not always winning in field hockey that I have learned how to properly act in times of defeat. I believe I have used my experiences in field hockey to help me be a good sport not only on the field but in other aspects of my life. Playing on a team has taught me that a true winner isn't always defined by the score but is defined by the way you present yourself to those around you.

Kawai Marin

My life and passion is the sport of Track and Field. Throughout my entire high school career I have loved the sport because unlike many other sports, if work is put in, results will soon follow. I have been a varsity hurdler since freshmen year. This was not due to skill, but instead, a lot of hard work. The defining moment in my career was during my junior year. I had to race my rival; Ryan Manney, the top hurdler in the state at the time. I got down on my blocks, the gun went off and the race had begun. I was winning. Suddenly after I got over the fourth hurdle, I felt my feet slip beneath me and before I knew it, the race was lost. Most people would’ve quit, but I used my loss as motivation, I kept calm, shook his hand and have been working hard ever since. I spent this entire summer working out and ran cross country in the fall to be ready for track. As a result I have gone undefeated this year and am ranked fourth in the state. My work didn’t only pertain to me though, as a captain of both the indoor and the outdoor team I volunteered at many fun runs throughout the summer and every year I have volunteered at kicking for kids. Also this year I helped my team raise over $3700.00 for our track program. I have learned that giving up is not an option.

Jaye Morgan

I believe that I am a great sport both on and off the field because it is very important to me that everyone gets an equal opportunity to succeed and has a fair chance to achieve their goals. I am a member of the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams and I was elected as a captain of the outdoor track team. The success of my teammates is very important to me and I love to see them get personal bests in their events and win races. Their achievement in the sport is even more important to me than my own . I believe I'm also a great sport off the field, or in my case the track, because it is important to me that everyone gets a fair shot at achieving their goals outside of sports too. I prove my good sportsmanship off the field in my community involvement as a volunteer for Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary, a volunteer coach for Woburn Pop Warner, and a volunteer at many local races for charities. Volunteering at races is very enjoyable for me because I'm able to give back to the community and help others while also being a part of something I love. I know I'll continue to be a good sport throughout my whole life because I plan to continue running and train for a marathon, and study to become a Physician Assistant because running and helping others are my two favorite things to do.

Jacqueline Mosko

Running is my favorite hobby. I run almost every day, and participate in my school's cross country and track programs. Being part of these teams has meant the world to me, and I know they've changed me and made me a better person. Cross country, even more so than track, has had an outstanding impact on me. I was elected captain of my cross country team, and also received the Coaches Award two years in a row for my leadership on the team. On and off the course, I like to think of myself as a "good sport", and a good leader. During cross country meets, it is always important to be fair and act politely towards the opposing team- and cheering on the other team in their race is just fine, they're giving it their all. Nothing feels better than being cheered on! Although it is a competition, it is so important to be friendly. Outside of sports, the same rule applies. I try to be friendly to anyone who needs it. Since I know what it feels like to be an outsider, it is always good to try and prevent others from feeling that way. The biggest thing sports have done for me is give me a place where I can belong and be myself, which is something I will always cherish. I've never felt so at home as when I'm with my team, out for a run.

Allison Young

From a young age, my coaches have instilled in me that good sportsmanship is far more important than winning. I have been swimming for ten years on my local Boys and Girls Club swim team, and for four years for my high school team. When I was seven years old, I won my first race ever, the 25 yard breaststroke. As I excitedly leaped out of the pool to claim my heat winner ribbon, my coach stopped me. He told me that I was not being a humble winner; I was not being a swimmer with good sportsmanship. That day I learned that no matter what place I come in, it is courteous to remain in the pool until everyone has finished and to shake the hand of the swimmers in the lanes next to you. I have carried the wisdom of my coach that day with me, and as a captain on my high school team this year, I have tried to instill good sportsmanship in all of my teammates. We do not have a reputation as the best team in the league, and for years we were the worst, but we do have a reputation as being one of the most courteous. My coach prides herself with the fact that multiple officials have come up to her to say we are one of the teams with the best sportsmanship in the league. My experiences swimming and my coaches have shaped me into the person I am today.