FCIAC Scholar-Athletes, Feb., 2011

Brendan Bossidy, Ridgefield

Brendan has earned high honor roll every quarter at RHS with a 4.1 GPA. He has earned awards in several classes, including excellence in Algebra II and Biology. Brendan is a Vice President of the FBLA Club.

As an athlete he has been on the boys’ varsity ice hockey team since his freshman year and was a regular defensive player this season. He was one of the team leaders in plus/minus rating and had 16 assists. Brendan also plays lacrosse at RHS.

Megan Bradley, Brien McMahon

Megan has played soccer, indoor track, and lacrosse all through her high school career. She was a two-year captain for her indoor track team, where she qualified for the FCIAC and CIAC meet all four years and was one of the four members of the 4x800-meter relay team that set the school record.

She has been a varsity soccer and lacrosse player for three years. This is the second time she has been named a scholar athlete for McMahon. She has a 4.5 GPA while taking all AP classes.

Caroline Congdon, Darien

Caroline is a sophomore at Darien High School. She achieved All-FCIAC Honorable Mention status as a gymnast. As a freshman, she had two major knee surgeries and managed Blue Wave Gymnastics while she recovered. This was her first season back after almost a year and a half of physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Caroline has a 4.16 GPA and takes several Honors courses. She is interested in pursuing math and science and plans to continue studying them in the next two years and in college. She is a member of several DHS extracurricular activities and is involved with the Joshua House Fund.

Tommy Franco, Ridgefield

Tommy is a member of the Ridgefield football team and indoor and outdoor track and field teams. He will captain the 2011 outdoor track team. He has run four years of varsity outdoor track, two years of varsity indoor track and has played four years of RHS football. This year in indoor track, he qualified for FCIAC and CIAC in the 55-meter, 300-meter dash, Sprint Medley Relay and anchored the 4x200 meter relay which medaled at CIAC due to his strong finish.

He has received class awards every year since he was a freshman. He has received Physical Education, Biology and American Studies Award as well as the Molloy College Book Award. Tommy continues to push hard in his senior year with his studies, improving from a 3.8 GPA in the first quarter to a 4.0 GPA in the second quarter. He has become adept at balancing academics and athletics. He plans on majoring in Marine Biology and continuing his track career in college.

Tommy is a member of Best Buddies which is a club that helps kids with disabilities and does an event with the group monthly. He also participates in Relay for Life. He also has an interest in aviation, has taken flying lessons and will be doing an internship at Arrow Aviation at Danbury Airport.

Mackenzie Griffin, Trinity Catholic

Mackenzie has had a fabulous career for the girls’ basketball team, including this past winter when she was selected to the All-FCIAC first team. Last year she was on the All-FCIAC second team.

She was a member of the girls’ volleyball team last fall after having played on the girls’ varsity soccer team for two years.

Mackenzie also volunteers for several community organizations. She was a head coach of a girls basketball team for the Stamford Youngtimers and she volunteered as an assistant for the St. Leo’s Parish CCD classes.

Michael Hopkins, Westhill

This sophomore is already a key member of the Westhill/Stamford cooperative boys’ swimming and diving team as a breaststroker, and individual medley swimmer along with swimming on relay teams. Last year he made the All-FCIAC second team and has placed high in several championship meets.

Michael, who is interested in agricultural studies and plant/environmental science, has a 3.5 GPA while taking all honors and AP classes.

He also swims for the Sharks swim team and is a USA Swimming sectional qualifier.

Christina Loop, New Canaan

Christina recently concluded a solid career for New Canaan’s girls’ basketball team by being selected to the 2010-11 All-FCIAC Girls Basketball second team. She was a team captain this year. Last year she was All-FCIAC Honorable Mention.

Christina has made Honor Roll from 2007-11, she has an 88.6 average in her classes and was a founder of HOPE Club.

Craig Macken, Greenwich

Craig played on Greenwich’s varsity boys’ ice hockey team for three years, including the 2008-09 team that won the FCIAC championship when he was a freshman.

He has compiled an excellent 3.98 GPA through his junior year and is a member of the National Honor Society. He achieved High Honor Roll during his sophomore and junior years after making Honor Roll as a freshman. Craig was selected for Who’s Who in Math and been a recipient of the French Award and Math Achievement Award.

Craig has been a member of Boy Scouts of America since 1999 and is currently completing requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout. He attained the rank of Life Scout last year and has held leadership positions that include Den Chief and Patrol Leader while helping assist younger scouts with their own rank advancement.

Craig has also volunteered his service to several community organizations. He serves as an on-ice mentor each week to developmentally disabled children with the Southern Connecticut Storm Special Hockey program, he’s a tutor in the Boys & Girls Club Big Brother Program and an altar server at St. Agnes Church among them.

Alyssa Malvarosa, Wilton

Alyssa was the leading rebounder this past season for Wilton’s girls’ basketball team. The sophomore earned All-FCIAC Honorable Mention status. She also plays for Wilton’s girls’ varsity soccer team.

She has been on the Honor Roll every quarter since she entered high school and currently maintains a 3.5 GPA.

Ali Palma, Trinity Catholic

Ali is an excellent all-around athlete on the courts and student in the classroom.

She was the recipient of the William Nayden Academic and Athletic Scholarship in 2009 and 2010, she made Honor Roll in 2010 and earned High Honors in 2011.

Ali was one of just eight sophomores on the MSG Varsity Top 100 Players in Connecticut list. She has had many big games for the girls’ basketball team, such as when she racked up 18 points, 13 rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists against St. Joseph in the FCIAC Girls’ Basketball Tournament.

She was also a key member of Trinity Catholic’s girls’ volleyball team last fall, having earned All-FCIAC Honorable Mention status.

Casey Pearsall, Wilton

Casey, a sophomore, has been a starter on the varsity basketball team for the past two years. She was selected to the All-FCIAC third team this past year and was All-FCIAC Honorable Mention as a freshman, as well as being named team MVP both years. Casey also received the team Sportsmanship Award for this year’s varsity basketball team.

In addition to playing basketball, Casey also has been a starter on Wilton’s varsity soccer team, as a center midfielder, and a starter on the varsity lacrosse team, as a midfielder, since she was a freshman. She helped lead her lacrosse team to an FCIAC Championship in 2010. Last year, Casey received the Dan Shield Award which recognizes Wilton High School’s outstanding freshman athlete of the year.

Along with her athletic achievements, Casey also excels in school, maintaining a 4.0 GPA (not weighted). In addition to taking multiple honors classes, Casey also is a member of the Warrior Marching Band and Wind Ensemble.

Casey also volunteers at her church as a preschool religion teacher, as well as taking part in the church youth group and participates in a student mentoring program, fundraisers, and retreats. She enjoys volunteering as a coach for youth soccer and as a referee in the youth basketball and lacrosse programs.

AJ Schick, Stamford

AJ is junior scholar-athlete who recently completed his third season on the cooperative Westhill/Stamford boys’ swimming and diving team.

One of AJ’s memorable contributions to the team included a victory in the 100 backstroke (57.16) in the meet against Ridgefield. It was the team’s only individual victory in the meet won by Westhill/Stamford.

At the FCIAC Championships, AJ achieved personal best times when he placed fifth in the 100 backstroke (55.00) and eighth in the 100 freestyle (49.62). AJ was member of the third-place medley relay team, swimming the backstroke leg (25.86), and a member of the 400 freestyle relay team place that placed fifth.

AJ has maintained a 4.2 GPA and continues to challenge himself with AP courses. His academic interests are in math and science. He is interested in a college degree in engineering.

Other activities include the Debate Team, and working as a volunteer teacher assistant at an elementary school. If AJ is not in the water, he loves to be on the water sailing 420’s and is a junior sailing instructor.

Colin VanderHorn, Darien

Colin is a versatile student-athlete who has been a member of several teams throughout his career.

He ran for the cross country team for all four years since his freshman year, he was a pole vaulter and hurdler for the indoor track and field teams during the winter seasons, he played tennis during the spring, and he also was on the water polo and rugby club sports teams.