Williston’s newest Wildest cats are ready to set the weekend activities on fire.
This year’s Wildest Cats are Daryn Fox, Owen Converse, Jack Nolan, Nina Coffee, and Francesca Gionfriddo. Led by Caroline Channell, Assistant Dean of Students for Community Life, the Wildest Cats are a group of seniors who help plan all the weekend events. They can be seen as a voice for the students. If the students want a certain weekend event, the Wildest Cats try their best to make it happen.
The Wildest Cats were first established in 2014 by Marie Innarelli as a club. Throughout the years, and working with the Dean of Community Life, the Wildest Cats have become the school’s main cheering section, the hype squad for big sports games. Recently, they encouraged the student body to wear white for the annual White-Out football game against Tabor Academy, and again to wear black for the Girls Varsity Soccer game against Mount Saint Charles Academy.
They also took an active leadership role in Willympics, which began on September 19. This weekend (Sept. 26-28), we are hosting Gaga ball, a small dodgeball-like game.
The Willistonian spoke with all the Wildest Cats and what made them want to be part of the group.
Nina Coffee, a senior from Old Lyme Conn., has had several friends who were previously Wildest Cats.
“Something that made me want to be a Wildest Cat was seeing all my past friends do it, setting good examples and having a lot of fun,” she said.
Those friends include Elle Ash ’25, Violet Carroll ’25, Emily Hamann ’24, Anna Sawyer ’24 and Caroline Aufiero ’24.
Francesca Gionfriddo, from South Glastonbury, Conn., felt welcomed by the Wildest Cats.
“Annika Song, one of last year’s Wildest Cats, was a great example of a positive presence as a Wildest Cat,” said Francesca. “She showed me what it was like to be involved in weekend activities and the community.”
Annika is currently attending NYU.
Owen Converse, from Massena N.Y., was heavily impacted his first year by the Wildest Cats.
“Being around the Wildest Cats last year and seeing their impact inspired me to want to do the same for others,” he said.
Jake Smith, who now attends Saint Anslem College, was his biggest inspiration.
Jack Nolan, from Scottsdale Ariz., was inspired by the amount of fun the group has together.
All the Wildest Cats collectively agreed that the biggest advice they would give to juniors that are eager to be Wildest Cats should show up to every weekend event and try and help the current Wildest Cats as much as possible. Giving ideas to the current Wildest Cats and Ms. Channell also gives a good idea to how big of an impact you want to make.
