Athletes of the Week: Sam Willman & Oliver Bergeron

Senior captains Sam Willman and Oliver Bergeron are leading the 2019 varsity baseball team this spring. So far, the team has put on stellar performances, maintaining a 4-1-0 record this season. The team’s only loss came on opening day against Tabor, one of the strongest opponents in the league. However, the team hopes to continue the win streak that is following their first game.

Much of the team’s achievements can be traced back to the leadership of Willman and Bergeron. Although they serve as the captains now, the duo has not always possessed the talent that they do today. Bergeron and Willman both started playing baseball when they were three years old. “My brother, my dad and I would spend hours hitting tee balls at the local high school,” Willman recalled.

The two co-captains fell in love with the game of baseball in their younger years, when they first started throwing the ball around. The extreme focus and concentration that the game requires of players allowed for Bergeron and Willman to disconnect with the outside world. Their focus was singular: to beat their opponent. Standing on the diamond creates a whole new atmosphere and enables the players to “feel like little kids again,” according to Willman.

Willman and Bergeron have high hopes for the team this season. As the runner ups in last year’s League Championship, the team is looking to do even better this year and bring home a title. Along with the championship, it is always a team goal to win the team’s Exeter-Andover game near the end of May.

As a captain of the team, Bergeron believes that it is his responsibility to “use the talent that [the team] has and play to our full potential.” The pair has been successful in doing this, evidenced by their strong start to the season.

Upper Will Coogan was also impressed by his captains skills. “They keep their heads up in the field, and can hit really well,” he said. Upper Noah Jankowaski added, “Sam is a great consistent hitter for us at the plate. Oliver has some great power when hitting, and has gotten some clutch hits for us this season.”

In addition to utilizing the skills that the players have to offer, the captains also play a key role in creating strong team camaraderie. Lower James McKenna described the way the captains have made his first few weeks on the team enjoyable, saying “throughout the year, they’ve brought us together and made everyone feel a part of the team.” As a new member of the varsity squad, McKenna says he was unsure as to how he would fit in with the rest of the players. However, Willman and Bergeron made him feel welcome and included in the group, as they did with every other member of the team. With a roster full of players from every grade, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment is especially vital.

The nine seniors and seven uppers on the team also help the new lowerclassmen fit in with and learn from the older athletes. A large portion of the team will be graduating within the next two years, making it especially important that the younger teammates know how the team operates. Jake Shapiro, the only prep and one of the few newcomers on the team, explained how supportive Willman and Bergeron have been so far during the season. He expressed how the co-captains are always willing to help and offer tips to the players on the team. “They both are very hard workers. They aren’t afraid to tell us what we’re doing wrong and what we can do better,” Shapiro said.

Despite their devotion to the team’s success, Willman and Bergeron both understand the importance of bringing humor to the game as well, something many players say helps their ability to perform well. The tight-knit team that the captains have been successful in creating has no doubt contributed to their success thus far in the season. Coogan said of his captains,“Wilman and Bergeron are two very good leaders. They always give their best effort and lead by example, but are never afraid to have fun.” Jankowski added, “They are a great pair together, being best friends they both respect and get along with each other and I think that definitely spreads to the rest of the team and creates a great atmosphere.”

After graduating, the pair intend to further their athletic careers, with Bergeron going on to play Division III Baseball at Haverford College and Willman playing hockey on a junior team with hopes of continuing in the future. Until then, the two of them will maintain their focus on having a successful season.

Recognizing how important their time on the team was to them, the captains strive to create a similar experience for the other players. Willman said, “I try to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves because you can only play high school baseball once.”

The baseball team recognizes how lucky they are to have such great captains that are encouraging and helpful, both on the field and off. They have started off the spring season strong, and hope to continue on the same path for the team’s remaining games. With their goals for the end of the season in mind, the baseball team will work hard during practices and games to improve their abilities.