A compilation of Portsmouth Abbey’s Athletic News and Notes…
Spring Sports Awards
The Ravens had one of the most successful spring seasons in recent history. With a New England Championship win in Boys’ Track and Field and EIL Championships in Baseball and Softball, record-setting performances, and wins over the Dragons in multiple sports, it was a season to remember. Even more memorable were the many ways our athletes supported and encouraged each other. Our Spring Sports Awards recipients were leaders both on and off the field, and we cannot wait to see what their future holds. (Pictured: the Varsity Softball Team with Athletic Director Chris Milmoe, Coach Elliott Moffie and Head of School Matthew Walter.)
Three Ravens Named Boston Herald All-Scholastics
Alessandra Cristiani ’24 was named a Boston Herald All-Scholastic for girls’ varsity tennis. Playing at #1 singles, for most of the season, she easily won the majority of her matches.
Danielle (Dani) Longuemare ’23 was selected to the Boston Herald all-scholastic softball team. A powerhouse on the mound, she capped off her senior day on May 13 against Dana Hall with a no-hitter, pitching all five innings and allowing 0 earned runs on 0 hits. She also struck out seven batters. In a game against Tabor Academy the day before, she again earned the win, pitching all five innings and allowing one earned run on four hits. She also went 4-5 with a double, her first career home run, and five RBIs. Her total ERA was 2.1 for the season. The third hitter on the team, with 43 plate appearances, Longuemare had 14 runs, 18 hits, and an RBI of 18. She will be attending SUNY Plattsburgh in the fall where she will play ice hockey.
Obi Onwudiwe ’23 earned a spot on the Boston Herald all-scholastic boys’ track and field team. A key member of the undefeated New England Championship team, Onwudiwe finished a tremendous career by placing first in the triple jump, second in the high jump, and sixth in the shot put. He dominated at the EIL championship a week earlier, breaking his own school record by winning the triple jump with a distance of 44’2½”. He also won the high jump with a 6’0” and the Shot Put with a 42’10¾”. Onwudiwe will attend Purdue University in the fall.
Margot Appleton ’21 takes bronze in the NCAA National Championship
We continue to follow the successful season of alumna Margot Appleton ’21 in women’s outdoor track and field. A sophomore at the University of Virginia, Appleton, the current Atlantic Coast Conference champion in the 1500m, reached the NCAA final for the second time in her career after placing fourth in the mile at the indoor championships in March. Competing in a loaded field of runners in the 1500m race on June 10, she clocked a time of 4:09.30 – less than a second off her personal best. Appleton becomes the fifth Cavalier to earn All-American honors in program history and the first in the event to record All-American honors since 2009. This was an impressive breakout season for Appleton, who earned All-American honors in the indoor mile and achieved All-Southeast region in cross country.
Zachery Cappelli Named Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey Head Coach
Portsmouth Abbey School announced the hiring of Zachery Cappelli as its Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey Coach on Friday, June 2 after a competitive search process. Cappelli, a graduate of Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts, has previously seen success as both a head coach and assistant coach at the independent school and collegiate levels. An experienced leader in youth training and development, he has worked with students aged 12-25 to build their skills and knowledge of the game and to understand the importance of conditioning and specialized cultivation of personal strengths and skill sets.
Cappelli previously served as the Assistant Men’s Hockey Coach at Nichols College where he recruited student-athletes from North America and Europe to play hockey and helped lead the Bison to the 2023 Boston Landing Championship and the 2022 Worcester Cup Championship. Prior to his collegiate experience, He was the assistant coach at Winchendon School (NEPSAC) and the head coach and assistant athletic director at Hoosac School (NEPSAC) where his team captured the Holt Conference Championship. He is affiliated with the Broncos Hockey Club and the Little Rhody Hockey Club operating out of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He is the owner of Level Up Hockey Development, a skill development and consulting company geared toward helping hockey players improve and reach their goals.
“We are beyond excited to have Zach Cappelli join our Raven community as the head coach for boys’ varsity ice hockey,” said Athletic Director, Chris Milmoe. “He understands the game, the league, the competition, and all of the other factors required to strengthen our team and each player individually as a contributing member of that team. Most importantly, he knows what it takes to empower players who want to further both their education and careers on the ice.”