20 Choate Student-Athletes Earn All-American Recognition in 2025–2026

A remarkable 20 Choate Rosemary Hall student-athletes earned All-American recognition during the 2025–2026 school year, highlighting the depth, talent, and commitment across the School’s athletic programs. The honorees represented five varsity sports and included student-athletes from the Classes of 2026 through 2029, with 17 earning All-American honors and three more receiving All-American Honorable Mention recognition in Boys Water Polo.

The accomplishments spanned the athletic calendar, from the wrestling mat and pool to the lacrosse field and soccer pitch. Together, the recognitions reflect not only exceptional individual performances, but also the strength of the teams, coaches, and culture that support Choate student-athletes throughout their careers.

“Achieving this level of excellence takes time, energy, dedication, and effort, and we are very proud of their work,” said Director of Athletics Tom White. “Having so many athletes across several sports achieve All-American recognition speaks to the strength of our programs at Choate. Congratulations to each of our honorees.”

Nine All-Americans on the Wrestling Mat

Girls Wrestling made an especially significant mark, with nine Choate wrestlers earning All-American honors: Leanna La ’26, Sara McLaughlin ’26, Lily Runez ’26, Tatianna Irizarry ’27, Olivia Mancha ’28, Livi Polansky ’28, Rhema Woolcock ’28, Chloe Ross ’29, and Mya Starks ’29.

The nine All-Americans included two National Champions, further establishing the program among the elite in the country and representing one of the most successful seasons in Choate wrestling history.

“It is incredible to have had nine All-Americans on our team last year,” said Head Varsity Wrestling Coach Ryan Roddy. “Becoming an All-American is one of the highest honors a wrestler can earn, and to see nine of our Choate student-athletes reach that level is a tremendous accomplishment for our program and our school.”

Roddy emphasized that the achievement extends beyond results on the mat.

“We talk often about being champions both on and off the mat and seeing our student-athletes excel at the highest level of wrestling truly makes us proud,” he said. “To have nine All-Americans, including two National Champions, is a reflection of the dedication, hard work, and commitment of our wrestlers, coaches, and the entire Choate community. It is an accomplishment that our program will always be proud of and plans to continue.”

With All-Americans ranging from the Class of 2026 through the Class of 2029, the group also speaks to the continued growth and strength of the program across multiple classes.

Excellence Across the Pool

Choate Swimming produced six All-Americans during the 2025–2026 season: Ryan Liu ’26, Neil Alejandro ’27, Ethan Sun ’27, Matthew Ackerman ’28, Sebastian Huang ’28, and Filip Szymczyk ’28.

The recognition came during another outstanding season for the program, with Choate athletes competing among the top swimmers in the country. The Boys 200 Medley Relay finished 52nd nationally, while the 200 Freestyle Relay ranked 41st in the nation. Individually, Sebastian Huang finished the season ranked 38th nationally in the 100 Breaststroke and 77th in the 200 Individual Medley. New school records were also set in all of these events.

“It is a remarkable accomplishment to achieve All-American status in swimming, and truly recognizes the top competitors within our sport in the entire country,” said Head Boys & Girls Varsity Swim Coach Nolan Silbernagel. “I am extremely proud of Ryan, Neil, Ethan, Baz, Filip, and Matthew for achieving these extremely fast time standards, and it is truly a testament to their hard work and dedication to their training, their teammates, and the Choate Swim Program.”

The accomplishments of the six swimmers also illustrate the depth of the program, with All-Americans representing three different graduating classes.

 Individual Excellence, Built on Team Success

On the lacrosse field, Bryce Privateer ’26 earned All-American recognition following a dominant senior season. Privateer led the team in both goals and points, finishing the season with 30 goals, seven assists, and 37 points.

His honor was particularly historic: Privateer became the first two-time All-American in the history of the Boys Lacrosse program, having also earned All-American recognition as a junior.

For Head Boys Varsity Lacrosse Coach Ethan McDonnell, accomplishments like Privateer's—and those of All-Americans throughout the program—are inseparable from the team environment in which they are achieved.

“When you consider how selective the criteria is to be named an All-American in our league, recognized as one of the most competitive in the country, and indeed the nationally competitive landscape Choate keeps in, it’s an incredible honor,” McDonnell said. “It’s a testament to the tireless work and dedication of our players, our culture on campus, and to be sure, the support and resources here at Choate relative to their development here as student-athletes.”

McDonnell also emphasized the collective nature of individual recognition.

“What’s more, while this is the pinnacle of individual accolades in our sport, we see such recognition as a team award,” he said. “In a team-first sport like lacrosse, players do not shine or prove themselves as All-Americans without competitive teams and supportive teammates who collectively elevate each other’s platform for success.”

Recognition On and Off the Soccer Pitch

David Villavicencio ’26 added another All-American honor to an extraordinary senior season with Boys Varsity Soccer. Villavicencio was selected to the Prep All-American Game, named a Sports Illustrated HS Prep All-American, selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team, and later earned recognition as a United Soccer Coaches Academic All-American during the summer.

Head Boys Varsity Soccer Coach Charlie Fuentes pointed to Villavicencio's accomplishments as a reflection of both his individual development and the opportunities created through the Choate program.

“We are incredibly proud of David and the recognition he has received during the 2025 fall season,” Fuentes said. “His selection to the Prep All-American Game, selection as a Sports-Illustrated HS Prep All-American, United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team and United Soccer Coaches Academic All-American Team is a reflection of his hard work and dedication to his growth and development as a player, as well as our program’s ability to create the necessary exposure for our student-athletes to be recognized for their talents.”

Villavicencio's Academic All-American distinction adds another dimension to an already exceptional list of athletic accomplishments, underscoring the balance between academic achievement and athletic excellence that defines the Choate student-athlete experience.

Water Polo Adds Three More Honorees

Boys Water Polo added three more student-athletes to Choate's national recognition during the 2025–2026 school year, with Tripp Madill ’26, Britt Clark ’26, and Rowan Kane ’26 earning All-American Honorable Mention honors.

For Head Boys Water Polo Coach Katie Childs, however, the significance of the recognition extends beyond the honors themselves. One of this year's All-Americans had never played water polo before joining the Choate program, making the achievement an especially powerful example of what can happen when talented and motivated students are given the opportunity and support to develop.

“Three All-Americans in a single year, and six All-Americans over the past three years, is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the level of excellence within our program,” said Childs.

Kane '28 served as the offensive catalyst for the Wild Boars last year, scoring 117 goals along with 29 assists and 50 steals to earn the All-American recognition. Clark '28 also had a big season in the water, scoring 40 goals to go along with 23 assists and 33 steals. Madill '26 held things down between the posts, recording an impressive 172 saves on the season. 

Through dedication, hard work, and a commitment to learning the sport, Choate's water polo athletes continue to demonstrate what is possible when students are supported in reaching their potential.

“We are incredibly proud of our athletes and the culture of excellence, growth, and achievement they represent within our school,” Childs said.

A Collective Accomplishment

While the honors recognize individual student-athletes, the accomplishments of the 2025–2026 school year tell a much larger story. The 20 honorees represent multiple sports, four graduating classes, and athletes at different stages of their Choate careers.

They also represent countless hours of practices, competitions, film sessions, strength training, travel, preparation, and the support of teammates and coaches.

As Coach McDonnell noted, individual recognition does not happen in isolation. It is built within competitive teams and environments where teammates challenge and support one another. Coach Silbernagel similarly emphasized the commitment of his swimmers not only to their own training, but to their teammates and the Choate Swim Program.

That shared commitment is perhaps the most significant achievement behind the numbers.

“Achieving this level of excellence takes time, energy, dedication, and effort,” White said. “Having so many athletes across several sports achieve All-American recognition speaks to the strength of our programs at Choate.”

Congratulations to Choate’s 2025–2026 All-Americans!