Ring-the-Bell Student-Athletes of the Month for January 2025

Join us in celebrating the January Ring the Bell Student-Athletes of the Month! These students are ringing the bell—personally, athletically, and academically. 🔔 Coaches shared that these student-athletes are leaders—they embody sportsmanship, have a great work ethic, display positive attitudes, and are dedicated to their sports. Congratulations, Big Red student-athletes!

• Boys Basketball—Anton Flatt `25: Anton has been Ringing the Bell in boys basketball and around campus in January. Anton brings toughness and hustle to the court each night in competition or at practice. He fights for rebounds, draws charges, and steps up to do what is needed. Anton is also a leader in a variety of campus activities, recently traveling to Model United Nations at the University of Chicago, playing brass in various band ensembles, and as a prefect in Glen Dye dormitory.
   
• Girls Basketball—Jaya James `25: This month, we proudly recognize Jaya James as our Girls Basketball Ring the Bell Student-Athlete of the Month! Jaya embodies the true spirit of sportsmanship, teamwork, and character, making her an invaluable member of our team.

  Jaya consistently demonstrates an outstanding attitude, both in games and at practice. No matter the situation, she remains positive, coachable, and determined to improve. Her hustle is contagious, inspiring teammates to push themselves while always maintaining a supportive and encouraging environment.

  What truly sets Jaya apart is her commitment to teamwork. She plays unselfishly, always looking to create opportunities for her teammates, whether by making the extra pass, setting strong screens, or leading by example on defense. She celebrates her teammates’ successes just as much as her own, proving that winning as a team is more important than individual achievements.

  Beyond basketball, Jaya is a great person and a role model in the Wayland Academy community. She treats everyone with respect, demonstrates kindness, and goes out of her way to uplift those around her. Whether she’s cheering from the bench, helping younger players improve, or volunteering off the court, she exemplifies what it means to be a true leader.

  Congratulations, Jaya! Your dedication, teamwork, and character make you more than just an athlete—you are an inspiration to us all! #RTB

• Cheerleading—Mary Whittier `27: Mary is a positive, quiet leader on the team. She exemplifies all the qualities we want in our athletes on and off the court. She has never missed a practice, never complains, is an excellent student, and prides herself in ensuring the confidence and safety of her stunt group— an excellent quality in a teammate! She also brings treats to our games that her coaches really enjoy!
    
• Fencing—Hanna Paszczuk `25: Hanna is the athlete who wins the most bouts and works extremely hard every practice! Her work ethic and dedication are why she is the Ring the Bell Student-Athlete of the Month for Fencing!
   
• Forensics—Dane Rose `27: Dane is the Forensics’ Ring the Bell Team Member for January. Dane is a very valuable member of our team. He has excelled in his category of Prose (reading and interpreting a piece of literature), and he has made it to the final rounds of several of our meets this year. Dane placed 1st in Prose at our Conference meet a few weeks ago. Dane has a positive attitude, and he takes the judges’ comments for improvement to heart to make his piece even better. He is helpful to his other teammates, and he definitely demonstrates the character and knowledge needed for a RTB student!
   
• Powerlifting—Jeongwoo Na `25: Powerlifting's Ring the Bell Student-Athlete of the Month for January is Jeongwoo Na! Jeongwoo does a phenomenal job at leading by example in the weight room and around campus! Jeongwoo is a great example of someone who does what he says he is going to do when he says he is going to do it, while doing it to the best of his ability. We look forward to finishing off the season strong because of him and all of his powerlifting teammates! #RingTheBell  
• Boys Swimming—Fabian Calvo Guevara `26: Fabian is a stellar athlete and captain. He leads the team with his work ethic and keeps practices energetic and fun. 

• Wrestling—Madeleine Knudson `28: Madeleine is the Ring the Bell Student-Athlete for January for wrestling.  Madeline was selected because she is our iron woman, attending all practices, events, and optional practices. The result of her hard work really paid off in competition with a decisive victory over a male competitor from Markesan. Finally, Madeleine has set an example of dedication and hard work for our wrestling program. I hope more of our student-athletes follow her lead, as it would benefit them all.

Way to go, Big Red student-athletes! 🔔 🎉