DANVERS (Podcast) For their exploits both in the classroom and their chosen field of athletics, hockey standouts Jake Vana of St. John’s Prep and Catie Kampersal of Lynnfield have been chosen as the Moynihan Lumber North Shore Student-Athletes of the Month for January.
Jake Vana – St. John’s Prep Hockey – Student Athlete of the Month with Bill Newell
A team captain, Vana has had an excellent season on the ice and was particularly dominant in January. In helping the Eagles go 8-0 for the month, Vana pumped in four goals and dished out five assists while finishing with a plus/minus rating of plus-9. He closed the regular season out with 13 goals and 25 total
points, helping St. John’s Prep garner the No. 1 seed in Division 1 state competition. While his individual success has certainly paid dividends to the team, it’s the overall comradery his group shares that has allowed them to thrive. “The brotherhood we’ve established and the culture on the team has been better than we could’ve imagined,” he said. “Without the team culture and close group of guys, it’s hard to win games, execute game plans or have great practices because not everyone is bought in. That has not been an issue this year.”
Vana has already won five state championships — three in lacrosse, one in soccer and one in hockey — and is hoping to bring home another one before the winter campaign concludes. In the classroom, Vana has earned Headmaster’s List (grades of A- or above in all courses) in 25 out of 26 quarters. He’s taken home numerous other awards and accolades and will head to Princeton University in the fall on a lacrosse scholarship.
Like Kampersal, his course load and athletic endeavors can certainly be a challenge, but he’s learned some important tools along the way to help him power through over the years. “Staying off social media and my phone when I get home is important,” he said. “If I procrastinate when I get home then I will be stuck being up until 12-2 a.m. doing homework because I wasted three hours on Instagram. I (also) have to take advantage of every opportunity I have during the school day to make it easier for me when I get home.”
