Regina Dominican High School Basketball Program receives the McDonell Award

Regina Dominican High School Basketball Program receives the McDonell Award 


Wilmette, IL-This past week, Regina Dominican High School announced the winner of the McDonell Award, recognizing the athletic team with the highest collective Grade Point Average (GPA) during a given sports season, to the  Basketball Panthers.  This marks the first time that the Basketball Panthers have won this award.


“Congratulations to Coach Newton, Coach Kaferly, Coach Fabianski, Coach Thorrens and their team for winning the McDonell Award.,” athletic director Brian Mancuso stated.  “The basketball team has earned one of the highest grade point averages since we started this award in the fall of 2019.”


The Basketball team finished with a 3.844 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).


The team will have their name etched on a permanent plate outside the gymnasium to commemorate the honor.


Team members include:

Senior 2024
Payton Olszewski
Maddie Witchger

Junior 2025
Sarah Anichini
Gem Lucero

Sophomore 2026
Natalia Cerrado
Jillian DeFranza
Olivia Fraterrigo
Hannah Lynch
Anna O’Connor
Isla Varela

Freshman 2027
Grace Byrne
Fiona Coffman
Gina Concalidi
Bridget Conway
Catherine Conway
Judy Fabianski
Jenny Hagemann
Jackie Heneghan
Isla Hoffman
Kle Lasonde
Kate Leonard
Kate Liss
Victoria Lukic
Maggie Majcher
Kourtney Schuenzel
Lexi Simon
Madelyn Turner

The McDonell Award is named in honor of former Regina Dominican Administrator Patricia “Pat” McDonell who retired in June 2019. She believed that academic and athletic excellence should go hand in hand.  Pat was a mentor, a leader, and a friend to everyone in the Regina Dominican community.  This award celebrates her legacy and will be given each sports season – fall, winter and spring to the qualifying team.

Previous Award winners:
Fall 2019-Volleyball

  • Winter 2019-2020-Bowling
  • Spring 2020-Softball
  • Fall 2020-Tennis
  • Winter 2020-2021-Bowling
  • Spring 2021-Soccer
  • Fall 2021-Tennis
  • Winter 2021-2022-Bowling
  • Spring 2022-Softball
  • Fall 2022-Tennis
  • Winter 2022-2023-Bowling
  • Spring 2022-2023-Soccer
  • Fall 2023-Volleyball
  • Winter 2023-2024-Basketball