Spring Athletic Accolades, Including Boston Globe Scholarship Honors for Mark Henshon

Mark Henshon, Class of 2022, was honored this week in a ceremony at Fenway Park, celebrating his selection as a Boston Globe Foundation / Richard J. Phelps Scholar-Athlete. In its 36th year, this selective scholarship program honors some of Massachusetts’ finest high school scholar-athletes and student leaders.

Supported by the Globe Foundation and Mr. Richard Phelps, 18 high school seniors earned scholarships valued at $3,000, awarded based on excellence in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. As described by the scholarship materials, the ideal candidate plays three sports and, ideally, captains those sports. He or she has earned league honors; is well respected as a leader by both teammates and coaches; maintains strong academic standing; and is highly involved in extracurricular activities both in and out of school, committed to serving their school and outside community.

In addition to receiving the Globe/Phelps scholarship, Mark earned league honors this spring—being named ISL All-League in baseball and earning the ISL’s Silver Slugger Award, which goes each year to the league’s top hitter. Mark also earned several Roxbury Latin school prizes, recognizing his athletic commitment and skill, his dedication to academic excellence, and his character as a classmate, teammate, student, and friend.

During the school’s Prize Day ceremony on June 3, Mark was honored as a 15-season athlete (starting at RL in the eighth grade) and he received the school’s Best Athlete award, given to a member of the graduating class. During RL’s graduation ceremony on June 4, Mark was awarded the prestigious Class of 1913 Award—one of three awards conferred during Closing Exercises—given annually to a member of the class who has made significant contributions to the life of the school.

Headmaster Kerry Brennan said of Mark, during the awarding of those honors:

“A superb scholar, Mark marries sheer determination with considerable talent, earning high honors grades across his time in the school and one of the coveted spots in the Cum Laude Society. A dominant force in three seasons, he not only performs brilliantly but, thanks to his example and his leadership, he was elected a captain of each of those sports. His precocious excellence earned him distinction as a 15-season varsity performer (earning a berth on the varsity cross country team, varsity basketball team, and the varsity baseball team—all as an eighth grader). Mark was the winner of the ISL individual championship in cross country; winner of the New England individual championship; led the team to an undefeated season; and in two different seasons earned both ISL and New England team championships. Mark held a 19-point per game average in basketball, with nine rebounds and six assists per game, and a 48% field goal percentage. In baseball he had a .479 batting average (tied for the league lead); achieved the remarkable feat of 11 RBI’s even from the leadoff position; and executed impeccable defensive play, including instigating the first triple play in modern RL history. He was elected to all-ISL and New England teams in all three sports, embodying the old-fashioned athlete who offers his best efforts in season and only occasionally beyond. He loves to play, and his commitment and joy in competing prove infectious. Mark is an exceptional person—caring, kind, intense, disciplined, honest, friendly, responsible, and catalytic. He earns the respect and affection of all who know him. To me, this young man’s most sterling credentials are personal and about attitude and resolve. His teammates know that they can count on him—for grit, for consistency, for leadership. He never asks more of others than he does of himself. And does all that he does with understated class and generosity.”

Many of Mark’s classmates and teammates—as well as several talented underclassmen—earned Independent School League (and, for Kofi Fordjour in Track and Field, All-New England) honors this spring across all sports:

Baseball:
James Birch – ISL All-League
Mark Henshon – ISL All-League; ISL Silver Slugger award (league’s top hitter)
Antonio Morales – ISL All-League
James Henshon, Patrick Schultz, and Thomas Pender – Honorable Mention All-League 

Lacrosse:
Hayden Cody – ISL All-League
David Sullivan, Chris Weitzel, Nolan Walsh, Will Anderson, and Johnny Price – Honorable Mention All-League 

Tennis:
John Fazli – ISL All-League
Cole Oberg – ISL All-League

Track and Field:
Kofi Fordjour – All New England
Zak Bashir, Carter Crowley, Kofi Fordjour, Jedidiah Nelson – Honorable Mention All-League