WOODBURY – Award-winning athletes and dedicated students – two things that make any Nonnewaug student think of Kelly Farrell and Gavin Sandor.
And it’s not just students who see Farrell and Sandor as outstanding student-athletes. Teachers and administrators also have noticed them, leading to the seniors being named Nonnewaug’s CIAC Scholar-Athletes this year.
The award is given annually to the two most exemplary senior student-athletes at each high school in Connecticut.
Nonnewaug assistant principal Declan Curtin believes that Sandor and Farrell were the most deserving seniors of their class.
“They’re more on the quiet side,” says Curtin, “but they get the job done, and they’re very smart, intelligent and hardworking. They’re kind, they’re caring, they’re good teammates. They’re not selfish; they’re about ‘us,’ not ‘me.’”
For Sandor and Farrell, the award is about the drive for success and discipline, on and off the field.
“[It takes] a lot of hard work and discipline both on the field and in school,” says Sandor. “Also a constant drive to keep bettering myself and becoming a more well-rounded individual.”
“I think my discipline in academics has helped me in sports,” says Farrell, “because trying my hardest in academics is something that I tried to transfer over into sports.”
But it’s not just their discipline that makes Farrell and Sandor stand out among their class. Each is also a twin; Kelly has a sister, Katie, and Gavin has a brother, Liam. All four are among the top 10% of Nonnewaug’s class of 2025.
“I think what’s interesting too is they’re both twins,” says Curtin. “Sometimes in their own lives there’s competition in their own home amongst their own family, and that competition has made both of them better.”
“Being a twin makes me more competitive for sure,” says Farrell. “It gives me a better idea of the standards that I should be meeting. Having someone who is very similar to me and knowing what we both are capable of makes me more competitive and it pushes me.”
This constant competition between their twins led Farrell and Sandor to become elite athletes, with both being awarded with several postseason honors. Farrell is a Berkshire League First-Team All-Star in girls tennis and a Second-Team All-Star in field hockey. Sandor earned All-State and All-BL First Team accolades in soccer while also competing in track.
These scholar-athlete awards aren’t just given to anyone — they require prowess in athletics and academics. Sandor has advice for student-athletes that might aspire toward this award.
“Find a balance between schools and sports so one isn’t neglected,” says Sandor. “It’s important to put in effort and stay consistent even when you lack motivation. If you don’t get the grade you want or perform well during a game, it’s key to understand why you failed but also to move on and take what you learned from your failures. Don’t hold onto failures because one mistake doesn’t define you; learn from them and try again.”
