The term “student-athlete” is a category of student that KO takes excellent pride in manufacturing. Finding the balance between managing schoolwork, rising above expectations in the classroom, and excelling in one or multiple sports is a task that a handful of Wyverns take great pride in tackling.
KO instils in its students that challenges (in the classroom, on the field, or on the court) should not be something we run from, but something we greet head-on. That “bring it on” KO’s own Senior Will Parkhouse best embodies the attitude.
Parkhouse is a two-sport student-athlete, playing both basketball and baseball at the Varsity level. He has been playing both sports for as long as he can remember, and recently announced his commitment to the University of Massachusetts at Lowell for baseball.
Will train year-round for both basketball and baseball, often logging hours in the Hoffman Fieldhouse early in the morning, working out with weights, mobility, batting practice, or shooting hoops.
Sports have always been a part of Parkhouse’s life, instilled in him from a young age. “My father got me into basketball and baseball,” Parkhouse recalled. “Basketball started in kindergarten and baseball in 3rd grade. Soccer was also in the mix, but that stopped around 5th grade.”
Once he narrowed his sports to basketball and baseball, Parkhouse quickly realised what many student-athletes come to terms with: being a student-athlete is hard and requires discipline and consistency.
“My work ethic is definitely the biggest contribution to my success,” Parkhouse confirmed. “I know I won’t be the most athletic or talented on the court or field, so I need to work hard to be still able to compete at a high level.”
His work ethic has no doubt earned him a spot at the Division I level. In his first year transferring into KO, Parkhouse pitched 40 innings with five starts, posting a 4-1 record, a 2.15 ERA, a 1.2 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts. The ever-reliable southpaw also threw the only no-hitter of the 2025 season and was named All-NEPSAC and All-Founder’s League Honorable Mention.
Parkhouse plans on honing in on baseball in college. “I pursued both [basketball and baseball] for the entire ecruiting process and waited to see what opportunities arose, the best being baseball, so that was the route I decided to go,” Parkhouse recalls. “I think being a pitcher will allow me to be the best player I can be and maximize my potential.”
Parkhouse has been an integral part of both Coach Brad Seaman’s and Coach Steve Cannata’s varsity programs since transferring to the school last year. “My junior year at Torrington High, I realized KO could offer me an unmatched education and athletic challenge that I had been looking for,” said Parkhouse. “That level of challenge in the Founder’s League made accolades like winning the Founder’s League in baseball and playing in TD Garden for Basketball so much more rewarding.”
His hard work and dedication to becoming the model KO student-athlete have not gone unnoticed across both sports. KO’s own Coach Seaman said about Parkhouse that “Will started all last year for us, which is remarkable given how quickly he could adjust to prep school basketball to be in a position to excel.”
Will was equally as valuable to the Varsity Baseball team last year as a reliable starting pitcher, first baseman, and a formidable force with a bat in his hands. His teammates and coaches constantly fed off his energy, powering the team to the first Founder’s League baseball championship in program history. Parkhouse started the game pitching, and the performance was more of what he had been doing all season — dominant.
Parkhouse will play baseball in college at UMass Lowell and is currently working on his shot form to take home a Class B championship this basketball season.
