Sakoutis '26 Earns Zapcic Award to Wrap Tremendous CBA Career

Even in his most ambitious dreams, senior Will Sakoutis never thought he would eventually earn one of Christian Brothers Academy’s most prestigious and meaningful awards in the final month of high school. 

“My parents always said that to do exceptional things, you have to put yourself in exceptional situations,” Sakoutis says. “And for me, I think CBA was that exceptional environment that I needed to really put myself at the next level.”

At the Lasalle Academic Awards, Sakoutis was presented with the Dr. William Zapcic, AFSC Award, which is given to the senior who best exemplifies the spirit of CBA on the criteria of faith, service and community.

The surprise served as a culmination of four years of hard work and dedication to bettering himself and others.

“It really felt like a full circle moment when I was walking up there to the stage,” he remembers. “It just felt really rewarding and I felt that my work was recognized, and for a good purpose, too. I hope that I left a good mark on CBA and I am just grateful for everything I have learned.”

Watch Sakoutis' Interview (Story Continues Below)

Sakoutis was a man of many talents during his four years in Lincroft. 

After a relatively late decision to come to CBA from Satz Middle School, the Holmdel-native took the experience in stride. While he originally thought he would be singularly focused on wrestling, Sakoutis built an academic and extracurricular career he became very proud of. 

He joined clubs like Lasallian Youth, Digital Network, and of course, Student Council, which became his signature activity while at the Academy. After being the Upperclassmen Vice President during his junior year, he was elected Student Body President for his senior year. He served the CBA community with pride, while always having a positive attitude. 

His wrestling career was full of highlights as well, earning berths to the NJSIAA Individual State Championship during his junior and senior seasons. CBA Wrestling was one of the top teams in the state during those two years and Sakoutis was regularly a big contributor to Colt wins. 

“The hard work I learned on the wrestling mat not only helped me win matches, but also translated to the classroom, doing my schoolwork, and studying for tests,” he says. “I think each thing I did, whether it was wrestling, sports, academics, and ultimately Student Council too, taught me a little bit extra about how to be more exceptional in other parts of my life.”

His full breadth of talent helped him earn an acceptance to Columbia University, where he will be a member of the Division I wrestling team. 

“I think the brotherhood I saw there reflected what I saw in CBA, so that is really what drew me to Columbia,” he says. “Everyone has the same vision, has the same goals, and they are all like-minded, smart, driven kids.”

Sakoutis could have been described as driven since his middle school years, when he started his own small business, Slick Willy’s Dills. Born out of a desire to help local charities as well as a trip to Greece, Sakoutis has been growing, jarring, and selling his own brand of pickles since 2019.

While he was originally skeptical it would continue through high school, he is proud that he continued - and even expanded - the business during his time at the Academy.

“CBA has really been a welcoming part of Slick Willy’s Dills and helped me learn more about how to manage a business,” he says. “I took Bloomberg [Certification] and Business Decision Making last year, so that taught me how to run the business a little bit better.”

With his CBA diploma now in hand, Sakoutis can take a breath and appreciate his time at CBA. Ever the “people person,” it was a no brainer on what he will miss the most about this place.

“The type of bond that students have at CBA is really special. I am going to miss just all the kids here and even the teachers,” he says. “I’ve gotten to know a lot of the teachers really well and they have helped me in my CBA journey, so I am really grateful for that.”