Newton Country Day Athletic Director Warren Perry was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame at his high school alma mater, Arendell Parrott Academy (APA) in Kinston, North Carolina, for his achievements throughout his illustrious swimming and athletics administration career. He founded APA’s swim team as a seventh grader and won numerous state championships, served as team captain, and was named MVP from 1996 to 1999. Outside of APA, with his club team, he earned 12 YMCA All-American honors and represented Team USA in the High School Dynamics meet in the Netherlands, where he won the 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter breaststroke. After high school, Perry continued his swimming career at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a varsity athlete on the ACC Academic Honor Roll and went on to coach collegiate swimming at Duke University and East Carolina University. Most recently, Perry served as the Director of Strategy and Excellence in Athletics and Wellness and the Director of Aquatics at Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City. In these roles, he collaborated with school leadership across divisions to foster community among students, faculty, and staff through sports, physical education, and wellness initiatives. His initiatives included the Sacred Heart Network Summer Project on service through aquatics, professional development seminars for coaches and staff, and the creation of the Aquatics Department. These accolades and professional achievements earned him a spot in APA's Hall of Fame, which is reserved for those who demonstrated excellence, sportsmanship, and a lasting influence on the school's athletic tradition. "It was really special being back there – a humbling experience for sure," he shared.
When asked about his athletic inspirations that led him down his career path, Perry reflected: "My mom played a pivotal role in growing my passion for scholastic sports. Her passion for sport and wellness went beyond competition—it was a way of life. That passion has inspired me to build a career in athletics, specifically women's sports, and to continue pursuing a healthy, active lifestyle myself." Now, as Athletic Director at Newton Country Day, Perry lives that passion every day by supporting both student-athletes and coaches. "While I've always believed in the power of sports to build confidence and lifelong connections," he explained, "my role at this school has expanded my focus to equipping and supporting coaches, ensuring they have the tools to guide and inspire the next generation."
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Next month, Newton Country Day Latin teacher and basketball and softball coach Emily Berardi will also be recognized by her own alma mater, the Boston Latin School (BLS). The BLS Hall of Fame honors graduates who demonstrated superior athletic achievement during their time at BLS while exemplifying the school's values of sportsmanship, citizenship, and leadership.
Berardi was a multi-sport varsity athlete in softball and basketball at BLS, and then went on to play collegiate softball at Wheaton College, where she served as co-captain and earned numerous accolades such as the All-Conference Academic Award (2013, 2014, 2015), Debi Field '70 Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year (2015), and NCAA Woman of the Year Candidate (2015).
"Coaching softball and basketball at Newton Country Day has allowed me the opportunity to stay close to the athletic world. It has been fun to see my students on the court and on the field," she explained. "It has also made me reflective of my own time as an athlete and has deepened my appreciation for the resilience, discipline, and awareness that I developed while playing on a team."
Please join us in congratulating Warren Perry and Emily Berardi for these prestigious athletic recognitions.
Authors: Laura Kelly and Abby Woodworth
Photographers: The Perry Family, Tina Lim
