Reese Elinor-Janet O’Connell, the 2026 Sons of Erin colleen.
Reminder Publishing photo by Marc St. Onge
WESTFIELD — At the Sons of Erin Colleen Ball at Tekoa Country Club on Friday, Feb. 6, Reese O’Connell was crowned 2026 colleen and will ride in the Westfield float in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade on March 22. She will be surrounded by her court members, Giara Curran, Maggie Leen, Savanna Mazeika and Angelica Madison Racette.
O’Connell, 17, of Westfield, is a senior at Hampshire Regional High School, where she is captain of the varsity lacrosse team and editor for the yearbook committee. She is a member of the peer buddies club, for which she teaches elementary school students through an enrichment program, and is a teacher’s assistant for the occupational therapist at Norris Elementary School.
After high school, O’Connell plans on attending Johnson and Wales University to pursue a career as a pediatric occupational therapist. She said Johnson and Wales has a three-plus-three year program, in which she can obtain her bachelor’s degree in three years and her doctorate in three years. “That’s one of the main reasons I would like to go there,” she said.
O’Connell is the first Sons of Erin colleen from the Hampshire Regional District in Westhampton, where her father, Michael O’Connell, teaches physical education at the Hampshire and New Hingham elementary schools.
She said both sides of her family, which also includes her mother, Charlene O’Connell, and sister Kennae, have Irish roots, and her great-grandfather on one side moved here from Ireland. Her grandparents, Michael and Ellen O’Connell, are members of the Sons of Erin, and the ones who encouraged her to try out to be a colleen.
“We’ve gone to the Sons of Erin every St. Patrick’s Day. My grandparents always wanted me to do it, and pointed to the photos of the girls on the wall.” O’Connell said. Her friend Maddie LeClair, a member of the 2025 court, also pushed her to apply.
O’Connell said a couple of days after the Colleen Ball, she and the members of the court met up at the Sons of Erin. “My grandpa was there. It was the first time I’ve seen him since I was announced. He was so excited,” she said.
“I’m the only girl that did it from Hampshire. I’ve never really done things outside of my school. Meeting everyone the last couple of weeks was amazing. I didn’t know anyone in the court. This was way outside of my comfort zone doing any of this,” O’Connell said. ”I am so excited, I don’t think I fully even processed it — I’m still in shock.”
Ironically, O’Connell said she has never been to the parade before, which is only one of many different events in which the colleen and her court will participate. Other activities include learning Irish dances, helping with the golf tournament and road race, and meeting the bishop and mayor. “There are a lot of different events through the next month and a half,” she said.
“I’m really excited, I wasn’t expecting this at all. I’m going to try to soak up every minute. It’s such a unique experience; not many people get to do all this. I’m so grateful,” O’Connell said.
Three members of the court are from Westfield High School. Giara Curran, 17, is a senior at WHS. She is a National Honor Society member and takes college classes at Westfield State University through the Promise Program. She is also a Student Council representative, Key Club member and captain of the lacrosse team.
Upon graduation, Curran plans on attending Gordon College, where she plans on pursuing a double major in accounting on a CPA track and finance. She was offered a spot at Gordon on both the women’s field hockey and lacrosse teams. She also plans on joining the Air National Guard.
Maggie, Leen, 18, is a senior at WHS. A drum major for the WHS band, she is a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is also a member of the Key Club, the Student Assistant Leadership Team, and the swim and dive team.
Upon graduation, Leen plans on attending college and pursuing a degree in psychology. She said she would like to work in the psychology field to help others who are struggling.
Savanna Mazeika, 17, is also a senior at WHS. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a high honor roll student, participates in Letters for Rose, and volunteers at the Westfield Soup Kitchen. She is currently training to become a CNA and will receive her certification in May.
Mazeika has been accepted into a competitive law program at Siena College, where she will receive her juris doctorate in five years. She has a goal of becoming an immigration lawyer “to help protect those who cannot protect themselves.”
Angelica Racette, 17, is a junior at Southwick Regional High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society and varsity lacrosse team, and was a member of the varsity field hockey team, which won the Western Massachusetts Class C Championship title this past fall. Racette was accepted to represent Western Massachusetts in the Global Glimpse Program and will be going to Panama to help children and families in local villages.
Upon graduation, Racette said she hopes to attend an Ivy League School such as Yale or Brown and major in pre-law with a minor in psychology. She would also like to join Army ROTC. She plans to continue her lacrosse career, whether as part of a club or college team.
All of the contestants received a Claddagh ring as a remembrance. Those selected for the court also received a trinket box, an Irish kilt and sweater, and will ride on the Sons of Erin float in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day parade.
The colleen also receives a crown and a trip for two to Ireland, a first for O’Connell. “I’ve always wanted to,” she said, adding that she will probably go with her dad.
Colleen Ball coordinator Tracy Oleksak said all of the contestants did a great job and were a pleasure to meet. “They all seemed to get along well and really connected with each other. After the interviews, they even crashed a line dancing session that was being held at Tekoa. I wish we could have kept all 12 of them,” she said.
“The colleen and her court as a great representation of the group as a whole and will be wonderful representatives of the Sons of Erin and the greater Westfield Community,” added Oleksak.
