Varsity Field Hockey
Staying optimistic through challenges
“Team-wise and culture-wise, every game and every practice is always super fun,” Varsity Field Hockey (VFH) Co-Captain Skylar Hartshorn said. “This is definitely my favorite team, whether we’re winning or not.”
Though VFH ended with a record of 1-11-2, the team beat Westminster School for the first time and tied with St. Mark’s — a team they previously lost to. Last year, VFH advanced to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class A tournament.
Skylar received an All-NEPSAC honorable mention last season.
“Being a player with the rest of the team is most important, but being able to have that assigned leadership role also helps to integrate people into the team like freshmen, and that’s really rewarding,” she said. “It really adds to the supportive team dynamic.”
Ace Van Vliet ’27 has played on VFH for three years.
“We’re a team of gamers, and that’s why we’re not discouraged,” she said. “We don’t want to quit. The reason I keep coming back every year is because of the team. When I was a freshman and starting out in the sport two years ago, everyone was so welcoming and supportive. Who doesn’t want to be on a team like that?”
Ace has learned from her experiences on VFH.
“My teammates and coaches have taught me how to lead by example and demonstrate the effort you need to put into a team, especially for underclassmen,” she said. “I try to show what it means to go in every day, work hard for your goals and never let up even if you’re losing.”
—Valor McGrath ’28
Varsity Football
Forming a ‘brotherhood’
Coming off an undefeated season and an Independent School League (ISL) Championship, Varsity Football (VFB) has kept its foot on the gas with a 5-1 record.
VFB Co-Captain Liam Cunningham ’27 attributes much of the team’s success to VFB Head Coach Mike Willey.
“I can’t say enough great things about him,” Liam said. “He’s a terrific person. He’s really helped me become a better man over my time playing for the Knights.”
Coach Willey’s lessons extend beyond the field, he said.
“One of our three main values as a team is accountability, and Coach Willey really preaches that. Everyone on the team is really accountable for something, whether it’s orchestrating a late-game fourth-quarter drive or it’s getting the pads or the waters out to practice.”
The football team participates in year-round offseason practices.
“That really sets us apart from the other teams,” Liam said. “We try to meet with each other as much as possible in the offseason so that we can be the best team that we possibly can. It’s really a brotherhood.”
Tight end and defensive end Colton Fischer ’28 agreed.
“We have really strong bonds on the team and really strong leadership. We all work well together and hold each other accountable. Everyone’s fit into where they need to be by now.”
—Noura Farahat ’28
Girls’ Varsity Soccer
Fueled by historic success
Having earned four consecutive Independent School League (ISL) Championships, Girls’ Varsity Soccer (GVS) sent five athletes to play Division I soccer in 2025.
GVS Co-Captain Aubrielle Amaral ’26 said GVS’s past success motivates the team.
“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves because of the winning history of the program and strive each game to continue its strong legacy. It is very competitive, and we are trying to win the ISL for the fifth year in a row.”
With six seniors leaving the team, new teammates have stepped up.
“We have a very young team with seven freshmen, and they have each grown a lot as they immersed themselves in the program and team culture,” Aubrielle said.
Morgane Massard ’28 said GVS players balance competition with team-building.
“The captains create a great dynamic on the team. They make it so that everyone’s focused in practice, but also we have fun things like team dinners, bonding and recovery where we all talk.”
With a final record of 7-2-2, GVS will compete in the NEPSAC playoffs in November.
—Noura Farahat ’28
Varsity Cross Country
Breaking records, building team culture
A line of Boys’ Varsity Cross Country (BVXC) runners awaited Scarlett Hawkins ’27 at the Oct. 18 Homecoming Race, cheering as she sped into the final stretch of the race, claiming first place. Scarlett’s win was a sign of things to come: Both the Girls’ Varsity Cross Country (GVXC) and BVXC teams swept Brooks, 15-50 — the best possible score. BVXC Co-Captain Diego Abadie ’26 also broke the school course record with a time of 16:38.
GVXC finished the regular season with a 7-4 record, and BVXC ended with a 7-6 record as both teams headed into the Nov. 8 Division II NEPSTA Championships.
BVXC Co-Captain Finley Long ’26 noticed a change in team spirit during mid-October.
“At St. Marks, we had a lot of team spirit and everyone was cheering,” he said. “At the beginning of the season, it was pretty silent. People would just run their route, but now, both teams are supporting each other. Those moments are the ones that really stick out to me, because when I’m running, I really appreciate when people are cheering for me, so I’m happy to see that everyone can feel that now.”
GVXC runner Griffin MacDonald ’28 said team bonding is a key part of being on GVXC and BVXC.
“Most people don’t know we have stuff like team dinners and workouts together. It’s not just running. After our last meet, we went to go get ice cream. Everything is great with the team, and I hope it continues.”
GVXC and BVXC Head Coach Charlie O’Rourke works with five other coaches to support the teams.
“Coach Charlie and the rest of our coaches are super motivating but also understanding,” Griffin said. “If you’re not feeling well, they’ll make sure you go to the trainers or rest. They don’t push you to do more when you are sick because they don’t want you to feel worse. Besides that, the workouts they have us do are really helpful, and they’re just super supportive all-around.”
—Valor McGrath ’28
