There wasn’t an open seat in sight during the Boys’ basketball night game versus Poly Prep. The culminating game of Winter Sting brought a rare energy to campus. While the team ultimately fell short, the true winner was the overwhelming sense of community and school spirit.
Unlike Fall Sting or Spring Sting, the Winter Sting takes place exclusively in the Johnson Center. While some may view it as cramped, the compact setting allows students to attend multiple games and interact as a community.
Junior Varsity sports and lesser-known sports that rarely get recognition were able to get their own moments in the spotlight. Fencing and wrestling showcased their talents against Rye Country Day and Pleasantville, respectively. The wrestling room erupted as some Hackley wrestlers got their hands raised in victory over Pleasantville opponents.
“What I love most about Sting is seeing the community come together,” senior wrestler Will Belleville said. “Down here in the wrestling room, there’s a lot of pressure on the guys, but it helps us a lot to come out with the win every time,” he said.
Girls’ Basketball battled against Poly Prep and took an early lead. However, foul trouble and more successful shots from Poly overwhelmed the Hornets in the second half, leading to an unfortunate loss. Meanwhile, Girls’ JV Basketball dominated, defeating Poly 52-19. The future of the program is bright as new coaches continue to learn the ropes.
At the pool, both Girls and Boys swimming had a successful night in their last regular season meet. The boy’s team won their second consecutive meet, building momentum into NYSAIS. The girls maintained their undefeated season with a blowout win. The meet was also Senior Night, and ten seniors celebrated their victory by jumping into the pool in a belly flop contest to end their night.
Similarly to swimming, Girls’ and Boys’ Squash completed a sweep on the courts. Both teams handles Masters leading to two 7-0 shutouts. Twin captains Arjun and Sejal Virk led their respective teams to victory.
As the night continued, the energy never wavered. Excitement and attendance peaked during the Boys’ Basketball 6:30 p.m. game versus Poly Prep. This matchup is never dull, as Poly beat Hackley in the NYSAIS championship last March. Earlier in the season, Poly came out with the 55-52 win, leaving the Hornets hungry for redemption on their home court.
Senior captain Jack Perlman, who recently scored his 1000th point, led the Hornets with a 19-point performance, helping keep his team in the game.
“The energy and enthusiasm from everyone there was truly special, it felt like the whole community really came together,” Jack said. “Having been to many Stings since I was a little kid in lower school, it meant so much to me to be out there playing in front of a crowd like that my senior year. It was definitely a game and night I’ll never forget.”
“The energy was really fun, and the crowd stayed for the entire game which was electric,” said senior Lizzie Doherty.
A strong third quarter for Poly helped them gain control and ultimately secured them with the win. The Hornets never lost hope and fought as the crowd continued to roar. One fan, Philip Mahamedi, a senior squash player and a Hackley student grew up playing in the carnival games and watching the upper schools compete – now, he’s one of them.
“It’s been a really good time for me to bond with my friends, play tag as a lower schooler, and then as I’ve gotten older, I have started to appreciate the sports more and gotten to participate in some night games myself, while watching my friends do the same,” Philip said, “I think that the Sting is a great way to bring the community together and to support each other through athletics. Overall, I’m so glad that we have it three times a year, and I’m sad that I only have one Sting left.”
