Hackley’s athletic teams experienced great success this spring, with seven teams qualifying for the postseason, most winning at least one playoff game, and the boys’ lacrosse team winning the NYSAIS title, upsetting Riverdale in the championship game.
Softball
The softball team had an outstanding season, opening with a perfect 5-0 start through the first few weeks of April. They would go on to finish 10-2 for the regular season, losing only to Poly Prep in the Ivy League. Their record earned them the two seed in the NYSAIS bracket, which came with a coveted first-round bye in the postseason. Backed by two no-hitter games from star senior pitcher Andy Hegarty, the team cruised to the NYSAIS final game, following wins against Spence (11-1) and Fieldston (15-0). In the NYSAIS championship, the team fought hard but fell 8-3 in a rematch against Poly.
Boys Lacrosse
The boys’ lacrosse team also had a successful season, entering the NYSAIS tournament as the number four seed. They beat Poly Prep 14-7 in the first round, before knocking off one-seeded Long Island Lutheran in a major upset, 8-7. In the championship, the Hornets won 8-4 against Riverdale (who swept them in the regular season), bringing the NYSAIS title home to the Hilltop.
Girls Lacrosse
The girls’ lacrosse team blazed to a hot 8-0 start, finishing their regular season at a 10-2 mark. They finished second in the standings to Fieldston (11-1). This record earned the team a first-round bye in the bracket, with their first-round game coming against Masters. The team would go on to beat Masters 13-6, a victory that included Johns Hopkins recruit Brooke Koffler’s 300th goal. They would go on to Fieldston in the semi-final round, where they fell in a hard-fought game 8-4.
Track and Field
The Varsity Track and Field team had an extremely successful season, with multiple athletes qualifying for different meets, such as the Loucks Games, Penn Relays, and the NYSAIS Championships, with the girls’ team winning the Ivy League title.
In the NYSAIS championship, the team found further success. Senior and captain Meredith Lee won her pole vault event in the first round of events. In the second round, at a rainy Icahn Stadium, the team had two NYSAIS champions. Ari Spiegel won the NYSAIS title for discus, on top of the Ivy title as well. Maggie Yalmokas finished second in the shot put for what would be her final Hackley meet. The team ended the meet with a victory in the 800-meter run, with sophomore Emma Curran taking the title back to the Hilltop.
Boy’s Golf
The boys’ golf team worked hard throughout the season, finishing with a 4-4 record. Backed by the introduction of two new starters to the lineup, senior Phillip Mahamedi and eighth grader Roshan V., the team finished fifth at Hudson Hills, where the NYSAIS tournament is held. Notably, freshman Jerry Guo and senior Will Belleville both shot under 80, a great accomplishment in the poor weather conditions on the day.
Boy’s Tennis
The boy’s tennis team finished 3-4 on the season, and earned two NYSAIS entries, one singles entry, and one doubles entry. Alexander Chorny represented the Hornets in the singles bracket and fell in the first round to Horace Mann. The doubles team consisting of sophomore Leo Gutowski and senior Peter Roberts made it to the semi-finals before also falling in the tournament to the Dwight School.
