As the leaves begin to change, Hackley’s fall sports teams have started their 2025 seasons. With a mix of returning players and new additions, this fall season will be filled with excitement and high hopes for each team.
Girls Tennis
A hard-fought championship loss is not easy, but Hackley Girls Varsity Tennis(HGVT) is confident in its ability to bounce back and have a great season. After falling short to Horace Mann, their first Ivy League loss in six years, HGVT is excited to start competing again.
Sophomore Lili Kanev believes building connections with your team both on and off the court will contribute to the team’s success. Lili believes preseason helped develop these newfound connections, “We (HGVT) are really comfortable with each other now and help lift each other up,” she said, “We’re a really close-knit team.”
This quality time bolstered the team’s confidence going forward into the new season. New talent will also help contribute to the team’s success. Lili said some new members, like freshman second doubles duo Sage and Samantha Sarro, and sophomore Cornelia Gruenburg, have been important members on the team. She believes these new additions make the HGVT lineup very strong and bring the team confidence going into the season.
The team is especially excited for matchups with Riverdale and Chapin, with the chance to showcase how much their team has grown.
Football:
Like HGVT, Hackley Football had a long run in the Ivy League last season, but came up short against Poly Prep in last year’s championship game. While the scoreboard wasn’t in Hackley’s favor, the team is confident about the season ahead. This loss has made the team more eager for a championship this year.
“We’re more prepared and ready to face other teams that might have been better than us,” said sophomore player Matt Guzman.
The team shares a bond both on and off the field that has helped build their confidence in the season ahead. Matt highlights the brotherhood the team has and thinks they are very close. This chemistry is a huge reason why the team’s energy is so high going into the season.
Matt is especially looking forward to both Poly and the Sting game against Rye Country Day.
“We lost [to Poly] in the championship last year so we definitely have to get our revenge, and the Sting is the most exciting time of the year,” he said.
These are both games to look out for this season.
Cross Country:
The girls and boys cross-country teams are looking forward to a promising season. After an amazing season last fall, the girls are excited for the year ahead. With a roster full of successful veteran players, the girls are hoping to win NYSAIS and go to State.
“This team has the potential to be one of the strongest, if not the strongest, in Hackley history.” Seth Karpinski says.
For the boys, energy is high, but the focus is a little different. After losing a lot of veteran runners last year, the team is working on building depth. They are also focused on giving the veterans a chance to continue improving. However, the new energetic underclassmen have the team confident that they will continue growing. The team is excited to integrate the new underclassmen, which gives the team a ton of potential. What is true for both teams is the culture they are building together.
“This team has such good energy and cohesion right from the get-go that is 100% the strength,” Mr. Karpinski said.
Preseason was described as one of the best so far. The runners were pushing themselves physically while also enjoying each other’s company. The upperclassmen have shown leadership and care for their younger teammates.
“All 12 people who applied for captain are some of the most dedicated runners I’ve ever coached.” Mr. Karpinski said, “The entire upperclassmen have taken so much ownership over the program and taken such good care of all the younger kids.”
Even with some challenges like integrating the newer runners, these teams are already prepared and excited to see what the season has in store for them.
Field Hockey:
After a successful preseason, Hackley Varsity Field Hockey(HVFH) is hoping to become Ivy League Champions and make a run in the NYSAIS tournament. The team is trying to do more than just win games. One of their goals for this season is to grow together as a team and constantly improve.
Ms. Leffler, coach of HVFH, said, “I think more importantly, we want to really grow as a team and improve every day.”
Graduating ten seniors has allowed the team to rebuild. They welcomed two new eighth graders. The team has multiple strengths, like their speed, power, and ability to read the field well. Leadership is a strong component this season. Senior captains Fiona Pedraza and Calliope Yannuzzi lead the way, but the senior class as a whole brings a strong sense of leadership.
Other players that stand out, like junior Brigid Doherty and sophomores Emelia Pieri and Nora Esposito, also lead the team with their consistent effort.
Coach Leffler said, “All of them really lead by example through their hard work and through their excitement about the team, always showing up and giving it their all.”
With a clear goal in mind, HVFH will undoubtedly make its mark this fall season.
Girls Varsity Soccer:
After a successful, undefeated regular season last year and going to the NYSAIS semifinals, Hackley Girls Varsity Soccer(HGVS) is excited for the season ahead. With a fun and productive preseason finished, they are excited to get back to work. With the team suffering injuries during their playoff run last year, they are looking forward to showing out this season.
“We’re starting off stronger than we did last year,” said sophomore Katie Yalmokas.
Off the field, they have become a closer group than last year.
“We all are genuine friends and not just teammates. We do team bonding outside of the field, and it’s brought us closer together,” said Katie.
The team bonding they have done off the field has helped them develop a deeper connection. This year’s team is also focused on playing for something bigger than themselves. One of the most anticipated games for HGVS is the Dave Allison game.
“Its really nice to play with a purpose and dedicate your game to somebody,” says Katie.
The team’s Dave Allison game this year, on September 26 at 6:30, honors him as a former HGVS coach and teacher. Mr. Allison passed away after battling cancer and is highly respected in the Hackley Community. With great chemistry and purpose, HGVS is excited for the upcoming season.
Boys Varsity Soccer :
Hackley Boys Varsity Soccer(HBVS) is excited for the fall season and has a lot of energy and chemistry. After a preseason filled with hard work and training, the team is confident about doing well this season and reaching NYSAIS. After graduating multiple seniors, the team is rebuilding with new talent. With a ton of new players across different age levels, the team is excited to see what they can do. Senior captain Tristan Payne is especially optimistic about some of the team’s new additions, like freshmen Nick Dimopoulos and Xavier Sundar.
Now being a senior captain, Tristan reflected on how much the team has grown together, “Being with the same group of people, even from JV till now, like we built some chemistry, and it’s been really fun to hang out with those guys.”
Being with some of the same people from freshman to senior year has helped build connections. The preseason will also be a contributing factor to the team’s success.
“We definitely worked harder over the summer,” Tristan said.
Looking forward, one matchup stands out above all: the Sting game against Fieldston. It’s always one of the most exciting games of the season and gives the team a chance to showcase their talent in front of a larger crowd.
