With the fall season coming to an end, each team reflected on some meaningful moments and successes throughout the season.
Girls Tennis:
Hackley Girls Varsity Tennis (HGVT) had a successful season with steady growth, resilience, and amazing postseason play. After the team’s early losses to Horace Mann and Trinity, the team refocused.
“I’m most proud of the evolution that we had in our skill level on the team,” sophomore Farah Goods said.
Early in the season, the team was super enthusiastic but needed to focus more to compete with the top teams in the Ivy League. However, as the season progressed, HGVT became more disciplined and connected both on and off the court. This showed tremendously in the Ivy League postseason after the teams’ rematch against Trinity in the Ivy League semifinals. The team then went on to play Horace Mann, where they unfortunately fell short, but had a great league run nonetheless.
In NYSAIS, the team sent Farah and freshman Sam Sarro to compete for doubles, and sophomore Lili Kanev as their singles player. Lili became the NYSAIS singles champion, highlighting her hard work and talent. She is the first girl to do this at Hackley. Farah and Sam reached the semi-finals, playing impressive tennis as well.
“We all get to grow together,” Farah reflected on the mental struggle that comes with tennis, “While playing independently, we are all relying on each other.”
During the duration of the season, HGVT grew closer and became mentally stronger, making them a postseason threat.
Girls Soccer:
Hackley Girls Varsity Soccer (HGVS) proved itself to be one of the top teams in the Ivy League, winning all games except one tie and one loss, both against Poly Prep. That loss was one of the team’s biggest challenges; the team then used it as an opportunity to move forward and grow together.
“The chemistry of this team was like no other. I’ve never felt more supported,” Isa Llorca Luth said, a member of the team
Another way the team grew and connected over the season was through team talks before and after games. During these talks, players discussed plans for future games, what they can do better, and who to watch out for during an upcoming game. This process helped HGVS approach each game with focus and determination.
Leadership also played a role in the team’s success. Even after losing to Poly, HGVS captains Zara Nahim, Gabriella Petriello, Zion Bennett, and Annika Duggan were very positive and kept spirits high.
“I’ve learned from them how to be a leader in a way where I can be nice, and also serious,” Isa said.
During the playoffs, HGVS stayed tight as ever. They had lunch together as a team to maintain strong chemistry. Their efforts paid off, and the team advanced into the NYSAIS semi-finals, where they played Dalton and fell short 4-1. Despite the loss, the season was a resounding success, with chemistry at its core.
Boys Soccer:
Hackley Boys Varsity Soccer (HBVS) had a season defined by effort. The team showed determination both in practice and off the field. Sophomore Marco Arencibia noted how proud he was of the team’s commitment,
“I’m most proud of how much effort the team put in and how much everyone cared and wanted to win.”
Throughout the season, the team learned how to play as a whole, finding a balance between playing it safe and creating opportunities for themselves. Each player got better both physically and technically, while deepening their understanding of the game.
One of the most memorable moments for the team was their Sting game.
“We were down 2-0, but no one gave up at all, and people took risks and just played the game,” Marco said.
Their drive and belief in each other led to a major comeback, winning the game 3-2, capturing the determination and commitment this team has. Even during stretches where the team struggled to find momentum, their grit never wavered. They kept pushing and didn’t give up, which led to them hitting one of their strongest runs to finish the season.
Cross Country:
Both the girls’ and boys’ cross-country teams had a strong season marked by growth and a tight team culture. The girls placed second at Ivies and third at NYSAIS. They are results they are proud of, even though they wanted to place higher for NYSAIS. This is a testament to the team’s hard work and success. During the course of the season, the team became very close-knit and always cheered each other on.
Sophomore Elizabeth Spencer said, “It was a very welcoming atmosphere… Everyone always tries their hardest.”
Some freshmen initially found the start of the season nerve-racking, but quickly fit in with the team’s environment. One of the exciting highlights for the girls’ team is Macey Mclane qualifying for the NY State Federations, which added an exciting end to the season.
Field Hockey:
The poise and success of the Hackley Varsity Field Hockey (HVFH) shone through this season. One of the most memorable moments of the season was their semifinal NYSAIS match against Riverdale. This went into an intense battle of double overtime and double shootouts, ending with their electric win. As a young team, HVFH’s focus this season was learning to adapt on the field. During the season, players became more aware of their positioning and how to shift relative to their teammates. These lessons helped strengthen the team’s awareness and communication on the field. Over the course of the season, the team faced moments of frustration with calls they felt were unfair that could have changed the trajectory of the game. Those experiences helped them improve their mindset.
“We learned to not worry about something that’s not controllable to us… We have to be calm and not let it get to us,” sophomore Emerson Pederaza said.
Throughout the season, their desire to win never faltered.
“Everyone really wanted to win, and if you don’t want to win, you’re not going to,” Emerson said.
The team’s hard work throughout the season paid off as they went to the NYSAIS finals against Rye Country Day. Though they fell short, the players weren’t very disappointed. Making it to the finals was a huge reflection of the team’s hard work and dedication throughout the season.
Football:
Hackley Football had a season full of growth and hard-fought games. One of the highlights came from the JV team, where they had their third undefeated season in a row, highlighted by impressive fumble recoveries. Earlier in the season, the varsity team worked on helping other players learn the formations and plays. By the end of the season, the team was executing them well.
Max Bernstein said, “We had a couple of great games. We made the playoffs and had a good year.”
One of the team’s biggest challenges was a game against Poly Prep. Poly pushed Hackley to find new strategies. Though they fell short, they showed determination with multiple sustained drives. Varsity made it to the first round of playoffs and had a hard-fought game against RCDS. Looking ahead, the team is thinking of doing more strength training and preparation. The team has a promising foundation for the next season.
All in all, the fall season was a success defined by growth and determination.
