As our fall sports teams move to playoffs and the season comes to a close, the Fieldston Eagles are reflecting on their performances. I connected with captains and players from each sports team to look back at the first competitive fall season in two years.
This fall marked Eagle Cheer’s inaugural season. Making their debut at Homecoming, the team’s synchronized dance wowed the crowd. Skyler Moses (VI), the founder of Eagle cheer said “I am so beyond proud of what this team has created this season. It was our very first season ever in Fieldston’s history of cheerleading and we worked four to five days a week for over two hours a day up until homecoming and I am blown away by what we have accomplished.” She also sees a bright future for the team, “My favorite thing this season was on Homecoming day when all the parents were amazed by the newly founded team and were sending videos to their children who have graduated along with other alumni. It was so crazy to have little kids in elementary school saying they wanted to be in cheer when they grow up. It was so amazing to see my idea come together and create a more united community filled with spirit. I truly believe this team will carry on and I am so happy to have my five original members who have created an impact with me.” Eagle cheer is also a winter team, so Moses said, “Be ready to see all new dances, cheers, and music! Go eagles!!”
Jedd Horowitz (V) is a co-captain of the Boys Varsity Soccer team. He said that the soccer team did well, but the team feels there is room for improvement looking towards next season. “Our record is 10-4-1. It is slightly worse than what the team is capable of, but injuries have kept us from our real potential. We’ve made a lot of adjustments accordingly, and once we settle into these changes, I thought we had a really good shot at winning both the league and the NYSAIS championship, as we did in 2019. Although we didn’t, I think there’s a good chance it’ll happen for us next year if we continue to work hard and hone our skills.” Eagles on the sidelines were closely watching the nail-biter Homecoming game against Hackley. Unfortunately, it ended in a 3-2 loss. “Our homecoming game was a bit of a fluke. It was the only home game that we have lost all season and to a team we had previously beaten. I give a lot of credit to Hackley though; they wanted the win more than us. Regardless, I think it strengthened us as a team and to an extent humbled us in a way that got us to work harder than ever before.”
Girls Varsity Soccer co-captain Sara Kunofsky (VI) said that GVS is having a great season both on and off of the field. “Currently, the team is fourth in the league and we’ve made it to the semi-finals! We have 5 wins, 2 ties, and 5 losses. Each game, our team grows and gets better! I feel our team chemistry was rocky at first, considering we missed a year of playing due to COVID. However, as the season progresses our team bonding has heavily increased and we are the closest team I’ve ever played on.” Their homecoming win against Hackley was one of the highlights of the season. “The energy on and off of the field buzzed through all of us. Hackley has always been one of GVS’s hardest competitors, so to beat them with a 3-2 win with the whole school watching and supporting us felt amazing, especially since we had lost to them at their home field 2-1. Sophia Hoehler, Caroline Morris, and Caroline Ciagne came through with three amazing goals, Ciagne’s being a header! Our team’s goal has been to become champions and finish our season knowing we gave our all onto the field, and homecoming proved that we have the will!” Kunofsky is also optimistic about the future of the team. “As a senior, I feel as though the impact I make on the younger girls will affect the team in ongoing years. I hope that the team stays connected and that new players are welcomed with open arms. Regarding technical skills, our coach, Brandon Turner, hopes to transform our team to have the mindset of a winning team. We have started watching films regularly which helps our team visualize things we need to work on. Additionally, to prepare for next year occasionally JV will practice with varsity to help transition into the competitiveness and rigor that comes with being on a varsity team. I hope that as I leave the team I’ve made a mark on each girl I’ve played with this last year. Whether inspiring them on or off the field, I look forward to seeing how the team progresses next year.”
Varsity Water Polo holds a 6-4 record. Player Davis Luengthada (V) reflected on the homecoming win. “I would say my favorite part of this season so far was winning our Homecoming game against St. Benedicts. I was new to the team this year and always heard talk of how strong St. Benedicts was in the sport. When we beat St. Benedicts 17-15, it was extremely rewarding for the whole team, and I think it reflected our performance this season. Everybody was able to play in the game, from Freshman to Seniors, from JV to Varsity, and it embodied our strength and comradery as a team.” Co-captain Ritz Bordia (VI) also enjoyed the homecoming game. “I feel that homecoming was not exactly reflective of the season, but of who we have become over the course of the season. We are a closely-knit, tight community, and work together to defeat our opponents. As the season has progressed, we have significantly improved, rallying together for water polo’s first homecoming win against a team that, last played, blew us out of the water.”
The Girls Varsity Tennis team also enjoyed an exciting season. Co-captain Eve Hammerman (VI) wrote, “Our record is 5 wins to 6 losses. I think that the team performed well under the unique circumstances of playing tennis at Fieldston: we don’t have our own courts, and much of our pre-season was rained out, so we were not able to determine a set line-up before the start of the season. Plus, many of the players have not played tennis since before the pandemic, so a lot of rust needed to be knocked off.” She also enjoyed their Pitch Perfect themed Pep Rally dance. “We practiced really hard and we think, unbiased of course, that we were the best. We also had a senior night match against Spence, where all of the seniors got to play and we got flowers and GVT key chains! We haven’t done anything to explicitly prepare for next season, but there are so many strong underclassmen that the season ahead will be really exciting for Fieldston GVT!”
Even though the cross country team did not have a Homecoming meet, the team is as dedicated as ever. Co-captain Ellie Usdin (III) said, “My favorite part of the season has been competing in the races. Although it is really hard at the moment when racing, I’ve enjoyed cheering on my teammates and watching everyone cross the finish line. I also really like when we have had more chill practices where we have either gone on longer runs or spent more time stretching.” The team is full of dedicated runners who will continue training in the offseason. “We will continue to frequently run throughout this year. Many team members are participating in winter and spring track, which is extremely helpful to prepare for cross country again next year. We are also making sure to keep on building our stamina and endurance so that we can be even more prepared for next year.”
The Varsity Volleyball team has had one of the best seasons, with a 15-1 record. Co-captain LJ Grant (VI) said, “Our team has been working hard to improve all season and has performed very well throughout. As one of the better teams in the league, we come to practice everyday with the intent to remain as one. We have been working on running more plays, being vocal on the court, and playing as a consistent unit.” Grant also mentioned their great homecoming win. “This was the first homecoming for half our team and I think they enjoyed playing for a larger crowd. While there were less people than usual due to COVID restrictions, we were still able to have a good game where the seniors could showcase their skills. The best part of this season has certainly been seeing our efforts come to fruition in our record.”
Varsity Football has also enjoyed an excellent season at the nest. Co-captain Elijah Johnson (VI) looked back on his four years as an eagle and this season in general. “We are currently 3-2 in the season and 2-2 in league play. I feel like we haven’t played to the best of our ability, and that is where the two losses have come from. We are two plays away from 5-0, and as a whole, I have been really proud of our guys, who have been battling through injuries and working super hard in practice.” He was proud of the Homecoming win, but thought that the team could have improved on their performance. “The Homecoming game was amazing. As a senior, it was one of the best feelings of my high school career, maybe even my life, winning in front of the crowd on my last Homecoming. I think we had some ups and downs this season, but it was a real gut check and I couldn’t be prouder of our guys for pulling out the win. This win was a step in the right direction, but I don’t think that it was very reflective of our season because I know that we can do much better, and there were a lot of mistakes that we had gone over in practice in preparation for this game.”
Lastly, co-captain Abigail Trapp (VI) from the Varsity Field Hockey team mentioned that this season was the best of her four years of high school. “One of my favorite aspects of the season was watching my teammates develop their skills and become more confident players and people. Field Hockey lost the homecoming game against Hackley 0-1, but it was the most collaborative and fun game I have played all year. I think the game was reflective of our season. We show up with incredible energy and support each other no matter the outcome of the game.”
Overall, the return to athletics has been a great success for the Eagles. The Fieldston community looks forward to watching our athletes shine in the winter and spring seasons!
