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Gunn Athletics
Boys Varsity Hockey Advances to New England Championship Final
Boys Varsity Hockey participated in the New England Prep School Athletic Council postseason tournament, winning the quarterfinal against St. George’s School and the semifinal against The Governor’s Academy before taking on Pomfret School in the 2022 New England Championship Final on March 6. The Highlanders were the #2 seed in the 2022 NEPSAC Boys Ice Hockey Piatell/Simmons Tournament Bracket. All tournament games were held on the campuses of the highest seeds, which placed the Highlanders at home for all three games. Gunn supporters turned out in force to cheer on the Highlanders at Linen Rink, which was packed with students, family members, faculty, and alumni. The final was a rematch from the 2020 New England Championship, when the Highlanders beat Pomfret. This year, Pomfret won 4-2.
“I thought we played well. In the beginning of the game, we came out a little bit too amped up. We were running around a little bit and didn’t play much in the way of structured hockey and had some turnovers,” said Head Boys Hockey Coach Craig Badger. “I think we had good energy. Their goaltender made a bunch of really good saves. I think we were outplaying them and gave up an unfortunate breakaway after putting the pressure on them for a long time, and they scored and we didn’t. That’s just how the game goes sometimes. You can outplay a team and still lose.”
Neither team scored until well into the first period. Gunn scored two goals in the second period, the first one on the power play. The puck moved up top to Kiernan Gately ’22, who moved it to the middle and fired a pass down low to Kyle Smyth ’23, who was able to tip it in. “It was a good look by Kiernan to see that open seam on the outside and drive the puck through, which somebody was able to bury,” Badger said.
The Highlanders scored again by working the puck in the offensive zone, which was something the team focused on game in and game out. “Nate Stachowiak ’22 was able to pick it off the cycle and find Julian Facchinelli ’22, and he
put it up top and buried a really nice goal. There were about three minutes left in the period on that one.”
Badger said the entire team played well. “I think in general our top guys tended to be up front,” he said, naming Ryan Novo ’22, Facchinelli, and Michael Murtagh ’22 among the leading scorers for Gunn this season. They played well in the final, along with Stachowiak and Aiden Lindley ’22. Defensively, Gately had a good game, as did Gus Hinckley ’22, Christian Wood ’23, and goaltender Joseph LoVullo ’22. “Across the board, everybody did well. We just didn’t take advantage of all of the opportunities we had and they took advantage of the late one that they got,” he said of Pomfret.
Boys Varsity Hockey finished its regular season strong with a 3-1 win over Berkshire School on February 26, and a record of 22-12 under the leadership of Badger and Assistant Coaches Shane Gorman ’10, James LeBlanc, and Chris Gragnano. In the postseason, the Highlanders beat #7 seed St. George’s School 3-1 on March 2 and went
Across the board, everybody did well. We just didn’t take on to beat #6 seed The Governor’s Academy 3-1 on March 5.advantage of all of the “It was a lot of fun. Obviously, we opportunities we had and want to win but in the end, we don’t they took advantage of the win them all,” Badger said. “We had a late one that they got.” good group of kids. They were really talented on the ice but really nice – Head Boys Hockey Coach kids who worked hard. I think we were Craig Badger certainly a better team by the end of the year. That, ultimately, is the goal.“ This year’s roster included 13 seniors, among them the team’s four captains, Novo, Lindley, Gately, and Head Prefect Eddie Rayhill ’22. Looking ahead to next season, Badger said the Highlanders will have some strong returners. Goaltender Ryan Crowshaw ’23, who split the net with LoVullo this year, will be a four-year senior so he will back in goal and provide some leadership for the team along with Wood, Jacob Rothman ’24, Luke Calabria ’25 and Smyth, who Badger predicted will be the team’s leading returning scorer. “We would expect that he’ll play a huge role next year.”
Gunn Alumnae play in Beijing Olympics
Nemo Neubauerova ’18 and Tynka Patkova ’18, former classmates and teammates on the Gunn Girls Varsity Hockey Team, represented the Czech Republic in women’s ice hockey at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. Patkova, who played for the HTI Stars in Canada for one season following graduation, is a sophomore at the University of Vermont, and Neubauerova is a senior at Colgate University, where she is majoring in psychological and brain sciences with a minor in writing and rhetoric.
“The Olympic Games is something you dream of as a kid and making it there seems almost impossible to believe,” Neubauerova said in an article on the Colgate Women’s Ice Hockey website. “When we qualified in front of all the fans and my family and friends, it was just such a special feeling that I cannot even describe. I just remember watching the clock as the last seconds of the game were going by and I thought to myself, ‘Wow, we did it.’”
In Beijing, Neubauerova had an assist in Game #1 of the Women’s Preliminary Round on February 3, in which the Czech Republic beat China 3-1. “It felt good, and even if you don’t get points, just knowing you’re part of the team there and part of the victories or losses … it’s still really cool to be a part of it,” she said of her experience in an article published March 4 in The Colgate Maroon-News.
The Czech Republic went on to beat Sweden 3-1, Denmark 3-2, and Japan 3-2, and fell to Denmark 2-1 before taking on the United States in the women’s Quarterfinal on February 11. Reuters called the game against the defending Olympic champion U.S. team “tougher-than-expected.”
“While the American hockey powerhouse rarely find themselves on the backfoot, the twice-gold medalists did not claim the lead until the third period,” the news agency said. The U.S. won 4-1, and advanced to play Canada in the Women’s Gold Medal Game, which Canada won 3-2.
Olympic teammates Tynka Patkova ’18 and Nemo Neubauerova ‘18 “Neubauerova got 22 shifts in the Quarterfinal matchup against the U.S. and was also able to rip off a shot on goal,” the Maroon-News reported. “So thankful and so proud that I could have represented my home country with my second family. Thank you to everyone who was supporting our team!” Patkova said of her Olympic experience via Instagram. Both Incredible Students and Three-Sport Athletes During her years at The Frederick Gunn School, Patkova played ice hockey, soccer, and softball, and she was inducted into the National Art Honors Society. In her senior year at Gunn, Neubauerova was captain of the Girls Ice Hockey Team and named Most Valuable Player. Prior to college, both also competed for three seasons with the Czech Republic National U18 Women’s Ice Hockey Team in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship, a precursor for selection to the Czech Olympic team. “They were both incredible students, three-sport athletes, incredibly hard workers in the classroom, and great citizens in the community,” reflected
PHOTOS: OLYMPIC.CZ
Neubauerova sitting on the boards (below) and with Patkova (above) in Beijing
Kate McMann ’05, Director of College Counseling, who was Neubauerova’s and Patkova’s advisor. “Obviously, they’re very talented hockey players but also very humble and outstanding character-wise.”
Asked what she thought when she first heard her former advisees were going to the Olympics together, McMann said: “I was so excited. I remember Nemo saying as a freshman that it was her dream to play in the Olympics. The Czech Republic didn’t have a women’s ice hockey team at that time. It has been her dream to compete at that level and it’s awesome to see that she accomplished her goal.”
McMann, who previously coached girls hockey at Gunn, said both alumni are outstanding role models for current students. “It helps our female athletes here in having a greater sense of pride, seeing girls going on to compete at the college level and at the olympic level. It’s very inspiring. You could not ask for better role models.” “For our girls to see Frederick Gunn School athletes complete in the Olympics is inspirational on all levels,” agreed Dan Allen, Head Coach for Gunn Girls Varsity Hockey. “That’s a huge deal for their teammates and for the girls that are here now. It’s something that only happens once every four years. It’s a very hard thing to do, and a very inspiring thing to do.”
Fueled by Expansion, Varsity Ski Teams Compete in NEPSAC Championship
Ten members of the boys and girls varsity ski teams participated February 16 in the 2022 NEPSAC Boys and Girls Alpine Skiing Championship at Wachusett Mountain in Massachusetts. The Class C race was held near the close of a historic season for the school’s ski program, which doubled in size and expanded to include two varsity teams for the first time.
Representing the Boys Varsity Ski Team at the NEPSAC Alpine Skiing Championship were: John Adams ’22, Liam Koval ’22, Luke Miller ’22, Andrew Baron ’24, and Oliver Levick ’24. The Girls Varsity Ski Team was represented by: Lea Ritzenhoff ’22, Quinn Hedden ’23, Grace Harlow ’25, Stella Leonard ’25, and Zane Leonard ’25.
Athletic Director Mike Marich P’23 ’24 said the decision to expand the program to two teams this year was an easy one. “We had a lot of student interest in skiing, so much so that we needed to figure out how to make it accessible. We were able to expand from one coed team to male and female teams.”
The expansion of the ski program, along with programs such as the Live Like Fred Community Weekends and this February’s inaugural Mountain Day (see page 24), underscore the school’s overall commitment to the outdoors, inspired by our founder, Frederick Gunn and his love of nature.
Head Coach Sal Lilienthal, who also teaches history this year, and is the Crew Team Operations Coordinator, and Assistant Coach Austin Arkin, who also teaches math, The Girls Varsity Ski Team at the 2022 NEPSAC Class C Alpine Skiing Championship, from left, Lea Ritzenhoff ’22, Quinn Hedden ’23, Zane Leonard ’25, Grace Harlow ’25, and Stella Leonard ’25
accompanied 28 students to Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall for ski practice each day during the winter season. In previous years, the ski program was limited to a maximum of 13 student-athletes.
“The idea was to have a boys team, a girls team, and a recreational skiing program. That’s basically what we were managing this year. We race slalom and giant slalom races and everyone’s really excited about the girls program,” said Lilienthal, who collaborated with Marich on the design for the new FGS ski racing uniforms, which were produced by a New Hampshire company with manufacturing facilities in Italy.
The varsity ski teams compete in the Brigham Ski League, which includes The Frederick Gunn School, Berkshire School, Cheshire Academy, The Ethel Walker School, Forman School, Loomis Chaffee, Miss Porter’s School, Salisbury School, Suffield Academy, and The Taft School. “It’s very competitive,” Lilienthal said. “The schools that we’re up against are some of the best schools in New England. I’ve been really impressed with the level of performance of our athletes and the competition. And it’s a young team so I think that we should be improving over time.”
John Adams ’22 Quinn Hedden ’23 Liam Koval ’22 Lea Ritzenhoff ’22
A Strong Finish Highlanders Place 12th in New England Championship, and Two Named All-Stars
The Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country Teams participated in the NEPSTA DIII New England Championships at Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle, Massachusetts, on November 13, 2021. Some students recorded personal records at the event and the boys varsity team placed 12th overall. Team members Serdar Kaltalioglu ’22 and Jennifer Macler ’22 finished in the Top 20 in their respective races. Kaltalioglu finished 15th in the Boys Varsity race with a time of 17:58, and Macler placed 15th in the Girls Varsity race with a time of 21:49. Based on their results, both qualified for the NEPSTA Cross Country All-Star Meet November 20 at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Massachusetts. Kaltalioglu finished 20th and Macler 23rd in their respective varsity 5000-meter races.
“It was a fun season this year getting back into racing after last year’s practice-only season,” said Head Coach Morgen Fisher ’03. “I always like to see the energy, the atmosphere, and the dynamics they have and it was a good group. If they can carry on with the energy they have, and the culture of the team stays as strong as it is, it will continue to be a rewarding experience for the kids individually, and for the coaches. Anyone can go out and run individually, but when you are part of a team, it’s that team culture that makes it rewarding.” Serdar Kaltalioglu ’22 and Jennifer Macler ’22 with their medals from the New England DIII Cross Country Championship
Representing Gunn in the Girls Varsity championship race were (left to right): Jade Vu ’25, Iris Hubbard ’22, Vivian Boucher ’23, Jenny Shen ’23, Lila Lovejoy ’25 and Jennifer Macler ’22.
Participating in the Boys Varsity championship race (left to right): Paul Clement ’22, Sean Hall ’22, Leo Vitarelli ’25, Nick Danforth ’24, Tim Yu ’22, Colin Hall ’24, and Serdar Kaltalioglu ’22.
Maya Sellinger ’23 Kayla Clark ’22 Katie Porrello ’22
The Girls Varsity Field Hockey Team ended its fall season with a record of 13-3, advancing to the 2021 New England Class C Girls Field Hockey Championship. Gunn, the #2 seed, played Proctor Academy, the #7 seed, in the quarterfinal on November 17, 2021, at Deerfield Academy.
“I’m proud of them,” Dean of Students Ashley LeBlanc said at the close of her first season as Head Coach. “We started to talk about New Englands about halfway through the season as in, ‘We’re on track.’ Two-thirds of the way through we were in the Top 3.” The team also ended its regular season with an 81 percent win average. The Highlanders fell to Proctor 0-2.
Part of LeBlanc’s approach this season was to instill humility as well as confidence in her student-athletes, and to make sure each member of the team was prepared mentally, emotionally, and physically to bring their best to the game. “It’s really exciting that this is where the program can be,” she said. “We’re really excited about the development of the JV program, and just continued
field hockey education and commitment. I think that’s where there’s a lot of heart, a lot of pride. I’m just so thrilled, so proud, and so excited about where we’ve already gotten to, and where we can go.”
The team played their last regular season game against Canterbury, and won 2-1 at Canterbury Day, earning the school a point toward the CanterburyGunn Cup. Gunn also brought home a win against Kent School early in the season, when the Highlanders took on some tough opponents. More wins followed in quick succession during regular season games against Ethel Walker, Berkshire School, Suffield Academy, and St. Luke’s School, as LeBlanc continued to instill confidence in the Highlanders.
“There became a moment, really halfway through the season, where they started to believe more and more. As our confidence grew, our skills grew, and they continued to trust the game plan and build on the game play,” LeBlanc said.
This year’s team included nine seniors and a handful of studentathletes who were not only new to playing at the varsity level, but had never played field hockey before. “Goalie Jordan Hopping ’24 never put on the pads before and is dedicated and committed and just absolutely flourished. Forward Poppy Kellogg ’25, forward Beatrice Flynn ’24, defender Jenna Hunt ’22 — all just really good student-athletes, really complementing a diversely talented team,” LeBlanc said.
Nine Highlanders Named to ALL-NEPSAC and All-State this fall
The New England Preparatory School Athletic Council announced in December that nine Frederick Gunn School student-athletes earned All-NEPSAC and All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention Awards for achieving standout seasons in their respective fall sports.
This fall’s All-NEPSAC selections included: Katie Porrello ’22, Girls Varsity Field Hockey; Jenny Macler ’23, Girls Varsity Cross Country; Abbey Agrodnia ’22, Girls Varsity Soccer; Serdar Kaltalioglu ’22, Boys Varsity Cross Country; and Anabel Lota ’22, Girls Varsity Field Hockey. The All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention Award recipients included: Annie Scovill ’22, Girls Varsity Field Hockey; Eddie Rayhill ’22, Boys Varsity Soccer; Jason Fritz ’23, Boys Varsity Soccer; and Kayla Clark ’22, Girls Varsity Field Hockey.
In addition, Fritz was selected for CSCA All-State honors by the Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association.
Katie Porrello ’22 Jenny Macler ’23 Abbey Agrodnia ’22
Serdar Kaltalioglu ’22 Anabel Lota ’22 Annie Scovill ’22
Eddie Rayhill ’22 Jason Fritz ’23 Kayla Clark ’22
Girls Soccer Program Expands to Include JV Team
This fall, the school expanded its athletic offerings to include the first Girls JV Soccer Team in recent history. With 33 student-athletes rostered, compared to about 24 in a typical year, Athletic Director Mike Marich P’23 ’24 gave a green light to expand the program to include varsity and JV teams at the start of the season. The JV team went on to beat Canterbury early — and win the first point of the year toward the Canterbury-Gunn Cup — racking up another point in November, when the Highlanders beat Canterbury a second time, 4-1, at Canterbury Day on the Saints’ home turf.
“In the past, we had wanted to create a girls JV team, but we did not have the numbers to make it viable. This year, we did. By all accounts the experience has been really positive. The coaches worked well together,” Marich said, attributing the success of the program to the collaboration among the coaches: Emily Abelson, Head Coach for Girls Varsity Soccer, Alisa Croft, Assistant Coach, and Jess Lyon, who took on the role of Head Coach for Girls JV Soccer this year. “It is my hope that the program will continue to grow under Emily’s leadership,” Marich said.
The JV team ended its season with a record of 4-3, while the varsity team finished with a record of 8-5-2. “Both teams had incredible seasons,” Abelson said. “For the school it highlights strong female enrollment and interest from female students.”
Asked what is driving the increased interest, Abelson gave a nod to the U.S. women’s national team, which she follows closely. “They did so well this year, and their story during the Olympics as well — they were the favorite and they didn’t win. Their journey, and the women’s national team news around equal pay and women’s sports in general — these topics are getting more air time. I think more girls are interested in the sport based on the recent experience they’ve had watching the women’s national team or the Olympics.”
Word of mouth and the influence of friend groups were also contributing factors, especially among those who were not three-sport athletes and decided to take a risk by playing soccer for the first time. “The girls who’ve played for a couple of years have had a good experience,” Lyon said. “They’re excited to be there and they talk about that. I think that’s how other girls join.”
“If you looked historically at the pattern to girls soccer, you’d have some years where there were 26 kids on the team, and some years where there were less than that. If you graph it, it kind of goes in waves. I think a lot of that
plays to friend groups, but it’s also a little natural,” Croft said.
From a coaching perspective, Lyon said, “It’s been awesome that all three of us have worked to build the team. We collaborate as coaches and we are working so great together, which is something the girls see.”
The three coaches ran a combined JV and varsity practice every afternoon. “We keep everything together in our technical and foundational skills,” Abelson said. “We pair up a JV and a varsity player and expect that they are working as hard as they can to ensure they are at the level that we as a college-preparatory program expect them to work at. The younger kids get to know some of the older kids, they get skills exposure. They get exposed to kids who do things at a faster pace. They know what they’re working toward.”
Having a JV team helps students to build confidence and provides a nice segue to the varsity level. “I have talked to girls through the admissions process this year about our program in general, and I’m so excited that we have this place,” Abelson said of the JV team. “You get to work on developing your skills with other players that have the same mentality as you, and also compete at a super high level because we’re practicing with varsity.”
Five Earn ALL-NEPSAC Recognition for Winter Sports
In late March, five Gunn studentathletes received All-NEPSAC and All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention Awards for their respective winter sports, and one was named a NEPSAC All-Star.
The school’s All-NEPSAC selections this winter included: Tristan Davis ‘23, Boys Basketball, and Lea Ritzenhoff ‘22, Girls Alpine Skiing. All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention Awards went to: Bea Flynn ‘24 (forward) and Abbey Agrodnia ‘22 (defense), Girls Ice Hockey, and Natalia Zappone ‘23, Girls Basketball. Zappone also earned NEPSAC All-Star honors, according to Amy Paulekas, Head Coach, Girls Basketball.
Abbey Agrodnia ’22 Lea Ritzenhoff ’22
Natalia Zappone ’23
Tristan Davis ’23 Bea Flynn ’24
