Fall 2020 Athletics Recap

Athletics: Fall 2020

The Academy’s varsity athletic teams were able to practice throughout the fall. Although no competitions against other schools took place, each team did its best to learn from the experience and find silver linings considering the circumstances. • boyS’ Soccer

• football

“I think we all gained a much higher appreciation for being able to be together as a team and for the opportunity the players have to play such a great game.” —Head Coach Jeff Vartabedian “The silver lining of not playing games was our ability to work more on the fundamentals of the game and gel as a team. We learned to appreciate each other and the simple things that can be taken away from us at any minute.” —Head Coach Roy Fink

• GirlS’ croSS country

“It was amazing to see our small team support each other, may it have been by cheering each other on, offering encouraging words, staying positive or running back/ extra so as to finish training runs together. During our only virtual 5K race on the track they all met, or came just a few seconds from meeting, their lofty goals set at the beginning of the season; and I think this is due to staying focused on doing their best in practice every day.” —Head Coach Kelsea Lewis • boyS’ croSS country

“We learned as a team that it’s a lot harder to stay motivated and push yourself when there isn’t a meet to be won. We had to find different motivations to work hard, more internal reasons. The silver lining was that at the end of the season, we got to be more lighthearted and just play! We played games amongst ourselves and against other sports. This was a great team bonding experience!” —Head Coach Danielle Vartabedian

“We learned that intrasquad competition could be every bit as rewarding as playing another school. Our scrimmages went down to the last shot of the last game to determine the 2020 champion. The silver lining was that there was room in practice for more innovation and fun without impacting the quality of drills and scrimmages. We will carry that into next season.” —Head Coach Jon Brook

• GirlS’ Soccer

“Our silver lining this year was the amount of fun we had! As competitors, of course we would have loved to play a real match, but this year we got to bond with lots of inside jokes and fits of laughter (often in the middle of a drill!). I’m so proud of the way the team took care of each other, stayed positive and worked hard—simply because they love the game and love being together.” —Head Coach Sommer Mahoney ’11

• GirlS’ volleyball

“The season brought us closer than any other season. I know for some of my seniors it was a good season for them because they spent more time working on skills and being ready for the game that never came ... It is truly one of the best seasons because I was able to put more work into them, and have them train and work harder at learning the game.” —Head Coach Rodger Goodhind

• field hockey

“The elements that formed and sustained our team were beyond league competition. Players supported and encouraged one another. We celebrated the leadership and accomplishments of our seniors and PG. They found enjoyment in the game beyond competitions and even mildly came to enjoy running around with a mask on.” —Head Coach Elizabeth Fontaine Squindo