Chloe Benson ’24, Cassatt Boatwright ’24, and Dr. Katie Jewett pose at practice.
By Reinah Lee ’26
In the midst of college apps, many sixth-form students gravitate towards Senior Soccer for their fall term sport. A popular pick, Senior Soccer is coached by French teacher Dr. Katie Jewett as well as English teachers Mr. John Cobb and Ms. Megan Shea on the soccer field between Ayres-Yankus Field and Horsebarn Field.
Senior Soccer began at The Choate School during the pre-consolidation days of The Choate School and Rosemary Hall, between 1972-1978. In its early days, they would compete against Senior Soccer teams from nearby schools such as Avon Old Farms and Deerfield Academy.
Now, with 50 students, the program has become a vibrant hub of teamwork and camaraderie, reflecting the spirit of the senior class.
Practice occurs every Monday through Thursday. The coaches divide players into three new teams each week based on experience levels to foster connections between players while maintaining balanced teams. Each team plays the other two teams twice, for a total of about six 8-10 minute scrimmages per practice.
Another fun feature of Senior Soccer is their unique weekly rituals. On Tattoosday (Tattoo Tuesday), everyone gets a temporary tattoo following a theme, such as dinosaurs or Lilo & Stitch. The next day, players dress up according to another theme, such as pajamas or fun socks, for Wacky Wednesday.
Thursdays are dedicated to Trivia Thursday, when each of the three teams are tasked with answering 10 trivia questions outside of practice. The team with the highest score wins a baked good from the coaches. Finally, The Eye of the Tiger is a weekly honor voted on by all the players and awarded to two people who embody what Senior Soccer is about: community and inclusion.
“We’re all about fun. We’re also all about generous play, making sure that people are passing to each other, and not all about the glory. The glory comes communally,” Dr. Jewett said.
Relatively new to coaching despite her 17 years at the School, Dr. Jewett joined the coaching team in 2017 and currently manages warm-ups. Her favorite Senior Soccer tradition is when students gather for one last game at sunrise on graduation morning.
Mr. Cobb has coached Senior Soccer since 1999 and views the activity as “more of a lifestyle choice than a sport.” He understands the pressures of senior year and aims to make it an “oasis from the craziness” and let students be kids again. “It’s a place where we can all let down our guard a bit,” he said.
Nick Aldrich ’24 appreciates the laid-back nature of the sport. “I was a little worried you would go in, and they would spend half the season teaching you how to play soccer, but I walked in the first day, [and] we were immediately just playing.”
Having coached Senior Soccer for 10 years, Ms. Shea highlighted the sport’s diversity, noting the blend of genders and abilities. “We have lots of kids who have played soccer before, but we also have kids who haven’t, and yet they’re all out there spirited, playing together,” she said.
Ethan Zhang ’24, previously on Boys’ Thirds Soccer, praised Senior Soccer for its ability to provide an escape from academic stress. “It’s a really nice break between schoolwork and college applications,” Zhang said. “Everyone has fun. That’s the end goal of the sport, for everyone to enjoy their afternoon, enjoy being around each other, and just kick the ball around.”
For Cassatt Boatwright ’24, Senior Soccer was a gateway to bond with peers and partake in iconic events, such as the Deerfield Day pep rally and the student-faculty game during the final practice of the year. “I really want to connect with the rest of my grade in ways that I haven’t before,” she said.
Whether it’s getting dinosaur tattoos or having a laugh during stretches, Senior Soccer allows the soon-to-be-graduates to relieve stress, bond with their class, and get some exercise.
“It’s a joy watching the seniors bond and enjoy each other’s company,” Ms. Shea said.
