Varsity Field Hockey plays Frederick Gunn on Senior Day.
Varsity Football in action against Lawrenceville.
Antonio Giraldez Greco ’25 passes the ball.
By Ethan Zhang ’26 and Addy Hawthorne ’27
Choate’s athletic teams fought hard this season on fields, trails, courts, and pools to represent the School in competition. Here is a look at the fall sports season thus far.
Football
Varsity Football has been undefeated all season with a 7-0 record. The team’s dedication and efforts earned them the 2023-2024 Founders League champion title.
One notable game was the team’s 34-6 victory against The Taft School in the pouring rain on October 14. Another was the highly anticipated blackout home game matchup. On November 4, Choate narrowly won a 17-14 victory over Avon Old Farms School, who also came into the game undefeated.
Despite their impressive record and extensive margins of victory, the team still had to overcome unforeseen challenges this season. “We definitely have gone through ups and downs — kids getting hurt and sick. A lot of people have had to step up and take on roles that they may not have been ready to take,” Co-Captain Matt Diaz said.
Girls’ Soccer
Girls’ Varsity Soccer has an impressive 13-2 record. Notable games include a 10-3 win over Cheshire Academy on September 22 and 5-0 wins over both Greenwich Academy and Kent School on September 20 and November 1, respectively.
After losing to Loomis Chaffee last year, the team came back strong with a 3-1 win this year on September 27.
Led by Co-Captains Ella Crerar ’24 and Gianna Peracchio ’24 — who were named on the 2022 New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Junior All-Star Team — the team will compete in the New England Playoffs on November 15.
Boys’ Soccer
Boys’ Varsity Soccer boasts a 10-6-2 record, with 6-0 wins over both Trinity-Pawling School and Westminster School on October 4 and September 27, respectively. The team maintained their winning record this year despite graduating eight seniors from their previous season.
Co-Captains Andrew Jean Baptiste ’24 and Jacob Federowicz ’24 ensured the team was laser-focused on making the playoffs for the New England Championships. Nine of the 11 current starters are either juniors or underclassmen, giving way to a bright future for Choate soccer in the coming years.
Girls’ Cross Country
Led by Co-Captains Kara Wang ’24, Gabi White ’24, and Emily Mito ’24, Girls’ Varsity Cross Country beat Deerfield Academy on October 14 and Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) on October 28.
The race at NMH, whose cross country course consists of rolling hills, was especially memorable for the team. “People say it’s the hardest course in New England. It was a very challenging course, but I think it was one of the best races for us for this season,” Mito said. The team competed at the New England Championships on November 11 at Loomis Chaffee.
Boys’ Cross Country
With Co-Captains John Reach ’24 and Luciano Morizio ’24 at the helm, Boys’ Varsity Cross Country had a big 38-22 win on September 30 against the Trinity-Pawling School. On October 14, nearly every runner on the team improved upon their personal best at a meet against Loomis Chaffee.
The team competed at the Founders League Championships on November 4 at The Hotchkiss School. On November 11, the team went to Loomis Chaffee to compete in the New England Cross Country Championships.
When asked about favorite team traditions, Reach shared how much he enjoys “Neditation,” where the team lies on the grass every Friday as Head Coach Mr. Ned Gallagher leads a meditation session. According to Reach, the team bonds over their challenging Tuesday afternoon practices, which entails either sprinting or a running a loop on the cross country course that houses Mount Doom, the steepest part of the trail.
Boys’ Water Polo
Boys’ Varsity Water Polo had a strong season, standing at a 13-4 record. Led by Co-Captains Garrett Curtis ’24 and Chris Childs ’24, the team won hard-fought games against Hopkins School and Hamden Hall.
Despite missing several key players, the team triumphed over Deerfield Academy on October 11, going overtime to win 11-9. On November 11, the team competed at the New England Championships, which was hosted by Phillips Academy.
Curtis’s favorite memory from the season was the team’s traditional Speedo run, where players jog outside in their swimwear.
Volleyball
With wins against Taft, Hotchkiss, Kent, and NMH, Girls’ Varsity Volleyball’s record stands at 9-5. The team is led by Co-Captains Emma Liedke ’24, Em DeGrand ’24, and Cait Ahn ’25.
During warm-ups on game days, each player shares what skill they want to focus on during the match, such as hitting, passing, or communication. Ahn’s favorite traditions are the team’s secret pregame rituals.
Field Hockey
Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey had wins against Green Farms Academy, The Hotchkiss School, and NMH. After losing against Canterbury School last season, the team beat them this year in a nail-biting over-time game. “We worked more as a unit this season, and we’re better with keeping our heads up after we get a goal scored on us,” Co-Captain Sophia Berdon ’24 said.
Berdon’s favorite team tradition is Halloween practice, when each grade level within the team dresses according to a chosen theme. This year, the seniors on the team dressed up as frat boys.
All team records were last updated on November 8, 2023.
