This Fall, Kent School fielded two successful interscholastic athletic teams, field hockey and soccer. In all, thirty-nine middle school students participated and competed in a full slate of action-packed games against teams from the mid-shore and Delaware.
The field hockey team has notched two undefeated seasons in a row! The team played seven games this fall and won all of them. Coach Kent and Coach Cerino worked hard to teach basic skills to both beginning and experienced players, and from the first practice to the last game, players showed great improvement in their skill levels and teamwork. Head Coach, Erin Kent said, “Our players gave one hundred percent effort in every game; that is the dream scenario for any coach. Our girls supported each other and grew as a team throughout the season. I couldn’t ask for more. It was an absolute pleasure to coach this team.”
The players ranged from fifth to eighth graders. The fifth graders included Ella MacGlashan, Julia McClary, Lane Parkhurst, Julia Reed, Isabelle Requena and Molly Starkey. These girls were the youngest and smallest on the team, but they showed great determination and enthusiasm. Georgia Gillespie, Brooke McAdory, Abby Russum and Tessa Schut led the sixth graders. Emma McClary was the only seventh grader, and she was dominant as a first year goalie. Eighth grade athletes Eileen Ashley, Sarah Bowyer, Annaliesse Cantera, Annabelle Gillespie, Payton Lord, Grayson McKenzie and Hadley Perez were role models for the younger team members. They cheered on their teammates, took the time to work one-on-one with the fifth graders, and displayed positive sportsmanship on and off the playing field. Coach Cerino said, “We had an amazing field hockey season! The girls continuously helped each other, displayed sportsmanship, and truly worked together as a team. I couldn’t be prouder of them.” The team was pleased to have three players from Radcliffe Creek School this year—Marley Bonass, Grace Holmes and Paige Holmes.
The Kent School soccer team improved dramatically over the course of the season. The team went from not winning a game in the 2014 season to winning two games and tying St. Michael’s, a team that had a reputation for being difficult to beat. Fifth grade players, Kolby Brice, Frank Cantera and Jake Leaverton, gained valuable experience playing with older students. Flynn Bowman, Sage Cookerly, Reed Ferguson, Evan Gervais, Zachary LaFleur and Carter Perez, all sixth graders, showed promise as future leaders. Seventh graders included James Fordi, Campbell Parkhurst, goalie Kylee Rushton and Severin Schut who really improved as the season went on. Our eighth graders, Nathan Brice, Joey Cerino, Tad Jacob, Spencer McKenzie, Giovanni Procaccini and Peyton Taylor were key to the success of the season and proved themselves to be great leaders. Coaches Pearce and Joiner were very impressed with the boys’ enthusiasm and teamwork. Coach Pearce said, “I thought the team made tremendous progress which was shown on the field. I’m looking forward for the team to come back even stronger next year.”
Kent School Headmaster, Chris Gorycki said, “At Kent School we are committed to athletic excellence as well as academic, artistic and moral excellence. Our athletic excellence is demonstrated in many ways. Sometimes it is with more wins than losses but more importantly it is demonstrated through stellar examples of sportsmanship and teamwork. I am always proud of the enthusiasm on display from our players, coaches and spectators.”
Student Contributing Writers: Annaliesse Cantera, Eileen Ashley, Campbell Parkhurst.
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