With six championship-eligible sports at the varsity level and more than 300 athletes playing on 15 different teams, there are countless opportunities to cheer for the Bearcats throughout the fall season. Follow along with us on Instagram @hotchkissathletics for information on games, scores, and players/teams to watch! Or join Bearcat Army in person on the sidelines and be loud, be proud, and BE TRUE!

GIRLS HOCKEY
Head Coach:  Kelsie Fralick ’11
2025 Captains: Caroline Bliss ’25 and Sadie Panaro ’25
2024 Record & Highlights: 8-13-1, Highlights from last year: come-from-behind victory over Gunn and huge win over Taft on the road
Instagram account: @hotchkisshockey

Reasons to Roar: Of the 22 players rostered this year, Lila Snow ’25, Ella Johnson ’25, Caroline Bliss ’25, Rowyn Pemrick ’25, Sadie Panaro ’25, Nikki Ferraro ’26, Delia Narrai ’26, Charlotte Schils ’26, Alyssa Filmer ’26, Ellie Keum ’26, Kailyn Willa ’27, Melody Reyes ’27, Lilah Crispino ’27, Cadence Fasano ’27, Allison Sha ’27, Naomi Shapiro ’27, Marygrace Lawry ’27, AnnaBelle Wang ’28, Ally Wasson ’28, Julia Kisiel ’28, Khloe Kim ’28, Gabby Blier ’28.Ten are new to The Hotchkiss School, which makes us a young and dynamic team in the process of finding our identity. The integration of so many new players has brought fresh energy and enthusiasm to the program, but it also means we’re working hard to develop chemistry and cohesion on the ice. We’re focused on putting together a complete game where everyone is firing on all cylinders, both individually and as a unit.  

Our schedule is one of the toughest out there, with opponents that constantly challenge us and push us to grow. While that adds another layer of difficulty, it also gives us valuable opportunities to test ourselves, learn from high-level competition, and measure progress. Each game, regardless of the outcome, reveals positive takeaways and highlights areas for improvement. These lessons fuel our practices as we work hard, push each other, and build toward our goals.  

There is so much potential on this team, and we’re starting to see glimpses of what we’re capable of when everything clicks. With each practice and game, we’re striving to close the gap between potential and performance. This group is resilient, committed, and hungry to succeed, and we’re confident that, with time and effort, we’ll begin to showcase the talent and promise that makes this team so exciting.

 

BOYS HOCKEY
Head Coach: Michael Doyle (3rd year)
2024-25 Captains: Evan Jones ’25, Thomas Malawski ’25, Jack McGregor ’25, Connor Towle ’25
2023-24 Record & Highlights: (8-4-13) 3rd Place Flood-Marr Tournament, 6th place 2023-24 Founders League, 23rd place NEPSAC Standings,
2024-25 Senior Day: Wednesday, Feb. 19th vs. Kent at The Hotchkiss School @ 2:30 p.m.
Instagram account: @hotchkissbvh

Reasons to Roar: The Hotchkiss Bearcats will return to Schmidt rink for another winter season. After finishing last season with 8 wins and an impressive 3rd place in the annual Flood-Marr tournament in the 2023-24 season, this team will look to make the NEPSAC postseason playoffs. Four accomplished senior captains – Evan Jones ’25, Thomas Malawski ’25, Jack McGregor ’25, Connor Towle ’25 – will guide this team with their wealth of experience. All-NEPSAC First-Team and Flood-Marr Tournament Team goalie, as well as College of the Holy Cross commit, Connor Towle, is set to anchor another stellar season between the pipes. Meanwhile, Jack McGregor, last season’s second-leading scorer and top assister, will once again lead the team from the front. Returning four-year senior, Emmett Roswech ’25, is looking for a final hurrah on the rink. Prep newcomers, Josh Cevera ’28, Ethan Hung ’28 and Vincent Wen ’28, will look to contribute all over the ice, adding new blood to the program. Additionally, Post-graduate, RJ Donahue ’25 is here for a good time, not a long time. Returning veterans, Reid Finster ’25, Jake Doherty ’26 and Finn Walsh ’27, will look to build on their strong performances from last season. The team looks forward to hosting Kent on Wednesday, February 19th for Senior Day on Schmidt.

 

GIRLS SQUASH
Head Coach:  Maja Clark (6th Year)
2025 Captains: Virginia Wood ’25, Ellis Chung ’25 and, Elise Kang ’25
2024 Record & Highlights: 5:1, 2nd in New England Championship, 3rd in High School Nationals
Instagram account: @hotchkiss_squash

Reasons to Roar: Bearcats should look forward to this 2025 lineup of 9 returning members and 2 new exciting players to the team. GVS will be under the leadership of 3 returning seniors: Virginia Wood ’25, Ellis Chung ’25 and, Elise Kang ’25. In addition to players: Valentina Castro ’27, Olivia Choo ’26, Kate Chou ’25, Makeda Moshi ’26, Eloise Oakley ’27 and Helen Wood ’27. Joined by 2 new prep players: Pippa Clark ’28 and Charlotte McAfee ’28. The culmination of diverse and talented players working together to achieve success is eloquently shown through these young women. Shown through their wins, loses and placing in competitions. Regarding the High School Nationals last year, Eloise Oakley ’27, states “We played extremely well. The loss against Lawrenceville was the last match, after we went home and appreciated all the effort put into the day. Remembering that we are a great team and focusing on the future, moving on and not obsessing over the past.” This beautifully said quote highlights the importance of teamwork, passion and talent illuminated through the GVS team. This year, we have an exciting lineup of games against Taft, Ethel Walker, Choate and many other schools. On February 20th, they will be competing in Squash Nationals then about a week later on February 28th, will be competing in Squash New Englands. Let’s put our hands together in support and excitement for these Bearcats while keeping in mind that “Pressure is a privilege,” and we are privileged to experience this alongside the players. Good Luck, GVS!

 

BOYS SQUASH
Head Coach: Bobby Burns (5th year)
2025 Captains: Oscar Okonkwo ’25, Liam Waldon ’25
2024 Record & Highlights: 13-1, 2nd place at New England Championships, 4th place at High School Nationals

2024-25 Senior Day: Wednesday, Feb. 26th vs. Avon Old Farms at The Hotchkiss School @ 3:00 p.m.

Instagram account: @hotchkiss_squash

Reasons to Roar: After a historic 2023-24 winter season, with 2nd in New England and a program-best 4th at US High School Nationals, the boys' squash team has much to look forward to this year. Senior Captain Oscar Okonkwo ’25, a high school All-American and First Team All-NEPSAC honoree, represented Team USA at the 2024 World Junior Squash Championships and recently won his first Junior Championship Tour (JCT) title in January. Rohan Gupta ’26 and Parth Khera ’26, both First Team All-NEPSAC honorees, will return alongside Dwyer Illick ’26, Arvaan Motwane ’26, and Liam Waldron ’25, bringing invaluable experience to the team. Luke Velasco ’27 and Leon Li ’27 will look to build on strong 2023-24 seasons. Preps Jude Cha ’28, David Martoma ’28, and Knox Vitrano ’28 join us for their first seasons. Earlier this year, Jude competed on Team USA at the British Junior Open (BJO) in Birmingham, England. Catch the boys “squashing” their competition on Cullman Courts; on Wednesday, February 26th they take on Avon Old Farms for Senior Day.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL
Head Coach: Joe Busacca (3rd year)
2025 Captains: Ty Francis ’25, Dean Hogans ’25, Preston Merrick ’26, Owen Zabel ’26
2024 Record & Highlight: 14-9, Basketbull Hoopfest participants, 11th NEPSAC Class A rankings.
2025 Home Opener: Saturday, Mar. 1st vs. Loomis Chaffee School at The Hotchkiss School @ 3:00 p.m.
Instagram account: @hotchkisshoops

Reasons to Roar: After coming home with Hotchkiss’ first ever NEPSAC Class A Championship in 2021-22, the Bearcats are hoping to return to tournament contention. Postgraduates Ty Francis ’25 and Nick Mautone ’25 will add to already-strong upperclassman core of Dean Hogans ’25, Ian Randall ’25 Jules Varin ’25, Preston Merrick ’26 and Owen Zabel ’26. Younger additions, Milos Vasic ’27 and Leo Fauver ’28 will add continuity to this team for coming seasons. Gabe Quinn ’25, Isaiah Stephens ’25, Max Mudry ’26 and Charan Venkataswamy ’26 are all joining the team for their first seasons. Four-year senior and two-year captain Dean Hogans, the last remaining member of the 2022 contingent, aims to lead the team to a strong finish in his final season at Lakeville. Catch the boys in Fowle Gym before their final game against Loomis Chaffee, on Saturday, March 1st at 3pm.

 

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Head Coach: Langston Ross
2025 Captains: Grace Backus ’25, Morgan Jenkins ’25, Kalia Richards ’25, Eleanor Helm ’25
2024 Record & Highlight: 16-7, Ethel Walker’s Holiday Tournament Champions, NEPSAC semi-finals
2025 Home Opener: Sacred Heart December 7th, Senior Day Wednesday, February 26th 
Instagram account: @hotchkissgvb

Reasons to Roar: Led by four senior starters, our team brings both experience and hunger into this season. Fresh off last year's success, our depth shows in the fierce daily practice competitions between the veteran players and five promising underclassmen. Combo Kalia Richards ’25 and Morgan Jenkins ’25 have etched their names in school history by surpassing the prestigious 1,000-point milestone. With six seniors total providing leadership, this team has its sights set on pushing even deeper into the postseason.

 

BOYS SWIMMING and DIVING
Head Coach: Keith Moon (30th year)
2025 Captains: Oliver Johnson ’25, Brayden Kavanagh ’25
2023-24 Record & Highlights: 3-4, 3rd place at Founders League Championship, 8th place New England Championship.
2024-25 Senior Day: Wednesday, Feb. 5th vs. Canterbury at The Hotchkiss School @ 3:00 p.m.

Reasons to Roar: After hosting the 2023-24 Founders League Championships, Boys Swimming and Diving looks forward to hosting the 2024-25 New England Championships at Hixon Pool. Building on last season’s 3rd place at Founders League Championship and 8th place New England Championship, four-year seniors and captains Oliver Johnson ’25, Brayden Kavanagh ’25 look forward to a strong final season in Lakeville. Returning swimmers Oliver Burger ’27, Ferdinand Graf ’27, Matthew Hong ’26, Philip Lee ’26, Navio Lopez ’27, Andrew Roraback ’27 and Aidan Song ’27 again form the core of this team. Preps Xavier An ’28, Trung Bui ’28, Declan Cockburn-Scheff ’28, Dawson Park ’28 and David Wan ’28 join us for their first seasons. Divers George Axelrod ‘25 and Lucy Radtke, who placed 3rd and 5th at Founders last year, respectively, hope to finish their time on campus with a splash. Finally, Coach Keith Moon, will offer his guidance to the boys swim team for a record 30th year. Watch the team at Hixon for the last time on Wednesday, Feb. 5th when they take on Canterbury.

GIRLS SWIMMING and DIVING
Head Coach: Michelle Repass (10th year)
2025 Captains: Sydney Berger ’25, Serena Salfiti ’25
2024 Record & Highlight: 2-5, 4th place at Founders League Championships, 10th place New England Championships.
2024-25 Senior Day: Wednesday, Feb. 19th vs. Sacred Heart at The Hotchkiss School @ 3:00 p.m

Reasons to Roar: After hosting the 2023-24 Founders League Championships, Girls Swimming and Diving looks forward to hosting the 2024-25 New England Championships at Hixon Pool. Building on last season’s 4th place at Founders League Championship and 10th place New England Championship, four-year senior captains Sydney Berger ’25, Brayden Serena Salfiti ’25 look forward to a strong final season in Lakeville. Returning athletes, Niki Reppa ’26, Alma Clark ’27, Caleigh Lane ’27 again form the core of this small yet formidable team. New swimmers Minhyo Ryu ’27, Clara Chen ’28, Annabelle Chu ’28, Maya Clark ’28, Juniper Sperry ’28 join us for their first seasons. Divers Maya Grogean ’26 and Clemmie Morlock ’26 return to the team. Seniors Sawyer Eaton ’25 and Olivia Zhang ’25 and prep Mandy Guo ’28 join the team for their seasons. Catch the team at Hixon for the last time on Wednesday, Feb. 19th when they take on Sacred Heart.

 

VARSITY WRESTLING
Head Coach: Cooper Puls (7th year)
2024 Record & Highlight: 6-12, 9th place Western New Englands, 18th New England Championships
Instagram account: @hotchkiss_wrestling

Reasons to Roar:

Although the regular season has ended, Hotchkiss wrestling looks forward to an exciting post-season, including last weekend’s New England Championships and the upcoming National Prep Tournament at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania (2/20-2/22). A strong quartet of four-year seniors—Thanos Athanasiou ’25, Nouri Badrous ’25, Sadie Salter ’25, and Ihsan Yumak ’25—aim to cap off their Bearcat careers with a solid finish. Upper-mids Cayden Kim ’26, Olivia Kwon ’26, Marcus McGregor ’26, Ashley Opdyke ’26, Anya Reppa ’26, Lucas Ruiz ’26, Ian Choi ’27, Jack Lykouretzos ’27, and Henry Rowe ’27 form the veteran core of the team for upcoming seasons. Meanwhile, first-year athletes Nicholas Smith ’27, Geraldo Moran ’27, Ryan Lee ’28, and Henrik Perez ’28 bring youthful energy to the squad. Led by Coach Cooper Puls ’11, the team is poised for continued success.