With seven championship-eligible sports at the varsity level and more than 350 athletes playing on 17 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!

Boys Varsity Soccer
Head Coach: Mario Williams (3rd season)
2023 Captains: Thomas Navab ’24, Benjamin Brown ’24, and Harrison Hoffman ’24
2023 Home Opener: Sept. 13, Kingswood-Oxford @ 3:45 p.m. 
Reasons to Roar: Key returners include team captains Thomas Navab ’24, Benjamin Brown ’24 and Harrison Hoffman ’24. Quillan Oberto ’24, Nicholas Chang ’24 and Wyatt Wahl ’25 will make key contributions defensively, and Will Trachsel ’24 will lead the offense. New additions, Andy Bowers ’24, Lawrence Taylor ’24, Jaden Ottley ’25, Arvid Vucetic ’25, and Chrys Yue ’26 add immediate quality and experience to an already solid nucleus of players and will be key figures this season. Adding a talented group of young players, including Charlie Wright ’27, Fritz Weihman ’27, Braian Perez ’27, Navio Lopez ’27, and Sungyun Kim ’27 who will form the base of our program for years to come. The team’s primary goal for the season is to play deep into November by staying healthy, training intensely, and continuously improving. Qualifying for the NEPSAC playoffs is an important team goal. Games of note include Taft, Northfield Mount Hermon, Loomis Chaffee, and Avon. 

2023 Captains Say:
“We are very optimistic for this upcoming season. With the new additions to the team, ranging from preps to post graduates, along with the already strong core of returners, this team has the potential to make it deep into November.” 

 

Varsity Volleyball
Head Coach: Bill Fenton (2nd Season)
2023 Captains: Mimi Emswiler ’24, Maisie Wright ’24, and Ella Yu ’24
2022 Record & Highlights: 7-11
2023 Home Opener: Sept. 13 vs. King @ 4:30 p.m.
Reasons to Roar: With eight returning players, the volleyball team is hoping to build on last season. With a season starting under her belt, Maisie Wright ’24 will take on setting duties once again this year. The Bearcats will rely on veteran Ella Yu’s (’24) passing and defense as well as her guidance and leadership. Outside hitters Armani Frazier ’24, Kayla Rosenblum ’24, and Lillie Dase ’26 should be an effective force offensively. 

 

Boys Varsity Cross Country
Head Coach: Pierre Yoo (13th year)
2023 Captain: Axel-Ryan Nzi ’24
2022 Record & Highlights: 4-5, Chase Dobson '23 finished 15th at the 2022 New England Championship, Team placed 9th
2023 Home Opener: Sept.16 vs. Salisbury @ 2:30 p.m.
Reasons to Roar:  Since 2017, the team has won 30 races and dropped only seven. What’s even more impressive is that they finished on the team medal stand for the top four at The New England Division I Championships for four competitive seasons in a row and captured the first Founders Championship in 2021.  After a great number of summer miles, the team team will take the lead of captain Axel Nzi ‘24.  The returning varsity runners from the past couple of seasons of Copey Rollins ’26, Ciaran Groom ’24 (2nd overall Founders League finisher in 2021), John Coffin ’25, Bastien Sever ’26, Mark Zhu ’26, Elliot Marken ’24, and Isaiah Stephens ’25 are ready to run.   We are excited for the Bearcats who have joined the pack this year: Philip Fauver ’26, Jai Rizvi ’26, Cooper Grace ’27, Robert Lazar ’27, and Henry Thompson ’27.  Yoo, head coach since 2011, is excited by the positive energy of the team as we focus on FUN as we run for each other.  We are excited to host the 2023 Founders League Championships on our scenic and hilly course on November 4th.  We invite you to cheer on The Hotchkiss Bearcats.

Girls Varsity Cross Country
Head Coach: Kira Shaikh (2nd season)
2023 Captains: Grace Gordon ’24, Natalie Bushell ’24, and Kavya Ramasamy ’24
2022 Record & Highlights: 4-5-1, 2nd in the Shaler Invitational, 4th in the Founders League
2023 Home Opener: September 16 vs. Sacred Heart @ 2 p.m.
Reasons to Roar: With an exciting year of hosting the 2023 Founders League Cross Country Championships at Hotchkiss this year, there is even more to roar about with this team! The Hotchkiss girls cross country team has welcomed back seven returning runners as well as a number of new runners, making the program a force to be reckoned with. Returning runners like Grace Gordon ’24, Eva Serebrova ’24, and Sawyer Eaton ’25 will lead the pack throughout the 5K races. However, fans should keep an eye out for newcomers like quick, Caleigh Lane ’27, new to the sport, Nola Lai ’25, and sweet but speedy, Penelope Thornton ’27 as they have been showcasing their talent through early season practices and time trials. With the help of the captains, Natalie Bushell ’24, Grace Gordon ’24, and Kavya Ramasamy ’24, Coach Shaikh, and Coach Chavez will continue to foster positive team culture by keeping up with cross-country traditions such as Fun Fridays, psych sister shoe boxes, scavengers hunts, and don’t forget: Torreys Hill pyramids. As the team competes in meets every Saturday, the team is looking forward to hosting Sacred Heart on September 16, Millbrook during Family Weekend, and of course, the 2023 Founders League Cross Country Championships. We look forward to sharing the beautiful, rolling hills of Hotchkiss including the famous change of elevation: Cardiac Hill. 

 

Varsity Football
Head Coach: Dempsey Quinn (2nd year)
2023 Captains: Liam Burke ’24, Cam Holland ’24, Jacquo Pierre ’24, and Rett Zeigler ’24
2023 Home Opener: Sept. 17 vs. Loomis @ 1 p.m.
Reasons to Roar: Returning 27 varsity players from last year’s 2022 squad, the varsity football team is looking to improve upon its 2-6 record from last fall. Captains Cam Holland ’24, Liam Burke ’24, Jacquo Pierre ’24, and Rett Zeigler ’24 will lead the way for the Bearcats continuing the build on the culture that Head Coach Quinn began to put in place last year. New players to watch for an immediate impact are PGs Jonathan Decker ’24, Isaiah Joseph ’24, Ade Mitchell ’24, and Phoenix Sward ’24. Coach Quinn is looking forward to playing his alma mater, Avon Old Farms, at home over Family Weekend as well as hosting Taft in the final game of the season. 

 

Girls Varsity Soccer
Head Coach: Missy Wolff (1st season)
2022 Record & Highlights: 11-6-2
2023 Captains: Emmanuella Frimpomaa ’24, Nell Dwyer ’24, and Etta Coburn ‘24
2023 Home Opener: Sept. 20, Ethel Walker @ 3 p.m.
Reasons to Roar: The Bearcats have 16 returning players from the 2022 team. Newcomers Abbie Tejeda ’25, Charlotte Cooper ’27, and Cal Palmer ’27 look to add some depth to the core group of returners. With 10 seniors on the team, captains Emmanuella Frimpomaa ’24, Nell Dwyer ’24, and Etta Coburn ’24 are ready to lead our team on and off the field. Nothing will come easy for the Bearcats this season so they will need to stay healthy, especially when they play Choate, Loomis, and Westy. This season, we're aiming high — we want to push our limits in practice and games, forge an unbreakable bond as a team, and unleash our inner champions to secure those thrilling victories!

2023 Captains Say:
“We are really excited about the upcoming season and our goal is to make it to the playoffs and beat Taft! We have strong returning players in Quinn Pollack ’25, Darcy Dwyer ’25 and Lyyli Stern ’26 and we also have some very strong talent coming in from Abbie Teneja ’25.” 

 

Varsity Field Hockey
Head Coach: Kait Perrelle Leonard ’06 (6th year)
2023 Captains: Bella Bigelow ’24, Steph Ionescu ’24, Annabel Raffin ’24, and Julia Widen ’24 
2022 Record & Highlights: 6-5-3
2023 Home Opener: Sept. 23 vs. Deerfield @ 2:30 p.m.
Reasons to Roar: Returning nine seniors, HFH looks to make a mark in New England’s once more. Captains Bella Bigelow ’24, Steph Ionescu ’24, Annabel Raffin ’24, and Julia Widen ’24 are eager to set the tone for the season balancing hard work and fun with sites set on a NEPSAC title. Along with the seniors, eight more returners and newcomers Ella Johnson ’25, Addie Kosiewicz ’26, Nia Voss ’26, Lilah Crispino ’27, and Harper Semlies ’27 round out the 2023 squad. DA, GA, CSH and Taft will all be key games for the Bearcats. “To play is the mind, to win is the heart.” #geeseflytogether

 

Varsity Mountain Biking
Head Coach: Mike Fitzgerald (8th Season)
2023 Captains: Sawyer Dillon ’24 and Adam Wright ’24
2022 Record & Highlights: Housatonic Mountain Bike League Champions
2023 Home Opener: Oct. 4 @ 3 p.m.
Reasons to Roar: After graduating only one senior last year, the team will be heavy with multiyear veterans looking to continue the traditions of the program and to hold onto the League title they won last season. Senior captains and four year riders Adam Wright ’24 and Sawyer Dillon ’24 provide a strong and skilled foundation for the team and lead by example. Veterans Jeff Shi, Huntyr Ammons, JT Popp, and Tiger Mutter look to continue to contribute as they move up the racing ranks. Our trio of Maya Grogean, Sadie Panaro, and Sonia Rashid dominated the girls race class last season and are all returning as well. Rounding out the team is a host of newcomers, with speedy Asher Frankel looking like a regular podium threat. The team looks to continue its tradition of success beyond races by continuing to develop a positive and supportive team culture that welcomes all riders, regardless of experience.