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!

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Head Coach: Pierre Yoo (14th year)
2024 Captains: John Coffin ’25, Isaiah Stephens ’25, Copey Rollins ’26
2023 Record & Highlights: 6-1 in dual meet competition, 1st place in the Burke Div I race at The Canterbury Invitational, 2nd place at the Shaler Invitational, 1st place in Founders League Championship at The Hotchkiss School, and 3rd in the NEPSTA Division I Championship at Loomis Chaffee School.  The day of the NEPSTA Division I Championships was arguably the best day in cross country history with both the girls (4th) and boys (3rd) finishing on the team podium; this feat had never been accomplished previously.
2024 Home Opener: Sept.14 vs. Salisbury at The Hotchkiss School @ 2:30 p.m.
Instagram account: @hotchkissboysxc

Reasons to Roar: The Hotchkiss Bearcats are defending the Founders League Champions at home in front of a very supportive crowd and aided by so many wonderful adults in our community and families.  After finishing the season in 3rd place at the NEPSTA Division I Championships, the Bearcats are looking forward to an incredible season of FUN (For Each Other, Unbroken, and Never Quit).  We have reasons to roar.  We are led by captains John Coffin ’25, Isaiah Stephens ’25, and Copey Rollins ’26.  Our returning runners are ready to roll and completed their summer homework of miles: Cooper Grace ’27, Philip Fauver ’26, Bastien Sever ’26, Henry Thompson ’27, and Mark Zhu ’26.  We are excited to see the improvement and drive of the 2023 Coaches Award winners, Keven Luiru ’27 and Ethan Li-Kato ’27.  In our scrimmage on September 7th, prep Leo Hackett ’28 stepped it up quickly and displayed that he could play a pivotal role to our team’s success.  We are excited to have other newcomers to the program: prep Matthew Fonte ’28 , prep Silas Corveddu ’28 , prep Aidan Rainville ’28 , prep Arthur Peng ’28 , lower mid Rintaro Aoyama ’27, and lower mid Bruce Zhang ’27.  We are looking to the future of our team with Aidan Song ’27, Eli Seol ’26, Jake Glazer ’27, and the kicker Jose Jimenez ’26, We will be hosting the NEPSTA Division I Championships on November 9th and we hope to have as many supporters as possible as our Bearcats have finished on the medal podium (top four teams) in five of the past six competitive seasons.  We hope to have a lot of supporters here in Lakeville on that busy day.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Head Coach: Kira Shaikh (3rd season)
2024 Captains: Sawyer Eaton ’25, Jami Huang ’25, Nola Lai ’25
2023 Record & Highlights: 4-4, 2nd in the Shaler Invitational, 3rd in the Founders League, and 4th out of 14 teams at NEPSTA DI Championship
2024 Home Opener: Sept. 14 vs. Sacred Heart and NMH
Instagram account: @hotchkissgirlsxc

Reasons to Roar: With an exciting year of hosting the 2024 NEPSTA DI Cross Country Championships at Hotchkiss this year, there is even more to roar about with this team! The Hotchkiss girls cross country team made waves last year as they raced to success at the Shaler Invitational, Founders League Championship Race, and finished even stronger at New England's. The runners are hitting the Hotchkiss grounds running as they want to continue to prove to their opponents that the Bearcats girls are a reason to roar! The team is welcoming back seven returning runners as well as a number of new runners, making the program a force to be reckoned with. Caleigh Lane ’27 will be setting the pace, and tempting anyone who dares to try to keep up. Returning runners like Sawyer Eaton ’25, Nola Lai ’25, and Amina Wang ’27 will create an unbreakable pack throughout the 5K races to displace their opponents. Yaoyao Yuan ’27 completes the pack of returners by conquering the hills of Hotchkiss. Fans should keep an eye out for newcomers like Margaret Marcum ’28, Rubi Calderon ’28, Mia Tan ’28, and Chloe Ayer ’28 as they have been showcasing their talent through early season practices and time trials. With the help of the captains, Sawyer Eaton ’25, Jami Huang ’25, Nola Lai ’25, Coach Shaikh and Coach Doscher 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 14, Choate and NMH during the 50th Alumnae Athletic Reunion weekend, and of course, the 2024 NEPSTA DI Cross Country Championships on November 9. We cannot wait to share the beautiful, rolling hills of Hotchkiss including the famous change of elevation: Cardiac Hill. 

FIELD HOCKEY
Head Coach: Kait Perrelle Leonard ’06 (7th year)
2024 Captains: Eleanor Helm ’25, MaryHelen McCooey ’25
2023 Record & Highlights: 11-1-3 - New England Tournament Quarter Finalists
2024 Home Opener: Sept. 25 Willison 3:30pm
Instagram account: @hotchkissfieldhockey

Reasons to Roar: After losing a crew of nine, HFH added to the returning group of 12 an excellent squad of 7 to round out the 2024 team. The team will look towards the leadership of our six seniors,  Caroline Bliss ’25, Rowyn Pemrick ’25, Rachel Biccard ’25, Ella Johnson ’25 and Captains Eleanor Helm ’25, MaryHelen McCooey ’25. In addition to midfield and defense powerhouses, Lilly Lavigne ’26, Mia Griffith ’26, Addie Kosiewicz ’26, and Lilah Crispino ’27, is the pivotal impact from Charlotte deVillier ’26 in the cage. Playing together, for the girl on the right and left, with patience, poise, intensity and above all heart, will be key to the success of the HFH team, which certainly has playoff aspirations and ability. DA, GA, CSH and Taft will all be key games for the Bearcats. “To play is the mind, to win is the heart.” #geeseflytogether

FOOTBALL
Head Coach: Dempsey Quinn (3rd year)
2023 Captains: Yuv Banker ’25, Aidan Garrett ’25, Dionte Williams ’25, Brandon Dunn ’25, Jackson Powell ’26
2023 Home Opener: Sept. 14 vs. Kent @ 5 p.m.
Instagram account: @hotchkissfootball

Reasons to Roar: Bearcats welcome a host of new faces to Lakeville for what could be an exciting season. An influx of young talent and new post-graduates gives reason to be excited about the upcoming season. Captains Yuv Banker ’24 and Jackson Powell ’25 provide much needed experience. Newcomers Aidan Garrett ’24, Deonte Wiliams ’24, and Brandon Dunn ’24 will be impact players from day one along with being voted captains following the completion of preseason. Overall, the Bearcats are excited to continue to build a winning culture and look forward to competing throughout the upcoming season.

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Head Coach: Mike Fitzgerald (9th Season)
2024 Captains: TBD
2023 Record & Highlights: Housatonic Mountain Bike League Champions, 8-0 (undefeated)
2024 Home Race: Oct. 9 @ 3:30 p.m.
Instagram account: @hotchkiss_mtb

Reasons to Roar: After graduating four seniors last year, the team will be looking to our rising stars to continue the traditions of the program and to hold onto the League team title we won last season. Upper Mid Asher Frankel ’26 looks to defend his league individual title as well, and should be on the podium regularly.  Seniors Huntyr Ammons ’25 and Sadie Panaro ’25 bring many years of experience in the program, and provide a strong and skilled foundation for the team.  Upper mids Tiger Mutter ’26, JT Popp ’26, Coco Sheronas ’26, Maya Grogean ’26 are all skilled and speedy veterans who will perform at a high level in our league races. Returning Lower Mids Owen Cha ’27 and Sasha Carmel ’27 look to continue to contribute as they move up the racing ranks, while new Lower Mid Thatcher Meili ’28 should provide an immediate boost to our top racing corps. The team looks to continue its tradition of success beyond races with a positive and supportive team culture that welcomes all riders, regardless of experience, gender, or fitness.

2024 Captains Shoutout
“We have a great team this year full of strong new and returning riders.  We had a great start to the year climbing Mount Riga in preseason, and we have our sights set on another championship this season.” 

BOYS SOCCER
Head Coach: Mario Williams (4th season)
2024 Captains: Wyatt Wahl ’25, Jaden Ottley ’25, George McGlinn ’26, Chrys Yue ’26
2023 Home Opener: Sept. 14, Lawrenceville @ 4:00 p.m.
Instagram account: @hotchkiss_soccer

Reasons to Roar: Key returners include team captains, Wyatt Wahl ’25, Jaden Ottley ’25, Chrys Yue ’26, and George McGlinn ’26. New additions, Lindon Stout ’25, Benji Watts ’25, Chakib Bassou ’26, and Shawnn Stark ’26 will make important contributions defensively, and Logan Maingot ’25, and Marcus Jordan ’25 will lead the offense. We added a talented group of young players, including Hudson Dwyer ’28, Henry Zaglio ’28, and Wally Rollins ’28, 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.  

GIRLS SOCCER
Head Coach: Missy Wolff
2024 Captains: Darcy Dwyer ’25, Morgan Jenkins ’25, Quinn Pollack ’25, Emily Wang
2024 Home Opener: Sept. 14, Lawrenceville at 4pm
Instagram account: @hotchkiss_gvs

Reasons to Roar: The Bearcats have an exciting season ahead- with a core returning group of twelve returners and eleven new students. We have a post graduate, Brooke Potter ’24, joining our team this year who will bring great maturity to our team, as well as talent. We also have four incredible captains, Darcy Dwyer ’25, Quinn Pollack ’25, Morgan Jenkins ’25, and Emily Wang ’25, who will lead the team this year along with returning seniors Crisiana May ’25 and Miranda Bietel ’25. Their experience and strength throughout the field will help us stay composed and hold shape around the field. We have some exciting new faces at the school and on our team, including preps Emma Ohler ’28 and Cindy Cobbinah ’28 who will bring excitement and energy.

VOLLEYBALL
Head Coach: Bill Fenton (3rd Season)
2024 Captains: Grace Backus ’25, Petal Hammam ’25
2023 Record & Highlights: 9-9
2024 Home Opener: Sept. 18 vs. Williston @ 3:15 p.m.
Instagram account: @hotchkissvolleyball

Reasons to Roar: The Bearcats have new starters at outside hitter, setter, middle, libero and right side hitter; but don’t call it a rebuilding year.  Hotchkiss Volleyball looks to continue the improvement trend for the third straight year with returning stars Lillie Dase ’26 and Grace Backus ’25, promising newcomers Lauren Brown ’26, Sloane Lynyak ’28, Anya Reppa ’26, and Lennon Watkins ’28, and veteran returners Lauren Niem ’26 and Lara Jayanti ’26.  This year’s team is playing together and is all-in.