Fall 2021 Season Round-up

The start of the fall 2021 season began on August 23 with over 200 students coming to the Hilltop to take part in their first preseason in over twenty months. The optimism for the new season was prevalent, and the Hackley Hornets were ready to play. At the end of the season, there were two Team League Champions (Tennis and Field Hockey), an Individual League Champion (Girls' Cross Country), as well as numerous personal records, and a finalist team in the NYSAIS Championships (Boys’ Soccer).

Boys’ Varsity Cross-Country
The Hackley Boys’ Varsity Cross-Country Team far exceeded expectations in 2021. After graduating six scoring seniors the previous year, captain Brendan DiStefano ’22 was able to lead a group of young runners to a third-place finish at the Ivy League Championship. Brendan and Asher Beck ’24 placed third and fifth overall respectively, both earning First Team All-Ivy honors. Not far behind was Travis Knaggs ‘24, placing fourteenth, and earning 2nd Team All-Ivy distinction. The boys continued their incredible season placing third at NYSAIS. At NYSAIS, Brendan DiStefano, Asher Beck, and Travis Knaggs all earned the honor of representing Hackley and the Ivy League at the NY Federation meet, a race at which they all went on to set Bowdoin Park personal records.

Seniors: Jinlin Cai ‘22, Brendan DiStefano ‘22, Wesley Neidhardt ‘22, Noah Tirschwell ‘22

All-League Selections Boys’ Cross Country

Brendan DiStefano ‘22. First Team
Asher Beck ‘24, First Team
Travis Knaggs ‘24, Second Team

Girls’ Varsity Cross-Country
The Hackley Girls’ Varsity Cross-Country Team had a fantastic season in 2021. Led by an incredible group of seniors, the girls’ team successfully created a cohesive, hardworking, and supportive team atmosphere. The girls placed third overall at the Ivy League Championship. Eve Spencer ‘22 (captain) dominated the field at Ivies, finishing in first place overall, and making first Team All-Ivy. Also placing in the front of the pack were Skyler Safriet ‘22 (captain) and Willow Quattrone ‘23, both making second Team All-Ivy. The girls placed fifth overall at the NYSAIS Championship. At NYSAIS, Eve Spencer earned the honor of representing Hackley and the Ivy League as an individual at the NY Federation meet.

Seniors: Sydney DeFilippo ‘22, Grace Park ‘22, Katerina Popova ‘22, Skylar Safriet ‘22, Eve Spencer ‘22, Alina Watson ‘22

All-League Selections Girls’ Cross Country

Eve Spencer ‘22, First Team
Skylar Safriet ‘22, Second Team
Willow Quattrone ‘23, Second Team

Varsity Field Hockey
The Hackley Varsity Field Hockey team came back from our missed season with the same power as it had in 2019. Winning the Ivy League Championship for the seventh straight season with an undefeated record, and allowing only one goal by Ivy League opponents, the team showcased the combination of their talent and hard work. They ended the season with a 9-3-1 record and had some close, hard-fought non-league games. Our seniors led the way with their dominant play, passion, commitment, and good humor; characteristics that our whole team embraced. Though the season was marked by controversy beyond our control, the team came out stronger and more united. They were a true family who embodied our favorite quotation “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose” from the TV series Friday Night Lights.

Seniors: Francesca Auricchio ‘22, Hannah Carey ‘22, Natalie Delgado ‘22, Annabelle Gray ‘22, Colin Ives ‘22, Brooke Lopez- Ryan ‘22, Phoebe Naughton ‘22, Kaitlyn Qu ‘22, Ameera Shaban ‘22, Dechen Sherpa ‘22, Destiny Stephen ‘22

All-League Selections Field Hockey

Gabrielle Kalapoutis ‘23, First Team
Catie O’Rourke ‘23, First Team
Kaitlyn Qu ‘22, First Team
Ameera Shaban ‘22, First Team
Avery Leighton ‘23, Second Team
Phoebe Naughton ‘22, Second Team

Varsity Football
The 2021 Hackley Varsity Football Team experienced one of the most unique seasons in program history. With a large group of inexperienced players due to the lack of a season in 2020, the new coaching staff could not have asked for a better team to face the challenges that were presented to them including installing a new offense and a new defense. When the season opened, the team struggled early, going 1-2 in the first three games. The team fought through adversity and learned how to be resilient and grow as a team. This resilience enabled them to finish the season strong winning four of the last five contests. The team grew together and formed bonds on the field that will last a lifetime, finishing the season with a 5-3 record.

Seniors: Jason Berger ‘22, Jason Campbell ‘22, Lucas Caramanica ‘22, Luke Chaisson ‘22, Joseph Nadol ‘22, Daniel Nuzum ‘22, Ryan Thomson ‘22

Boys’ Varsity Soccer

The Hackley Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team had an excellent season capped by an exciting playoff run into the NYSAIS final for the first time in eight years, only to fall just short in a 2-1 loss to Masters, the #1 seed. HBVS finished with a respectable 11-7-3 overall record, good for a fourth-place finish in the exceptionally competitive Ivy League regular season. The team started the season with four straight wins before injuries and the rigors of the Ivy League competition and schedule took its toll. The team had signature wins over eventual Ivy Champion Trinity as well as the runner-up Fieldston, both in the same week. Based on the strength of schedule the Hornets received a #6 seed in the NYSAIS tournament. With almost everyone finally back from injuries, the team was peaking at just the right time. In the first round of the NYSAIS playoffs, Hackley defeated Trinity, the #3 seed 2-1. Collegiate was next and the Hornets rose to the occasion with a hard-fought 3-1 win to secure a berth in the final against Masters.

Seniors: Divek Patel ‘22, Stefan Darmanovic ‘22, Theo Saujet ‘22, Thomas DeGirolami ‘22, Theo Yannuzzi ‘22, Nick Garland ‘22, Callum Steward-Wood ‘22

All-League Selections Boys’ Soccer

Daniel Paridis ‘23, First Team
Thomas DeGirolami ‘22, First Team
John Churchill ‘23, Second Team

Girls’ Varsity Soccer

The Hackley Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team finished the 2021 season with an overall record of 9-6-1. HGVS had a successful season in the Ivy League finishing in second place in an extremely competitive league. For the season, HGVS scored 26 goals, while averaging only one goal against each game throughout the season. Thirteen players either scored or assisted, with the season point leaders being Gabriella Petriello ’26 with eight goals and four assists for 20 total points and Welyn Waterhouse ‘23 with five goals and five assists for 15 points on the season. With talented underclassmen and twelve rising seniors returning for the 2022-23 HGVS season, the future looks extremely bright.

Seniors: Emma Joseph ‘22, Olivia Kearns ‘22, Maren McCrossan ‘22, Sophie Miller ‘22, Molly Reinmann ‘22, Vanessa Restrepo ‘22, Claire Robertson ‘22

All-League Selections Girls’ Soccer

Welyn Waterhouse ‘23 First Team
Caroline Duggan ‘23, First Team
Sophia Petriello ‘23, First Team
Gabriella Petriello ‘26, Second Team

Girls’ Varsity Tennis
The Hackley Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team had an amazing season, filled with incredible accomplishments:

First, the team finished undefeated and captured their second consecutive Ivy League title!

Second, every single starter on the team was named to first-team all-Ivy, as they all went undefeated at their respective positions throughout the entire regular season, which is quite a remarkable feat.

Third, six of our seven starters qualified for the NYSAIS tournament, another rare and impressive achievement.

Fourth, Maya Miller ’22 and Remi Myers ‘24 were the NYSAIS doubles champions (it was a second NYSAIS championship for Maya).

Fifth, Sam Rainero ‘22 finished in second place in the NYSAIS singles tournament, a first for Hackley girls’ tennis.

Overall, it was HGVT’s combination of hard work, smart play, and strong tennis skills that led them to success in each match. Our singles players Sam Rainero ‘22, Grace Rainero ‘23, and Asahi Goods ‘24 played excellent tennis throughout the season as they routinely out-hustled and outsmarted their opponents. Our first doubles team of Maya Miller ‘22 and Remi Myers ‘24 played an aggressive and exciting style of doubles that led them to a record-breaking season. At second doubles, 9th grader Isabella Barriera ’25 partnered with Sami Rowbottom ’23 or fellow 9th grader Frances Clifford ‘25, and they used smart shot selection and strong communication to have an undefeated season. Each and every player on HGVT, starters and not starters, contributed to the success of the team. Whether playing inspiring tennis, pushing one another in practice, or cheering each other on during matches, HGVT’s success this season was truly a team effort!

Seniors: Tiya Arvat ‘22i, Amelia Bornmann ‘22, Maya Miller ‘22, Samantha Rainero ‘22, Mayyada Shair ‘22

All-League Selections Girls’ Tennis

Sam Rainero ‘22, First Team
Grace Rainero ‘23, First Team
Asahi Goods ‘24, First Team
Maya Miller ‘22, First Team
Remi Myers ‘24, First Team
Samantha Rowbottom ‘23, First Team
Isabella Barriera ‘25, First Team

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Fall 2021 Season Round-up

Hackley School