Kate McLaughlin, Staff Writer

December 8, 2023

As the leaves change from green to brown, the varsity sports teams have seen their fall seasons come to a close. From field hockey to football, the teams showcased their talents and character through exceptional performances and inevitable challenges. 

Girls Varsity Field Hockey proved themselves a leading team in New England, finishing second in the ISL behind Middlesex with a record of 9-3-0. Led by Coaches Maura Sullivan, Brooke Asnis, and Laine Garber, the team utilized the athleticism of their many lacrosse and ice hockey players. Captain Emma McNealy (Class I) said, “Even when we played teams loaded with field hockey players, we found success by out-competing them.” This advantage led to the team’s competing in the NEPSAC Playoffs, where they lost 2-1 in the semi-finals to Taft Academy. They aim to continue this success next season with strong sophomore and junior classes. 

The Varsity Football team, led by Head Coach Rob Murray, finished their season with a record of 3-5. An early 3-game losing streak forced the team to reevaluate their season goals, thus coining the motto “bowl or bust.” They quickly rebounded into a winning team, starting with a crucial 42-12 win against Middlesex and later crushing rival Brooks. Captain Peter Nizolek (Class I) said, “The last three weeks of the season was when we turned it on, and that’s when we’re the most proud of ourselves.” Building off these wins with a terrific class of rising juniors, the team hopes to fulfill its motto next fall. 

The Girls’ Varsity Soccer team finished an impressive season with a record of 8-2-2, just missing playoffs. Led by Head Coach Beth Reilly, the team focused early efforts on replacing a crucial group of graduating seniors and quickly distinguished themselves as a top competitor in the ISL. Despite a 1-0 loss against BB&N in their highly anticipated rivalry game, failure to produce results against leading Class A teams, and their resulting playoff absence, the team consistently fielded outstanding performances in every position. Keeping unresolved aspirations for playoffs, they will seek revenge next fall. Captain Catie McLane (Class I) said, “I have so much faith in the beginning of next year’s team…I hope I can see them make another NEPSAC tournament appearance.”

The Boys’ Varsity Soccer team led by Head Coach Steve Ginsberg had a very successful season. With a strong senior class and an improved group of underclassmen, the team went 12-2-2 for their best record since 2019 and a third-place finish in the ISL. Aside from losses to Belmont Hill and Milton, they exhibited dominant performances, beating teams like Governor’s Academy by as many as 7 goals. In the NEPSAC Playoffs, Boys’ Soccer performed exceptionally well to finish second in a 3-2 loss to Kimball Union Academy. Rising underclassmen will work to replace the senior class next fall.

The Girls’ Cross Country team had a successful season, as well. Head Coach Blake stepped in to replace former Head Coach Mark Sheeran, who retired last season after multiple decades of leading the team. She stepped successfully into her new position, furthering the program’s commitment to camaraderie and positive team culture. Although the first few races were canceled due to weather conditions, the team exhibited strong performances to finish sixth for Varsity and second for Junior Varsity at ISLs. Captain Charlotte Hayward (Class I) said, “[The season] didn’t start how we wanted or how we were expecting, but it unfolded beautifully. We showed up to each race giving our all and improved so much this season.” With a promising group of underclassmen, the team hopes to continue their upward trajectory.

The Boys’ Cross Country team had arguably the most successful season this fall, led by Coach Ulrich and an exceptional group of senior runners. Despite an early loss to Tabor, they fulfilled aspirations to protect their ISL title, winning the ISL Championship and finishing second in the NEPSAC Championship. Captain Matthew Loose (Class I) said, “Since we lost early in the season, we were always battling to climb back and get redemption at ISLs.” Another goal of the team was balancing their athletic ambitions with a fun team culture, which contributed to their many achievements. They hope to replace a talented senior class and repeat this season’s successes next fall. 

Led by Head Coach Kimya Charles, the Volleyball team finished middle of the ISL, despite injuries early in the season. After losing their head coach last season, the team struggled to connect with the new coaching staff and a large group of incoming players, causing early dysfunction that physical injuries only worsened. Despite these struggles, Volleyball rebuilt their team culture and finished the season strongly. Captain Brooke Lukasevicz (Class I) said, “Once we built close relationships with everybody, practice became more fun, games became more fun, and we started winning.” The team’s camaraderie contributed to strong performances later in the season. They will continue improving next fall despite losses to their starting lineup. 

Through hardship and triumph, Nobles concluded the 2023 varsity fall sports season with perseverance and excellence. 

(Photo Credits: Various Nobles Athletes)