As temperatures drop and school wraps up for the holidays, many winter sports teams prepare for winter break tournaments.
Girls Varsity Hockey is gearing up for the 43rd annual Harrington Tournament. This year, the Harrington Tournament starts on Friday, December 20, and runs until Sunday, December 22. The Harrington Tournament has been running since 1981 when it included just four teams. In 1998, reflecting the growing popularity of girls’ hockey, the tournament expanded to include eight teams, each playing three games throughout the two-day tournament. Currently, the Harrington Tournament still hosts eight teams, now each playing four matches against four different teams. The 2024 Harrington Tournament will feature Nobles, Milton Academy, Lawrence Academy, Buckingham Browne and Nichols, Westminster School, St. Mark’s School, Williston-Northampton School, and St. Paul’s School. The girls’ team won the championship last year and hopes to defend their title. “The tournament means a lot to this team and is always a big goal of our season to try and win it, especially this year as the defending champions,” Captain Calleigh Brown (Class I) said. The Harrington Tournament is also a vital part of the team’s culture and the start of the season. “Chemistry off and on the ice is important to the team, and the bonding built through the Harrington Tournament is always super helpful in fostering the important team atmosphere,” Captain Laney Mead (Class I) said.
Boys Varsity Hockey also looks forward to its annual Flood-Marr tournament. 2024 will be the 59th annual tournament and will host the same eight teams that have been a part of the tournament since 1994: Nobles, Milton Academy, Deerfield Academy, Hotchkiss School, Phillips Academy Andover, Kimball Union Academy, Salisbury School, and Westminster School. The Tournament will be held at both the Nobles and Milton rinks, with Nobles hosting the Friday and Sunday games and Milton hosting on Saturday. “Playing in such a great tournament with so much history means a lot to the team,” Captain Dennis Davidson (Class I) said. The tournament serves to remind players of the rich history of Nobles athletics and the Milton-Nobles rivalry. Similarly, the tournament is a great opportunity for the team to get closer both on and off the ice. “Spending so much time with the team is great for team bonding and culture,” Davidson said when talking about Flood-Marr’s importance to their season. Looking past the tournament, the team is also looking to win the ISL and NEPSAC championships. The NEPSAC championship includes preparatory schools from all throughout New England, garnering competition from outside of the ISL and neighboring leagues.
Girls Varsity Basketball also has its own holiday tournament: the Nickerson Tournament, hosted annually at Nobles. This year, 18 teams from ISL and non-ISL schools will be in attendance. The tournament takes place from December 20 to 22, with Nobles playing against Hoosac at noon on Friday, Loomis at 1:30 pm on Saturday, and New Hampton at 2 pm on Sunday. “[The Nickerson Tournament] is super competitive with a ton of different ISL and NEPSAC teams, but there is always such amazing spirit and energy there, so we are looking forward to it,” Captain Christina Pham (Class I) said.
“Chemistry off and on the ice is important to the team, and the bonding built through the Harrington Tournament is always super helpful in fostering the important team atmosphere.”
Finally, while Boys Varsity Basketball does not have its own holiday tournament at Nobles, the team is gearing up for a big season with the new coach, Lambros Papalambros, and many new players. “This year, we have a good mix of young players and older players,” Captain Raul Cruz (Class III) said. The combination of veteran and more beginner players has led the team to big aspirations for the upcoming season. “We are ready to make a statement and be better than last year[…]with a main goal of ours being to make the playoffs for the first time in about five years,” Cruz said. Additionally, the team is focused on building and fostering a close and tight-knit team dynamic. “Going into the season, the team is really centered on playing for each other and family aspects of the team. We have been really working on communication and talking both on and off the court,” Cruz said when reflecting on the team’s preparation for the upcoming season.
As winter sports teams gear up for their respective holiday tournaments and the upcoming season, players have a strong sense of excitement and anticipation. Whether it’s the hope of defending the Harrington Tournament champion title, cultivating the rich history of the Flood-Marr Tournament, the intense competition of the Nickerson Basketball Tournament, or the dedicated start for boys’ basketball, each team is focused on fostering team culture and looking ahead to competitive and successful 2024-2025 seasons.
