Mikaela Shiffrin’s Record-Breaking Year
February 5, 2019
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
Mikaela Shiffrin, a 23-year-old American alpine skier, had a tumultuous yet eventful 2018. This was the year she became recognized by the ski community as the most successful female slalom skier of all time. Hailing from Vail, Colorado with a father who competed for the Dartmouth College ski team, Mikaela...
E-Sports: The Rise of Competitive Fortnite
Tyler Weisberg '22, Assitant Sports Editor
February 5, 2019
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
Since Fortnite’s initial release on July 25, 2017, it has become one of the most popular battle royale video games. Battle royale games are games with multiple combatants that fight each other until there is only one left standing. Even at Groton, it appears to be the most commonly played video game,...
Annual Student-Alumni Basketball Game
Shane Dennin '21 and Nate Salander '21
February 5, 2019
A group of alumni spanning five decades in age gathered in the Athletic Center on January 20th for a game of basketball. Though many of the graduates never played together in their time on Groton’s team, they all had one goal in mind: to beat this year’s boys varsity basketball team. The Student-Alumni...
Christian Pulisic: Soccer Star with Lucrative Deal
February 5, 2019
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
A $73.1 million transfer fee. The largest sum of money ever paid to acquire an American soccer player. What player could possibly be worth this much? One answer: Christian Pulisic. Most U.S. men’s soccer fans are already familiar with the 20-year-old American player. Now that he’s making world...
Athlete of the Issue: Jonah Gold
February 5, 2019
Filed under Athlete Of the Issue, Sports
Ever since Jonah Gold ’19 arrived at Groton in fourth form as an avid hockey player, he has been a valuable asset to the boys varsity team. “Jonah has a great work ethic, this makes him a role model to the other teammates, always going to the gym and working out” commented his coach, Bill Riley....
Lower School Athletes to Watch
December 18, 2018
Callie Messina '22 Calie, a returning player to the varsity basketball team, rounded out last year with an average of 7 points and 4 assists per game, and hopes to continue to up her stats in the upcoming season. As point guard for the team, Calie is at the center of the game and must distribute the...
Getting Team Gear
December 18, 2018
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
From black lacrosse hoodies and squash Patagonias to red cross country uniforms, members of each sports team on campus are easily identifiable by their team gear. Behind their pristine gear and uniform, however, is a long process, one which the athletic department has worked on to improve and perfect. Each...
Getting Team Gear
December 18, 2018
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
After the death in the ring of a Wisconsin boxing standout named Charlie Mohr at the NCAA Championship, a coach glumly remarked, “College boxing is now finished.” The NCAA had already put greater safeguards in place from padded headgear to softened gloves to canvas flooring. Nonetheless, college...
Athlete of the Issue: Meghan Carney
Leah Pothel '21 and Cornelia Potter '21
December 18, 2018
Filed under Sports
Meghan Carney '19 arrived at Groton in Fourth Form and has been a fixture on the girls varsity basketball team since the beginning, both on and off the court. “Meghan can hang with everyone and makes a battle out of it,” said Coach Mrs. Spring. “She has to be tough mentally because basketball can...
St. Mark’s Day Previews
November 10, 2018
St. Mark’s Day marks the end of the regular season for most varsity athletes. Depending on the team, coaches used different strategies to prepare for the big day: some focused on increasing fitness while others use the time to improve technical work. Unfortunately, St. Mark’s does not have a volley...
Cross Country New England’s
Tyler Weisberg '22, Assistant Sports Editor
November 10, 2018
Since the boys junior varsity and varsity cross country teams came in fifth and sixth last year during the NEPSAC New England Championships, the team has gained and said farewell to some valuable runners. There were three consistent sub-eighteen-minute 5k runners last year, and two of them remain. Losin...
Jim’s Right Hand Woman, Brit Hyde
Leah Pothel '21 and Cornelia Potter '21
November 10, 2018
Filed under Sports
For the past two years, Brit has been an extra pair of hands helping in the Athletic Center, serving as the Assistant to Athletic Equipment Director. This began back in fourth form when Brit had seriously injured herself during a soccer game, and her extensive surgeries to repair the damage on the top of...
Red Sox’s Historic Season Ends with World Series Title
November 10, 2018
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
The Red Sox topped the Dodgers this year four games to one in a World Series that was closer than some of the scores suggested. Coming into the series, there were several intriguing contrasts between the two franchises but also some striking similarities in the rosters. The World Series has never bee...
Athlete of the Issue: Leo McMahon
November 10, 2018
Filed under Athlete Of the Issue, Showcase, Sports
“Wonderful team leader,” “Enthusiastic runner,” and “Leading with speed.” These are some words members of the boys varsity cross country team use to describe captain Leo McMahon ’19. Leo started his varsity running career when he came to Groton in fourth form, slowly working his way up...
Head of the Charles
Max Steinert '20, Assistant Sports Editor
October 19, 2018
There is a constant buzz around Groton’s rowers during spring crew season as they stride across campus in their uniforms or are seen erging their hearts out in the foyer. But in just a few weeks, two of Groton’s boats will have their first race months before regular crew season begins. Groton will...
Lower School Athletes to Watch
Alex Kogler '19, Sports Editor
October 19, 2018
Wren Fortunoff While new to the Circle, Wren Fortunoff ’22 is by no means a stranger to the sport of cross-country. She ran in 7th and 8th grade at her old school and from the very start of girls varsity preseason has stood out as an exceptional runner at Groton. Thus far, she is placed first amongs...
Athlete of the Issue: Walker Davey
Christina Oelhafen '21 and Margot Ferris '21
October 19, 2018
Filed under Athlete Of the Issue, Sports
For the past four years, Walker Davey ’19 has been a steady presence on Groton’s fields, contributing to the increasingly competitive play of boys varsity soccer, which has a record of 6-3-0 so far this year. Throughout his two years as a captain, Walker’s positivity and consistent high energy...
Nike’s Ad Campaign with Colin Kaepernick
Powers Trigg '20, Assistant Sports Editor
October 19, 2018
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
Just over two years ago, professional football player Colin Kaepernick set the sports world abuzz. By choosing to sit, and later to kneel, during the playing of the national anthem before his games, he ignited a firestorm that would transcend professional sports. Recently, the controversy was thrust...
Serena Williams Controversy
Cassidy Thibodeau '21, Leah Pothel '21, and Cornellia Potter '21
October 19, 2018
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
The world watched in awe as the U.S Open final took place earlier this September. After having her first child less than a year before, Serena Williams returned to the Open, hungrier than ever to seize a hard, sought-after victory. Shaking off rust from the early rounds, Serena battled her way to the...
NBA Offseason & Free Agency—Summer Heats Up
Bobby Meehan '19, Sports Editor
September 13, 2018
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
As soon as the NBA season came to a close in June, after the Golden State Warriors were yet again crowned champions, teams made moves to acquire the biggest free agent superstars on the market. This offseason was one like no other: LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers. During the final year of James’ contrac...
Athlete of the Issue: Freddie Tobeason
Powers Trigg '20, Assistant Sports Editor
September 13, 2018
Filed under Athlete Of the Issue, Fall, Sports
As the late Vince Lombardi once put it, “the strength of the group is the strength of the leaders.” When it comes to the girls varsity field hockey team, leadership is especially crucial. The team brings back many key players along with new talent, and Coach Alison Hamlin has high expectations. B...
Boys Varsity Soccer Team Travels to Europe
Max Steinert '20, Assistant Sports Editor
September 13, 2018
At the close of summer, while other fall athletes prepared themselves for preseason, the boys varsity soccer team packed up their bags and embarked on a 13-day adventure to England and Ireland. The itinerary included sightseeing, bonding, and preparing themselves on the field for the upcoming season. ...
Mind the Gap: Facts and Figures Behind Gender Disparity in Sports
September 13, 2018
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
Despite efforts to level the playing field, discrepancies between the recognition and compensation of male and female athletes span the sports industry. This imbalance can be traced back to the early days of modern sport, when women were considered soft, weak, and ill-equipped to cope with the demands of phy...
Girls Making Gains: A Piloted Class
June 2, 2018
Filed under News and Commentary, Sports
The weight room is supposed to be a comfortable, casual atmosphere, fit for working out before or after school. The daily scene in Groton’s weight room, however, may not be welcoming to all kinds of people. It usually involves loud rap music, sweat, and a big group of boys. The issue: girls are lar...
Athlete of the Issue: Nailah Pierce
June 2, 2018
Filed under Athlete Of the Issue, Sports
“Trusty teammate.” “Fierce leader.” “Phenomenal athlete.” These are the words used by girls varsity crew team members to describe Nailah Pierce ’18. Nailah has been on the team since her first spring at Groton, and over the last four years she has managed to master the sport of rowing. In...
Boys Varsity Tennis Competes in New England Championship Finals
June 2, 2018
Two weekends ago, on the Groton tennis courts, the boys varsity tennis team concluded their outstanding season with the New England Championships. As the number-one seed and holders of a 14-0 undefeated record during the regular season, with wins over perennial superpowers such as Andover, Exeter, and D...
Sixth Formers Move On to College Athletics
May 30, 2018
Filed under Sports
Many high school athletes dream of competing at the collegiate level. Of the eight million students that play high school sports, fewer than five hundred thousand will have the chance to play in college. As the Sixth Form completes their time on the Circle, a small handful of Groton standouts are plannin...
Athlete of the Issue: Elechi Egwuekwe
May 30, 2018
Filed under Athlete Of the Issue, Sports
What makes an athlete truly exceptional? Sure, it comes down to your physical strength and reflexes, but the best athletes have a mastery of the intangibles: drive, determination, and grit. Elechi Egwuekwe ’18 is the perfect example of such an athlete. Finishing up her fourth year on the girls varsit...
Team Preview: Boys Varsity Baseball
May 30, 2018
Another long Groton winter is in the books, and it is time to put away the hockey skates and basketball sneakers to make room for baseball gloves and bats. Boys varsity baseball is eagerly anticipating the start of a new season. However, they experienced quite a shake-up in the offseaso...
Lower School Athletes to Watch
May 30, 2018
Spring sports are in full swing as lacrosse, crew, tennis, baseball, track, and many others finally hit the fields after a long and relentless winter. Although our teams are captained by juniors and seniors, there are many lower school athletes that hold crucial roles to their teams’ success. &...
New Coach Brings Experience, Energy to Girls Lacrosse
May 30, 2018
As the spring sports season commences, the girls varsity lacrosse team is experiencing a change in coaching staff. Rather than by former athletic intern Eileen Giles, the team will be coached by Annie Kandel, a new member of the Circle who accepted the job just months before the season. In addition ...
Athlete of the Issue: Tyler Forbes
May 30, 2018
Filed under Athlete Of the Issue, Sports
Four years. Four varsity letters. Four seasons of dedication to a team. Tyler Forbes ’18 has spent his entire Groton career playing lacrosse. Praised by coaches and teammates, both young and old, Tyler is a well-respected leader and captain. What Tyler himself calls “being gritty” and what Coa...
Why Hockey Players Choose Groton
March 2, 2018
Groton’s boys varsity hockey team competes in the Eberhart division of the New England Prep School Ice Hockey Association. The season begins in the end of November, and stretches to the end of February, playing two to three games per week. Groton’s hockey team prides itself on strong teamwork and e...
Do Managers Deserve Half a Varsity Letter?
March 2, 2018
Managing a varsity team has long been an alternative to athletics or drama for fifth and sixth formers seeking an afternoon activity. However, not playing in the games or matches sparks the question of whether managers ought to be considered part of the teams they manage – and whether they deserve th...
2018 Winter Olympics Preview
March 2, 2018
Finally, the wait is over. Beginning February 9, the 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. This tradition, idolized by spectators and competitors, happens once every four years, and the competition looks sharp for yet another year. Team USA will return with both veteran compet...
Athlete of the Issue: Alyna Baharozian
March 2, 2018
Filed under Athlete Of the Issue, Sports, Winter
The day was February 27, 2016: St. Mark’s Day, one of the most important days for a Groton athlete. All Groton students who play sports pit themselves against St. Mark’s students in a battle that comes down to pure athletic prowess. The team was girls varsity basketball, and things weren’t looking go...
Team Preview: Boy’s Varsity Hockey
January 19, 2018
The challenge of any varsity team is to adapt as players graduate, encourage returning players to step up, and welcome new students onto the team. Boys varsity hockey graduated excellent players last year, but has also welcomed seven new faces onto the ice this year. Both coaches and captains have acknowledged ...
The Squash Ladder, Assessed
January 19, 2018
The success of a squash team relies just as much on the order in which its players are placed as it does on the skill of each player. Just as in tennis, the ranking of players (known internally as a ladder) determines who plays whom in interscholastic matches. In a typical squash match, there will be sev...
The Celtics’ Irish Luck
January 19, 2018
Over the summer, the Boston Celtics were among the busiest teams in the NBA offseason, trading for 4-time All-Star and NBA champion point guard Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers and signing the All-Star Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward. They were among the best teams in the league on paper, but sti...
Athlete of the Issue: Noah Aaron
January 18, 2018
Filed under Athlete Of the Issue, Sports
If there’s anyone who’s had a lifelong bond with a sport, it is Noah Aaron ’18. Despite having come in fourth form, Noah makes his mark as an essential member of the football, basketball, and track and field teams. Noah’s presence has since transformed each team for the better, bringing energy...