What seemed like a quiet transition to winter under the Mountain took a turn in the recent weeks, as our fall athletic teams brought an electrifying atmosphere to campus. Three varsity teams – Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey, Girls’ Varsity Soccer, and Boys’ Varsity Football – secured seats in the NEPSAC quarterfinals!
This past Wednesday, November 12th, GV Field Hockey journeyed to Middlesex for their monumental game, while GV Soccer faced off against Dexter Southfield. The teams challenged some of the strongest teams in New England–teams that had taken the 2024 NEPSAC and 2023 NEPSAC championships. And the result? The Bears proved they were no easy opponent.
In Field Hockey, Victoria Tesoro ‘26 struck within the first few minutes, putting the team “on the board” early on in the heated match. Though they were breathtakingly close to victory, the Bears fell short, finishing with a 4-5 loss in overtime to Middlesex. Despite the results, GV Field Hockey players fought their hardest, leveraging their tight camaraderie and unmatched team spirit. Makena Komanecky ‘28 shares that “even with the bus breaking down on the ride there and losing in overtime, [their] energy never dipped…” On the ride home, she recalled, “everyone was singing and laughing, which made the long drive so worth it.” She feels especially “proud of her team for pushing through hard moments and making the best out of every part of the season.” Their collective attitude embodied what being a bear is truly about: making small moments feel big and meaningful.
GV Soccer played Middlesex with passion and perseverance. While they unfortunately came home with a 1-6 loss, the players did not let that diminish their fulfillment and excitement. The mere fact that they had participated in the NEPSAC quarterfinals was plenty to celebrate; few people on the team, Nadia Smith ‘28 reports, were expecting it. She still remembers the surreal moment when they heard the news, exchanging euphoric glances that seemed to say, “We deserve this.” GV Soccer showed they belonged on that field, giving 200% effort even when the game was not going as they hoped. Berkshire’s core values of resilience and perseverance echoed in their performance, both on and off the pitch.
For our week’s finale, the Boys’ Varsity Football team battled against Noble and Greenough for the NEPSAC Championship Bob Souza Ball on Saturday, November 15th. Riding their impressive trajectory from the regular season with an undefeated 7-0 in the Evergreen League, the boys took home yet another resounding victory, edging Noble and Greenough by one point.
The Campus Center erupted with cheers and hugs as students and faculty jumped up and down around the TV as they watched the livestream. The boys’ performance served as a reminder that we, the Bear nation, are unstoppable when commitment, resilience, and spirit unite–whether on the turf, pitch, field, studio, classroom, dorm, or dining hall.
As we step into a well-deserved Thanksgiving Break, let’s take the time to show appreciation to those who made the fall athletic season so special and successful. Huzzah to the three varsity teams in the playoffs, to all fall athletes, and to the coaches, family, teachers, friends, and maintenance staff whose support fueled us with love and support. We cannot wait to begin a fantastic winter season under the mountain!
