During the 2025 fall preseason, Berkshire ranked No.2 among the preseason top 10 power teams. The result was as expected after the exceptional season the Bears had last year; the team teems with outstanding players. Four captains from the class of 2026 have already committed to top Division 1 college programs, including striker Prince Abanfo (University of Virginia), striker Danel Esprit (Pennsylvania State University), defender Darryl Hage (Dartmouth College), and goalkeeper Emmanuel Marmolejo (Georgetown University). “These returning seniors are the core. They are the guys who are going to really set the culture and mentor the new guys that are coming in,” says Kelvin Martinez, who is in his first year as the new head coach of Berkshire boys’ varsity soccer after his successful seven-year tenure at Northwood School’s Black Rock Residential Academy.
In addition, the class of 2027 striker and midfielder Maddox Zaidan-Jones was tied for the team’s leading scorer last season. On the international stage, Maddox represented the Turks and Caicos Men’s team when he was only 16 years old. This summer, he completed his trial training at Queens Park Rangers FC and Fulham FC of England. “Those guys are absolutely hungry,” remarks Coach Martinez. “They are a united front. So, we’re coming into a culture that is very healthy and very stable. Having so many guys who are sort of, like, the top dogs right now, returning, who have that sense of wanting to complete the job that they started last year.”
So far, Berkshire has a record of 8 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw in 15 matches of the 2025 fall season. Among those triumphs, they achieved the signature 7-0, 5-0, 7-1, and 6-3 victories over Pomfret School, Suffield Academy, Canterbury School, and Millbrook School separately.
Berkshire has three matchups in November. Westminster School (Nov. 1), Avon Old Farms School (Nov. 5), and Salisbury School (Nov. 8). “We have added an increased amount of depth to the program, which would allow us to be a much more dynamic and high-pressing team that really sets and controls tempo from the beginning of games,” Coach Martinez confidently shared. There is hope that our Bears will secure a victory in the Class A tournament again. We would certainly be a terrifying quarterfinal opponent for any team.
Works Cited:
Langone, M. (2025). Podcast: New Berkshire coach Kelvin Martinez on his vision for the program – New England Soccer Journal. [online] New England Soccer Journal. Available at: https://www.soccerjournal.com/podcast-new-berkshire-coach-kelvin-martinez-on-his-vision-for-the-program/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2025].
