Congratulations to Peter Frew ’75, Director of Admissions and Head Boys’ Varsity Tennis Coach, who was recently named the 2023 Archibald A. Smith III Award winner. The award is made on an annual basis, as warranted, to a coach for lifetime achievement and commitment to the Founders League ideals of educational excellence, sportsmanship, and outstanding competition. One of two awards given by the Founders League, the Archibald A. Smith III Award was established in 2015 to honor long-time Head of Trinity-Pawling School Arch Smith upon his retirement. Arch began his career at Trinity-Pawling in 1975 as a teacher of chemistry and physics. During his transformative forty-year tenure, he went on to serve as Director of College Placement, Assistant, Headmaster, and ultimately, Headmaster from 1990-2015.

“In my remarks introducing Peter to the Founders League heads and athletic directors, I noted his incredible work and leadership in admissions after joining Taft in 1985; and, of course, his years as varsity squash and varsity tennis coach—over fifty seasons—which have made him one of (the?) premier racquet sport coaches in private school New England,” notes Taft Head of School Willy MacMullen ’78. “From 1987 to 2006, he was the face of Taft squash: he won eight Founders League titles and four New England championships. He also was and is the face of tennis at Taft: the boys’ varsity tennis coach from 1987 until today, winner of five Founders League titles and a New England title. In two sports where players referee themselves, he embodies sportsmanship.”⁠