A look back at the fall 2023 season for Taft Athletics.
Field Hockey
Founders League Champions
NEPSAC Class A Champions
20–0–1
Field hockey was crowned the NEPSAC Class A champions as they defeated Andover 3–2 in a thrilling back and forth game. The Rhinos found themselves up early, before falling behind 2–1, eventually scoring two more to put themselves back in the lead, and never looked back. With the victory, they completed an undefeated season (the first time in school history), going 20–0–1, and winning the NEPSAC Class A championship for the first time since 1999.
Boys’ Soccer
Founders League Champions
NEPSAC Class A Finalists
15–1–4
After a fantastic regular season and two great victories in their quarter and semifinal matchups, boys’ soccer earned their spot in the NEPSAC Class A championship game where they faced Milton, and they fought hard until the very end, before eventually falling 2–0 to the Mustangs. With this being their only loss of the season, they finished with an overall record of 15–1–4, and as the NEPSAC Class A runner-ups.
Girls’ Soccer
9–6–3
In Coach Rebecca Swift’s first year at the helm of the girls’ soccer program, they finished the season with an overall record of 9–6–3, with signature wins over Founders League opponents Kent and Kingswood Oxford.
Boys’ Cross Country
Third Place, Founders League Tournament
Ninth Place, NEPSTA Division 1 Championship
3–2
Boys’ cross country rounded out their season with a third place finish in the Founders League Tournament, before heading to the NEPSTA Division 1 Championship, where they would have five out of their seven runners finishing before the 18-minute mark, and placed ninth overall out of 15 teams.
Girls’ Cross Country
Second Place, Founders League Tournament
Seventh Place, NEPSTA Division 1 Championship
4–1
Girls’ cross country finished their season on a high note finishing second in the Founders League Tournament, before competing in the NEPSTA Division 1 Championship race, where each varsity runner recorded a personal best time that were held at Loomis, where they finished seventh overall.
Football
3–5
Football finished the season with three wins and five losses, with all three of their victories coming over Founders League opponents—Trinity-Pawling, Kent, and most notably, Hotchkiss on Hotchkiss Day, defeating the Bearcats 24–6.
Volleyball
5–12
Volleyball finished the season with a record of 5–12, with four of their five victories coming over Founders League foes—Kingswood Oxford, Ethel Walker, Miss Porter’s, and Kent.
Fall 2023 Athletic Awards
Field Hockey
Field Hockey Award—Maisy Ricciardelli ’24
NEPSAC Player of the Year—Maisy Ricciardelli ’24
All-NEPSAC—Truus van Wees ’24, Rachel Turer ’25, Emily Smith ’25
NEPSAC Honorable Mention—Britty Page ’25, Caroline Traina ’26, Devon Watson ’25
Boys’ Soccer
Livingston Carroll Soccer Award—Enoch Duodu ’24
All-NEPSAC—Preston Alessio ’25, Henry Bacon ’24, Enoch Duodu ’24
NEPSAC Honorable Mention—Patrick Gallagher ’24, Joaquin Mañon ’25, Marcos Santana ’26
Girls’ Soccer
1976 Girls’ Soccer Award—Faith Graziano ’24
Boys’ Cross Country
John B. Small Boys’ Cross Country Award—Ali Griswold ’24, Trevor Stellmach ’24
All-NEPSAC—Tate Celebi ’25
Girls’ Cross Country
Girls’ Cross Country Award—Sydney Grogean ’24
All-NEPSAC—Charlotte Murphy ’25
Football
Black Cup Award—Michael Pangaro ’24
Harry K. Cross Football Award—Gunnar Watson ’24
All-NEPSAC—Andre Crews ’24
NEPSAC Honorable Mention—Michael Pangaro ’24
Volleyball
Volleyball Award—Katherine Erbstein ’24, Sara Takanabe ’24
NEPSAC Honorable Mention—Lucy Schwab ’24