The fall sports teams have each had an impressive athletic season. During the long-awaited season, three teams won their conferences, and the playoffs for many others are underway. Prior to the season’s start, captains provided his/her hopes for their team. Below are the season’s results.

Boys’ Varsity Football: Captain Tyler Ippolito (senior) 

Q: What are your hopes for your team this season?

A: “Obviously after a better start than last season, I hope for more wins and better team chemistry as we approach a hard second half of the season. I hope to make the playoffs, even though we started the season as a 12 seed.”

Q: What are you most excited for this season? 

A: “To be back to normal, somewhat, and pasta parties. I also am excited to eat meals with the team before games to show our bonding.”

Q: How do you think last year’s shortened season will affect this season? 

A: “Last year was a poor display of our talent since we did not have that much time to show what we’re capable of and how good we were.”

Q: As captain, what messages are you constantly relaying to your team? 

A: “Do it for each other and not yourself.”

Results:

The boys’ football team is 5-1 and has two more games to play. After being projected to finish 2-6, the team is hoping to beat the next two teams they play and exceed expectations. If the team wins out, it will play a playoff game at home and “hopefully make it to Hofstra.” Ippolito shared that “this team is special,” and he “expects a lot” out of the rest of the season. 

Girls’ Varsity Tennis: Captain Grace Bodian (senior) 

Q: What are your hopes for your team this season? 

A: “My hope for my team is to continue working hard and keep up our winning streak.”

Q: What are you most excited for this season? 

A: “I am most excited to continue playing against challenging competitors because it makes me a better player. I am also excited to see us win our conference.”

Q: How do you think last year’s shortened season will affect this season? 

A: “Last year’s season affected us by motivating us even more since now we have some normalcy and are excited to play. The wait hyped us up.” 

Q: As captain, what messages are you constantly relaying to your team? 

A: “As captain, I am constantly relaying the message of trying your best against tough players and to not get in your head. Take it point by point. Don’t worry about the next few points; worry about each point, individually, in the moment.” 

Results:

The girls’ tennis team had an outstanding season: it was undefeated and won its conference. The girls are heading to the playoffs and have four members going to counties — Bodian, senior Jordan Glickman, senior Olivia Ackerman, and sophomore Jesse Bodian.  

Boys’ Varsity Soccer: Captain Conor Lynch (senior) 

Q: What are your hopes for your team this season? 

A: “My hopes this season are to win our conference and go further in the playoffs than the last two years. We definitely have the talent to do it.”

Q: What are you most excited for this season? 

A: “I am excited to see what this season holds. I’m excited for playoffs because we are always ready to compete.”

Q: How do you think last year’s shortened season will affect this season?

A: “I think this year we will come with more energy, and we can fix the mistakes we made last year.”

Q: As captain, what messages are you constantly relaying to your team? 

A: “I always tell them to be ready, have energy in practice and games, and never underestimate an opponent because we did that last year, and we had a terrible start to the season.”

Results:

The boys’ soccer team had its best season in two years. The team finished 7-2-3 and has its first playoff game coming up. Lynch explained that the team is “focused” and ready for what is to come.

Girls’ Varsity Soccer: Captain Olivia Vuotto (senior)

Q: What are your hopes for your team this season?

A: “This season, I want to focus on building a good environment for future years. We are a young team with great potential, so this year is about building the future of the program.”

Q: What are you most excited for this season? 

A: “Being in a new conference. It’s exciting facing new opponents.” 

Q: How do you think last year’s shortened season will affect this season? 

A: “Last year’s shortened season was difficult, so everyone is very appreciative now to have our fall season and full-length season back. It is motivating us to work even harder knowing that it is a privilege to be playing.”

Q: As captain, what messages are you constantly relaying to your team? 

A: “As a captain, I am constantly motivating everyone to work to their best ability. I always feel that it is important after a loss to remind everyone to keep our heads high and use that loss as motivation to work harder instead of discouraging us.” 

Results:

Vuotto is “looking forward to the playoffs” and is excited to finish the season strong. The team is 7-3-1 and has two games left to play.  

Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Cross Country: Captain Dylan Stalter (senior)

Q: What are your hopes for your team this season? 

A: “Cross country is an individual sport, so everyone has personal goals, and we want to build upon what we did last year. I also want the runners to become better runners overall. We have good runners and can compete with top schools.”

Q: What are you most excited for this season? 

A: “To rebuild the team chemistry. The team aspect of cross country is always great; it is the best part of the sport.” 

Q: How do you think last year’s shortened season will affect this season? 

A: “There was not a lot of time off between seasons, so there is less time put in. Cross country is a sport where you build up when you have free time, so the shortened season will definitely affect us. It is tough going right back into it.” 

Q: As captain, what messages are you constantly relaying to your team? 

A: “Run fast.”

Results:

The girls’ and boys’ cross-country team put in a lot of time and effort this season, and it paid off. The team finished undefeated and won its division. Coming up, the team has its county championship meet and state qualifiers. Additionally, cross country superstar Luke Guadet is training to qualify for states. Stalter added that he is “supporting his training and can’t wait to see him do well.”

Varsity Cheerleading: Captain Chloe Moskowitz (senior)

Q: What are your hopes for your team this season? 

A: “Because we have a bigger team this year than we have had in the past, our hopes for the season are to advance in stunting and move up a division for the competition season.” 

Q: What are you most excited for this season? 

A: “This season we are very excited to welcome our two new coaches, Nina and Shayiah. So far, they have both been extremely wonderful bringing in so many new people to the team, teaching us harder stunts, and really improving the program. We are so happy they are joining us.”

Q: How do you think last year’s shortened season will affect this season? 

A: “Last year’s shortened season was definitely a change with a much more relaxed season. This season, we are planning to come back with full force with a more intense practice schedule. We plan to have a lot more fundraising activities for the community to enjoy.” 

Q: As captain, what messages are you constantly relaying to your team? 

A: “As captains, we are constantly reminding the team that we belong out on the field, in the stands, and on the mat. We should always have a positive attitude and hype up the team and the crowd, and most importantly, stay healthy and work hard.”

Results:

Moskowitz explained that the team has “improved so greatly” from the beginning of the season. It has been working hard to perfect its homecoming performance. Additionally, it has its first large competition coming up in November.  

Girls’ Varsity Volleyball: Captain Amanda Larow (senior) 

Q: What are your hopes for your team this season?  

A: “I would love to see us make a run at the playoffs because I really do think that we have a chance. We are a close team, and we have a lot of talent and chemistry on the court. I think that we could really succeed in the playoffs this season.”

Q: What are you most excited for this season? 

A: “I am most excited to form a bond with my teammates, especially coming off of a short season last year. I realize now how important it is to cherish every practice, game, and tournament. We have a good group of girls, and we are already so close, and I can’t wait to form a closer bond with my teammates. 

Q: How do you think last year’s shortened season will affect this season? 

A: “Last year was a majority of the team’s first season on varsity, and being that it was a shortened season, we got used to playing at least two games a week, which is a lot. We had rigorous practices, and we were always focused on the game ahead. We still work hard in practice each day, but this year we have more time to really perfect our gameplay before each game, which is something that we are not used to, but thankful for.”

Q: As captain, what messages are you constantly relaying to your team?

A: “As a captain, the biggest message that I relay to my team is to stay positive. Volleyball really is a mental game, and it is often easy to get in your own head after making a mistake. I am always reminding my teammates and myself that when we make a mistake, it is important to stay positive, move on, and focus on getting the next point. Without a positive mindset, it is much harder to succeed both as an individual and as a team, which is why positivity is so important both on and off the court.” 

Results:

The girls’ volleyball team had a “slow start,” but started to play much better towards the end of the season; the team is ready to “continue its hot streak.” The team is looking forward to playoffs, and Larow believes the team will do well if they continue to work hard. 

Girls’ Varsity Swimming: Captain Sophie Dzieciolowski (senior)

Q: What are your hopes for your team this season? 

A: “I hope that we can come together as a team and continue improving our times to make as many state and county cuts as we can.” 

Q: What are you most excited for this season? 

A: “Since we are working to get as many swimmers as possible to the County Championship meet, the team and I are excited to race fast swimmers until that point.” 

Q: How do you think last year’s shortened season will affect this season?

A: “I don’t think last year’s shortened season will affect us this season. Since we started in late August and had more time to prepare in and out of the water, we as a team are stronger than ever.” 

Q: As captain, what messages are you constantly relaying to your team? A

A: “As a captain, I work to motivate swimmers of all strengths, knowing that just a little push can go a long way.”

Results:

The girls’ swim team is currently 5-1 and has three dual meets to finish its season. Moreover, swimmers are getting ready for Divisions and Counties. The girls are training hard to “cut their times” for the end of the season.