By BOB YORK –  It took just mere seconds after Oscar Miao had scripted “The End” to his swimming career at Deerfield Academy that pandemonium began to set in. The Deerfield senior swims the anchor leg of the 400 freestyle relay. That makes him the final swimmer in the final event and means he’s the [...]

By BOB YORK –  Some people think 13 is an unlucky number.  Sonja O’Donnell is one who would beg to differ. “This was my thirteenth year of coaching this team,” said O’Donnell, the Deerfield Academy girls swimming coach, and she wouldn’t have missed a minute of it. “To me, this has been a lucky year [...]

By BOB YORK –  For the second straight season, Deerfield Academy made it to the middle rung of the medals podium at the New England Independent Schools Association Girls Class A Squash Tournament. Prior to accepting the silver medal, it got to glance down at Nobles School as it was being presented its bronze medal. [...]

By BOB YORK –  Mike Silipo landed the kind of recruit this season that any high school football coach in the country would covet. The kid’s got good hands… quick feet … and an uncanny ability to get to the ball.  Sam Khalifa will never be known as one of coach Silipo’s Legends of the [...]

By BOB YORK –  Mark Scandling knows all about life preservers. He coaches the Big Green boys water polo in the fall and you can find him tutoring girls water polo in the spring. It’s doubtful, however, he ever dreamed he would need a life preserver at his other job: wrestling coach. There he was [...]

By BOB YORK –  When you have as many freshmen as you have seniors dotting your roster, and the game you’re playing is an all-hands-on-deck-sport such as hockey, you can feel pretty sure you’re looking at a pretty long season. A bunch of seniors usually means extended play due to a postseason invite. An overload [...]

By BOB YORK –  When you play basketball at Deerfield Academy, you need to bring your A-game to the court every night. And on some nights, not even that’s enough. Playing Class A roundball in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference can be a tough gig.  It’s the home to some pretty serious basketball. [...]

By BOB YORK –  Deerfield Academy lost its mountain mojo. The Big Green saw its two-year reign as king – and queen – of the hill reach the finish line this winter, as both squads came up short in defending their crowns at the New England Prep School Athletic Conference Class A Alpine Skiing Championships, [...]

By BOB YORK –  Let’s play a game of “what if…” Like “what if” Deerfield Academy had made the New England Prep School Athletic Conference Boys Hockey Tournament this winter.  Now, we know no invites were issued to the Big Green but according to coach Brendan Creagh, a berth in postseason play was closer than [...]

By BOB YORK –  During his annual wrap-up of the season, Darnel Barnes was able to utter those two magical words that every coach loves to say but dreads to hear: “Everybody’s back!” Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to quit while he was ahead. There’s always another pressing question a head coach must answer about his [...]