A big shout out to this week’s Doors of the Week!
Boys Cross-Country: Arafat Jama ’27 and Jason Ko ’27
I have two Doors of the Week for boys XC, if that’s allowed. First is Arafat Jama, who in his first home 5k ever as a Deerfield runner managed to cover the distance in 16:30 and defeat his opposing number in a hard-fought battle. Second is Jason Ko, who managed to translate a terrific week of training into a massive, 50-second personal best of 19:06. Great job, Arafat and Jason!
JV Volleyball: Katie Mountz ‘27
Katie has been an outstanding new addition to the JV volleyball team this year. She is an excellent blocker, strong hitter, solid passer, and fearsome server. In the recent game against St. Paul’s, Katie helped the team win in three sets with five aces and seven kills from her middle blocker position. Katie is confident, coachable, and relentlessly positive with coaches and teammates alike.
Boys Jr. B Soccer: Ryan Stenzler ’27
The Quad Squad Door of the Week is Ryan Stenzler ’27. Playing in the Sweeper position for the second year, Ryan has done an exceptional job this season being the last line of defense for the team. His field awareness and skill have continued to grow and he is a key component of our team’s success so far this season. Always giving 110% in games, Ryan’s dedication to the team and quiet confidence have made him an easy choice as our DOTW!
Girls Thirds Volleyball: Helen Yang ’28
The Door of the Week for Girls Thirds Volleyball is Helen Yang ’28. Helen was a wonderful new addition to the thirds volleyball team this year. She has grown so much as a player in the first month and has improved in all aspects of the game. She is a fantastic passer, especially when receiving a difficult hit or serve, and does not get intimidated when playing a strong opponent. Beyond that, Helen is a wonderful teammate. She is focused during practice, happy to work with anyone, and supportive when others make mistakes. We are so happy to have Helen on the team.
Boys JV Soccer: Victor Kibuuka ’26
Victor has been playing on the wing all season and we needed a striker in the absence of one of his teammates. We all knew Victor was a slashing winger with a nose for the goal, so when he scored all three of our goals against St. Paul’s on Parents’ Weekend, we weren’t exactly surprised. Still, he announced himself as our new striker by doing all the right things well: he made corner runs, made creative passes, created pressure on their back line, and then finished in critical moments. His first two came from dispossessions and quick work in the box, while his third was a header that bounced in the box and which he elevated to poke before the keeper could get to it. Victor, in his humble way, has given us a huge boost of offense at an important juncture in our season. Looking forward to more!
Varsity Field Hockey: Kate Doucette ’27 and Izzy Kirby ’26
Kate Doucette ’27 and Izzy Kirby ’26 are the VFH Doors of the Week. Kate and Izzy have done a terrific job in net for the Big Green so far this season. They work incredibly hard in practice and their skill sets have grown tremendously since August. Moreover, they communicate well and serve as the anchors of our defensive unit. This past week, Kate earned the shut out in net against NMH and Izzy did the same in our win against SPS. We are grateful for their leadership and commitment and look forward to their continued strong play!
Varsity Volleyball: Autumn Cooney ’25
DOTW this week goes to Autumn Cooney ’25. Autumn joins us this year as a PG playing as a defensive specialist. Autumn has brought an amazing attitude and energy to the team. She is constantly working on her own skills and is quick to compliment or encourage her teammates. Every day she has an infections enthusiasm that injects energy into the team. Congratulations Autumn.
Conditioning for Athletes: Ted Freeman ’27
Ted Freedman ’27 is always present, mindful and a beacon of positivity. Regardless of the challenge ahead, he is tenacious and his tireless effort supports and nurtures the class.
JV Field Hockey: Rose Manning ’26
This week JV FH would like to nominate Rose Manning for our DOTW. Rose’s speed, versatility, stamina, and can-do attitude make her an obvious choice for the DOTW nomination this week. In our game against St. Paul’s on Saturday, Rose totally dominated the field. She could be seen making mad dashes into our offensive circle, and then fifteen seconds later, could be spotted chasing down a St. Paul’s player on the opposite end of the field. She happily played forward, midfield, and defense over the course of the game and comes to every game and practice with a willingness to play whatever position is best for the team. Luckily for us, her skill and field sense make her the perfect player to move around the field! She is a true athlete, always wanting to play and always ready to leave it all out on the field. She has infectious energy and never loses the joy of the game! We’re so lucky to have her!
Boys Jr. A Soccer: Ryan Bai ’26
For three years Ryan has been the beating heart of the Thirds team, as important to the team’s chemistry as he is to its defense. He knows how to keep the mood light while keeping the commitment level high. And nobody hustles harder and stops more attacks single-handedly than Ryan. Just when we might be lulled into taking Ryan’s indispensable play for granted, he found a new way to get our attention: scoring his first goal!
Girls Cross-Country: Tess Ho ’27
This week we are nominating Tess Ho for her outstanding performance finishing first for Deerfield in our home race this past Saturday against St. Paul’s. After an injury earlier this fall, Tess came back to an awesome race!
Boys Water Polo: Giulio Migliarina ‘25
This week we’d like to nominate Giulio Migliarina— throughout a particularly challenging season, Giulio has been our team’s glue, both in gameplay and in attitude; he keeps us together! His continued resilience and perseverance exemplify the leadership skills necessary to be a team captain. Well done Giulio!
Girls Varsity Soccer: Blythe Gering ’27 and Adeeva Alli ‘25
This week, the girls varsity soccer team nominates Blythe Gering ’27 and Adeeva Alli ’25 as the team’s Doors of the Week. Blythe arrived to preseason ready to go for the upcoming fall 2024 season and hasn’t looked back! Her focus, determination, competitiveness and high work rate have contributed to the early season success of the Big Green. As a strong and tough 1v1 defender, Blythe has thwarted off many of our opponents attacks this season. Moreover, she’s eager to initiate and contribute to the team’s attack when she wins the ball. Blythe is always willing to put coaching feedback into practice and has been a great communicator in the backline. For her consistent work rate, focus and determination Blythe is recognized as a DOTW. Keep up the great work Blythe!
The team’s second nomination goes to Adeeva. A big shout out goes to Adeeva for her commitment, tenacity and coachability this season. Adeeva consistently gives 100% effort, pushing both herself and her teammates every day; demonstrating her commitment to the team and her own development on the field. Her growth has been tremendous and we look forward to watching Adeeva continue to contribute throughout the season! Go Adeeva!
Varsity Football: Jadyn Buckner ‘25
Jadyn Buckner earned the DOTW for the Varsity Football team this week. He led the charge in his first game back where he demonstrated outstanding vision, physical running style and explosive gains every time the ball was in his hands. Jadyn rushed for a touchdown and caught another on a big 3rd down conversion. He is a threat to score every time he touches the ball and we are excited to see him go to work again this week. Go Big Green!