Last Wednesday, the Big Green community gathered at School Meeting for Winter Co-Curricular celebration and recognition, and to announce the winter athletic award winners.
Mr. Pfitzer, Director of the Arts, welcomed the Deerfield audience to the assembly and celebrated the many accomplishments and performances from the Visual and Performing Arts co-curriculars over the course of the winter term including; the collaborative production of the Matilda musical, the student choreographed Dance Showcase, the many choral performances and the welcoming of the upcoming student art exhibit in the von Auersperg Gallery.
Following, Mr. Howe took the stage to celebrate and recognize the many accomplishments of our winter teams which included: three NEPSAC Champions – Girls Alpine Ski team, Gage Calhoun ’27 and Alex Chutkow ’26 were both the NEPSAC DI Diving winners. Further winter achievements included: the girls varsity ski hockey team were finalists in the Patsy Odden Championship Tournament, Boys Varsity Basketball were Class A Championship Tournament Semifinalists and Boys Hockey were NEPSAC Championship Quarterfinalists, the Boys Varsity Squash team captured the bronze medal at the Class A NEPSAC Championship in addition to their 5th place finish at US Squash Nationals, and Matt Hough ’26 and DP Pope ’26 both qualified for Wrestling Nationals, to name a few.
Mr. Howe recapped the winter season with his traditional Top-10 before announcing the athletic sub-varsity and varsity award winners.
It was a wonderful winter season with many celebrations, connections and achievements for Big Green teams! A big shout out to all winter co-curricular participants, their coaches, co-curricular supervisors, the athletic trainers, stockroom coordinators, physical plant team, and dining hall services for their dedication and support of our shared co-curricular experience!
Mr. Howe’s Winter 2026 Top Ten
The winter season of 2025-2026 brought so many stories to light. For weeks I’ve worried about getting this list right. But here I stand with this term’s list in hand, hoping this goes as I planned.
So let’s start with this; 10 of our 11 varsity teams made news with their post-season play. That statistic alone tells us Deerfield’s winter was more than okay.
From November through early March you students banded together and left nothing to chance. Teams at all levels did shine and I include those musical groups, theater and dance!
Spring is finally here and do you know what this means? For seniors its your last chance to wear the greys and greens! Let’s all come together and have a great term again. Now let’s move on to the winter’s Top Ten.
At 10 we have two boys squash teams with undefeated years now in the books. The J.V. team has a two-year streak of 24-0 while the thirds at 11- 0 is now also getting some looks. Both of these teams are loaded with players that in my books place them well above what they’ve done. They chose to play a sport because they want to be on a team and have fun. You guys are #1.
The entire cast of Matilda gets the nod at number 9 for their musical review. The talents of cast and ensemble came into full review. Jeanlukas Meza made us all chuckle playing the hip swinging Rudolpho, along with Rich Zhou playing Agatha, and Adriana as Matilda, led an amazing cast and crew.
Gage Calhoun and Alex Chutkow did something that made the news in every New England state. Each won gold at the New England Championships earning their place at number 8. Both athletes have unique stories to tell on how they got to accomplishing such a feat. Alex, goes out on top after 4 years of hard work, while Gage next year will get her chance to repeat.
Boys hockey is next at 7 revealing how selective this year’s list can be. This year’s team made the post season tournament again; this streak is now in year three. Everybody knows one of the keys to success in winning in this league is that you need to have someone like we had in our #30. His teammates might describe his talents and potential as “dirty”.
With a 15-4 season record, a #5 national ranking, and a 3rd place finish at the New England’s boys’ squash lands on spot number 6. Four-year members of the team Read Kitchel and Kyle Yang were 2 of the 2026 captain picks. Tri-captain Hart Robertson, Rudy Shukla and Jack Wagner round out this year’s elite senior team. Hart has led the way to this remarkable team’s winning scheme.
At 5 we have two individuals that represent well some skill and drive. Matt Hough made it through the New Englands keeping a Nationals appearance goal alive. DP Pope joined Matt on this list because he made it through too. And even though DP was ineligible to compete because of his age his support of Matt showed he knew what he should do. Congrats to DP and Matt for all their winning ways. Their dedication to sport and to each other is what stays.
Sophia Gao in the pool this season gave us many news splashes. She now owns a New England and several school records in many swim dashes. She’s a competitor like no other and is an all-time Champion Deerfield Academy Door. Sophia Gao stands alone at the spot number 4.
This next group has had a season story that is near and dear to me. I love an underdog story and girl’s skiing earns their place at 3. All season long they competed with league members, coming close but never coming in first. Then with one week to go something happened and their confidence levels shot up and burst. First place came at them as they finally beat NMH their constant foe. Next week at the New England’s their momentum continued to grow and show. 1st place to this group who learned never to quit. That day on the slopes they sent their arch-rivals home in a fit.
Girls hockey has established themselves as a league powerhouse team. With consecutive 20+ win seasons winning games is the underlying theme. This year’s leadership group represents years of building and fighting to be recognized. Their commitment to school, program and each other was on full-display and was real, never disguised. You’ve had an incredible run with more surely to come. At 2 we recognize the effort put forth in getting to #1.
A Cinderella Story sits atop the winter Top Ten. Boys basketball finishes high in the Class A rankings for the first time since way before when! A most memorable season for Mohler, Miles, Jeffries, Machnick, and Stockwell. The same can be said for starters Simpson, Webb, Rivera and Johnnie O. as well. This team turned things around from a record of 9-15 to 18-9 in just one year. Their work in season and out showed grit and a willingness to persevere. They’ve reached new heights never before achieved and never gave an inch on giving this season their best shot. For this you’re an easy pick for the number 1 spot.
Now on to the spring with your cleats, oars, bats, discs, and sticks. Let’s make this a great season for the great class of 2026.
Winter sub-varsity awards 2026
Boys Thirds Basketball
MVP: Victor Kibuuka
Girls Thirds Basketball
MVP: Vic’Kaysha Rivera
MIP: Ellie Maeda
Boys JV Basketball
MVP: Jackson Glazier and Henry Dorman
Coaches Award: Sam Peake
Girls JV Basketball
MVP: Charlie Rolland and Daisy Rolland
Boys JV Hockey
MVP: Cooper Lawson and Owen Fleck
Girls JV Hockey
MVP: Blair Murray
MIP: Josie Kalish
Boys Thirds Squash
Most valuable: Aaron Han
Most Improved: Spencer Trees
Girls Thirds Squash
MVP: Reed Foster
Boys JV Squash
MIP: Michael McColgan
Coach’s award: Jack Keller
Girls JV Squash
Coach’s Award: EC Tate
Co-Ed JV Swimming & Diving
MIP: Avery Fillio
MVP: Julie Yan
Coaches’ Award: Syd Boswell
VARSITY AWARDS
Boys Varsity Basketball
Most Improved: Elijah Webb
Girls Varsity Basketball
The Keller-Birrell Award: Sophie Kamil
Most Improved Player: Rose Manning
Boys Alpine Skiing
Scott Kelnberger ‘79 Award for the Best Boy Skier: Jackson Stram
Douglas Parker, Jr. Award: Beckett Baird
Girls Alpine Skiing
Brooke Gonzalez ‘97 Cup for the Best Girl Skier: Rowan Skinner
Phillip Ball, Jr. Award: Haley Hickman
Arthur H. Ruggles Jr. ’33 Ski Award: Cecelia Cramer, Rowan Skinner
Boys Varsity Hockey
Deerfield Hockey Cup: Matteo Alvarez
7th Player Award: Lukas Machan
Girls Varsity Hockey
MVP: Chloe Cleaves, Sophie Frost
7th Player award: Ava Giroux
Boys Varsity Swimming & Diving
Noel J. Stace Challenge Cup: John Comite
John Pigeon Award: Alex Chutkow
Girls Varsity Swimming & Diving:
The Coaches Award: Sophia Gao
Boys Varsity Squash
Mike Silipo Cup: Hart Robertson
Girls Varsity Squash
Karinne Heise Cup: Sophie Simonds
Varsity Wrestling
Deerfield Academy Wrestling Award: Matthew Hough