Our Chapin student-athletes have completed yet another memorable winter season, competing in fencing, squash, indoor track & field, swimming and basketball.
Through hard work and countless hours spent in the pool, on the courts, on the strip and on the track, our students continued to grow in their respective sports. Each athlete pushed themselves beyond their comfort zones, sharpening their skills and strengthening their confidence as competitors and teammates.
Junior Varsity (JV) Basketball had a strong season, capturing a victory at the Athletic Association of Independent Schools (AAIS) quarterfinals before advancing to the AAIS semifinals competition.
Class 9 JV Basketball co-captain Serena B. reflected on her leadership role, sharing, “To serve as a team captain means taking responsibility not just for your own performance, but for the effort and unity of the entire team.” She went on to say, “A captain leads by example, showing discipline, resilience and accountability in both wins and losses.”
Varsity Basketball held a 5-2 league record and completed a strong game at the AAIS Quarterfinals, advancing to the AAIS semifinals. Head Varsity Basketball Coach Michael Davis said, “For me, being the head coach of the Chapin Varsity Basketball team is an honor and a great responsibility.” He often shares advice with his team saying, “If you give your full effort, be a good teammate, make new friends and have fun every practice and game, you will have a successful season.”
During the JV and Varsity Basketball quarterfinals, which were held in Chapin’s Athletic Center, 25 lucky winners received a "GATORS WATCH WOMEN'S SPORTS" t-shirt. The bleachers were full of Lower, Middle and Upper School students and families supporting our teams.
Varsity Basketball co-captain and Class 12 student Annabel M. said, “Being trusted to co-lead the team this year meant the world to me. I’ve always looked up to the Varsity basketball captains who came before me, so I understood the responsibility of stepping into their shoes and spent a lot of time thinking about how I could give my best to the team…This season will always be special to me.”
The Varsity Squash team competed fiercely throughout the season, advancing to the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) quarterfinals. They went on to represent Chapin at the U.S. Squash High School Nationals in Philadelphia, a national scholastic team competition with over 200 high school teams from all leagues across the country competing.
Class 12 Varsity Squash co-captain Grace F. said her favorite memory from the season was coming off the court after winning the final match of the first round of Nationals. “It was such a long road to get to Nationals: not just this season, but five years on this team. I was overflowing with pride for myself and my team. There is nothing more gratifying than winning a close match, leaving it all out there on the court and knowing you did something for the good of the team.” Our athletes displayed strong sportsmanship and talent ending with a 8-9 overall record after Nationals.
Indoor Track & Field had an exceptional season, finishing in 2nd place at the AAIS Championships. 12 athletes earned medals, five school records were broken and many runners achieved personal best times and marks. Several athletes qualified for the Indoor High School Nationals and 16 team members qualified for the NYSAIS Championships. Four athletes finished in the top three and advanced to the NYS Federation meet in Staten Island. Sophia O. ’30, Georgette S. ’29, Fairfax Walker ’29 and Ayra N. ’29 also qualified for the Nike Indoor Nationals Meet held from March 12-15, where they will compete against the best track & field athletes across the country, a huge milestone for the team.
In the pool, our Varsity swimmers demonstrated strong endurance and determination, strengthening their skills throughout the season. Varsity Swim co-captain and Class 12 student Eve K. said, “One highlight of the season was our state swim meet. Our relay team consisted of one senior and three juniors, and it was truly incredible to see us all come together, get motivated and cheer each other on in some of our last races of the season. This was a moment I will never forget, and it really exemplifies why being on a Chapin sports team is so important to me. While the process matters more than the result, I am very happy to say that we qualified for finals, swam our best times and almost cracked the top 10 in our finals race the following day.”
The team made it to the AAIS Championships and Eve medaled in the 100 fly. Five swimmers went on to compete at the NYSAIS Championship at Horace Mann, where Marguax P. '27 came in 2nd in the 50 freestyle and 3rd in the 100 freestyle and Eve came in 7th place in the 50 freestyle and 5th in the 100 freestyle.
Chapin’s Varsity Fencing team showcased their precision and strategic thinking in embracing both the individual and team aspects of their sport. The athletes wrapped up their regular season at the Independent School Fencing League (ISFL) Individual Championships, with three members on the team earning medals, including Quinn M. '29, Kaitlyn L. '27 and Grace G. '29. They finished their season competing at the NYSAIS Team Championships where Quinn placed 2nd overall in Foil.
Our student athletic leaders are eager to mentor the next generation of Chapin competitors. When sharing advice for younger students, Annabel said, “Give everything you can to your team: show up, work hard and always go the extra mile. The more you dedicate yourself, the more connected you will feel to your community and your sport.”
JV Basketball Co-Captain and Class 9 student, Natalia C., echoed this sentiment and said, “I think the best piece of advice is to have confidence in yourself. Having confidence makes all the difference, and if you go onto the court, field or track with a good mindset, you will be amazed at the difference. This year, I started to build confidence, and while I have not fully achieved it, my game play has changed drastically. Not only do I like the sport more, but I can see myself improving.”
Across all six teams, our students demonstrated remarkable growth, sportsmanship and dedication with many qualifying for postseason contests. Throughout the season, Chapin fans showed their support, filling the stands in GREEN and GOLD, and cheering on their classmates.
Congratulations to all our student-athletes on an incredible winter season! Looking ahead, we are excited for our upcoming spring season just around the corner. Go Gators!
