Oct 24, 2017 | Athletics
By Ameera Ebrahim (III)
With a record of 3-3-1, the girl’s varsity soccer team is having a solid season so far. The girls started off strong with a 2-1 win against Watchung Hills. They went on to tie their next game and win their third game against Montgomery.
The team then faced three tough losses in a row. However, after a recent win against the Peddie School, the girls are optimistic for the rest of their season.
Captains Emma Lombardo (VI), Ally Pine (VI), Mairead Higgins (VI), and Alexis Elliot (VI) are determined to reach the goals they set for themselves in the beginning of the season. Regarding their performance, Elliot said, “Our season has been off to a good start. We secured an early win against Watchung Hills that set a high standard. We are confident that our hard work will pay off and we will get the results we expect and deserve.”
Oct 24, 2017 | Athletics
By Nick Robinson (V)
The boys’ soccer team has kicked off their season with their record currently sitting at 3-2-1.
They opened their season this year with a 1-1 tie against Watchung Hills. “Nobody was happy with that one,” said Coach David Fahey about the close game. However, the team went on to win its next three games against Montgomery, George, and Friends Central. It then lost its last two games against Bridgewater-Raritan and Peddie, two big rivals for the team.
Coach Fahey said that, despite losing four very strong seniors last year, the team is pushing hard to have a good season. He said their goals are “to win the county, the conference, and the state tournament.” The team is adjusting and playing well. Captain Alexy Alin-Hvidsten (VI) already scored four goals this season, and the rest of the team is also doing well.
Overall, the season is off to a decent start as the team prepares for bigger challenges at counties and states.
Oct 24, 2017 | Athletics, School News
By Rhea Kapur ’21
Pingry Athletics is a key element in the lives of many students. Last year was notable in the school’s history because of the addition of the Miller A. Bugliari ‘52 Athletics Center (BAC). This past summer, existing athletics facilities were further improved. Ranging from upgrades to the softball fields to a completely new track and field area, the new state-of-the-art facilities are amazing resources for student-athletes.
The plan to strengthen Big Blue Athletics through advanced facilities encompasses not only indoor facilities like the BAC, but also new tennis courts and other renovated fields. Pingry Tennis continues to enjoy a successful program. Last year, the Girls’ Varsity team was the Non-Public “A” South Sectional Champions and the Non-Public “A” Group Champions after qualifying for the Tournament of Champions. The Boys’ Varsity team finished second in the Somerset County Tournament and third in the Non-Public “B” Group rankings. This success must be attributed in part to amazing tennis facilities, which have been completely redone this summer with 12 new tennis courts to set the stage for many seasons to come.
“They are really great courts; it’s such an amazing opportunity to become proficient at tennis and learn the game in a competitive environment, along with great coaching,” says Eva Schiller (III), a new student and player on the Junior Varsity girls’ tennis team.
A complete makeover of the Parsons Track and Field area was also an exciting, long-awaited project that was completed just before the start of school. The updates include a new scoreboard, a dual-sport artificial turf playing surface, goalposts, and a completely new, advanced track. The facility is becoming an indispensable part for the football, track, soccer, and lacrosse programs. Football coach Mr. Chris Shilts reflects that in the past, “We spent half our practice time moving to different areas to avoid trampling the grass field into a mud bowl. With this upgrade, we’ll have turf. We’ll have a first-rate facility that draws athletes in.”
Director of Athletics and Lacrosse Coach Carter Abbott said that before the renovation, during the lacrosse season, “Boys and girls [were] getting an hour of practice time each, while competitors [got] way more.” By removing previous disadvantages, this new track and turf field presents another opportunity for Pingry Athletics to thrive.
The last improvement to the exterior athletics grounds includes the construction of a new Junior Varsity softball field near the tennis courts and renovations on the Varsity softball field.
