What an exciting fall season in sports. It’s great to see our competitive sports program booming.
To kick-off the fall season, 255 students from sixth-to-twelfth grade along with their coaches headed to Camp Pontiac (see photo slideshow above) in upstate New York for a week of pre-season practice and team-building. When we got back to the Lycée, we hit the ground running and didn’t stop! Here’s a look at the highlights by team:
In Cross Country, teams show endurance
The Middle School Boys and Girls Teams had a number of outstanding performances in their races this year. Many of the runners achieved their personal best. On the Varsity Boys and Girls Teams, our runners worked hard and showed endurance on the course. Five LFNY runners qualified for the NYSAIS Cross Country Championships, where they competed against top runners from independent schools across New York state.
In Soccer, a flourishing program
It’s fair to say that soccer is a hit! Our soccer program continues to grow for both boys and girls with 155 students participating on eight teams. We’re seeing great interest among younger players in particular, a great sign for the years ahead….
The MS Girls Soccer team on the field against Brooklyn Friends ©Robert de la Chapelle.
In middle school we saw our Middle School Girls team grow in numbers. Two years ago we had ten girls on the team, and this year we have 29. The Middle School Boys “A” Team went undefeated and was regular season champions. We added a Middle School Boys “B” team, giving all students who would like to, the opportunity to continue playing soccer. Our Sixth-Grade Boys & Girls Teams had another strong year for us. The girls went undefeated, and the boys had only one loss.
The JV Boys Soccer Team playing against UNIS. © Da Ping Luo
For the third year in a row, Varsity Girls qualified for their league playoffs. And, also for the third straight year, Varsity Boys were co – champions of their regular season, qualifying for the statewide NYSAIS Tournament. They lost a heartbreaker to Poly Prep, but did us proud. Our Junior Varsity Boys Soccer Team finished in second place in their league and made it to their league tournament final. They lost to UNIS in a well-played game.
In volleyball, a magical season
Our teams continued to show great promise. Our Varsity Girls Team won more matches this year then they have won in the previous two years combined. Our Middle School Team showed great improvement over the course of the season.
The Junior Varsity had a magical season. The team was co- champions of the regular season and made it to their league finals. They lost in three sets to The Calhoun School in a gym packed with students, parents, faculty and staff. It was a great moment of spirit and pride for the school, with loud chants of “Ly- cée” echoing in the main gym. Even Leo the Lynx made a special appearance.
The JV Girls Volleyball Team playing against UNIS in the Lycée’s main gym. © Da Ping Luo
Thank you to all coaches and students for their hard work, and to our parents for their support in this exciting fall season.
Good luck to all our winter teams. We look forward to seeing the community out in big, cheering numbers for our home games. Go Lynx!
About the Author :
John Burpoe has been working in education for thirty years, and joined the Lycée team in 2012. Previously, he held the same position at Friends Seminary and Xavier High School. John received a master’s degree from Fordham University School of Education. He enjoys running during his free time.