Maroon and White Celebrates a Stellar Fall

Fall 2015 was a stellar few months for Raiders Athletics. Both team and individual accomplishments studded each sport's season. However, like the Mets, many of the teams could not carry their momentum when it counted most and fell short Sectionals. Nonetheless, there were highlights and memories to be recounted as the teams congregated one last time at the Fall Awards Dinner hosted by the Maroon and White.

The Varsity football team had their sights set on a Section Championship heading into the season and the squad was tested with one of the toughest schedules in school history. While they could not quite capitalize on their winning momentum in the postseason, Senior Captain Michael Rolfe considers the season a success. He says, "We made it to the Class AA semi-finals. This was the first appearance in the semis for Scarsdale football ever. This team made history and will be recognized as one of the top teams in Scarsdale football history." The boys finished 6-3, ending their season with a tough defeat by New Rochelle.

Raiders Field Hockey, better known as "flockey," finished 12-6. Senior Eliza Brosgol says, "the biggest factors that contributed to our team's success were our determination and our positive attitudes. The combination allowed for a motivated and supportive team." Another key contributor to their success this season was learning to work on communication skills. That came with having a close-knit team, on and off the field. Brosgol says, "I think it's really important that the team became close off the field. We were a team of mostly returning players so it was easy for us to reconnect after a year apart. It's a great group of girls and I think that our closeness helped us trust each other on the field. Plus, it's fun when you like who you are playing with." The Raiders went out with a bang, pressing hard and giving Horace Greeley a close game in the Section Semi-Finals. "Of course it would have been nice to make it to the section finals, but we fought hard and gave it our all in a double OT and a shoot-out."

Even though cross-country is an individual sport, the Raiders made every practice and every competition a team effort. The team's success is a product of individual tenacious work ethics. Senior Charlie Musoff says, "Some of our workouts can be brutal, but every day we buckle down and run hard... Without your teammates to push you, it is a much more difficult mental game to push through that last mile or even maintain a steady pace." One highlight of the season was when the Boys' Varsity, JV, and Freshman teams swept the League Meet. The team boasted 8 All-League runners, and everyone loves watching their teammates succeed. Musoff notes that the team dynamic was strong this fall. "You cannot rely on anyone else to run your race for you. As Coach Clark likes to say, we 'run as one'... I may have a good race, but if the team as a whole runs poorly, I am not successful."

The Girls' Swim team's passion and school spirit was perhaps best displayed when they wore towel capes and goggles to school the day of a meet. Even though the team did not pull together as many wins as they would have liked, they were able to enjoy the season regardless through new friendships and a sense of unity. The Raiders will send three competitors off to the next level: Swimmers Scottie Berridge and Tanvi Pabby and Diver Samantha Ho will compete at States.

The Girls' Soccer season flew by as the Raiders reveled in a hot streak. They went undefeated for 13 games straight, and had a five game shutout streak in the final weeks of the season. Unfortunately, like several sports teams, the Raiders could not carry over their penchant for victory into November. They finished 13-3-2 after being edged out of Sectional competition by a pressing New Rochelle team 2-1 in Quarterfinals. It was difficult for everyone to see the season slip through their fingers on a low note, but there was much to be proud of. The Raiders beat rivals Mamaroneck and Ursuline twice to clinch the League title as undefeated Champions. Senior Goalkeeper Carly Glickenhaus, Senior Defender Zoe Epstein, Junior Defender Sophia Mohlulis, and Senior Defender Eryn McDonald, the Raiders core back line, were named All-Section, and star midfielder Kate Donovan was All-Section Honorable Mention. The girls were closer than ever this year; everyone from Seniors to Freshmen had a positive attitude about branching out, and thanks to team bonding activities the girls developed a sense of trust that played out in the high pressure situations of a match.

The Boys' Soccer team finished 15-3-1. Unlike the girls, boys were not allowed to compete on both Varsity and their respective club and Academy teams, so many were faced with a difficult decision. At the awards dinner, Senior Captain Fazl Shaikh shared that he was happy with his decision to play for the Raiders. Many players have found that the camaraderie and school spirit on Scarsdale teams is unparalleled. A strong team dynamic can be a source of fun, but it is also a breeding ground for success. Shaikh says, "Team chemistry is vital because without that the team will never go far. In playoffs games it is all about grinding out the win and you can only do that if you have team chemistry." The team had its ups and downs this season, and many were disappointed they did not have the opportunity to make a run on States. Nonetheless, they have winning streaks and upsets to be proud of. Shaikh adds, "For our team success of winning the league, being ranked the 3rd seed in Section 1, and ending with a solid record, that all had to do with how much we worked in preseason and throughout the season."

Fall athletes mourn the conclusion of their seasons and the concomitant loss of their first quarter gym exemptions. Blissful fall afternoons on the pitch will be replaced by cold afternoons where there is no excuse for delaying homework. Instead of wearing jerseys and Raider apparel two to three times a week on game days, the girls' soccer team laments that they will have to return to their wardrobes and start picking clothes again. Amongst this nostalgia, however, the Varsity volleyball team is still killing their game. The girls won Section 1 this past weekend and will play at John Jay Cross River at 11 on Saturday November 14 with hopes of bringing home a Regional Victory and a ticket to the State Competition. This sliver of fall sports mania persists as the winter sports teams gear up for their season.

Article by Carly Glickenhaus, Photos by Hannah Glickenhaus