2025 Fall Athletics Banquet and Season Recap

With the latest season wrapped, varsity and JV athletes, families, and coaches gathered to honor the crew, cross country, field hockey, soccer, and volleyball teams at the 2025 Fall Athletics Banquet. Held in the dining room in Carolyn McClintock Peter Hall, the event drew a substantial crowd.

Addressing the room, Director of Athletics Sherren Granese summed the season up in a couple words: “growth and development,” and “leadership, passion, and commitment.”

“All of our teams and programs showed tremendous growth and development from the beginning of the season until the end,” Coach Granese said, observing that most teams “played their best or recorded their best results” in their final outings for school this fall. Yet she was quick to add that the smaller achievements, and the fun each athlete had, were just as important.

Coach Granese gave special acknowledgement to the 29 seniors across 5 teams—the largest group since she has been at Winsor: “It has been my pleasure and honor to watch this group of senior athletes grow into the teammates, people and leaders that they are today,” she said. “Their collective leadership has set a standard of commitment, dedication and team-first mentality for our rising athletes to follow.”

Read on to learn what each coach had to say about their teams:

Crew

The fall season of the Winsor rowing team was defined by its positivity and growth. Beginning the season with the Paper City Regatta, the Winsor crews set a high bar for achievement by placing first and second of 15 boats in the Varsity 4+, both finishing over 20 seconds ahead of every other crew. The Winsor 3V came in eighth, beating all other 3Vs and many of the 2V boats. The 1V8+ and 2V8+ then found success, placing second and third overall. The Novice 8+ competed in their first regatta and successfully crushed a 2,000-meter course, just three weeks after learning how to row!

These results set the tone for the season, where the crews trained hard for the Head of the Housatonic, bringing home medals in both the Varsity 4+ and Varsity 8+ race. The second Varsity 4+ then placed sixth overall, first out of all of the scholastic crews! The team continued to work on their race plans to find success at the Head of the Charles where three boats competed. The Varsity 8+ raced a strong race against the fastest crews in the country and learned a lot about determination and resilience along the course. The U-17 4+ finished the fastest of all United States high school crews and 11th overall, reclaiming the same place we finished last year. The Varsity 4+ finished sixth out of 86 boats, the highest finish for a Winsor crew since 2012. Sixth place also won them the Metropolitan District Commission Cup, which is presented annually to the Massachusetts high school, both men’s and women’s, that posts the most competitive time in youth fours or youth eights.

While the team had an exciting season of fast races, this fall should truly be defined by the bonds that the 32 athletes built day-in-day-out on the dock. Each day, varsity athletes were eager to jump into novice boats to assist the learning process and novice athletes rose to the varsity level and gave it their all when the crew needed them. The team and coaches are excited to get ready for a competitive spring racing season!

JV Field Hockey
The JV field hockey team had a competitive season battling their opponents from the moment the games started until the final whistle was blown. They opened the season with a 0–0 tie against Buckingham Browne & Nichols, a tough Independent School League (ISL) opponent. We had a strong 3–0 win over the Cambridge School of Weston and turned around the next week and beat the Rivers School in a hard-fought 1–0 battle.

Throughout the season the players showed steady improvements in fundamentals, communication, and overall field awareness. We competed in every game, played some outstanding defense, and showed a tremendous amount of growth in our cohesive team play. Beyond the wins and loses the group had fun and bonded as a team. Congratulations JV field hockey.

Varsity Field Hockey
All season long, the Winsor varsity field hockey team has shown remarkable grit—from rainy day practices, to pushing through run tests, to fighting back from a 5–1 deficit. This group consistently demonstrated both mental and physical strength. Our league play began with a strong 5–2 win away at Portsmouth Abbey, showing early signs of what the team was capable of. A major confidence boost came with a big out-of-league victory over ISL opponent Buckingham Browne & Nichols, earning an impressive result against a tough opponent.

In the second half of the season, we earned two memorable wins over our rival, Newton Country Day School (NCDS). The first was an incredible 3–1 winning performance at Under the Lights with tremendous support from our fans. The second game against NCDS was another 3–1 win away on their grass field—the final game ever played on that surface before it’s replaced. That victory marked our first road win against NCDS in a long time and was a meaningful moment for the program that will be remembered by all. That win also secured our second place finish in the Eastern Independent League (EIL) standings. 

Above all, this team built an incredible culture—supportive, competitive, and joyful—and their resilience and togetherness made this one of the most special seasons we’ve ever had, with genuinely immaculate vibes from start to finish.

JV Soccer

The JV soccer team had a fantastic season this year, finishing with a record of 6–3–3. Our roster was made up entirely of Class IV and Class V students, and despite being one of the youngest teams in the league, we played with incredible determination and maturity. We started the season strong, with a great win over Portsmouth Abbey that set the tone for the weeks ahead. One of our toughest and most exciting games was a 2–2 tie against Austin Preparatory School, where the team showed resilience and teamwork from start to finish. We also earned incredibly impressive wins over Milton Academy and Dana Hall, which highlighted just how much our players had grown throughout the season.

Every game brought improvement, and our communication, passing, and confidence on the field kept getting stronger. The team’s energy and positive attitude made practices fun and our games competitive. This group’s effort, spirit, and camaraderie made the season special. We’re proud of everything that the JV soccer team has accomplished and can’t wait to build on this success next year!

Varsity Soccer
It was another fun and exciting season for the Winsor varsity soccer team! We started the season off with a few key injuries and a tough schedule against top Class A and Class B opponents, but it only made us stronger to compete against our EIL opponents. Led by senior captains, Alessa Andrews ’26, Keira Finn ’26, and Annie Frigerio ’26, the group was in good hands whenever they were battle-tested, as the three of them made sure everyone was locked in and ready to go. Some season highlights included two eight-goal games versus Bancroft and Lexington Christian Academy, an exciting 1–0 win over Dana Hall, and being the only EIL team to score a goal against Pingree.

Some of the team’s favorite moments this season were playing soccer baseball, our pumpkin carving competition, and watching Coach Emmet try and play goalie. The team not only finished the season playing their best soccer all fall, but they were also able to create friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. Shoutout to the seven seniors who gave everything that they had to the program over the last four years; you will be missed. Congratulations varsity soccer.

JV Volleyball
The JV volleyball team had an incredible season, finishing with an impressive record of 14–3.  We opened the season with a strong win over Concord Academy and continued to build upon our success from there. The success was a result of the team’s dedication, resilience, and high energy that was displayed every day.

There were plenty of floor-diving back-row digs that turned points for the opposition into momentum-changing plays for us. The team had explosive offensive power that produced consistently high kill and ace percentage rates. Their mental toughness in every set helped us to close out tight matches under pressure. It was our pleasure to be able to coach you and watch you come together and grow as individuals, but more importantly as a team.  Congratulations JV volleyball on an outstanding season!

Varsity Volleyball
This season was one defined by heart, hustle, and relentless defense. From the very first serve to the final whistle, our team showed what it means to play with determination and pride. Tough rallies, gritty saves, and unwavering teamwork became our identity. Our captains set the tone every single day, leading with energy, discipline, and hype that lifted the entire squad. They kept the team focused, fired up, and united.

One of the biggest highlights of our year was making the NEPSAC playoffs in Class A, the largest and most competitive in New England. That accomplishment alone marks a milestone and reflects how far this team has come. Every practice, every game, and every moment of growth led us to that achievement, proving the strength and potential of this team.

In the first round we faced the number one seed, King School, and what a match it was. From start to finish, everyone stepped up and played some of the best volleyball of the season. The energy was electric, the rallies were intense, and the effort was undeniable. Although we ultimately fell short, the match showcased our grit and growth.

After the game ended both teams came together for photos, showcasing the true spirit of competition and sportsmanship. Winsor’s outstanding sportsmanship throughout the season led them to be awarded the Class A Clyde Beckwith Sportsmanship Award. Congratulations varsity volleyball on an outstanding season!

Cross Country
The Winsor XC team entered the season with the goal of extending its 10+-year EIL undefeated streak and capturing their 21^st league title. Our group of 27 athletes was bookended by six seniors and six Class IV runners who worked very hard to achieve these goals. We continued to challenge ourselves by attending large invitationals and seeking out ISL and NEPSAC competition beyond the league. Our record of 12–3 overall and 7–0 in the EIL is a testament to the focus and effort that the team brought to every race. Ice cream runs, XC prom, and Strava map challenges also kept us busy.  

We finished the season with first place in the EIL championship, winning by 54 points—the largest margin in 10 years. At the NEPSAC tournament we were sixth out of 14 teams in the varsity race and fourth out of 13 teams in the JV race.

Gabrielle Peskin ’28 defended her EIL title with Gracie Zhou ’26 finishing second. We graduate six incredible seniors who have all made a huge impact on the Winsor XC program. We will miss you so much and promise to continue the tradition and excellence of the Winsor XC program.

Congratulations Winsor cross country on your continued success.

Honors
Several Winsor athletes received All League and All New England Honors. During the banquet, they stood as their families, coaches, and fellow athletes cheered their accomplishments. 

Varsity field hockey EIL Honorable Mention: Grayson Dolins ’26 and Jiwon Lee ’27

Varsity field hockey EIL All League: Sophia Bub ’27, Hannah Minn ’26, and Morgan Peterson ’26

Varsity field hockey All New England Honorable Mention: Morgan Peterson ’26

Varsity field hockey All New England: Sophia Bub ’27

Varsity soccer EIL Honorable Mention: Lexi Danik ’27

Varsity soccer EIL All League: Annie Frigerio ’26 and Kate Perkins ’26

Varsity soccer All New England Honorable Mention: Annie Frigerio ’26

Varsity soccer Mass Prep All State Selection: Annie Frigerio ’26

Varsity volleyball EIL Honorable Mention: Yemisi Adetowubo ’26 and Susan Zuo ’26

Varsity volleyball EIL All League: Avery Kerble ’26 and Alani Morales ’28

Varsity volleyball All New England Honorable Mention: Alani Morales ’28

Varsity volleyball All New England: Avery Kerble ’26

Varsity cross country EIL Honorable Mention: Amanda Chen ’30 and Avery Fantasia ’29

Varsity cross country EIL All League: Leila Andermann ’27, Tenney Bluman ’26, Gabrielle Peskin ’28, and Gracie Zhou ’26

Varsity cross country All New England Honorable Mention: Tenney Bluman ’26 and Gabrielle Peskin ’28Varsity cross country All New England: Gracie Zhou ’28