/ Bears at Play /
/ Bears at Play /
New England Champs!
The 2012 Avon Christmas Classic tournament champs were ranked number one in New England for most of the winter.
A Historic Season for Hockey
Prep School Coach of the Year Dan Driscoll guides the Bears during the 5th Annual Lucille D’Arco Memorial Cup, a game against Taft School played in memory of the mother of former Berkshire assistant coach and 1999 Taft graduate Brad D’Arco (right).
A very talented boys track team took home the Class B New England Championship last spring at Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Mass. It was a day filled with inspiring personal performances and shattered meet records. An exceptional 4x100m relay team consisting of Zeiko Lewis ’13, Justin Donawa ’15, Brandon Allen ’13 and Marquis Carr ’13, lit up the track with their first-place, record-breaking finish to kick off the day. This was quickly followed by Justin Donawa’s record-breaking performance in the 100m. That was not to be all for Justin, however, as he leapt straight to firstplace in the long jump and the triple jump events as well.
“Our goal for the season was to finish in the top three in New England,” said Coach Brian Sullivan. “We knew if we could stay healthy and peak at the right time, we would have an outside shot at winning everything.” He continued, “Our approach was to remain committed to our training program and to focus on the New England Championship rather than on dual meets. In the end, we peaked when we needed to.” Other Bears who peaked right on time were Marquis Carr, first place in the 110m high hurdles; Brandon Allen, first place in the 200m; and Another Kushaina ’15, first place in the 300m hurdles. The 4x400m relay team— Noah Sinkoff ’13, Nim Farhood ’14,
Zeiko Lewis and Another Kushaina —ended the meet in dramatic fashion when Kushaina closed a 20-foot gap in the last leg to beat the whole field and win it all for the Bears. Coach Sullivan is quick to credit his fellow coaches for the team’s success: Dory Driscoll (hurdles), Julia Cohan and John Malarney (throws), Richard Giles (pole vault) and Jen Anderson (high jump/distance). “Without their daily guidance and efforts,” he says, “it would have been impossible to have such a successful season. It was an amazing team and a season that will be remembered.”
Last winter, the boys varsity hockey team was on a tear. In late December, the Bears headed to Avon for the annual Christmas Classic tournament. Berkshire has participated in this event since its inception 30 years ago but has never finished better than second place, something accomplished twice in the late 90’s. After four hard-fought games, the 2012-2013 squad ended that streak with a double-overtime win over Kent School to hoist the championship trophy for the first time in school history. While the players on both teams gave it their all, the final period belonged to Tim Ernst ’13 who put on a goaltending display that was nothing short of miraculous at times and earned him tournament MVP honors. The Bears kept their winning ways alive in the new year and put together a remarkable 20-game unbeaten streak, which stretched from December 5 through February 18, a school record. The team was ranked number one in New England for the better part of the winter and made it to the Elite 8 tournament where they fell to Salisbury, the eventual tournament champs, in a heartbreaking game played before an enormous crowd in the Jackman L. Stewart Athletic Center. The team, led by Dan Driscoll, was recognized throughout New England for its talent but also its sportsmanship. Coach Driscoll was named Prep School Coach of the Year by the Connecticut Chapter of the National Ice Hockey Official’s Association. “The award’s focus is on team sportsmanship and player conduct on and off the ice,” said Coach Driscoll. “I am very proud of that but reluctant to take any credit as our kids were truly outstanding.” Last year’s assistant coach, Brad D’Arco, sheds some light on Coach Driscoll’s coaching style: “Dan’s greatest abilities as a coach are that he manages the personalities of his teams extremely well, and he makes sure that the culture of the group represents the school and community well. Dan knows his players better than anyone I have coached with. His ability to connect with the kids, and their knowing how invested he is in them, brings out their best.”
The 2013 Track and Field Class B New England Champs
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Berkshire Bulletin
Summer/Fall 2013
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