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With a host of highly talented upper mids, including leading scorers Keith Shattenkirk, Todd Johnson and Alex Meintel, Taft should once again be a force to be reckoned with; the boys’ four-year record of 84–9–5 speaks for itself.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL 17–7 New England Quarterfinalist The boys’ varsity basketball team finished with a school record 17 wins and made the New England tournament for the first time in six years. The regular season included sweeps of Kent and Hotchkiss and a thrilling 83–81 win at home late in the season against then 18–2 KingswoodOxford. That victory along with a key win over Avon ensured their number 6 ranking in New England. The team bowed out in the first round of the tournament with a tough 64–61 loss to Loomis, but this was the finest basketball team at Taft in many, many years, perhaps ever. Seniors Robbie Madden, Michael Bryan, Kofi Ofori-Ansah, and Adam Kowalski were a big part of this squad’s tenacious defense and perpetual hustle. Junior guard Brian Baudinet, a Second Team League All Star, averaged over 15 points per game and may well have a shot at becoming Taft’s first 1,000 point scorer next year. Post graduates Brandon Miles and Will Blanden were central to the team’s success, both being named to the Tri-State All-League team. Miles led the league in free throw average (81 percent), pulled down nine rebounds per game and did much of the inside work all winter. Will Blanden was simply one of the best players in New England this year, leading the team in points (20.5 per game) and rebounds (10.3 per game), and coming up with big plays at both ends of the court whenever Taft needed it.
GIRLS’ HOCKEY 17–4–1 Founders League Tri-Champs, New England Semifinalist
The girls’ hockey team pulled out a series of wonderful wins throughout the middle of the season to earn a number 4 ranking in New England. Their determined string of 11 straight victories included triumphs over several of the strongest prep teams this year: Loomis (2–1), Choate (1–0), Pomfret (2–1), Deerfield (2–0), Tabor (4–3) and undefeated Cushing (1–0). That this team played with heart and perseverance goes without saying, and with that midseason momentum, Taft battled past Pomfret with another 2–1 win in the quarterfinals of the New England tournament before dropping a 5–2 decision to Cushing. Nicole Mandras was named to the All New England Team (one of only seven players), and was also a Founders League All Star along with teammates Jennifer Sifers and Kim Pearce. Captain-elect Jaclyn Hawkins led the team in scoring, followed closely by Pearce and Patsy Odden Award winner Shannon Sylvester; middler goalie Lacey Brown compiled an impressive 1.18 goals-against-average.
GIRLS’ SQUASH 9–2 Founders League Champs, 2nd New England Tournament The girls’ squash team followed up their finest finish in New England last year (3rd place) with an inspiring second place finish this year. Though the girls could not overcome seven-time New England champ Greenwich Academy during the season (a 2–5 loss) or at the tournament, Taft did defeat rival Deerfield (5–2) and blanked Hotchkiss, Andover, Loomis, Choate, and Westminster in dual matches (7–0 for each match). Uppermid Supriya Balsekar and lowermid Sydney Scott both marched through the season undefeated and went on to win the No. 1 and No. 2 draws at the New England tournament. Balsekar did not lose a game at the tournament in defending her individual title, and there is no doubt that she is the finest high school player by some measure. Syd Scott may well be the second best
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Hannah Baker ’03 stretches for a backhand. PETER FREW
individual player in New England with her present ranking as the top player under 17 in the nation. Seniors Hannah Baker and Katherine O’Herron both also made it to the final in the No. 3 and No. 7 draws at the tournament to help the team to their second place finish. The 2003 team set the standard for girls’ squash at Taft as a talented, spirited, and undaunted group of athletes.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL 18–6 New England Semifinalist After a slow start this winter, the girls’ basketball record stood at 6–5, yet this Taft team surprised many opponents as they battled their way to twelve straight wins, a 17–5 regular season record, and a No. 5 ranking in New England. The impressive run by Taft included second-chance wins over tournament-bound Choate and Loomis and was based on flawless team defense and the play of uppermid center Katie McCabe who averaged 23 points and 9 rebounds a game during that critical stretch. The New England tournament began with a strong 47–40 win over Exeter, but the girls then could not get by two-time New England champ Tabor in the semifinals. Senior Katie Franklin led the team in steals and assists at point guard, while classmate Caitlin Grit regularly scored in double figures and was the team’s second leading scorer. Taft Bulletin Spring 2003
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