for the Rhinos. What followed was an avalanche of injuries, culminating in the loss of nine starters. In short, Taft played the most difficult schedule in all of New England, facing four Class A New England Championship teams. Throughout the difficult season, the squad stayed together and persevered. Co-captain Alex Salytchev ’16 was one of the most dynamic two-way players in New England and received All-New England accolades for his play at wide receiver and defensive back, while co-captain Sam Sweet ’16 was a steady force at tight end and defensive end. Postgraduate Pat Ford ’16 steered the offense and consistently found Aidan Majury ’16 as one of his favorite targets. Sam Okpan ’16 led the team in tackles from his linebacker spot. Jon Jacobs ’16 (All Erickson League, All Founders League) was a dominant two-way lineman, while Chris Bedigian ’16 and Alex Hughes ’16 (All Founders League) were rocks on both sides of the ball.
Juliana yamin ’18 makes a play against kent.
girls’ soccer 11–4–2 NEW ENGLAND CLASS A SEMIFINALIST
The 11 regular-season wins is the most by the program since the early 2000s and earned the team a playoff berth for the first time since 2010. Under the leadership of phenomenal captains Madie Leidt ’16 and Steph Houghton ’16 (Founders League All-Star) and a strong 2016 class of leaders, including Cecilia Sousa ’16 and Jules Falkow ’16, the team played better as the season elapsed. Season highlights include victories against Deerfield and Hotchkiss, and winning seven of the final nine games. In arguably the best result for the program in the past 15 years, Taft beat two-time defending New England Champions Nobles (1–0) in the first round of the New England tournament to earn their first New England semifinal appearance since 2001. Taft had breakout seasons 26
Taft Bulletin / Winter 2016
from Kristin Manfreda ’18 (8 goals, 6 assists, and a WWNEPSSA All-Star and a Connecticut All-State team selection), Sojung Kim ’17 (6 goals, 5 assists), Emilee Adami ’19 (7 goals, 1 assist), and Grace Adams ’17 (6 goals, 1 assist, WWNEPSSA All-Star). Seniors Emma Belak ’16 and Emma Pottenger ’16 helped lock down the center of the field. Goalkeeper Leidt capped her illustrious career with her finest season to date, earning All-State team honors as well as her third straight Boston Globe All-State selection.
Football 0–8 The 2015 season began with promise, but was fraught with adversity. Taft lost early close games to Kent (21–20), Trinity-Pawling (40–34 in overtime), and Avon Old Farms (43–39) on strange bounces and missed opportunities, a start that easily could have been 3–0
Fall atHletiC aWarD Winners John B. small Cross Country award robert a. Dettmann ’16 Tyler M. Dullinger ’16 Evan a. Miller ’16 girls’ Cross Country award Sophia E. Dawn ’16 Field Hockey award isabella w. Horstmann ’16 alexandra M. Long ’16 Brooke a. Majewski ’16 livingston Carroll soccer award Mathew B. Maier ’16 Jevaughn C. Sinclair ’16 1976 girls’ soccer award Madeline r. Leidt ’16 Black Football award alexander N. Salytchev ’16 Cross Football award Samuel B. Sweet ’16 Volleyball award Liana B. Hickey ’16