S
P
O
R
T
ping a 28–14 decision in the end. Seniors Dan Welsh and Colby Griffith were named All-League. Griffith was also named to the Erickson Conference First Team as a defensive back, and Welsh was voted as the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the league.
Girls’ Soccer: 9–2–4 (NE Tournament) Taft girls’ soccer, the dominant force in New England in the late ’80s, has made a steady climb back up to the top competitive arena, just missing the post-season tournament last year. This year’s squad earned an 8th place seeding for the tournament on the strength of their 9–2–4 record before bowing out to eventual champ Loomis-Chaffee in the first round. Driven by powerful All-New England fullback Jenn Feffer, Taft was stingy on defense all season and exploded at just the right times in a crucial 1–0 win over Westminster and an inspiring comeback tie 2–2, versus Choate. Seniors Rachel Ridgeway and Annie Owen were also named as WWNEPSSA All-Stars, and Meghan Stone was a Founders’ League All-Star.
Boys’ Soccer: 9–7 The boys’ varsity has not had a losing season since 1988, but an 0–3 start left this year’s talented team feeling uncertain at best. However, led by WNEPSA All-Stars Paul Kelly and Luke LaBella, Taft went on to win 7 of their next 8 games. The defense was anchored by Founders’ League All-Star Taylor Leahy, but Kelly, a senior from South Africa, provided the offensive spark and ball control for this year’s team which scored a school record: 53 goals in 17 games. The junior varsity enjoyed their most successful season ever, posting a 15–0–1 record and scoring a staggering 91 goals in just 16 games.
Sarah Bromley ’02 helped bring the girls’ varsity squad to a 9–2–4 record and a place at the New England Tournament. Photo by Vaughn Winchell
Girls’ Cross Country: 7–4 The team’s effort to win a third consecutive Founders’ League Title fell just short as Taft placed 2nd in the league meet on November 4. Yet, middler Marisa Ryan won the individual title as she just missed the course record at Hotchkiss, and senior Vanessa Wood and uppermid Meredith Deschenes earned All-League status in finishing 5th and 9th respectively. On the final weekend, the girls bounced back to have their finest race of the season in placing 4th at the New England Championship meet, defeating all their Founders’ League foes in the process.
Captains-Elect 2001 Boys’ Cross Country Charles Erdman ’02, Scott McGoohan ’02
Girls’ Cross Country Meredith Deschenes ’02
Field Hockey Grace Morris ’02, Brooke Townsend ’02
Football Edward Allen ’02, Bailey Stark ’02, Rodman Tilt ’02
Other Records
Boys’ Soccer
Boy’s Cross Country 3–10 Volleyball 5–11
Girls’ Soccer
Matthew Aleksinas ’02, Luke LaBella ’02
Sarah Bromley ’02, Kara McCabe ’02, Lucy O’Connell ’02
Volleyball Katherine Blunt ’02, Maiko Nakarai ’02
Taft Bulletin
27