Some of my earliest memories as a kid were spent watching Deerfield sports. Whether it was watching Deerfield soccer games during my rec soccer days, watching Deerfield baseball games during my t-ball days, or 80’s night in the barn before I knew what multiplication was, Deerfield sports were something that I greatly admired as a kid. Seeing the support of the student community at all these events has always been what makes Deerfield stand out to me, yet it had always seemed so distant from me as a kid. Flash forward to my freshman year, putting on the green and white for the first time was something that I will never forget. Seeing those colors on me, when I had only ever seen them on other people felt surreal.
In my first few months at Deerfield, I realized how much of the Deerfield experience happens outside of the classroom. Anything from going to games, to theater performances, to spending time in the Greer on weekend nights, I found these were the moments that I enjoyed the most. For me, participat- ing in team sports was where I found some of my closest friends and greatest role models at this Academy, and going to other teams’ games was where I was able to spend quality time with these people. I so quickly fell in love with these experiences that I knew I wanted to make sure that everybody else had the opportu- nity to experience the same enjoy- ment that I did, and this is where my eagerness to become Captain Deerfield stemmed from.
While I know going to all games and events across campus is not something that appeals to every Deerfield student, I wanted to make sure all students at least gave this experience a try because of the joy it gave me.
Playing soccer and baseball meant that the winter was the time when I had the most freedom to go to different events around campus. This time was eventful, to say the least. Some of the most memorable moments to me include the 100 Years of Hockey event, a deep playoff run from girls’ hockey and girls’ basketball, 80s Night, and Choate in our home barn in the same weekend. There was no other way that I would rather spend my Wednesdays and Saturdays than running between games all afternoon and evening with the cheerleaders. Being part of the erupting crowd after the Choate OT winner in boys hockey, or Aga Chi ringing throughout the Athletics complex re-enforced the love that I had for Deerfield sports, and our community as a whole.
There are many things about Deerfield that are similar to the other great schools that we compete against. However, the one thing that has set us apart year after year is our school spirit and our love for this school. The instantly sold out tickets for theater performances and packed stands at games bear testament to this statement, but the feeling is not something you can truly experience until you become a Deerfield student. The love you feel from seeing your classmates on the field sporting the green and white while screaming at extraordinary volumes is something that you can only experience at Deerfield.
Thank you to all the cheerleaders for making this year unlike any other. As I write this, I have not even left Deerfield yet, but I have somehow already begun missing it.