The Harvey School wrapped up its fall season with gutty performances by its varsity teams in postseason competition that came up short, however, in producing any postseason victories for the Cavaliers.
Harvey Football Comes Close to Bowl Win
The football team came closest to a title when it held a lead against New York Military Academy with minutes to go before the NYMA Knights scored in the last minute of play in the Hudson Valley Football Bowl, handing the Cavaliers a 40-38 heartbreak loss.
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Although his team finished the season at 2-5, Harvey’s head football coach Kevin Avery said the overall record does not give the complete picture of how well his players handled themselves all season long. “In each contest, these men competed at the highest level while showing remarkable sportsmanship regardless of the outcome. Their overall skill- sets, knowledge of the game and passion for playing it increased consistently throughout the season. The effort and character displayed by each individual on this team made this season an absolute pleasure and a true success.”
Led by team captains Christian Artuso, Deshawn Hilliard, Will Leventhal, Christian Harrington (second-year captain) and Robert Palladino, the Harvey football team had two outstanding games, a 32-6 victory against Avon Old Farms and a 43-8 win over Forman on Homecoming Day in Katonah.
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Harvey’s HVAL All League selections were Christian Harrington and Deshawn Hilliard. Harrington was recognized as both a Dominant O-Line and D-Line Player, racking up 45 total tackles and seven sacks. Hilliard rushed 90 times for 646 yards (7.18 yards per carry average) with 10 rushing TDs. He also had six catches for 46 yards, made 56 total tackles with multiple tackles for losses, picked off two interceptions for 70 yards and one TD, and blocked two field goal attempts.
All League Honorable Mention recipients included Javen Stepp- Davis and Ricky Hicks. Stepp-Davis collected 40 total tackles, returned one fumble recovery for a touchdown, and had a quarterback sack. A Dominant O-Line/ D-Line Player, Stepp-Davis was also the team’s long and short snapper. Hicks rushed 24 times for 247 Yards (10.29 yards per carry average) with three rushing TDs. He also made 13 receptions for 175 Yards, totaled 42 tackles, had a sack, two interceptions for 77 yards and 2 TDs, and also returned kicks for 247 yards.
Coach Avery and his assistants, Kyle Delaney, Mike Barefield, Luigi Loiola, and Jason Hill handed out team awards to the following players:
Most Improved: Ricky Hicks
Most Improved: Tom Smith
Coaches Award: Robert Palladino
Coaches Award: Will Leventhal
Coaches Award: Christian Harrington
Iron Man Award: Christian Artuso
Team MVP: Deshawn Hilliard
Coach Avery praised the way his players represented their school. “The Harvey varsity football team consistently displayed the school’s core values of PRIDE each and every day in the classroom, on the playing field and around the school community.”
Girls Varsity Soccer Enjoys Winning Season
The girls varsity soccer team finished the season with a solid 9-5-2 record, but lost a very tough quarterfinal game in the HVAL playoffs, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Watkinson. The team, coached by Amie Philips and her assistants Tim Stark and Greg Janos, enjoyed some outstanding moments this season, including a 4-1 victory over eventual WNEPSSA Class D champion, Poughkeepsie Day. Other highlights include the Lady Cavaliers twice scoring four goals in the second half of games, once against Darrow to win 5-3, and the other in a 5-2 victory against Woodstock Day.
The season saw some outstanding individual performances. Sophomore forward Ava Gurman, a WNEPSSA All-Star and named HVAL All-League, scored 20 goals, up from eight goals last year. A senior- led defensive unit of team co-captains Julia Peraglia and Shelley Pitterson, along with Darcy Clifford and Emily Pollack allowed only three teams to score more than three goals this season. Midfielders Briana Frieri and Brittany Smith, with help from wing middies Angelique Santiago and Aila Prieto, controlled the space between the penalty boxes for much of the season. Santiago was also selected as a WNEPSSA All-Star and earned HVAL All League. Clifford and Frieri earned HVAL Honorable Mention recognition.
The following players were recognized by their coaches for team awards:
MVPs -Ava Gurman (Offense), Julia Peraglia (Defense)
MIP - Jasmine Brouwer, Julia Kravitz
Sportsmanship - Shelley Pitterson, Sarah Chintz
Coaches - Aila Prieto, Brittany Smith
Future Stars - Amaya Henry, Hannah Paul
Earning four year letters were Julia Peraglia, Shelley Pitterson, and Emily Pollack.
Philips, Harvey’s veteran softball coach and first year head coach of soccer this year, said she was impressed with the way the soccer team worked together as a unit. “I was proud to coach a group of girls who supported one another and genuinely cared for one another. I look forward to working with many of the same girls next year.”
Boys Soccer Plays It Close All Year
The boys varsity soccer team’s season ended with a tough 3-1 loss in the quarterfinals against Masters, Conn. Close game losses seemed to be the theme of the 2013 season as the Cavaliers came up short in several games.
Head coach Alex Morse and assistant Jeff Seymour saw their team battle throughout the season. One highlight came in the homecoming game against EF International when the Cavaliers scored a late goal off a corner kick to tie the game at 2-2. Senior captain Jake Cohn knocked in a head ball on the back post from freshman Stephen Nadler. Coach Morse said the EF International game might have been the team’s best showing of the season. “It was the most complete game we played all season, and the team could have gained a win but hit three posts throughout the match.”
Another nail biter came against Master’s, Conn. After falling behind 1-0 at the half, Harvey battled back in the second half with a breakaway goal by senior captain Robbie Van Raamsdonk. Despite many chances for both sides, the game ended with a 1-1 draw.
In recapping the season, Coach Morse said Co-captain Harry Soloman and Charlie Seider were the leaders of the backfield. The coach said, “Both were physical, tenacious and speedy defenders who always played until the last whistle, despite the score of the game.”
The team featured multiple players with a number of goals and assists. Cohn and Sacha Kantor with seven goals each led the team in scoring. Nadler and Van Raamsdonk chipped in with six apiece.
Coach Morse said there was a lot to like about this year’s team. “Despite a difficult season from a record standpoint, the team always remained positive during both games and training sessions. With 12 seniors we had a lot of leadership. The boys had fun competing against each other during practice and always supported each other’s efforts. They played hard but showed great sportsmanship all season, not once receiving a yellow or red card.”
Harvey placed two on the squad of the WNEPSSA All-Star team: Jake Cohn and Robert Van Raamsdonk.
The coaches announced the following recipients of the team awards:
MVP- Jake Cohn
MIP- Jack Mather
MVP Offensive Award- Robert Van Raamsdonk
MVP Defensive Award - Harry Soloman
Coaches Award- Charlie Seider
Boys JV Soccer Seeing Growth
With nine new players and only three returning veterans, a very young 2013 squad started the season in typically slow fashion, going 1 – 3 - 2 and getting shut out in several games. In the second half the boys JV team was much more competitive at 2 – 3, ending with a season record of 3 – 6 – 2 scoring 20 goals while allowing 35.
Head Rob Griffin and assistant Jeff Seymour saw the highlight of their season in their final game as Harvey defeated Wooster 7-2. The JV boys jumped all over their younger opponent, out-hustling them to loose balls and putting relentless pressure on the Wooster defenders. The hard work paid off as Harvey scored the first four goals and was up 5 - 1 at the half. The second half was more of the same, but after scoring twice more the Cavs settled in and played solid defense the rest of the way. Freshman Jared Ellis paced the Cavs with a goal and three assists, juniors Jack Mather and Taylor Grodin had a goal and an assist each, and senior captain Bryan Krosser, freshmen Jarrod Waner, Colin Nardi and Brian Alvarado had a goal each. Sophomore Jackson Hammerstein and freshman Jarrod Waner split the game in nets making seven and five saves respectively.
Coach Griffin had high praise for his senior captain. “Bryan Krosser was outstanding all season giving 100 percent effort at all times. His leadership, intelligence and work ethic inspired his teammates to play above their natural abilities and led to overall team success.”
Jared Ellis led the team in scoring with four goals four assists. Jarrod Waner was second with four goals and an assist, and Jack Mather was third with three goals and two assists.
Jackson Hammerstein played five games in nets earning one win and totaling 56 saves. Noah Kagan played four games in nets earning one win, two shutouts and made 33 saves.
Newcomers Colin Nardi, Ethan Alfandary, Peter Poppalardo and returning junior Taylor Grodin were placed on defense, learned quickly and were stellar helping to stabilize the team in the back end. Freshmen Brian Alvarado, Kevin Zhang and Jack Tulloch made great strides learning the game this year. Coach Griffin said the coaching staff expects the three freshmen to be key contributors next year.
Varsity Volleyball Phases in New Players
Harvey’s varsity volleyball team, 4-11 on the season, lost in the quarterfinals to Watkinson, 3-0. Coaches David Ketner and Melissa Zeffer, having lost some key players to graduation last year, took on a large roster and spread the playing time around to many on this year’s squad.
Led by team captains Erica Cheyne, Amanda Cummings and Ariana Weaver, the volleyball team gave the home fans some thrills in the first game as the Lady Cavaliers swept Chase Collegiate in three games in the first league match at home. Another highlight was a 3-2 victory against Storm King before a large crowd on Homecoming Day.
Harvey sent Ariana Weaver and Anna Ketner to the NEPSAC All-Star game. Ketner, a sophomore and Sasha Fox, an eighth-grader, were selected as HVAL All-League. Senior Erica Cheyne and junior Lindsay Cardaci earned HVAL Honorable Mention.
The coaches gave the team awards to the following players:
MVP Offense: Ariana Weaver
MVP Defense: Anna Ketner
Most Improved Player: Carly Kaplan
Sportsmanship: Odilya Simoni
Coaches: Erica Cheyne
Coach Ketner said he was pleased with the way his players dealt with the large roster and the decision to widely distribute the playing time. “Even though some of the play time was limited, every player came to practice and made best of the play time they had, which says a lot about their character. The players also happily accepted positions which they normally would not play, but benefited the team, which was a large part of the successes we enjoyed.”
JV Volleyball Ends on High Note
JV Volleyball coaches Jackie Kelm and Christine Cahill saw their team save the best for last. Led by captain, senior Grace Tow, the JV pulled out its last win against Stamford Academy, ending the season at 6-5.
Coach Kelm described the season as both “fun and exciting.” She credits the winning season to “a combination of veteran leadership and the hard work of the new players.” She said, “Overall I think the girls came a long way from the beginning on the season and learned a lot.”
The team benefited from big contributions from its veteran players, including Grace Tow (senior), Rebecca Tueter (10), Claudia Smith (10), Mary Martinez (10), and Gemma Tebbutt (10). A new addition to the team this year was international student, Danni Qu who had the most dependable serve that was guaranteed to go over every time. Other newcomers included 11th- grader Tammy Zanders, 10th- grader Emily Walsh, and ninth- graders Brianna Casino, Katrina Garbin, Hillary Allmonte and Daniella Glade.
Coach Kelm praised her team’s captain, who won the Most Valuable Player Award this season. “Grace Tow was a great leader and kept the girls motivated all season. She helped out the team in a big way with her unbelievable passing and excellent serving.”
Coach Kelm saw a lot of progress over the course of the season. “Since August, they came together as a team and have shown many improvements in their volleyball skills. I am very proud of the way the JV girls played and improved throughout the season.”
X-Country Season Has Good Finish
Harvey’s cross-country team finished the season with three runners qualifying for the New England Prep School Track Championship. Team captain Sam Mackiewicz, selected HVAL All-League for the second consecutive year, ran the 5k event at 18:36, only 1:48 off the pace of the winner. Matanel Cohen-Weinberg and Marshall Euchner performed well, too, finishing well under the 30:00 goal Coach Mike Lauria had set for all his runners. Rory Knox earned an HVAL All-League Honorable Mention.
Coach Lauria named Mackiewicz as team MVP and Euchner as Most Improved. Knox was the recipient of the Coach’s Award.
