GATOR ATHLETICS

GA ran the fastest collective time at the FAA cross country championship race held at Sherwood Island State Park under perfect atmospheric conditions. Though the course was a bit muddy, Maddy L. '24, like she has all season, was the first to break the tape. True to form, teammates Emily G. '22 and Elena T. '21 were not too far behind coming in 4th and 5th with all three earning First-Team FAA honors. Emily Goodman, with a 16th place finish, earned Second-Team FAA status for her strong performance which included a PR. The PRs did not stop there with 5 of GA's seven runners hitting their best time in their penultimate race. A mere two points prevented the Gators from hoisting a second FAA trophy but they will take their momentum into the New England championship race on November 9th at Northfield Mount Hermon.

It has been 5 years since GA claimed the FAA League Championship in cross country so yesterday's result at Allen's Meadows in Wilton was welcomed with great enthusiasm. This year's harriers have had a number of great races with GA's top three turning in consistently strong performances. Maddy L. '24 has come across the finish line in 1st place at every all-league meet! Close on her heels in the FAA and at other invitationals have been newcomer Emily G. '22 and co-captain Elena T. '21. Emily was 4th, 4th and 2nd in FAA races while Elena's experience has not only proved invaluable in providing advice to her younger teammates it has allowed her to hold steady earning the Gators valuable points. GA will compete in the FAA Championship race held at Waveny Park in New Cannan Monday the 28th at 1:40 and will follow that up with the New England Championship race at North Field Mount Herman on Saturday November 9th! Go GAtors!

GA's Group XII Grace A. has qualified for the Cressy High School Singleahanded National Championship! Out of the national field of 29 sailors, Grace stands out as the only woman on the water! And one of 3 from Connecticut. She qualified for the event based on her performance in Hyannis over the weekend of October 5th and 6th. Grace will travel west for the event to be held the first weekend of November at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. Go Grace!! 

This past Wednesday, GA's varsity cross country, field hockey and soccer teams garnered victories while JV field hockey also won and soccer drew a tie. Though it was the second time for GA's Maddy L. '24 to cross the finish line ahead of the field, it was the team's first FAA win improving their league record to 13-1. Runners coming in a 1st, 4th, 6th and 20th sealed the victory for the Gators at SUNY Purchase. Field hockey and soccer played host to Taft. Field hockey had the eventual game winner less than 12 minutes in before earning a convincing 5-0 win to keep their unbeaten streak alive. Soccer fell behind early but was able to equalize and then take the lead for good with an eventual 4-2 win. See more details of the day's events in this Greenwich Time article.

GA posted 3 wins on Wednesday, two coming in field hockey at the JV and varsity level versus Hopkins, while the varsity soccer team posted an exciting 3-1 triumph over cross town rival Sacred Heart. Varsity field hockey kept its clean sheet on the season with a 5-0 victory to remain undefeated. Making the best of playing on Ridgeview's grass field, the JV field hockey team matched the varsity margin with a 5-0 win as well. The most exciting event of the day was the soccer match. With a 2-0 lead the GAtors saw their starting goalkeeper leave the field after making a great save on a breakaway. Ella F. '21 got the worse end of it and left the field to recover. Next up, classmate Schuyler S. '21, turned in a valiant performance making saves with her feet and hands to preserve the win. Katie G. '20 dazzled the crowd dribbling with the ball on a string finishing twice for the Gators. Equally impressive were the three assists served up by Tessa B. '20 who can pinpoint her placement of the ball from a free kick, the first of which was buried to the back of the goal by Tina M. '20 on header off of a corner kick. It was a fast paced, physical game with a revved up crowd that celebrated and stormed the field to celebrate with GA's novice GK!