October is always the high point of the fall season for Storm King Athletics. This year, the boys and girls cross country teams continued to shine on the trails, Boys Varsity Soccer built momentum heading into playoffs, Girls Varsity Soccer battled through a challenging schedule, and Girls Varsity Volleyball stayed united through a rebuilding season.
Cross Country
The SKS harriers ran with determination throughout the month, finishing with strong performances as the season came to a close. At the Woodstock Country Day Invitational on October 15, Peter R. ’27 led the boys with a 4th-place finish in 19:13.1, followed by Mateusz W. ’28 (10th, 20:24.3), Antonio M. (12th, 20:30.4), and Eric W. ’27 (15th, 20:55.8). On the girls’ side, Ava O. ’26 finished 5th (24:11.1), with Liz U. ’26 8th (25:03.1) and Arah F. ’28 12th (25:59.3). Later in the month at Marvelwood, the Cougars continued to show steady progress, highlighted by top-20 finishes from Liz and Ava.
At the HVAL Championships held at Oakwood this week, the boys cross country team earned 3rd place, with every runner setting a new personal record. Armani C. ’26 led the pack (3rd, 19:12.6) followed by Eric (11th, 20:17.1) and Antonio (13th, 20:26.1). The girls also impressed, as all four runners achieved personal bests—just one athlete shy of forming a scoring team. Ava placed 6th (25:45.1) with Eva G. ’26 close behind coming in 7th (26:21:5) followed by Rikki E. ’28 finishing 18th (28:20.7) and Laila M. ’26 finishing 26th (32:02.8). The Cougars wrapped up their competitive season with pride and a strong sense of accomplishment.
Boys Varsity Soccer
It’s been a season of hard work for Boys Varsity Soccer, who faced a demanding October schedule and showed steady improvement with each match. After a tough loss hosting Darrow to start the month, the Cougars regrouped on the road, earning a 3-1 victory at King School and a 1-0 win over Oakwood at home. Though the team suffered losses at EF Academy and Darrow, they bounced back in commanding fashion with a 7-0 victory against Marvelwood as October wound down.
The Cougars close out their regular season this Saturday on the road at Oakwood, currently sitting in second place in the HVAL standings. Depending on the result, they are likely to host Oakwood again next Wednesday in the first round of the HVAL playoffs. Coach Bennett praised the team, saying, “Our players showed real character this month. Every game was an opportunity to learn, and their growth has been tremendous.”
Girls Varsity Soccer
The Girls Varsity Soccer team demonstrated true Cougar spirit throughout October, battling hard in every match despite a demanding schedule. The team opened the month with a 2-2 draw against Westover, showing a strong offense and a solid defense. In back-to-back contests against EF Academy, the girls fought valiantly but fell short both at home and away. Traveling to Westover once again later in the month, the team put in an impressive offensive showing despite their loss. The Cougars will now travel to EF Academy on Wednesday, November 5th for the final game of the season.
Girls Varsity Volleyball
October was a challenging month for Girls Varsity Volleyball, but the Cougars’ teamwork and determination remained constant. Despite a string of tough matchups against strong opponents, including Westover, EF Academy, Marvelwood, Kent, and Harvey, the team continued to push themselves and improve their cohesion on the court. Coach Cervantes commended the Cougars’ persistence, saying, “Our players have shown incredible heart this month. Even when the scoreboard didn’t swing our way, their focus and energy never wavered.” With their final matches against Oakwood and Marvelwood approaching, the Cougars look to build momentum heading into the playoffs. Currently in last place, they will face EF Academy next Wednesday in the first round of the HVAL finals, determined to finish with the same positivity that has defined them all season.
