Field Hockey Makes History, Senior Plays All-Star Game, Volleyball Alums Shine, Female Athlete Safety in Sports Presentation
Field Hockey Makes History
After a commanding performance in the New England quarter-finals with a 4-0 shutout of Winsor School and a thrilling 2-1 semi-final win over Frederick Gunn School, the #2 King Field Hockey team traveled to Massachusetts to face the top-seeded New Hampton School in its first-ever NEPSAC Championship game on Sunday, November 16.
The two teams locked into an epic battle, with New Hampton striking first to go up 1-0 in the second quarter. King answered with the equalizer with no time left in the first half, as sophomore Riley O'Neill ’28 found the back of the goal off a beautifully executed untimed corner play!
King continued to put the pressure on in the third quarter, pushing the action on offense, but the game remained tied 1-1 going into the final frame. After an early fourth-quarter goal for New Hampton, the Vikings showed true resilience and poise as they launched an attack. The thrilling finish featured several corners that created hope for a late scoring opportunity, but the shots went wide as the clock ran out, resulting in a 2-1 final score.
Despite the loss, history was made by this tremendous group of athletes and coaches. The game marked the first time King has advanced to a New England Final, and the Vikings earned the program's first Western New England Title based on the strength of their regular-season record. The season lays the foundation for what is sure to be a very solid future!
Congratulations to all the players and to Coaches Emily Prince, Grace Linnan, Robyn Neto, Meghan Nealis, and Jenn Shirazi. Special thanks to the seniors who have meant so much to the program and have left a lasting legacy for future Vikings!
Greg Martin ’26 Represents Vikings in New England Small School Boys Soccer All-Star Game!
Congratulations to Senior Varsity Boys Soccer Captain Grag Martin ’26, who earned the prestigious honor of being selected to play in the 2025 NEPSAC Boys Soccer Senior All-Star Games series. Greg took to the field in the Small Schools Game, the first game of the morning, on Sunday, November 16, at Brooks School in North Andover. Greg’s dedication, skill, and commitment to soccer helped make a significant impact for the Vikings and garnered well-deserved recognition within the NEPSAC soccer community. The NEPSAC All-Star Games are a prestigious platform, and the selection to participate is a reflection of the outstanding contributions Greg has made to his team and to the game of soccer.
Volleyball Alumni Updates
Congratulations to Class of 2022 graduate Norah Shattan, who recently celebrated her Senior Night with the Army Black Knights Volleyball Team at West Point. Shattan was a force for King, joining varsity in Grade 8 and helping the Vikings capture four NEPSAC Championships along with the 2017 and 2018 FAA tournament titles! There was no season in the fall of 2020 due to COVID-19.
At West Point, Shattan’s leadership has been on full display with the Army Black Knights, earning her the prestigious honor of being named captain of the team in both her junior and senior seasons. Good luck to her and the team as they head into the Patriot League Semi-Finals at American University in Washington, D.C., this afternoon against Colgate!
Congratulations also to Class of 2025 graduate Vivi Mansfield on her outstanding freshman season playing volleyball with Johnson & Wales University in Providence. She finished with 305 kills in her first year, good for fourth in the Conference of New England (CNE). When the CNE postseason awards were announced, Mansfield received considerable accolades, including the Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Conference! Her future is bright, and we look forward to seeing what her sophomore year will bring!
Good luck to 2025 graduate Caroline Ellis, as she and the Ole Miss Rebels take on LSU this evening in the first round of the SEC Women’s Volleyball Tournament in Savannah!
Emma Jonsson, Director of Student-Athlete Health Services, Presents on Health and Safety in Sports for Female Athletes
Emma Jonsson, King’s Director of Student-Athlete Health Services, had the privilege to present a workshop called “Meeting the Moment – Were You Meeting the Needs of Your Female Athletes?” at the NEASC Leadership conference earlier this week in Boston. The session invited school leaders to examine whether their sport programs are meeting the evolving needs of women and girls. Emma had the group in attendance reflect on what safe and supportive environments look like, and explored practical strategies to make sports more inclusive. Participants engaged in discussion, shared experiences, and left with actionable insights to help retain girls in sport and keep them engaged and playing.