Vikings Head into FAA Playoffs After Strong Senior Day Performances
FAA Playoffs Start Next Week for the Vikings!
Congratulations to Varsity Field Hockey, Varsity Girls Volleyball, and Varsity Girls Soccer for qualifying for the FAA playoffs next week! Come out to support the Vikings as the postseason gets going at these exciting games.
Monday, November 3
FAA Girls Soccer Quarterfinals
#8 KING vs #1 GFA
1:30 p.m. at Greens Farms Academy
FAA Field Hockey Quarterfinals
#4 KING vs #5 Greenwich Country Day School
2:00 p.m. HOME Armstrong and King Family Middle Turf Field
FAA Girls Volleyball Quarterfinals
#1 KING vs #8 Holy Child
4:30 p.m. HOME King Upper School Gym
FAA JV Tournament Saturday!
Saturday, November 1
FAA JV Girls Volleyball Tournament
9:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Greenwich
FAA JV Boys Soccer Tournament
9:00 a.m. at Hopkins School
Senior Day Celebrations for Field Hockey and Girls Volleyball and a comeback win for Boys Soccer!
This week, we celebrated Senior Day for the Field Hockey and Volleyball teams, honoring the dedication, leadership, and spirit of our senior student-athletes and team managers.
Field Hockey
The Varsity Field Hockey team capped off a fantastic Senior Day performance on Wednesday with a 5–0 decisive victory over St. Luke’s. The Vikings showcased the teamwork and determination that have defined their season. Penny Prince ’29 led the way with three goals and an assist, while Amelia Bley ’26 assisted by Sophia Santomaro ’26, and Riley Lynch ’27 assisted by Penny, scored the other two goals.
We proudly recognized seniors Kayla Barta, Sophia Carrington, Jordyn Ennis, Ella Maldonado, Ella Philips, Sophia Santomoro, and Emily Sherman, along with team managers Gabby Kolev and CeCe Campbell, for their outstanding commitment to the program. Their leadership, resilience, and camaraderie have left a lasting mark on King Field Hockey.
Girls Volleyball
The Varsity Volleyball team also shined on Senior Day, earning an impressive 3–0 sweep over Class A Loomis Chaffee. The team’s energy, communication, and precision were on full display as they delivered a strong finish to their regular-season home schedule.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to seniors Emily McKee, Kelly Karr, and Penelope Reiter, as well as managers Izzy Rabina and Sophia Lasky, for their leadership and enthusiasm throughout this season and their time at King. Their dedication and positive influence have been instrumental in shaping the culture and success of the team and program.
Good luck to JV Red Volleyball as they travel to Sacred Heart Greenwich for the FAA JV Tournament on Saturday morning. The culminating event for the league, this is an exciting and fun event for the athletes, as they compete against the other JV teams for the JV Tournament title!
Boys Soccer
Varsity Boys Soccer had a thrilling come-from-behind victory on Wednesday at home against Hamden Hall. After trailing 2-1 with under 10 minutes to play in the game, sophomore striker Dylan Martin found the back of the goal twice, once at the 8-minute mark and then again with only 3 minutes left, to help lead the Vikings to an exciting 3-2 victory! Strong goalie play by senior Dillon Maltese and junior Mateo Gupta helped keep the game close all game.
Good luck to JV Boys Soccer as they travel to Hopkins School for the FAA JV Tournament tomorrow morning. The culminating event for the league, this is an exciting and fun event for the athletes, as they compete against the other JV teams for the JV Tournament title!
Crew
King Crew got a jumpstart on the week by competing in the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta in Philadelphia last weekend. It was an outstanding final event of the fall season for the rowers as they took part in “America’s Favorite Regatta” on the Schuylkill River on Sunday. Congratulations to senior Mike Failla ‘26, who competed in his final fall race of his career, and the other Vikings who took part in the event: Izzy McDonald ‘27, Mason Dietz ‘27, Linus Grabowski ‘27, Tyler Srihari ‘27, Kazuya Ishii ‘27, Jay Madan ‘27, Jack Griffith ‘29, and Joseph Bliley ‘29.
Cross Country
The postseason was off and running on Monday as King’s Varsity runners competed in the FAA Championship Meet at Waveny Park in New Canaan. It was a beautiful day for running, as the Vikings took to the course against runners from all of the other FAA teams. Congratulations to the runners: Joaquin-Antonio Arteta ‘26, Cyrus Noren ‘26, Jimi Kulig ‘27, Marcus Ortiz 27, Jacob Paterno ‘27, Michael Toolan ‘28, John McCarthy ‘29, Rachelle Lowenstein ‘26, and Olivia Breiner ‘28.
New Leadership for Varsity Boys Ice Hockey
After a comprehensive search process that engaged members of the Athletic Department, coaches, administrators, and student-athletes, and brought forward a diverse group of candidates, we are pleased to announce that John O’Neill has been named Interim Head Varsity Boys Ice Hockey Coach for the upcoming winter season.
Coach O’Neill has been a dedicated member of the King varsity hockey staff for the past four years. During that time, he has contributed significantly to the program’s growth and success through his strong relationship-building and deep knowledge of the game. Prior to joining King, Coach O’Neill spent four years on the St. Luke’s School ice hockey staff, giving him a unique perspective and familiarity with both the King community and the broader league landscape. He brings to this role not only extensive coaching experience but also genuine passion, professionalism, and care for the student-athletes. Coach O’Neill has been actively involved with the Darien Youth Hockey Association for the past 25 years, where he currently leads a Bantam AA team.
Coach O’Neill is a player-first coach who values preparation, accountability, and a team culture built on respect and communication. He sets clear expectations and collaborates closely with his athletes to help them reach their full potential, both as players and as people. Those who have played for him consistently describe an environment where every athlete feels seen, valued, and motivated to grow.
We are also happy to announce that Joey McDermott will be joining Coach O’Neill on the staff as Associate Coach. Coach McDermott is currently a graduate assistant coach for Manhattanville College and brings with him a wealth of youth and junior hockey coaching experience, including time at The Rivers School, a top New England prep hockey program. Coach McDermott is a driven, hardworking, and passionate coach who excels in communication and connection with players. He is proactive, adaptable, and deeply committed to growth, with proven experience in recruiting, scouting, video analysis, and team development. His professionalism, positivity, and dedication will make him an outstanding addition to the King hockey program.
We look forward to an exciting season ahead under Coach O’Neill’s leadership and with Coach McDermott’s support. Go Vikings!