Which Game is the Most Exciting to Attend on Choate Day?

On November 8, to commence the annual rivalry day, Deerfield Academy will host Choate Rosemary Hall, where athletic teams from both schools will compete to win the majority of their games. Known as “Choate Day” to Deerfield students and “Deerfield Day” to Choate students, the event brings students and faculty together to relish in tradition that has lasted over a century. Some sports draw larger crowds of Deerfield students because of their exciting atmosphere; nonetheless, Deerfield’s students support their peers with the shared goal of beating Choate in mind.

The volleyball gym is especially packed due to a smaller court size, the competing student sections adjacent to one another, and the student cheers. “The students go wild in the volleyball team's student section with many crazy, yet very creative, chants,” Annie Egleston ’27 shared. She observed that the energy brought to the student section “lights a fire in the players to perform at their best.”

Egleston continued that much of Girls Varsity Volleyball’s success comes from the bond they have on the court. Furthermore, Plum Schiff ’27 attested to the unity of the team, admiring how “they all work and rely on each other.” She believes that the energy they bring to the game is what makes them “such a fun team to watch on Choate Day.”

Captain of the Girls' Varsity Volleyball Harmoni Dobbins ’26 expressed her excitement for Choate Day, as this season has been one of their best with a record of 13 wins to one loss. Dobbins looks forward to the match against Choate, saying, “I am so excited to see where the rest of the season takes us [Varsity Volleyball] and especially excited for Choate Day!”

Adannia Okpokwasili ’27 mentioned that the Girls Varsity Soccer game “is always a good game.” As a player on the Girls’ Junior Varsity Soccer team, Okpokwasili was inspired by the elevated skill level that the Varsity team plays at, stating that “all the players are so talented.” Meryl Gilbert ’27, a player on the Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team, described her team as “a team with constant energy and determination.” Gilbert believes her teammates can “play to the level of any team we [Girls Varsity Soccer] want, especially Choate. I’m so excited to see what happens and am positive it’s going to be a super fun and competitive game.”

Sharing a similar passion for soccer, in addition to managing Girls Thirds Soccer, Emmanuel Atiegha ’27 enjoys watching Boys Varsity Soccer on Choate Day, “not just because it’s great to see Deerfield beat Choate, but [because] it’s also great to see excellent sportsmanship and teamwork that a sport like soccer develops in action.”