With the new school year comes a variety of changes, one being “spotlight games,” a new initiative launched by this year’s Senior Council. Each week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the school comes together to show their support by selecting a school team and their respective game to “spotlight,” as a way to boost morale and bring the community together.
On September 20, all eyes were on the JV girls soccer (JVGS) team as they prepared to face the Ethel Walker School for that week’s spotlight game. With an enthusiastic and well-curated hype video shared through an all-school email, the team showed off their outstanding energy and connection. However, Ethel Walker proved to be a formidable opponent; the Kent team fought hard but ultimately lost 2-4.
Angel Kumar ’26 and Annika Hohn ’26, both seasoned players on the team and with four years of soccer experience under their belt, were named this year’s JVGS captains. Although the game perhaps did not play out how they wanted to, the captains delivered thoughtful and optimistic comments about the game in the post-game interview. When asked about the team’s performance, they responded with insightful observations, explaining that the girls pushed hard in the first half of the game but weren’t able to keep up with that level of energy for the second half, leading to conceding a couple of goals later on in the game. Ultimately, the score did not reflect their effort and energy in the game, and the team collectively played their hardest. For the rest of the season, JVGS aspires to continue showing up and playing hard in every game despite setbacks and injuries, maybe even having a winning season in the near future. The captains, along with the rest of their teammates, enjoy JV girls soccer for the opportunity to play in a relatively lower-stakes environment, mingle with members of other forms, and be a part of an inclusive and supportive community. “JV soccer is a hidden gem at Kent,” said Angel Kumar. “Even though some of us are in different friend groups, we’re like a family; no one feels left out.”
Coach Campbell echoed the captains’ sentiment, stating that the team had a relatively aggressive approach early on. With many new players playing for the first time and some older players in new positions, the team would have to put the work into developing the skills and building the team spirit to have a more successful season moving forward. Overall, Coach Campbell loves working with this energetic and cheerful team and can see a bright season ahead of them.
Still early on in the season, the team will continue to hone its skills and become a stronger, more united team. This would be just one of the many games they would go on to play in the rest of the season, with hopefully more wins to come.
