Boys Varsity Hockey finished the regular season 23-6-1.
The Bears are headed to the playoffs.
Three Berkshire winter varsity programs—boys and girls ice hockey and girls basketball—have earned a spot in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) postseason. For the first time in one season, all three teams will host their first round playoff game on Wednesday, March 5.
BOYS HOCKEY
The boys hockey team earned the No. 2 seed in the Piatelli/Simmons (Small) tournament and will face Groton School at 5:15 p.m. at the Jackman L. Stewart Athletic Center. The Bears finished the regular season 23-6-1 under second-year head coach Kevin Czepiel, including a 4-3-1 record against NEPSAC playoff teams.
“A major key to our success this season is our team depth and talent up front,” Czepiel shared. “Scoring almost five goals a game has made us a fun team to watch.”
The Bears are led by Duncan Thompson ’25, Evan Regan ’25, and Matt Lacombe ’26. The trio accounted for 53 goals and 67 assists during the season.
Sophia Busa '26 leads the Bears with 19 goals.
GIRLS HOCKEY
On the girls side of the ice, head coach Lisa Marshall’s Bears finished the regular season 14-7-2, which included an 8-game win streak and an unbeaten February. Berkshire was rewarded with the No. 3 seed in the Patsy Odden (Large) tournament and will play Kent School in a quarterfinal matchup at 2:30 p.m. at the Jack.
Berkshire’s best wins this season came against the small school tournament top-seed New Hampton 3-0 in December, as well as victories against playoff-bound Deerfield and Frederick Gunn, and a tie against Groton.
“The team has been preparing for the post-season with each and every game this year,” said Marshall. “They’re sticking to the little things well including working hard and working together.”
Marshall, in her 7th year behind the bench, also credited her team’s depth for its success this season. Sophia Busa ’26 leads the team with 19 goals and Maddie McCready ’26 is tops with 14 assists. The defensive core of Mairead Campbell ‘25, Adriana Echavarria ’25, Emma Leahy ’25, and goaltenders Julia Echavarria '25 and Katie Hurley '27 helped keep the Bears in key games.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Evi Higgins '25 is one of four NEPSGBA all-stars on Berkshire's roster.
Girls basketball earned the No. 2 seed in the Class B tournament, and will face Beaver Country Day School (Chestnut Hill, Ma.) at 4:00 p.m. at the Soffer Athletic Center. After starting the year 12-0, the Bears finished the season with a 20-5 record, including taking the title at the Ethel Walker holiday tournament in December.
Third-year head coach Junior De La Hoz found success with a roster of just 10 players. Starters Evi Higgins ’25, Chloe Egan ’26, Alivia Mauer ’26, and Pearl Dickson ’27 were recently named NEPSGBA all-stars, making Berkshire the only Class B team with four representatives on the team.
“The key for the season has been playing with trust and togetherness, and sharing the basketball while defending every possession,” Coach De La Hoz shared. “In the playoffs, we’ll take the same approach, but it’s a new season and the first team to win three games will be champions.”
All three playoff games on Wednesday will be livestreamed by Bluegill Productions
GAME SCHEDULE
Wednesday, March 5
Girls Varsity Hockey vs. Kent School 2:30 p.m.
Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Beaver Country Day School 4:00 p.m.
Boys Varsity Hockey vs. Groton School 5:15 p.m.