At the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, play and movement happen beyond the classroom when student athletes come together to not only pursue rewarding victories but also to embrace having fun as a team. During this year’s Winterfest, Fieldston Upper student athletes gained firsthand appreciation for the significance and thrill of group participation. The majority of winter sport teams competed on campus, displaying not only Eagle pride but also a strong commitment to their respective sports.
Winterfest sporting events on campus included boys and girls basketball, boys and girls swimming, and table tennis, while the squash and ice hockey teams held games at off-campus venues. In between cheering at different games, spectators enjoyed food, browsed through Eagle spirit wear, and spent time with friends and family.
“The idea of Winterfest was to basically have a winter Homecoming,” says Director of Athletics Gus Ornstein. “It is a great event for the winter sports teams to all play on the same day and have the community come out and support them. The P+T always does an amazing job of creating a great atmosphere with a ton of enthusiasm and providing food and spirit wear. It is truly a community event that is a ton of fun for the athletes and all those that come out to support them.”
In addition to bonding as athletes working towards a common goal, students involved in sports often credit this experience for helping them form well-rounded lives. “Participating in the Fieldston swim team has far-reaching benefits for me beyond the sport itself,” says swimmer Alden H. ’24. “Fieldston swim inspired me to get more involved and join a club team outside of school to work on my skills in the off-season. Being on the Fieldston swim team helps me get into a mindset for other areas of my life, setting goals and putting in the work necessary to achieve them.”
Regardless of what the scoreboard reads at the end of a game, cherishing the moment with teammates is often the greatest takeaway for these Eagles. “I participate in swimming outside of school, but there is no comparison to team environments,” Alden says. “Fieldston wins by a longshot. Fieldston swim is a fun opportunity to do a sport I love while also hanging out with my friends.”
