November 8 is just around the corner, and that means the annual Hotchkiss Day is fast approaching. This year, the legendary Taft-Hotchkiss rivalry games will be held in Lakeville, CT, where fall-season teams will compete for the gold —or, well, bragging rights. For Taft’s players and coaches, getting to showcase the hard work of the season and make lifelong memories is the highlight of the season. Expectations for the Big Red are high, and predictions are bold:
“Hotchkiss Day and the Taft-Hotchkiss rivalry signify that the entire school can come together and cheer on not only their own teams but Taft as a whole. The energy on and off the field and playing with the support of everyone is exhilarating,” Varsity Field Hockey Co-captain Abigail Butler ‘26 told The Papyrus.
For Mr. Whitley ‘04, Varsity Football Head Coach, the rivalry is personal, which gives it even more meaning. “As a Taft football player, I was 0-4 against Hotchkiss in my career. That challenging experience is actually one of the reasons that I wanted to return to Taft as the Head Coach,” Whitley said. The annual Taft-Hotchkiss football game is one of the longest-running high school rivalry games in the country. This year, Taft will play Hotchkiss for the 109th time. Since Whitley became Head Coach, Taft’s team is 11-1 against Hotchkiss and has not lost since 2015.
Mr. Parente, Head Coach of Varsity Boys’ Soccer, believes the rivalry is special because both Connecticut boarding schools are rigorous educational institutions: “Even amidst the intense competition that we have between our two schools, each respects the other’s quality in terms of academics, athletics, and character.” Mr. Dunn, Taft’s Athletic Director, takes that notion a step further: “There’s a special pride in knowing that you’ve beaten someone who is your equal.”
When asked about what it means to play on Hotchkiss Day, Varsity Volleyball Co-captain, Meredith Hui ‘26, highlighted the history of the rivalry. “Generations of Rhinos have played in the exact place and worn the same jersey to defend Taft’s name against the Bearcats,” Hui said. Girls’ Soccer Co-captain Sofia Lombardo Varisco ‘26 added, “I’m excited to represent my school and play for Taft.”
The Taft-Hotchkiss rivalry is estimated to date back over a century. In 1935, a New York Times article already referred to it as “the old rivalry between the two schools” and reported on Taft football’s domination of Hotchkiss 47-0 the year before. A discussion forum writer on Golf Club Atlas suggests the rivalry may date back to sometime between 1900 and 1902, when the faculty of Hotchkiss reportedly challenged the Taft faculty to a golf match. The Hotchkiss Record says that in 1980, the rivalry was “elevated to a position of prominence and Taft Day was founded.”
Going into Hotchkiss Day this year, both schools’ fall teams are approaching the day with strong or, in a couple of cases, even exceptional records. The two most intense showdowns may come in Boys’ Soccer and Volleyball. As of this writing, Boys’ Soccer is undefeated at 9-0, while Hotchkiss’ team is standing at 6-3-1. Both schools’ volleyball teams are also having dominant seasons, with Taft’s record at 6-3 and Hotchkiss’ at 7-4.
As the big day approaches, all of Taft’s teams are focused on preparing the right way. Taft Football Captain Will Palmer ‘26 is making it his job to keep practices competitive between now and November 8. Palmer’s straightforward approach is one I’m sure no one will disagree with: “The better we can practice, the better we will play,” he puts it plainly.
While the teams prepare, the Red Sweater Club, Taft’s official athletics fan club, is making plans to rally Rhinos. The club’s leaders, James Hagberg ‘26 and Joe McBride ‘26, have a few things in mind. “HDT might get swarmed a few more times before Hotchkiss Day rolls around. We also have an all-time Hotchkiss Day video brewing,” Hagberg told The Papyrus.
As for predictions of how November 8 will play out for the Rhinos against the Bearcats, Field Hockey Coach Ms. Beam said she believes it will be a battle, and “looks forward to the new memories we make in this game that will be etched in [her] mind.” Girls’ Soccer Coach Mrs. Swift was bolder. “Of course we’ll dominate,” declared Swift. However, it’s Boys’ Soccer Co-captain James Cooper ’26 who said it best: “It’ll be a tough watch for Hotchkiss fans.”
