IS RIVERS CREAtING - The Rivers School

A Rivers tradition for nearly 20 years,
the annual drive featured strong participation
from students, staff and faculty as they
donated, organized, and shipped out nonperishable
food items ranging from soup
cans to cake mix. “It’s Thanksgiving, and
helping people is what you do,” said Rivers
Director of Community Service Jeanette
Szretter. “Throughout the years this has always
been important for us, and in the current
economic climate, the need is greater
than ever.”
Athletics
Rugg Named All-American,
Leads Soccer to N.E. Finals
In addition to his All-State and All-New
England honors, Charlie Rugg ’09 was one
of four high school soccer players in Massachusetts
to be named a National Soccer
Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)
All-American this past November.
The boys’ soccer team captain, who led
the Independent School League (ISL) in
scoring this year by a commanding 21
points, helped Rivers finish second in the
ISL and earn a spot in the finals at the New
England Preparatory School Athletic Council
(NEPSAC) tournament.
Packing
up for the
Thanksgiving
Food Drive
Rivers girls’ basketball wins
NEPSAC Title
The Rivers girls’ basketball team won the
New England Class B Championship over
Pomfret Academy last month. Forward Tayra
Melendez ’12 had 19 points, 10 rebounds
and four assists to earn tournament MVP
honors.
The Red Wings (18–6) also got a strong
performance from guard Megan Kerbs ’12,
who added 12 points, and guard Sara Berthiaume
’11 with eight points. Center Clare
Sullivan ’11 had four free throws at the end
of the game to help seal the win for Rivers.
“It went as well as we could have ever
hoped,” said coach Bob Pipe. “We played
our very best basketball.”
The winning season included the title
at the 39th annual Rivers Holiday Tournament
in December when the team defeated
Milton Academy in the championship
game. The boys’ team found success as well,
advancing to the second round of the tournament.
The games drew strong attendance
even in the midst of a massive snowstorm.
The girls’ ice hockey team capped off
their own impressive season with a tournament
run. Defeating North Yarmouth Academy
(ME) 7–0 at home, the Red Wings lost
a tough semifinal contest against Southfield
School.
Jillian Dempsey Helps US Hockey
Win Gold at World Championships
In January, Jillian Dempsey ’09 won a gold
medal playing for the USA Women’s
Hockey Under-18 National Team at the International
Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
World Championship in Fussen, Germany.
Dempsey helped the US defend its world
title by defeating Canada 3–2.
“As soon as [the winning goal] went in,
we were all jumping off the benches into a
big pigpile on the ice,” says Dempsey. “It
was an exhilarating feeling.”
Jillian was one of only 22 players across
the country to be selected for the U-18
team. Jillian will continue to play hockey
next year at Harvard University, hoping to
qualify for the U-22 and, ultimately, the US
Olympic team.
“It was so great to put on that USA jersey
and represent my country,” she says.
“And I’m hoping that it won’t be the last
time.”
Jillian Dempsey ’09
Spring 2009 • Riparian •