News

This past weekend our Prep Soccer team finished out their undefeated 2019 season as the Western New England Regular Season Champions, New England Class B Champions, and Top Drawer Soccer Prep School National Champions. For most of the players this would have been the best day of their year, however for one student, a few days earlier may have been even more important. On Thursday, November 14th Prep Soccer student-athlete Hassane Diakho made his commitment official as he signed his National Letter of Intent (NLI) to study and play Division I soccer at Lehigh University.

Signing Day is always an exciting time of year for student-athletes as it marks the first time that they can officially commit to the colleges that have been pursuing them. This year Joshua Reaves was happy to sign his commitment to play for Division I Mount St. Mary’s University.

In honor of South Kent School’s founding on this day 96 years ago, Father Schell, the Headmaster of Kent School, joined us in St. Michael’s Chapel. Father Schell discussed the role of Reverend Frederick Herbert Sill, founder and former headmaster of Kent School, and two Kent alumni, Samuel Slater Bartlett and Richard M. Cuyler, in the founding of South Kent School. Of note to Father Schell was the importance in his own early years as a headmaster, of Reverend Sill’s “Letters to Sam”, a collection of words of advice from Sill to Bartlett as “Sam” navigated his early time as founder and headmaster of South Kent School.

South Kent School has opened for its 96th year with 165 students from 22 countries and 21 American states. Families were welcomed to the Hillside on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 for Registration Day.

South Kent Selects Academy (SKSA) has hired Ryan Ward as Director of Player Personnel and U15 Head Coach for the upcoming 2019-2020 season. Ward joins SKSA after spending last season as an Assistant Coach for the St. Louis Blues’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate San Antonio Rampage. Several Rampage players earned promotions to the Stanley Cup- winning St. Louis Blues throughout both the regular season and playoffs. “We are very excited for Ryan to join our coaching staff” said Hockey Director Doug Holewa.  “His experience coaching at all levels and his offensive approach to the game, specifically his work with the power-play, adds great balance to our staff.”

Four South Kent Selects Academy alumni were recently picked in the 2019 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft. Shane Pinto ’18 was a 2nd round pick, selected 32nd overall by the Ottawa Senators. Zac Jones ’19 was drafted in the 3rd round, 68th pick, by the New York Rangers. Ethan Phillips ’19 was picked by the Detroit Red Wings in round 4 as the 97th pick. Dominic Basse ’19 was a round 6, 167th pick, to the Chicago Blackhawks. 

The Prize Day ceremony began on Saturday, May 25th, 2019. On that momentous day, South Kent School graduated their senior and PG students for the 95th time in the school’s rich history. Head of School Lawrence A. Smith '73 recognized each graduate from the Class of 2019 by reading a personal narrative of each graduate's time on the Hillside and then giving them each a handshake. The closeness of everyone on campus was palpable in these moments.

Congratulations to the Underform Award Winners and the entire underform for the academic year of 2018-2019. You all had a wonderful academic year worthy of appreciation. We wish you all an enjoyable, safe summer and look forward to seeing you back on the Hillside in the fall!

As the South Kent School Class of 2019 earns their diplomas, all graduating members of the soccer program will be looking forward to continuing their careers as student-athletes at the collegiate level.  For the eleventh consecutive year, every graduating soccer player has an opportunity to play college soccer.  This year, thirteen graduates will move on to be college student-athletes.  South Kent recently held a ceremonial signing event to celebrate the accomplishments of this impressive group.

The Winter and Spring Athletics Awards honor the top athletes on our JV Basketball, Varsity Basketball, Prep Basketball, Cardinal Hockey,  U15 National Hockey, U16 National Hockey, Golf, Varsity Baseball, Varsity Lacrosse, Crew, and Tennis teams.