Fall Athletics Preview: Excitement Builds Across Brooks

The start of a new school year brings a familiar rhythm to Brooks: teammates coming together, new faces finding their place and student-athletes taking to the fields and courts with the excitement of a new season ahead.

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This fall, that excitement is especially evident across Brooks athletics, where a blend of experienced coaches, new leaders and talented players are ready to begin a new chapter. Following successful seasons and memorable postseason runs last fall, Brooks’ 1st teams enter the 2026 season with plenty to look forward to.

"Excitement is at an all-time high!" said Director of Athletics Andrea Heinze. "There’s incredible energy across campus from our student-athletes as we kick off the fall season. With a strong blend of experienced new coaches and familiar faces on the courts and fields, everyone is ready to get started and compete with pride in the Brooks jersey."

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BOYS SOCCER

That energy begins with a boys soccer team looking to build on an impressive 2025 campaign. The team finished last season with an 11-4-4 record and advanced to the NEPSAC Class B quarterfinals, where its season came to a heartbreaking conclusion in a 2-2 draw before Brooks fell 5-4 in a penalty-kick shootout.

While the team graduated five players, the program resumes full of opportunity. "We’re fortunate to return a talented and experienced group that has high expectations for the season ahead," said Head Coach Matt Carroll '05. "We also expect a few new faces to step in and make an immediate impact."

With a strong foundation already in place, the focus is on taking another step forward and continuing to grow together throughout the season.

"This group has lofty goals, and the challenge for all of us is making sure we’re willing to do the work those goals require," Carroll said. "We don’t want to look back at the end of the season and feel that we left something on the table because we took a shortcut or chose the easier path."

GIRLS SOCCER

The girls soccer team also enters the fall with plenty of momentum after a memorable 2025 season. Brooks finished 10-4-6 and advanced all the way to the NEPSAC Class B semifinals, where the team battled to a 1-1 draw before falling 5-4 in a penalty-kick shootout.

This fall marks an exciting new chapter for the team as Brendon Barrios takes over as head coach. 

"I feel fortunate to be stepping in as girls 1st soccer coach, not only because of the season they had last year, but because this is such a wonderful group," Barrios said. "It is a great mix of veteran players and incoming talent." (This spring, Brooks graduated girls soccer players Niamh O’Brien '26, Sydney Cohen '26 and Maile Lung '26, who will continue their athletic careers playing on teams at Middlebury College, Trinity College and Tufts University, respectively).

Meet our new Dean of Residential Life and Girls Soccer Coach

Now, Barrios and his players are focused on building their own chapter. The team got an early opportunity to develop their chemistry during Prep Camp, spending five days together and establishing the foundation for the season ahead.

"Having the chance for the team to bond at Prep Camp ... created a lot of positive energy and we can’t wait to test ourselves this season," Barrios said.

BOYS FOOTBALL 

That same sense of new energy is carrying into Brooks football, with Spencer Emerson beginning his first season as head coach. Brooks finished 3-5 last fall but closed the season with one of its most memorable moments, earning a thrilling 29-27 victory over Pingree School.

Now, with Emerson taking the reins, the program is embracing an exciting opportunity to establish its identity and build something together.

Introducing Brooks' New Football Coach

"We’re incredibly excited about this group and the opportunity in front of us," Emerson said. "This season is about establishing who we are and what Brooks Football is going to represent moving forward."

He has challenged his players to bring a positive attitude, attention to detail and a sense of urgency to everything they do — and said the players have responded. "We have a group that is excited to compete, willing to work and is excited to build something together.”

For him, the formula is straightforward: Embrace the process, play for one another and represent Brooks with pride.

"Our standards are high, but our focus is simple: do our best each rep, play for one another and represent Brooks the right way," said Emerson. "If we do those things consistently, we believe the results will take care of themselves."

FIELD HOCKEY

Field hockey also welcomes a new leader this fall as Jen Weissbach takes the helm of the Brooks 1st team. She brings an impressive coaching background to Brooks, including experience coaching at the Hill School, where she was part of the nation’s No. 1 team, and most recently at Phillips Andover, another top program in New England.

Meet Our New Student Life Dean and Field Hockey Coach

Weissbach takes over a program that finished 5-13 last season and will look to build around a strong contingent of returning players and several impactful newcomers. The squad celebrated a solid group of graduating seniors, including Elsa Wood '26, who will continue her field hockey career at Lafayette College.

"I am incredibly excited and grateful to be leading the Brooks 1st field hockey team," Weissbach said. "There is no doubt that this team is poised for a season to remember. With a strong contingent of returners, bolstered by some impactful new players, we will compete hard every opportunity we get."

Weissbach said the group is focused on learning, working together and bringing energy, effort and a positive attitude to each day.

"Our goal as a team is to work harder than we’ve ever worked before, compete at a high level each practice and game day, and be great teammates," she added. "The potential for this team is unlimited, and I have no doubt that Brooks field hockey is ready for whatever challenges come our way."

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball is embracing a new season with plenty of excitement, too. After a 5-12 campaign, in which five matches were decided by three points or fewer in every game, the team returns eager to take the next step.

Adding another source of energy and experience to Head Coach Chelsea Clater and Assistant Coach Pete Moccia is new Assistant Coach Jade Gizzi.

“I’m looking forward to this season more than ever!" said Clater. "We had our biggest turnout ever for tryouts, and it’s no surprise given that volleyball is the fastest-growing girls’ sport in the nation. The coaches and I are thrilled with the experience returning to the team and the new talent joining us. It’s going to be a great season for this young group!”

CROSS COUNTRY

Cross country brings that same enthusiasm to the fall as a combined 1st/2nd team. At last fall’s NEPSAC Division III Championships, the Brooks girls placed 14th out of 22 teams, while the boys finished 22nd out of 23.

The program also celebrates the accomplishments of several graduating runners, including Phoebe Cogan '26, the girls’ top runner last season who earned several first-place finishes, and Lorenzo Johnson '26, who will continue his track and field career at Baylor University.

The program enters its season with a clear focus on continued growth.

"We are so excited to be back and we're thrilled about the energy and passion that the athletes are bringing to the team," said coach Joanna McDonough, "Our goal this year is to continue to build a strong team culture rooted in challenging ourselves individually and supporting each other each and every day.”

The challenging field of competition doesn't daunt this group, either. “We are poised to make great progress against ISL opponents this year,” she said. “We couldn’t be more excited to be starting the year with this group!”

See the fields and facilities our athletes enjoy and learn all about Brooks' strength and conditioning program: Through introductory small group sessions, individualized goal-specific programs and team workouts, students develop general and sport-specific strength, speed and flexibility — while avoiding injury in their sport or in their life.