Dragons Are Back: Fall Season Takes Flight

It should be another exciting fall for our athletes! Preseason is already underway: Kent Place’s Upper School Dragons have been on campus to train and practice since mid-month. Tennis athletes kicked things off on August 13; athletes taking part in cross-country, field hockey, soccer, and volleyball began on August 17. This fall, 149 student-athletes are competing on varsity and junior varsity teams in five sports.

Whether chasing another title, building on last year’s success, or beginning a new chapter under fresh leadership, each team enters the season with energy and determination.

Varsity Cross-Country will be looking to build during Coach Francesca Petracco’s second year as head coach. Last year, the team started out with a second-place finish at the Roxbury Invitational, which carried over to great performances at the county and state levels. The team welcomes back all of its athletes from last year, and anticipates another great season.

Varsity Field Hockey hopes to continue its success after advancing to the semifinals of the Union County and the NJSIAA tournaments. With another full season of New Jersey’s top competition on the schedule, the Dragons are set to rise to the challenges. Captains Bella Builione ’28, Chloe Cui ’27, and Hayden Mulligan ’27 say they’re looking forward to another season with Coach Kerrie Burns: “We’ve grown so much as players and as friends because of Coach Burns, and we’re lucky to have the opportunity to be part of a program as special as the one she built. We’re beyond excited for one more season with this group and can’t wait to see what we accomplish over the next few months.”

Last year, Varsity Soccer’s Dragons won the Valley Division of Union County, and their undefeated record promoted them to the Mountain Division for 2026. This year, the athletes welcome a new face: Mark Aromando is now the team’s head coach. 

The Upper School Tennis program looks to continue its success at both the Varsity and Junior Varsity levels. The Varsity team is aiming to play in its 11th consecutive Union County Tournament; the Junior Varsity athletes hope to again dominate when they compete in the Big Blue Invitational — they won the inaugural competition last year. 

Varsity Volleyball welcomes a new face: Steven Caguana is now the head coach. “I’m looking forward to the season and the opportunity to build something together with this group,” he says. “There’s a lot of potential on this team, and I’m excited to see how we grow, compete, and come together.” Coach Caguana hopes to take the team deep into tournaments and build off 2025’s 16 wins and NJSIAA tournament semifinal appearance.

Be sure to check out the full fall athletics calendar. Tennis has its first home matches the week of August 24. Field Hockey, Soccer, and Volleyball begin the regular season the week of August 31. Cross Country will be off and running on September 4.

Let’s cheer on our Dragons — and don’t forget to wear your green and gold!