Here is a simple, quick question: What is the relationship between Harvard and Yale, Exeter and Andover, and Choate and Deerfield? If the word ‘rivalry’ popped up in your head, you are correct. Every November, Choate and Deerfield fall athletic teams clash. As most Choate students acknowledge, Deerfield Day is the most exciting event in the fall term, if not the entire year. “There are many things I enjoy as a participant at Choate, and Deerfield Day is certainly one of them,” says Andrew Lee ’09 who played soccer his freshman and sophomore years. Also, according to Choate Admissions website, Deerfield Day marks one of the twenty-five reasons why students should come to Choate Rosemary Hall.

Here is another question that most students might wonder about: When did Deerfield Day begin? Has Choate always been better in sports than Deerfield? And how did we do recently?

Boys Sports

The beginning of the athletics of Choate date back to the fall of 1900 when Choate Football program was first established. Led by Captain David McGaughey ’01, the football team became the first one in Choate history to compete against the other schools in New England. However, on the contrary to the most common belief, Kent School was Choate football’s biggest rival until 1944 when Deerfield Academy replaced the traditional rivalry for unknown reason. From then on, Choate Football has marked 37 wins, 41 losses and 10 ties against the Big Green.

The Cross Country program for boys at Choate Rosemary Hall was founded in 1929. In the early 1900s, there were only about three or four meets in a season with the schools in New Haven. Unlike football, Deerfield Academy began to appear on Cross-Country’s season schedule and became the team’s main rival in 1948.

The soccer players at Choate School started to play against other schools in New England in the fall of 1932 when their first team was organized. The rivalry with Deerfield Academy began in 1944 along with Choate football. Since then, the team holds the record of 22-44-13 against the Big Green.

Girls Sports

In 1989, there was a big change in the admission policy at Deerfield Academy: The school finally began to admit female applicants (Choate Rosemary Hall became co-ed in 1974 when Rosemary Hall opened its doors in Wallingford after moving from Greenwich). This adjustment was significant not only for the Big Green but also for the Wild Boars. Until then, only male athletes had been given the opportunities to participate in the rivalry against Deerfield Academy, and female athletes had been relegated to mere spectator status on the most exciting day in every fall. However, when girls were finally being admitted to Deerfield, all of Choate teams were able to take part in the tradition.

Holding the outstanding record of 9 wins, 5 losses and 3 ties against the Big Green, Girls Varsity Soccer joined the traditional rivalry in 1989 along with Varsity Field Hockey. The field hockey team has had 2 wins, 12 losses and a tie so far. Unlike soccer and field hockey, Girls Varsity Volleyball team partook in Choate-Deerfield rivalry since 1998. The Volleyball team started its first rival match with an exciting win, and it holds the dominating record of 8-1.

Recent History

On Deerfield Day 2005, no athletic team at Deerfield Academy was able to stop the Wild Boars varsity squads. In a stunning sweep, starting with Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country teams in October, Choate did not drop a single contest to Deerfield. Boys Water Polo, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Field Hockey, Volleyball, and Football all finished their final games of the season with exciting victories.

Deerfield Day 2006 was a fairly even match-up for both Choate and Deerfield. Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country and Girls Volleyball were the only teams to beat Deerfield. The rest of the varsity squads, including Boys and Girls Soccer, Field Hockey, Football, and Water Polo had a difficult time with giving Choate a win, though Field Hockey managed to have a 1-1 tie.

As of 2007, a couple of teams have played Deerfield so far. Water Polo has played DA twice already this season. The boys managed to split the season series 1-1. Boys and Girls Cross-Country defeated Deerfield in a home meet earlier this season. Deerfield 2007 will be full of surprises, as Choate takes on Deerfield for the 63rd time in history, this year, hosted by Deerfield Academy.