South Kent School’s soccer program has long been synonymous with excellence, defined not only by national titles and elite competition, but by the character, resilience, and purpose of the young men who emerge from it. This fall, that legacy continues as a remarkable group of Cardinals advance into the NCAA Division III National Tournament, demonstrating once again how the foundation built at South Kent propels our alumni to succeed at the next level.
For years, South Kent has developed student-athletes capable of thriving in high-stakes, high-performance environments. While our program routinely competes for national recognition, our greatest point of pride is the sustained success of our alumni. Their achievements at top NCAA institutions reflect the habits, discipline, and values of Simplicity of Life, Self-Reliance, and Directness of Purpose, that they first put into practice on the Hillside.
This year’s South Kent alumni competing in the NCAA DIII National Tournament exemplify that legacy:
- Will Sawin ’23 – Middlebury College
- Steven Pickering ’22 – Hobart College
- Luke Peltz ’23 – Bowdoin College
- Aiden Heffner ’24 – DePauw University
- Adrian Trott ’22 – Amherst College
- Dylan Matamala ’22 – University of Scranton
- Camaje Easton-Smith ’23 – Wheaton College
On our Hillside, each of these young men trained side-by-side as part of one of the nation’s most accomplished high school soccer programs. Today, they find themselves once again in a familiar setting, post-season playoffs, bringing with them the same championship mindset that defined their time at South Kent.
Coach Colin Hodge, South Kent’s Director of Soccer and Head Prep Soccer Coach, offered his pride and well-wishes:
“Good luck to our alumni competing this weekend in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Watching these young men continue their journeys at such a high level is incredibly rewarding. They’ve taken the lessons learned at South Kent, hard work, humility, and teamwork, and carried them into new environments. We’re proud of who they’ve become both on and off the field, and we’ll be cheering them on every step of the way.”
Their success is no accident. It is the result of years spent honing their craft, strengthening their character, and embracing the daily discipline required of student-athletes who aspire to compete beyond high school. More importantly, it reflects the type of young men South Kent strives to shape, individuals who lead with integrity, uplift their teams, and pursue excellence in all aspects of their lives.
