Overview

Team players. Natural leaders. Credit sharers. Gracious competitors.

The lifelong enjoyment of physical activity and a healthy attitude toward athletic competition are the primary goals of the physical education and sports program at NCCS. This is achieved through an age-appropriate, creative and challenging athletics curriculum in Grades K through 9. From an emphasis on participation, fitness, skills and sportsmanship in the youngest grades to continuing participation and ability-based teams in the upper school, our enthusiastic athletes are well prepared for high school athletics.

Kindergarten and Lower School

Lower School students participate in a carefully sequenced curriculum, with emphasis on fitness, participation, sportsmanship and general athletic skills. More specifically, the program develops gross and fine-motor skills, collaborative skills, coordination, visual and spatial awareness, cardiovascular fitness, self-confidence, and “knowing your body.”

Kindergarten through Grade 2 students participate by homeroom. Students in Grades 3 and 4 move to a gender-based program, where we introduce specific sport units that our students will be exposed to in the Middle and Upper Schools.

Middle School

In the Middle School, students transition to a combination of intramural and interscholastic programs. In the fall and spring seasons, students select a sport and play a competitive interscholastic schedule. Each team competes with peer schools from the Fairchester Middle School Athletic League (FAA). Playing time is evenly distributed, and the emphasis is on sport-specific skills, collaborative team work, sportsmanship, team pride and improvement over the course of a season. Usually there is more than one team in a given sport. In these cases, teams are created to be equal, both by grade level and skill level. Frequently, two separate teams in a given sport will practice together daily, which helps promote a sense of community and strengthens the bonds between students.

The winter season is intramural-based and is divided into two equal sessions. Students rank preferences from a variety of offerings and have the opportunity to experience two sports. This intramural season adds to the students’ total athletic experience, while also providing a chance for sport-specific skill development and camaraderie amongst peers.

Middle School Sport Offerings:

Boys	Fall	Soccer, Flag Football, Cross-Country
	Winter	Basketball, Coed Hockey, Coed Squash, Coed Volleyball, Coed Yoga, Coed Fitness, Coed Pickleball
	Spring	Baseball, Lacrosse, Cross-Country
Girls	Fall	Soccer, Field Hockey, Cross-Country
	Winter	Basketball, Coed Hockey, Coed Squash, Coed Volleyball, Coed Yoga, Coed Fitness, Coed Pickleball, Dance
	Spring	Softball, Lacrosse, Cross-Country

Upper School

In the Upper School, students are placed on ability-based teams through a tryout period each preseason. Every student has a chance to participate at a level that complements his or her skill level, so that each can experience success and growth as an athlete. Our teams compete in the Fairchester Athletic League (FAA), and often against non-league opponents as well. Our Varsity teams are extremely competitive and successful, frequently competing against high school freshman and JV teams, as well as travel teams. Upon graduating from NCCS, our athletes move on to their next schools feeling prepared and confident for the next level of competition.

Our extensive indoor and outdoor facilities, including two full gymnasiums, an expansive gross-motor room, a cardiovascular fitness room, outdoor hockey rink, outdoor swimming pool, wooded trails and ropes course, and plentiful field space suit our program well. We also have a full-time school nurse and an athletic trainer to educate our athletes and help keep them and visiting teams safe and cared for.

Athletics News

Ninth Graders Beat Faculty, Staff & Apprentices by One Point in Annual Basketball Game

A long-standing Country School tradition, the ninth-grade competed against the school’s faculty, staff and apprentice teachers in a basketball game held, Feb. 28. The Class of 2022 eked out a one-point win, besting the adults 36-35.
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A.J. Mleczko '90 Shattering the Ice Ceiling!

Trailblazer A.J. Mleczko ’90 discusses her journey from Country School's skating program to becoming an Olympic gold-medal winning athlete and ESPN and MSG ice hockey analyst in Bedford New Canaan Magazine's Jan-Feb '22 issue. A.J. will be presented with the school's Alumni Award and share highlights of her career with students, alumni and guests in May.
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NCCS Alums - O Captain! My Captain!

Our Country School alums excel on the field in a variety of leadership roles.
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A.J. Mleczko ’90 to Receive New Canaan Country School’s Alumni Award

New Canaan Country School is pleased to announce that Olympic gold-medal winning athlete and an ESPN and MSG ice hockey analyst A.J. Mleczko ’90 will be presented with the 2021 Alumni Award. A.J. will accept the honor and share highlights of her career with students, alumni and guests during the 2021-2022 school year.
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Upper School Cross-Country Team Raises Funds for Mental Health Awareness Month

On May 25, the NCCS Upper School Cross Country team participated in the 2021 Run For It 5k, an event that coincided with Mental Health Awareness Month in raising money for To Write Love on Her Arms, a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.
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Game on! New Athletics & Wellness Center Opens

At the start of the school year, we opened the doors to our spectacular Athletics & Wellness Center, and the building has already had a tremendous impact on our students, teachers and coaches.
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Country School Student-Athlete: Payton Koch

“I have learned that even if you try your hardest and still fail at something, to not give up. Keep trying,” said New Canaan Country School ninth grader Payton Koch of New Canaan during remarks she made at the end-of-term Upper School sports assembly, held on campus Feb. 24.
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New Canaan Country School Student- Athlete Profile: Charlie Gaynor

“New Canaan Country School athletics has taught me a tremendous amount as a person, teammate, and athlete,” said ninth grader Charlie Gaynor of Bedford, NY, during remarks he made at the end-of-term Upper School sports assembly, held on campus, Feb. 24. Charlie, who served as a captain of the school’s boys’ varsity soccer and hockey teams, was one of two student-athletes selected to offer reflections.
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NCCS Squash Competes in Middle School Nationals

New Canaan Country School squash players competed in the 2020 U.S. Middle School Squash Championships at Yale University in New Haven Jan. 31 - Feb. 2. Team A Won the Classic Plate Division following a hard-fought loss in the quarterfinals, while Team B showed grit and determination against strong opponents.
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Girls' Varsity Ice Hockey Players Receive Upland Tournament Honors

Upper School student-athletes Courtney Edwards, Sloane Griffiths and Maisy Ricciardelli were named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2020 Upland Country Day Invitational Girls’ Ice Hockey Tournament, held Jan. 24-26 in Kennett Square, PA.
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Student-Athlete Profile: Annika Mannix ’20

“Rebuilding a team is challenging and takes a lot of effort, but ultimately it’s very rewarding,” said Annika Mannix, a tri-captain of New Canaan Country School’s varsity field hockey team. A ninth grader, Mannix was one of two student-athletes selected to offer reflections at the end-of-term Upper School sports assembly held in November.
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Student-Athlete Profile: Rett Zeigler ’20

“I have loved football since I was three years old,” explained Rett Zeigler, a co-captain of New Canaan Country School’s varsity team. A ninth grader, Rett was one of two student-athletes selected to offer reflections at the end-of-term Upper School sports assembly, held Nov. 11.
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Coaching the Coaches: NCCS Athletic Staff Enjoy an Afternoon of Professional Development

Country School was excited to welcome Jeff Vennell, Senior National Staff Coach for the United Soccer Coaches Academy, to campus Wednesday to lead our athletic coaching staff in a professional development clinic.
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Directors

List of 2 members.

Keri Kern

Director of Athletics & Physical Education / Coach

Bio
Keri Kern has worked as Director of Athletics since 2007. Prior to Country School, she was the Assistant Director of Admission and Athletics at Groton School in Groton, Mass., where she also served as Co-Head of Special Interest Recruitment, Head Coach of the Varsity field hockey and lacrosse teams and dorm affiliate. Keri earned her B.A. in Psychology and a Minor in Marketing and Management at Duke University, where she also competed for the nationally-ranked field hockey and lacrosse teams. During the course of her college career, she participated in five NCAA Division I Tournaments, including the NCAA Division I Women’ Lacrosse Final Four. She is a product of independent schools, having graduated from Thayer Academy in Braintree, Mass., where she picked up First Team All-American accolades in both field hockey and lacrosse. She has also coached at various camps at both the college and high school level, as well as the MassElite and Granite State Elite club teams. She enjoys skiing, jogging and visiting Cape Cod in summer. She and her husband, Greg, have two children, Taylor ’27 and Topher ’26.
Jay Thornhill

Assistant Athletic Director / PE Teacher / Coach

Bio
Jay most recently worked at The Hotchkiss School as Associate Director of Admission, and coached boys’ soccer, ice hockey and track and field. Prior to that he was at the Loomis Chaffee School as the Assistant Director of Admissions and Coordinator of International Student Recruitment, Athletic Director and International Student Director for the summer program, coach, and dormitory head. Jay holds a B.S. in Psychology and Fine Arts with a minor in Sports Studies and Exercise Science from St. Lawrence University, where he also was a three-sport athlete in soccer, ice hockey and track.

Meet our Coaches

List of 4 members.

Cherie (Wangenstein) Corchard

Physical Education Teacher / Coach

Bio
Before joining NCCS, Cherie was a Physical Education Teacher and Coach at the Convent of the Sacred Heart School in New York City for five years. Prior to that, she worked on the coaching staff of the softball, volleyball and swimming teams at Spence School, also in New York. She earned both a B.S. in Exercise Physiology and an M.S. in Physical Education Sport Based Youth Development from Adelphi University. At Country School, Cherie coaches volleyball,soccer, basketball and softball.
Kendall Cornine

Physical Education Teacher / Coach

Bio
Kendall joined the NCCS faculty in 2021 as a Physical Education Apprentice, having received a B.S. in Exercise Science with a minor in nutritional science from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

While at RIT, Kendall was the all-time leading scorer at the Division I level with 38 goals and 64 points, fifth all-time in program history with 140 games played and became RIT’s first player to be drafted by the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), sixth overall by the Metropolitan Riveters in Dec., 2018. She is actively playing for the Riveters.

Kendall broke the all-time New Jersey High School scoring record while attending Morristown-Beard with 199 points in four seasons on 104 goals and 95 assists in 74 games. She was named the New Jersey Girls High School Player of the Year in 2015 after recording 66 points on 34 goals and 32 assists in 17 games and won the New Jersey Devils High School Player of the Year in both 2014 and 2015.

At NCCS, Kendall coaches Middle and Upper School Girls and Boys Ice Hockey, Middle and Upper School Girls Lacrosse and teaches Physical Education.
Byron Reding

Physical Education Teacher / Coach

Bio
Byron joined the NCCS faculty in 2014 as a Kindergarten apprentice. In 2017, he joined the Early Childhood Division as a classroom and Motor Teacher as well as a three sport coach for the Upper School. In 2022, Byron joined the Physical Education Department full time. Byron graduated from Salve Regina University with a B.S. where he was a two sport athlete in football and baseball. He began his coaching career assisting the Darien/ New Canaan Legion team and currently coaches football, basketball and baseball at New Canaan Country School.
Steve Willson

Physical Education Teacher / Physical Education Program Coordinator / Coach

Bio
Steve Willson worked as Co-Athletic Director, PE teacher and a three season Varsity coach at Rippowam Cisqua School for 6 years before joining New Canaan Country School, where he continues to work in PE, as well as coach in the Middle and Upper Schools. Steve earned his B.A. in Marketing at Manhattan College and then earned his Master’s degree from Manhattanville College in Sports Pedagogy/Physical Education. While studying at Manhattanville he was also one of the Assistant coaches for the Girls’ basketball team. Prior to working as a teacher and a coach, Steve also worked for ESPN for three years setting up events for the NY Jets, Giants, Ranger and Yankee players while also selling advertising space on TV and Radio. His basketball playing days consisted of being captain at his High School and played AAU around the northeast for three years with a short stint in College. Steve has coached competitive basketball for seven years at the Brewster Sports center in the Super league, and has done summer camps the past six years. Steve’s wife Emily owns and operates a bed and breakfast in Orange County, NY. They also have a two-year-old daughter named Reese, and twins due in May.

New Canaan Country School

635 Frogtown Road, New Canaan, CT 06840
Phone: (203) 972-0771

New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.