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The rainy morning gave way to a brilliant, sunny afternoon — perfect conditions for Rivalry Day on the Hilltop. The Millbrook Mustangs arrived confident that this would be their year, but the Griffins had other plans. From the very first whistle, Pomfret dominated the sub-varsity games, scoring early and often. Each goal and point amplified energy across campus, setting the stage for what would become a five-for-five sweep.

The day began with strong efforts on the sub‑varsity fields, where Pomfret dominated early. The girls JV soccer team built a 4–0 halftime lead, the JV field hockey squad jumped ahead 3–0, boys thirds soccer led 2–1, and boys JV soccer was up 3–1 at the break. By the end of play, the Griffins had completed a clean sweep of the sub‑varsity slate.

Inside Lewis Gymnasium, the wins kept coming. Pomfret took the final set of the JV volleyball match, winning 2-1. Meanwhile, at the NEPSTA Championships, the girls cross country team crossed the finish line ahead of Millbrook — breathless but beaming — adding another tally for Pomfret. The boys cross country team was just barely outrun by the Mustangs, coming up short by one point. 

By the start of the varsity games, the Griffins were unstoppable. Girls varsity soccer dominated with an 8–0 shutout — and just like the girls JV team, they had now won five straight battles against Millbrook. Varsity volleyball swept their rival in three consecutive sets, celebrating each ace and spike as if it were a championship point. Despite being tied at the half, the boys varsity soccer ultimately fell to the Mustangs.

As the sun began to dip over the Hilltop, both schools gathered to watch the day’s finale — varsity field hockey. Pomfret sealed the deal with a 7–1 win, securing the #6 seed in the NEPSAC Class C Tournament and closing out the unforgettable rivalry day against the Millbrook Mustangs.

It was Pomfret’s fifth consecutive victory in The Battle for Route 44 — five years of rivalry dominance, with a final score of 9–2. Griffins celebrated their undefeated record as Head of School Heather Willis Daly collected the Peck-Pulling Trophy for the first time in her tenure. “I’m thrilled to be here for my first Pomfret vs. Millbrook Day,” she shared. “We have been excited to host Millbrook for the competition today, and I am so proud of the Griffins for this remarkable sweep!”

FINAL SCORES

Sub‑varsity
Girls JV Soccer: W 6–2
JV Field Hockey: W 5–0
Boys Thirds Soccer: W 4–1
Boys JV Soccer: W 3–1
JV Volleyball: W 2–1

Varsity
Girls Varsity Soccer: W 8–0
Boys Varsity Soccer: L 8–1
Varsity Volleyball: W 3–0
Varsity Field Hockey: W 7–1

Cross Country (NEPSTA Championships)
Girls Varsity: Pomfret 12th of 22 (ahead of Millbrook)
Boys Varsity: Pomfret 11th of 23 (just behind Millbrook)
 

The excitement for The Battle for Route 44 had been building all week with Spirit Days. Students and faculty donned their favorite jerseys, coordinated twin outfits, styled outrageous hair, carried anything but a backpack, and, of course, proudly wore their red and black. 

Warming up for the big game, the Griffins and Mustangs faced off in the Route 44 Food Fight — a friendly rivalry measuring which school could reduce food waste the most in the week leading up to Rivalry Day. Pomfret cut its waste by an impressive 11 percent to claim the win, while Millbrook’s waste increased by 5 percent. As part of the challenge, the Mustangs will donate 44 pounds of food to a Hudson Valley food pantry — making it a win for everyone!

The night before the big day, the School gathered for a sit-down dinner, where the Alumni Association inducted John Griswold '63 into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Dinner was followed by the annual reading of The Griffin’s Call: A Millbrook Fable, written by English Teacher and Writer-in-Residence Dan Freije and illustrated with AI-generated artwork prompted by Science Teacher Josh Lake, and read aloud this year by Lucas Lu ’26.

Spirits soared as spirit captains, flag bearers, drummers, and sports team captains led the School into Lewis Gymnasium for the Pep Rally. Teams performed skits, dance groups got the crowd moving, and the Athletic Council orchestrated friendly competitions. The pep rally set the tone for the next afternoon, ensuring that Pomfret’s energy, pride, and spirit propelled the Griffins to an unforgettable five-for-five sweep.

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