News

Fall 2025 was a season of growth, grit and memorable performances across North Shore Country Day athletics. From the soccer pitch to the tennis courts, from the gym to the trails, our student-athletes demonstrated determination, teamwork and sportsmanship. Highlights from each team reflect not only impressive results but also the character, leadership and resilience that define Raider Athletics.

Boys Soccer: This season, success was measured not by a single score but by the growth of the players and the lessons they learned on the field. From improved communication to stronger tactical awareness, the team made significant progress, laying a foundation for future seasons. In the closing weeks, the team gelled and played some of the most exciting soccer of the year — a testament to their character and potential. The ISL coaches recognized this dedication by awarding our Raiders the annual ISL Sportsmanship Award. 

Girls Tennis: The ISL is the toughest 1A tennis conference in the state, and our team rose to the challenge in every match. Each opponent had to bring their best to compete against our Raiders. Doubles team Callie Zhao ’26 and Lexi Conine ’27 finished second in the conference and earned two wins at the state tournament. The team placed fourth overall in the conference and is looking forward to building an even stronger season next year. 

Volleyball: Volleyball is on the rise! Strong senior leadership, combined with emerging talent, produced some of the most thrilling matches in recent memory. This team consistently rose to the occasion in high-pressure moments, shining when the stakes were highest. They had a strong showing in the regional tournament, advancing to the regional semi-final match, and finished the season with the most wins in six years. This year was just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting future for Raiders volleyball. 

Boys and Girls Golf: For the first time in school history, our girls golf team qualified as a team for the sectional tournament, finishing third in the regional meet. Zhilin Chen ’27 advanced through sectionals and finished 35th at the state tournament. The boys golf team also had a strong showing, with two players competing in a playoff to advance to the sectional tournament; Aiden Darnieder ’27 earned a spot in the sectionals.

Field Hockey: Field Hockey had an incredible season defined by heart, hustle and memorable victories. The team consistently competed against much larger schools, defeating Stevenson High School (20 times our size), Deerfield High School and DePaul College Prep, among others. Their determination propelled them to the second round of the state tournament with an exciting win over Highland Park High School. Beyond the scoreboard, this team exemplified true teamwork, led by a dedicated group of eight seniors whose legacy of passion, competitiveness and fun will inspire the next generation of Raiders. 

Cross Country: The Cross Country team improved steadily throughout the season, peaking at just the right time. At the regional meet, the team recorded nine personal bests, and for the first time since 2016, both the boys and girls teams advanced as a team to the sectional meet with their second-place finish — a tie for our best regional team performance in school history. With continued improvement across the roster, both the boys and the girls teams competed at the sectional race and finished with Cooper Larsen ’27 and Arbel Shlomov ’29 running personal bests.