All-Gender Golf experienced a tough loss to Tabor on Saturday, but rallied to secure a victory against Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) on Wednesday. Despite facing absences due to illness, the team demonstrated resilience and unity, coming together to claim the win against Exeter.
Evan DeMayo ’26 explained how the team channeled the motivation from their earlier loss to Tabor to fuel their performance later in the week. He also shared insights into the challenging conditions that affected the players’ performance against Tabor.
“Saturday’s match against Tabor ended in a 7.5-4.5 loss. Conditions were difficult — mid-40s, wind off the ocean, and intermittent rain at Kittansett. The frustration from that loss wasn’t wasted. It became a kind of momentum. Playing Exeter Wednesday, with that defeat still fresh, gave the team focus. That, paired with the significance of the opponent, elevated everyone’s intensity,” said DeMayo.
Rocco Fawcett ’28 reflected on the improvement between the Tabor and Exeter matches. He also pointed out that multiple players were sick, which motivated the team to push through and perform for those who couldn’t be there.
“On Saturday we did not play well. We made it through the round, and it was rough. But today we played very well and won my match. I think today we had a couple of people sick. Our head coach is sick as well, so we kind of had that mentality of let’s just go out and win for everyone who’s not there. So that was, that was big for us,” said Fawcett.
Despite limited practice due to unfavorable weather conditions, DeMayo emphasized how the team’s win against Exeter demonstrated their ability to adapt and maintain composure in unpredictable situations.
“We entered Saturday’s match with a solid week of practice behind us and some rhythm from our earlier match on April 2. Leading up to Exeter, however, the weather made meaningful preparation impossible. No one had touched a club since Saturday. But the response today showed that this team is able to compete even when the conditions leading up to a match are far from ideal,” said DeMayo.
The team has also been grappling with the loss of their captain, three-year senior Lucas Lee ’25. DeMayo spoke about how the team continues to honor Lee’s legacy, acknowledging the extra weight this season carries as they navigate both grief and the challenge of staying at the top of their game.
“This season is different. Not because of a record or a roster change, but because of the absence of someone who should still be walking the course with us. Every match we play now carries more weight. There’s no speech or slogan that can capture what Lucas meant to this team, but you can feel it — in the way we show up, in the way we talk to each other, in the way we fight to stay composed when it matters. We’re not playing for applause or numbers on a board. We’re playing to honor a teammate who gave this team part of his spirit. And when you do that, when you’re playing with that kind of intention, it changes everything. What we’re building this season is bigger than golf. It’s about showing up in the face of loss, staying connected when it’s easier to pull apart, and finding moments of clarity in a game that’s built on uncertainty. That’s the kind of team we are right now. And that’s the kind of team we’re becoming,” said DeMayo.
The All-Gender Golf team will face Brunswick on Saturday.
