Each passing day, as the sunset comes earlier and earlier, CRLS fall sports teams look to avoid seeing their hopes vanish with the setting sun. Below is a look at where each team stands going into the busy season.
Football
Despite their lukewarm reputation, the Falcon footballers have quietly posted three straight respectable seasons. This year head coach Roy Howard’s bunch look to take the next step behind starting quarterback Joseph Derege ’26. An opening blowout loss to North Quincy followed by a 29–6 win over Saugus leaves their seasonal direction unclear.
Cheerleading
In seasons past, the fall cheerleading squad has kept Falcon fans sane amidst subpar performances between the lines. This year, the cheer team looks to supplement their consistently outstanding precision and energy with the football team’s on-field play to create an electrifying fan experience.
Boys Soccer
After a disappointing 2024 season under new head coach Niko Emack ’13, in which the Falcons snuck into the MIAA tournament with a 4–8–4 record, the team looks to make a run in 2025. Michael Brown ’26 and Rhys Brown ’26 anchor a mostly experienced team that also features a youth infusion of four freshmen on the varsity team.
Girls Soccer
The Falcons have soared early this season to a 4–0 record behind new varsity coach Ryan Tracy and striker Emily Anne Wintner ’26. A 4–1 start a year ago preceded a 1–9–1 free fall to end the campaign, but this close-knit core of seasoned veterans and young talent appear to have the mettle for sustained success.
Orienteering
The growing sport at CRLS placed second of 16 at junior nationals last spring. Now, the O-team possesses an unmistakable sense of excitement with the addition of new coach and experienced orienteer Erkan Sezgin.
Golf
In the shank-filled five years dating back to the pandemic, the golf team has gone 2–45, including an 0–13 season last year. Luckily, it’s hard to imagine these trends continue with a resilient attitude, strong community, and the motivational power of Happy Gilmore 2 permeating the locker room.
Unified Basketball
While the unified team hasn’t always found its groove on the court, it continues to be successful in uplifting the school community and creating strong friendships. The team looks to continue its positive impact and score a few more wins in their fall season.
Boys Cross Country (XC)
Following a couple years of hilly success, the Boys XC team has filled its top seven with a number of new and exciting young faces. This season is definitely something to look forward to, and the future is looking bright for the Boys XC team.
Girls Cross Country (XC)
With an all out sprint these past few years, the Girls XC team has seen a high level of success. However, with the recent departure of a number of top runners, this team is looking to push their young core up to the top of the hill and make a run in states this year.
Girls Volleyball
After a middling 9-14 record last season under new head coach Jordan Roldan, the girls volleyball team is looking set up for a good future with lots of young talent. Recently, the team has been climbing up rankings, and hopes to smash all expectations this season, and make it to the state tournament.
Sailing
The sailing team has a bright future ahead of them, and has recently experienced an influx of new members following the team’s third place finish in their division last spring. The sailing team is looking to rig up an even better finish with this newly acquired talent.
Boys Crew
In Spring of 2025, this team had possibly their best season to date, winning MassPubs for all 4s and having the greatest single season performance by any public high school in the New England Regionals competition, qualifying every boat for a final for the first time in program history. Since last year’s team was heavily reliant on senior members, success this season will rest on new faces picking up the slack.
Girls Crew
This team has been flying, and there are no signs of slowing down. Loaded with top talent, the Girls Crew team is expected to compete for the MassPubs championship and make a run in New England Regionals this upcoming spring. The team will also be competing at the Head of the Charles Regatta once again; something to look forward to this October.
Fencing
The fencing team has been one of CRLS’s most under-the-radar teams for years now, especially after the girls’ third place finish in last year’s state championship. Both teams are looking strong this year, and they’re looking to foil their opponents’ plans come winter and go all the way.
This article also appears in our September 2025 print edition.
