Hilltoppers vs. Hornets: The Hamden Hall Rivalry

Both the Hopkins and Hamden Hall athletic programs prioritize the values of teamwork, sportsmanship and personal growth, per the schools respective websites. In addition to their similar values, both schools compete in the Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA), where they play the same opponents and share the common goal of winning the league championship. Varsity Baseball Captain Sean Studley ’26 echoed this sentiment: “No matter what sport or what level, every game is a complete battle. Not even just between the two teams in the game, but the students and schools, too.”Athletic Director Rocco DeMaio ’86 spoke on the benefits of having an experience like this: “Rivalries like this bring out a higher level of focus, preparation, and competitive energy. Student-athletes learn how to perform under pressure, manage emotions, and compete against people they know personally.” Athletic Department Member and English Teacher Dante Brito, who attended Hamden Hall, called the rivalry “the atmosphere that every athlete wishes to play in.” 

For the athletes themselves, playing in these rivalry games adds an extra level of motivation. Varsity Girls Soccer and Girls Basketball captain Nicole Tooker ’26 spoke about how the rivalry adds more meaning to games: “I love the rivalry because it encourages school spirit and gives players even more to compete for.” Jacob Richards ’27, a swimmer and water polo player, spoke about the physical and mental intensity felt during the games, “I’ve punched, kicked, and sprained my finger in the water to beat Hamden Hall; it’s not a rivalry, but a never-ending war.” For some athletes, the rivalry becomes more interesting to them due to personal connections with Hamden Hall players. The rivalry runs right through Varsity Girls Basketball captain Eva Stirk’s ’27 own house: "The rivalry is especially strong in my household because my sister attends Hamden Hall, and we always bicker about each other's schools.” Some teams, like Varsity Boys Water Polo, are very familiar with some of the Hornets. Team member Aiden Gomez ’28 asserted, “The rivalry is interesting because a lot of our players play with Hamden Hall players at the Hydras Water Polo Club. So we know a lot of them and are great friends outside the pool.”

One of the main highlights of the rivalry is the annual Hamden Hall Basketball game on the Hill. Over the past few years, students have packed the bleachers in the Walter Camp Athletic Center to watch the Hornets take on the Hilltoppers on the Big Court. Athletes who have participated in these games reflected on the atmosphere at these games. Maeve Phipps ’27 reflected on the experience of the rivalry basketball game: “It's always a really tough game for us, but the atmosphere in the gym is amazing. We have a pep band and a student section cheering us on. And staying for the boys afterwards is the highlight of the winter. A lot of the school comes together to cheer and when we win we storm the court to celebrate with the team.” Varsity Boys Basketball Captain Gabe Ciminello ’26 called the rivalry basketball games “one of the biggest generators of school spirit on our campus” saying that the rivalry “benefits the athletic community with intense games and rowdy crowds, as well as the entire school community with fun events and moments to take pride in our school amidst academic stress.” Captain Lucas Downes ’26 shared a similar sentiment: “This rivalry definitely makes up a little bit for the general lack of school spirit Hopkins has with sports.”

While the rivalry continues to be present in basketball, many athletes feel that it is losing its intensity. Calder Resch ’27 finds competitions against Hamden Hall to be uncompetitive in both of his sports: “We usually dominate them in swimming but they dominate us in water polo.” Downes mentioned people's changing feelings about Hamden Hall since his freshman year, reflecting that “the hype around the rivalry has been dying down a little bit, at least on our side. I'd say people felt most strongly about it my freshmen year, although a decent amount of people do still feel strongly about it currently.” Ski Team and Varsity Girls Water Polo captain Samantha Bernstein ’26 believes that the rivalry is only really present in basketball: “I feel like the rivalry is never really applied to any sport but basketball. It’s the only sport that we make a big deal out of and tell everyone to come out and support.” Varsity Girls basketball player Julianne Gonzalez ’28 agreed, “From my experience, I think the rivalry is more intense in basketball than in other sports.” While recently not being as competitive in some sports DeMaio emphasized the importance of remembering the rivalry’s history: “It’s not just about a single season but about generations of athletes who have grown up competing against each other. Alumni from both schools still talk about these matchups, which speaks to the lasting impact of the rivalry.”

While it may not be reflected in the same way for all sports, Hopkins’ rivalry over Hamden Hall gives athletes more to play for and gives fans something more to cheer for. Ciminello reflected on his overall experience with the rivalry: “The rivalry with Hamden Hall has been a great experience. It gives not only athletes, but students and parents something to look forward to and take pride in. People definitely feel very strong about it, both inside and outside of athletics.” Phipps put it simply, “It’s always fun to win, but more fun if it’s Hamden Hall.”