Sophie Bellemare graduated last year as a member of the Class of 2014. Sophie was a two-sport varsity captain as a senior (Soccer and Golf). She was also an Athletic Association co-head as a junior, in which she, along with Asata Evans, instituted the Miss Hall’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The Hall inducted four tremendous members of the MHS family two years ago and will continue to select members on a bi-annual basis.  Sophie was a tremendous competitor and a terrific team player.  She played four years on the varsity soccer team and played an integral part in the growth of the program that finished last season with the best record in School history at 11-6-2.  Sophie also spearheaded the effort to add Golf as a sport; she competed on the varsity team for two years.  

Below are her thoughts on participating in athletics during her time at MHS and what she misses most about it. We miss Sophie very much and wish her the best of luck in college!

“I don’t remember a day in my life that I wasn’t playing sports. At the toddling age of 4, my parents put me on my very first soccer team.  All of my closest friends from back home are the girls I grew up playing soccer with, and the day I joined the MHS soccer team, I met the girl who would be my best friend throughout my four years at Miss Hall’s. I remember the fall of my freshman year so clearly. I remember the crisp fall leaves, the cool breeze, and all of the crazy and talented players that made up my team. I was surrounded by positive and encouraging people. Sports at MHS are so empowering and sisterly, that when I went back and played with other soccer teams during the off season, I was dumbfounded at the lack of encouragement and respect among the players. When I served as a captain my senior year, our focus was always on the bond between teammates. All three years when I went to play in the NEPSAC All-Star game, there were always fellow teammates that came on the trip simply to support the other All-Star and me. Miss Hall’s athletics offered me something very special through sports; confidence. When I found out my sister made Varsity her freshman year, I was flooded with nostalgia. Two weeks into my college career, I am ecstatic to join the club soccer team here at Elon, and I can only hope it’ll be close to the experience I had at MHS.

The spring of my freshman year, I was very surprised to learn that we did not have a golf team. All it took was some asking around, and conversations with Coach Ward until we had a golf team the spring of my junior year. Senior year when I was elected captain was a very proud moment for me. I certainly wasn’t the best golfer, I simply just wanted to play. 

Four years flew by, and sports were always something at school that made my time worthwhile. The improvement to the Athletic Program has been tremendous since I started in 2010. I miss MHS and playing sports there an indescribable amount, and I cannot wait to go back and watch a few games!”