Eleven seniors have committed to play sports at the collegiate levels at the D1 and D3 levels.
Taylor Hua
Varsity captain and defender Taylor Hua has played for Hockaday for nine years. She has committed to play lacrosse at the D3 level at Amherst College.
“I was drawn to Amherst’s great mix of rigorous academics and high-level lacrosse, and really liked how the D3 level allows more flexibility to explore other passions outside of sports,” Hua said.
She said that the lacrosse program has taught her valuable skills in time management, and she learned a lot from her coaches.
“I could not speak more highly of the Hockaday coaching staff,” Hua said. “Coach Molly, Morgan and Posie are undoubtedly the best trio of coaches in Texas lacrosse and are the heart and soul of our team.”
Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach Molly Ford has coached Hua for six years. She said Hua has a passion for lacrosse and has great energy on and off the field.
“The choice to play in college did not come with an easy path, but Taylor persevered and landed in the perfect spot for her,” Ford said. “She is a fantastic leader for Varsity lacrosse.”
Avery Jackson
Varsity volleyball captain Avery Jackson, a four-year varsity player, has also played for MadSand beach volleyball and MadFrog indoor volleyball for more than seven years. Jackson has committed to play beach volleyball at the D1 level at Stanford University.?
“The opportunity for student-athletes to learn alongside such passionate people in their respective interests is unmatched,” Jackson said. “I find comfort in knowing the student-athlete community is full of athletes who value their academic passions as well as their respective sports careers.”
Head Varsity Volleyball Coach Andy Gass says his favorite memory with Jackson is assisting her in her goal of winning two SPC championships. Gass hopes Jackson continues to be herself, works hard and enjoys being a collegiate athlete.?
Jackson said that Gass and Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach Allison Camp continued to prioritize team culture and maintaining academic rigor even while playing sports.
“I’m thankful for my time with HVVB and am positive that Stanford Beach Volleyball will provide similar memories, endless laughs and lifelong friends,” Jackson said.?
Zoe Stone:
Zoe Stone has been rowing for Hockaday since the spring of her freshman year. She will be a DI rower at Georgetown University next year.
“I knew Georgetown was the place for me after meeting the girls and seeing how much they love the sport and their team,” Stone said.
Stone also described how rowing has been an essential part of her Hockaday experience.
“I am so thankful for all the coaches—Coach Forteith,Chan, Esway and Bowman—for being a part of my growing up and for the way this team taught me how to be a better person,” Stone said.
Caroline Stevens:
Senior Caroline Stevens has been rowing for Hockaday since the spring of her sophomore year. She is committed to Georgetown University for D1 rowing.
“I chose Georgetown because of its exceptional community that spoke to both my ambitions as a student and dedication as an athlete,” Stevens said.
Stevens said rowing has been one of the best parts of her Hockaday experience, and she loved spending time with the team after school.
“I’m so happy I decided to try rowing when I moved to Dallas,” Stevens said. “It has given me some of the most amazing friends I could ever ask for.”
Maya Malik:
Senior Maya Malik has been a coxswain for Dallas United Crew since her freshman year. She is committed to the University of Washington for D1 rowing.?
“The team at Washington is consistently one of the best in the country,” Malik said. “It has so much history embedded in the program, and I wanted to be somewhere where rowing was a part of the culture.”
Malik’s favorite memories with her club team include their plane and bus rides together. She also said her club coaches have impacted her experience as a rower.?
“ I would not have made it through this process without them,” Malik said. “They have helped me in developing my confidence while keeping me humble and always hungry to improve.”
Women’s Rowing Coach at Dallas United Crew Benjamin Andrews commented on Maya’s work ethic and wishes her the best in college.
“I am excited to hear the stories of how her experiences at Dallas United Crew are helping shape her path at one of the top schools in the country,” Andrews said.
Abby Grace McGowan:
Abby Grace McGowan has been rowing for three years and is also a captain. She is committed to the University of Virginia for D1 Rowing.?
“For me, UVA was my number one school, and I knew the moment I went on my first visit that it was the place for me,” McGowan said.?
McGowan emphasized how the Hockaday rowing team is a community she loves being a part of.?
“The girls on the team are the most amazing group of people,” McGowan said. “Everyone has everyone’s back no matter what and we are all bonded over the hard work we do every day at practice.”
Evie Fox:
Evie Fox has been rowing for Hockaday for two years. She has committed to Bates College for D3 rowing.?
“When I went on my official visit to Bates, I almost immediately knew that it was the right place for me, as both the school and rowing communities were so welcoming and supportive,” Fox said.
Fox says rowing with Hockaday helped her become a better teammate. She was also grateful to the coaches for their support.?
“I have so much appreciation for all of the HVR coaching staff,” Fox said. “From early mornings to extra practices, to boat maintenance, to your care for all of the athletes, thank you so much for making Hockaday Rowing such a special team.”
Ashna Tambe:
Varsity captain Ashna Tambe committed to the University of Pennsylvania to play D1 basketball. In addition to her six years with Hockaday basketball, she has 12 years of club experience. ?
“I really formed a connection with the coaches and girls on the team and immediately knew that this was where I wanted to spend the next four years,” Tambe said. “Penn checked all the boxes for me during the recruiting process.”
Tambe is the first person in Hockaday history to score 1,000 points throughout her career – a milestone she celebrated in January 2023. She was also recently nominated for the McDonald’s All American Basketball game and surpassed a career total of 1,500 points this year.
Head Varsity Basketball Coach Gabby Moss coached Tambe for one year. One of her favorite memories was when Tambe hit the game winning shot against ESD on senior night.
“Ashna is special,” Moss said. “I’m extremely grateful I had the opportunity to coach Ashna in her final year at Hockaday—her drive will take her far and she’ll find success in wherever she chooses to apply herself.”
Jaden Thomas:
Senior Varsity Soccer captain Jaden Thomas has been playing soccer for 14 years. She will attend Stanford University next year, where she will play D1 soccer.
“I chose Stanford because it’s the best of both worlds,” Thomas said. “I knew this was where I was meant to be.”
Thomas tore her ACL during her sophomore year, and after a speedy recovery, she played for the US Youth National Team in Jan. 2023, where she scored her first international goal. She attributes her passion for soccer to her sister, Trinity Thomas ’18, who played soccer at Harvard.
“I can’t talk about my soccer journey without thanking my older sister,” Thomas said. “She has always been my biggest inspiration and I accredit my success to her guidance and support.”
Head Varsity Soccer Coach Rodney Skaife hopes that Thomas continues to enjoy the game.
“There’s no limits to what she can reach,” Skaife said. “The way she plays is pretty to watch, hopefully strength and power do not take this away.”
Thomas thanked her teammates for their support, and said that they have become some of her best friends on/off the field.
“Being captain of HVS is my most proud moment of my high school career, not because of the title, but because I actually got to lead my team on and off the field,” Thomas said.
Alyssa Anderson:
Senior Alyssa Anderson has been running track and field since 5th grade. A four-year varsity member, she is also a captain. She is committed to Yale University, where she will run D1 track and field.?
“I chose Yale because it is a school that provides me the opportunity to continue my sport while also pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering,” Anderson said. “I could tell that the team enjoyed practice every day and thought of each other as family.”
Head Varsity Track and Field Coach Laboris Bean’s favorite memory with Anderson was their early morning workouts during her junior year.?
“These led to her breaking multiple Hockaday records,” Bean said. “Her hard work paid off.”
She plans to compete in?the heptathlon and will be one of the first heptathletes Yale has had in a while.?
“Both the team and the coaches have become my second family, and I wouldn’t change any of the experiences we’ve shared together,” Anderson said.?
Margaret Thompson:
Senior Varsity Track and Field captain Margaret Thompson has bene running since 1st grade. She will be running D1 track at Princeton University next year.
“I was drawn to the school as a whole and feel so blessed to have the opportunity to pursue the sports I love at a high level,” Thompson said.
She thanked her teammates for all the support they provided her throughout her journey.
“I have never felt to supported, encouraged, and loved by a group of girls,” Thompson said. “It has been an honor and joy to practice with my second family and lead them as a co-captain.”
Head Varsity Track & Field Coach Laboris Bean said his favorite memory with Thompson is when she was number one in the nation at the Texas Relays.
“Margaret works so hard and is so humble,” Bean said. “She has so much potential in her.”
Thompson is thankful to her coaches for their support and is excited for her future at Princeton.
“Thank you especially to Coach Bean for being my biggest supporter, motivator, and mentor since day one,” Thompson said. “I could not have gotten to where I am today without you.”
