The Rye Girls Varsity Basketball team will be hard-pressed to repeat their success from just one season ago. The Garnets won 21 games in 2025 and took home the Gold Ball by clinching a sectional tournament title for the first time since 2021. The quest for a repeat begins on December 9.
“We aim to improve with every game,” Head Coach Margo Hackett told MyRye.com before the season. “After a memorable season last year, we’re excited to get back on the court and continue building on that success.”
Much of Hackett’s roster from 2025 is set to return in 2026, highlighted by point guard Paige Tepedino and forward Phoebe Greto. Annie Toulouse, Frankie Chiaravalle, Stella Maresca, Charlotte Storz, Ella Poole, and Liz Schwartzman are all also back with championship experience under their belts. “We have a great group of returners,” Hackett told MyRye.com. “We welcome Estela Canet, Ashley Alosi, Valeria Medina, and Arabella Roberts onto the team.”
Tepedino and Greto, the co-team MVPs from 2025, have been announced as the two captains for this upcoming winter. Hackett spoke highly of both veteran star players: “Both lead by example in everything they do and are role models for the younger girls in our program,” she said. “We will continue to rely on them heavily.”
Rye opens the season on the road for four straight games, beginning on December 9 at Eastchester. They host the Eagles in their home opener on December 19, just before their Christmas break trip to Florida. The Garnets open the New Year at a neutral site against Westlake and close the regular season on February 11 against Ossining.
“We have a difficult schedule and are looking forward to a wonderful season,” Hackett told MyRye.com. She will enter her eighth season at the helm and is coming off winning Section 1 Conference 2 Coach of the Year.
