The RMHS Girls Hockey team delivered an impressive and consistent performance throughout the 2025-2026 season. They finished the season as champions of the Middlesex League Liberty Division and as one of the stronger Division 1 programs with a 13-2-5 record.
In the MIAA Division 1 tournament, the highest level of competition in the state, Reading entered as a legitimate contender as the 10 seed. Throughout the season the team even had players nominated for awards, with junior goalie Rylee Middleton named league MVP and Boston Globe All-Scholastic, and senior Samantha Toomey and sophomore Payton Curran earning recognition as league all-stars.
The team’s major success this season was said to be because of their team dynamic. Lily Anderson (’29) talked about how welcoming the team was. “I had a great first year on the girls hockey team. My teammates and captains were very welcoming to me as a freshman and my team had a very successful year, making it to the elite eight in playoffs and being Middlesex League champions.”
Not only was the team welcoming to freshmen but the rest of the team remained so close as well. Mackenzie Libitz (’27) said, “Going into the season everyone clicked together really fast and we were all able to bond and get along really well. The locker room was always loud and full of energy and that really transferred onto the ice during practices and games starting really early in the season.”
The 2025-2026 season truly stuck out while in the past they team has had skilled players and played competitive teams, but the team aspect seemed to really click off the ice and correlate to their great season. The team’s success did not come without challenges. Libitz explained, “One challenge we faced this season was learning how to bounce back after tough losses and not letting one bad game affect the rest of the season. At times it was difficult to stay confident, but we overcame it by staying focused, keeping a positive mindset, and continuing to work hard together at practice every day. As the season went on, our chemistry and trust in each other continued to improve, which helped us respond better during games and grow stronger as a team.” This mindset really seemed to help shape the team’s identity and was a major role in success.
The team’s strong bond and ability to support each other created a foundation that will be hoped to continue going forward in future seasons.
