Jacob Francy, '26
When you think of Ensworth Athletics, you might immediately think of our amazing programs in football with new coaches and former NFL players Tim and Matt Hasselbeck, or our profound baseball team led by former MLB player and new Athletic Director Jason Maxwell. One of the newer programs that’s not always in the spotlight in Ensworth’s history has been our hockey team. This year, the team went all the way to the State Championship where they defeated the Ravenwood Raptors; but with this historic win, all fingers are pointed at one person responsible for getting the Ice Tigers their first trophy: Ben Sonkin.
Ben Sonkin, a senior this year, has been called “the greatest ever” to put the skates on for Ensworth. In his freshman year in the Greater Nashville Area Scholastic League, Sonkin delivered 6 goals and 7 assists for 13 points in 10 games while also getting an extra 3 points in a small playoff run.
In his sophomore year, he led the team with an outstanding 25-goal and-17 assist season for 42 points in only 17 regular season games. That year, Sonkin helped Ensworth reach the Hine Cup Finals against Summit-Page with 10 goals and 10 assists in 6 postseason games.
The next season, Sonkin was limited to 10 regular season games, but he still managed to battle through with 29 points (18 goals, 11 assists). The Ice Tigers suffered a controversially early playoff exit that year.
Finally, in his senior year, Sonkin was officially named captain and played 12 games in the season. He finished with 19 goals and 21 assists before a spectacular playoff run in the top tier for the Preds Cup. Captain Sonkin scored a hat trick in the final game of his Ensworth career, which resulted in lifting up the Predators Cup as state champions.
As Ben graduates this Spring, the hockey team is certainly going to miss him, but he will always be remembered as the one who gave Ensworth its first state championship.
Good luck to Ben on his next chapter, and thank you on behalf of the entire school.