St. Paul's Reclaims the Kim Cup in Thrilling Yearlong Rivalry with Groton

CONCORD, N.H. — In one of the most competitive years of the Kim Cup rivalry to date, St. Paul's School edged Groton School 12–10–2 in total varsity head-to-head competitions to reclaim the Kim Cup for 2024–2025.

The Kim Cup—named in honor of the Kim family, whose children graduated from both schools—celebrates the historic athletic rivalry between St. Paul's and Groton across all three seasons. The competition, which began formally in 2016–17, tallies varsity athletic results from fall, winter, and spring matchups, with the winning school taking home the Cup and directing a charitable donation in the spirit of the competition's mission of service.

Fall Season (4–3–2): Early Momentum for Big Red

The year began with tightly contested fall matchups, with St. Paul's claiming a slight edge, 4–3–2. The Big Red found success on the cross country trails:

• Boys' Varsity Cross Country: Win (21–38)

• Girls' Varsity Cross Country: Win (22–38)

• Boys' JV Cross Country: Win (24–33)

• JV Football: Win (38–6)

Despite strong showings in team sports, Varsity Field Hockey fell 0–4, and both Varsity Soccer teams played to 0–0 ties. Volleyball teams dropped both contests, keeping the overall fall margin narrow.

Winter Season (5–5–0): Dead Even at the Midway Point

The winter season saw a deadlock, with each school earning five victories. St. Paul's dominated on the squash courts:

• Boys' Varsity Squash: Win (7–0)

• Girls' Varsity Squash: Win (5–2)

• Boys' JV Squash: Win (6–1)

• Girls' JV Squash: Win (5–2)

The Big Red also picked up a dominant Boys' Varsity Basketball win, 75–30. However, Groton answered back with victories in Girls' Basketball, Swimming, and Girls' Varsity Hockey, among others. With ten contests in total, the winter split kept the Cup up for grabs heading into the spring.

Spring Season (3–2–0): St. Paul's Closes Strong

Needing a final push, St. Paul's delivered in the spring, winning three of five varsity contests to secure the Kim Cup:

• Boys' Varsity Lacrosse: Win (18–11)

• Boys' Varsity Baseball: Win (5–3)

• Girls' Varsity Lacrosse: Win (18–4)

While Boys' JV Lacrosse lost a close 8–10 battle and Girls' Varsity Tennis dropped their match 0–9, the Big Red's spring performance was enough to clinch the Cup, 12–10–2 overall.

Final Tally:

• St. Paul's Wins: 12

• Groton Wins: 10

• Ties: 2

More Than a Scoreboard

Beyond athletic bragging rights, the Kim Cup fosters friendship and sportsmanship between two of New England's most storied boarding schools. Each year, the winning school earns the honor of directing a charitable donation, reinforcing the values of leadership, compassion, and service that define both institutions.

For 2024–2025, with the Cup returning to St. Paul's School, the Big Red will also take the lead on selecting a charitable cause to benefit from this year's event proceeds.

A Tradition That Grows Stronger

Now nearly a decade old, the Kim Cup has evolved into one of the most spirited and meaningful traditions for both schools. With this year's narrow result, the all-time series remains tightly contested, with each school now having claimed the Cup multiple times—and a tie still on record from a previous season.

As anticipation builds for 2025–2026, one thing is clear: the Kim Cup continues to inspire fierce competition, heartfelt camaraderie, and a shared commitment to something bigger than the scoreboard.