Athlete of the Issue: DP Pope

THIJS WITTINK/DEERFIELD SCROLL

DP Pope ’26 is a postgraduate student-athlete at Deerfield Academy this year, competing in the following three varsity sports: football, wrestling, and baseball. For Pope, sports have been a constant part of life for as long as he can remember, shaped by his family background and early exposure to athletics. 

From a young age, Pope was inspired by his college athlete parents. He described an “unspoken rule of having to play a sport in every season” in his family that required him to play a sport each season, something he said kept him active and helped him build connections with others. His father introduced him to all three of his sports, and Pope began playing tee-ball at age five. By second grade, he had already developed a strong interest in football, which would later become his primary focus. Following in his father’s footsteps, Pope is now deciding which school he wants to pursue college football at.

Pope’s journey was interrupted last year when he suffered a knee dislocation that sidelined him for his entire senior season. The injury forced him to step away from competition at a time when he expected to be fully active in his final year. After his recovery process began, a friend who knew both Pope and Deerfield introduced him to the postgraduate program. Pope decided to apply and spend an additional year of high school athletics and Deerfield Academy, returning to competition in a new environment with a new team. 

This fall, Pope joined Deerfield’s varsity football team and quickly made an impact. One of his most memorable moments came early in the season against Phillips Academy Andover in a home game that marked his return to competitive play. 

“I was a little hesitant coming back from injury,” Pope recalled. “It was the fourth quarter and I got the ball at the five-yard line, and I took it in for a touchdown. That was my first time on the field in about a year, so being able to score the winning touchdown and be with my Deerfield brothers meant the most to me.” 

His performance after recovery stood out not only because of the moment itself, but because of the example it set for teammates. Sam Peake ’28, also a running back, said Pope’s approach to recovery and competition left an impression on younger players. “As a fellow running back, I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor,” Peake said. “Even though we only played one game together when we were both healthy, it was so awesome to see how hard he's worked to recover from his injury.” 

Beyond his performance on the field, Pope also became a steady presence in the locker room. Teammate Crosby Fay ’28 remarked, “DP is one of the most mature and humble people I have ever been around and this rubbed off on the entire locker room. As an older guy, he served as a mentor for many of the underclassmen and still does months after the season.” His dedication to the sport has most definitely rubbed off on many of the younger players, helping the team grow all together. 

As his time at Deerfield continues, Pope said he has tried to focus less on individual outcomes and more on the habits built through athletics. “I think playing sports teaches a lot of discipline,” he said. “Same with school and other rigorous tests, there’s a lot of effort and work put behind the scenes in order to see those results whether on the field or in the classroom. It takes a lot of time, dedication, especially when no one’s watching you.” Pope’s athletic journey has inspired development on and off the field, shaping him into the person he is today.

With his high school athletic career nearing its conclusion, Pope is still in the process of deciding where he will continue playing football at the college level. For now, he remains focused on finishing his final Varsity Boys Baseball season strong and contributing to his team in any way he can.