Fall Sports Wrap-Up

From Director of Athletics Peter Fagan: Greetings from Casa de Piedra! We are now into the second week of the Winter season and only now am I able to write a complete wrap-up because of the late season playoff success of our teams. The excitement on campus went all the way into the Thanksgiving holiday with three teams competing deep into the CIF playoffs.

Once again, the girls and boys cross-country teams flexed their harrier muscles. On the boys' side, accolades included winning the Condor league for the 6th straight time, finishing third in the southern section finals (moving up 4 places from last year) and 5th overall in the state. As impressive as the boys' results were, the girls topped them. With one of the deepest and talented teams in school history, the girls were top finishers in the prelims and CHAMPIONS of the division V southern section! The best team in the southland! At the state meet against all the best schools in the California, the girls came up just short and finished second to perennial powerhouse, University High School from San Francisco. As Mr. Coleman stated at assembly, “This team had the perfect blend of hard work and fun.” It was clear by their impressive results and constant smiles, he was right.

Not to be outdone by the cross-country teams, Jeff  Hooper’s footballers treated us to the farthest post-season run in the history of the program. During the regular season, the gridiron stars finished with a regular season record of 6-1 with impressive victories over Faith Baptist and division 2 Champion Joshua Springs. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, we hosted Lucerne Valley and Avalon on our home turf. In both games, the boys displayed the grit we’ve heard about all season; easily handling Lucerne Valley and beating a highly touted Avalon team with an impressive 28-8 victory. The next round the team traveled to Calvary Chapel in Downey to play an aggressive L.A. team. What was thought to be our toughest challenge turned out to be a rout and we ran away with the victory, 53-13. This set up the finals against three time finalist Excelsior Charter School. Unfortunately, the Toads came out on the short end of the final score, but nevertheless, played with heart and courage until the final whistle. The contingency of Thacher fans that made the three-hour trek or watched on the internet, couldn’t have been more proud of the efforts of their boys.

Not to be outdone by their classmates, the girls' tennis team had another fine season. With an overall record of 12-5, the girls finished 2nd in the Condor League and qualified for the post-season for the 4th consecutive year. In the playoffs, they beat Bolsa Grande High School in the first round and then traveled to L.A. to take on Mission Valley league Champion Arroyo High School.   Playing some of their most inspired tennis of the season, they won a hard fought 10-8 battle. Unfortunately, in the third round,  El Segundo High school proved to be too tough of a foe and the lady netters went down for the season to a score of 4-14. It was another successful season on the courts and with some great returning players, the future looks bright!

The JV girls' tennis, led by Coach Jason Carney also experienced great results on the courts. They had an overall record of 5-1 and handily beat arch rival Cate in both matches. Mr. Carney applauded the efforts of his captains, Ana Urgiles '13, Nu Xiong '13 and Sarah Ratsimbazafy '13 and Brisha Howe '13 for their tireless efforts and bold leadership. Their enthusiasm was contagious as the many young freshman girls took on the challenge. We are all excited to see these young players step up to the next level!

The girls' volleyball team experienced some growing pains after losing five top seniors to graduation. With a record of 4-11, their results on paper weren’t as strong as their play on the court. During the season, they had eight matches go a full 5 games and 2 other matches go 4 games.  All of the contests came down to the wire and had it not been for some misfortunes and a few unlucky bounces, those games could have gone the other way.Coach Justina Zenner applauded the efforts of her girls and never let them get down or quit. 

On the JV front, working with an young and inexperienced team, Coach Vyhnal did his best to help all his new players work on their skill development and experience the joy of playing on a team. The season started off slow, but it was apparent by the end they had made great strides in every facet of the sport.  On parents weekend, they pulled all their toughest together to defeat league opponent Dunn with a solid two-match victory.  Both Coach Vyhnal and Coach Zenner look forward to these young players developing their skills to move onto the next level!

On the freshman level, we were able to field two teams to experience the joys of interscholastic competition.  The freshman boys established their own identity with a freshman only football team. With limited practice time, they were able to play three games and experience what it would be like to play for the varsity team. Coach Omansiek was quite complementary on the work ethic, enthusiasm and “never quit” attitude. Unfortunately, they played against teams that practiced regularly and had established programs and came out on the short end of the score. But these boys learned how to win on the second scoreboard and we are all hoping to see them in the varsity program next year. The freshman girls also had a team to call their own. Because of the popularity of volleyball with this class, we were able to schedule some freshman games for these new faces. Coach Zenner (the varisty coach) put in extra time and effort for these girls and on the sidelines, was patient and supportive as many of the new players found their roles. It was a wonderful way for the girls to develop a relationship with their classmates and learn the sport of volleyball at the grass roots level.  

To wrap it all up, there aren’t enough accolades to describe the success of the Thacher School fall athletics season.  Every team, every player, every coach and every fan experienced the highs and lows of high school athletics, but everyone can agree that our students played with passion, sportsmanship, and grit!   If we keep up the efforts that we’ve been experience as of late, I’ll have to build a bigger trophy case!

The following reports were submitted by the coaches.

Fall Dance
Coach: Gallia Vickery
Captains: Anna Fleming '13, Irene Limb '13
Seniors: Paul Cresanta, Anna Fleming, Irene Limb, Casey Mulchay, Leigh Thomas

Most Inspirational Dancers: Irene Limb '13, Wesley Liang '15
Most Improved Novice: Paul Cresanta '13
Most Improved 2nd year (JV): Anasazi Vanessa Levy '14
Most Improved Experienced (Varsity): Leigh Hanson Thomas '13
Teacher’s Award for consistency and hard work in all three dance forms: Hayley Ann Kong '15

Each week dancers had two ballet classes, two modern classes and one jazz class.  We focused on improving technique in alignment, turn-out, and extension and then worked on longer combinations in each dance genre.  Experienced dancers took ballet classes on pointe and all members of Dance Ensemble were in fall dance this year.

Early in the season the dancers worked with Cynthia Ling Lee our visiting dance artist.  She introduced the dancers to improvisation, site specific work, creating their own musical accompaniment with sounds and spoken words, and a day of Kathak  - Classical Indian Dance.


Boys' Cross Country
Coaches: Fred Coleman (Head); Sarah Delvecchio (Assistant)
Captains: Justin Myles '13, Shravan Rajasekaran '13
League Record: League Champions (18 consecutive League Meet victories!)
Season Record: 4th in Sweepstakes Race at Mt. Sac Invitational (1st time ever!)
Seniors: Justin Myles, Shravan Rajasekaran, Olivier Domergue
Most Valuable Runner: Simon Novich '14
Most Improved Novice Runner: Liam Carpenter-Urquhart '15
Most Improved Veteran Runner: Alexander Zaldastani '14
Most Inspirational Runners: Justin Myles '13 and Shravan Rajasekaran '13
Captain of 2013 Team: Simon Novich '14

CIF: 3rd Place Southern Section; 5th Place in the State of California!

Season’s highlights: Many runners logged substantial miles during the crucial summer training period, and seven boys qualified for early camp. As always, our first significant test came at the Brentwood Invitational, where the boys placed 1st in a strong field of seventeen teams. Our top five boys finished in the top ten runners in the race, an astounding achievement in a race of that size, foreshadowing great things to come.

Just eleven days later the boys won the first of three Condor League meets here at School.  They dominated the field to confirm the fact that they were yet another outstanding team.  A week later they were off to Midland for the second League meet, where the boys repeated their earlier performance, and solidified a position as odds-on favorite to win the Condor League Championship yet again.

Then the varsity runners (top seven) placed 4th in the Division 5 Sweepstakes Race (including almost all of the best teams in California), at the famous Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) Invitational (the largest in the world).  They gained valuable experience on the course that is the site of both the Southern Section Prelims and Finals.

On 31 October at Cate the boys secured their seventh consecutive Condor League Championship with a dominating performance, placing 7 runners in the Top 11. It was their eighteenth consecutive Condor League Meet victory.

On to the postseason: At the Southern Section Prelims the boys won their heat in a disciplined pack of five, posted the fourth fastest time of the day, and qualified easily for the sectional finals where they ran better than expected with a 3rd place finish that qualified them for the State Championships in Fresno for the fifth time in the last six years. On 24 November the boys finished #5 in the State of California to take their place as one of Thacher’s best cross country teams ever (1988 and 2010 teams finished 4th). The order of finish was (5k or 3.11 miles):

#1)  Simon Novich (16:29)
#2)  Spencer McCune (16:47)      
#3)  Justin Myles (16:51)
#4)  Peter Callan (17:01)
#5)  Kevin Griffee (17:08)
#6)  Jack Richardson (17:50)
#7) Shravan Rajasekaran (18:00)
For an approximation of a flat 3-mile time, subtract about 35 seconds.


Girls' Cross Country
Coach: Fred Coleman (Head); Sarah Delvecchio (Assistant)
Captain: Melanie Reimer '13
League Record: Condor League Champions (9 consecutive League Meet wins)
Season Record: Winner of Sweepstakes Race at Mt. Sac (First time ever!)
Seniors: Melanie Reimer, Hutton Becker, Julianna Childs, Brittany Holden, Jacquiline King, Nan Macmillan, Elena McGahey, Jasmynn Roman
Most Valuable Runner: Melanie Reimer '13
Most Improved Novice Runner: Mahogany Monette '14
Most Improved Veteran Runner: Hutton Becker '13
Most Inspirational Runner: Mahogany Monette '14
Captain of 2013 Team: Isobel Hayne '14

CIF: Southern Section Champions; 2nd Place in the State of California!

Season’s highlights: Our girls logged many more miles during the crucial summer training period than ever before. Nine girls qualified for early camp and returned for rigorous pre-season workouts. As always our first significant test came at the Brentwood Invitational where the girls placed 1st in an excellent field of twenty teams – a glimpse of what was to develop into our best girls' season ever.

Then the girls came home to take the first of three Condor League meets, followed by a similar result in the second League meet at Midland, just a week later.

Our top seven varsity runners won the Sweepstakes Race (composed of almost all of the best teams in California) at the famous Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) Invitational (the largest cross country invitational in the world), where they gained valuable experience on the course that is the site of both the Prelims and Finals of the Southern Section.

On October 31st at Cate the girls secured their third consecutive Condor League Championship with a dominating performance, placing 10 runners in the Top 11! It was their ninth consecutive Condor League Meet win.

On to the postseason: At the Southern Section Prelims the girls won their heat and posted the fastest time of the day in a disciplined pack, qualifying easily for the Finals where they ran up to expectations, winning the Southern Section Championship and earning their third consecutive invitation to the State Championships in Fresno. On November 24th the girls finished #2 at State and took their place as our greatest Cross Country Team ever! The order of finish (5K or 3.11 miles) was:

1)  Melanie Reimer (19:38)
2)  Brittany Holden (19:45)
3)  Arianna Finger (19:57)
4)  Julianna Childs (19:59)
5)  Hutton Becker (20:41)
6)  Georgie Becker (21:07)
7)  Isobel Hayne (21:13)
For an approximation of a flat 3-mile time, subtract about 50 seconds.

Varsity Football
Coaches: Jeff Hooper, Aaron Snyder, Tony Franco
Captains: Grady Jacobsen '13, JJ Ntshaykolo '13, Zane Schryver '13
League Record: 3-1
Season Record: 9-2
Seniors: Grady Jacobsen, JJ Ntshaykolo, Zane Schryver, Parker Dawson, Kyrien Edwards, Leo Turpan, Bradley Callander, Cody Renfrew, Jack Weil
MVP: Grady Jacobsen, JJ Ntshaykolo, Zane Schryver, Parker Dawson, Kyrien Edwards, Leo Turpan, Bradley Callander, Cody Renfrew, Jack Weil
Most Inspirational Players: Grady Jacobsen, JJ Ntshaykolo, Zane Schryver, Parker Dawson, Kyrien Edwards, Leo Turpan, Bradley Callander, Cody Renfrew, Jack Weil
Most Improved Player: Aiden Waugh '14
All CIF: Ntshaykolo, Schryver, Jacobsen, Edwards. Honorable Mention: Turpan.
CIF qualification? Yes. Lost in finals 69-26 to Excelsior.

Season’s highlights: It was our deepest playoff run in the School's history. Huge road wins against Faith Baptist (first time ever), Joshua Springs (#1 team in CA at the time) and Calvary Chapel of Downey (semifinals). First semifinal victory in 4 tries. Edwards set single season rushing record (1026 yds) despite missing 2 games. Schryver second most prolific passer (940 yds), most since Sam Felton in 2004. Ntshaykolo extraordinary defensive force 80 tackles, 9 sacks, 11 caused fumbles, 3 blocked kicks, general havoc created.


Freshman Football
Coach: Bill Omansiek.
League Record: 0-2.
Season Record: 0-2.
MVP: Mohammad Abdel Fattah Bakhiet ‘15
MIP: Jeeho “Eric” Im ‘16
Most Inspirational: Launce Augustus Gamble ‘16 & Jarred Omari Griffin ‘16

Season’s highlights: Although the season was winless, it was certainly a great one. We measured our successes in easily defined accomplishments: a made tackle, a sack, a good pull block, a completed pass, a first down, forcing the other team to punt, stopping a 2-point conversion, etc. These measures of success allowed the team to feel good about their accomplishments and their improvement. The teams we played practiced daily all season while our boys were only able to practice two times a week. Yet, there was marked improvement from the start of the season to the end by each of the members of the team. The boys were a lot of fun to work with as they were eager to learn and work hard. These boys are the future of Thacher Football.  If they stick with it and continue to work hard and grow, they will do good things down the road.


Girls' Varsity Tennis
Coaches: Peter Fagan, Kevin Berigan
Captains: Shelby Luce '13, Kelsey Hartman '13
League Record: 4-2
Season Record: 12-5
Seniors: Shelby Luce, Kelsey Hartman, Alex DeMopoulos, Emma Whitley, Rachel Turner
MVP: Grace Bingham '15
MIP: Joanna Knutsen '14
Captains for 2013 season:  Auden Ehringer '14 and Shelley Vohr '14
CIF qualification? Yes, we played three rounds, winning two of them.

Season’s highlights: Outstanding season on many accounts. Great team camaraderie and bonding. Doubles # 1 team of Auden Ehringer and Alex DeMopoulos only lost 4 matches all season.  Beat Laguna Blanca twice and finished second in Condor League.  Many students showed noticeable improvement.


JV Girls' Tennis
Coach: Jason Carney
Captains: Nu Xiong '13, Sarah Ratsimbazafy '13, Brisha Howe '13, Ana Urgiles '13
Season Record: 5-1
Seniors: Nu Xiong, Sarah Ratsimbazafy, Brisha Howe, Ana Urgiles
MVP: Nu Xiong '13
MIP: Jillian Elkin '14 and Ann Han '15

Season’s highlights: Beating Cate twice for the second year in a row. Boo-yeah! Annual kick-ball game and four home runs from Cassie James. Overall another highly successful year based on skill development, fun had, and win-loss record.


Varsity Volleyball
Coaches: Justina Zenner, Chris Vyhnal
Captains: Maddie McMorrow '13, Ellie Hancock '13, Ciara Byrne '14
League Record: 2-8
Season Record: 5- 20
Seniors: Maddie McMorrow, Ellie Hancock, Kallie O’Conner, Gracie Farese
MVP: Maddie McMorrow '13
MIP: Kallie O’Conner '13
Coaches Award: Ciara Byrne '14

Season's highlights: A highlight of the season was the Family Weekend fundraiser for the March of Dimes put on by the players.  Each player sold hand-decorated  t-shirts, along with homemade jewelry and baked goods to raise over $400 for a worthy cause. This was a wonderful showing of team building and comaraderie among the players.  Even though they didn’t experience won-loss success, working for the greater good made it all worthwhile.


JV Girls' Volleyball
Coaches: Chris Vyhnal
Captains: Alex Purcell '14, Kennedy Green '15
League Record: 2-7
Season Record: 2-15
MVP: Alex Purcell '14
MIP: Sydney Wilder '15, Elsie Jones '16
Most Inspirational Player: Anne Gregory '15, Bailey Cypheridge '15

Season’s highlights: Both wins came against Dunn.  We had some close games against Fillmore, and we played well at home against powerhouse Laguna Blanca despite not having our starting setter and MVP, Alex Purcell.  


Rock Climbing
Coaches: Heather Grant, Brian Pidduck
Seniors: Alex Duncan, Ashley Wachtell
Best Mentor Climber: Alex Duncan '13 and Jackson Dolphin '14
Most Impressive Ascent: Drew Combs '14 on Das Problem at Horse Flats; Sienna Currie '15 on Batman Direct and Jameson Face
Brotherhood/Sisterhood of the Rope Award: Sienna Currie '15

Season’s highlights: Climbing at Banjo Cave and working on the delicate moves on Prison Wall; clearing brush and scrubbing lichen to make new climbs at Banjo Cave; working on overhanging climbing technique on Thacher’s climbing wall; working on the burrito challenge crack climb (Sienna Currie, Jackson Dolphin, Stuart Brown and Alex Duncan were successful); our trip to Horse Flats in the Angeles National Forest to climb on the exceptional granite - camping out under the stars, chopping wood for the fire with Cooper Penner, spotting each other as we tried time and time again to climb the Refrigerator and Das Problem, watching Cooper Penner and Jackson Dolphin work really hard to climb the difficult and mentally demanding Das Problem (they didn’t succeed in making the top, but considering their effort, it doesn’t matter!). They showed some of the most inspired and dedicated climbing of the whole term.  Lastly, but most importantly, it was the enthusiasm of the whole crew and their attention to safety during the entire term.  All learned a lot, were safe, challenged themselves and are excited to climb again.  We couldn’t ask for more.

In the words of the student climbers: “I loved climbing this year.  I learned so much and it was very satisfying as a sport.  Regardless of how bad a day I was having, climbing was a clean slate to succeed.  I loved the comarderie and the vibe.”

“I really enjoyed bouldering at the Gymkhana Field and learning how to get out of my own head while trying to climb Jameson Face.”

“I enjoyed honing my technique throught the term.  It was nice to be given a chance to steadily improve.”

Most memorable moments: “Although program as a whole will be very memorable as the best and most rewarding sports season I've had at Thacher, I will remember the climb at horse flats that I had a lot of trouble on, because it was one of the most challenging climbs I've ever tried.”

“Really everything. Such a great group of people to be around and the season was killer.”

“The first time I climbed the Thacher Mountaineering Philosophical & Epicurean climb was a really nice moment, because I had previously thought that it would be totally impossible, but then I found out that I could do it.”


Yoga
Coaches: Kaitlin Mundle
Seniors: Ian Muir, Jake Nelson, Tae Jung Kim, Carson Leydecker
MVP: Ian Muir
MIP: Carson Leydecker
Coaches Award: Jake Nelson
Best Savasana: Tae Jung Kim

Season’s highlights: Outstanding season with an incredible group of yogis. Dominated the school dance-off with yoga-inspired choreography. Improved strength, flexibility, concentration, and reduced stress.