The boys’ basketball program has the benefits of stellar coaching; a classic, old-school gym that features a gorgeous, new floor; and a committed school community that regularly fills the gym with energy, excitement, and support for its teams. Focusing on skillful execution, teamwork, sportsmanship, and the tenacity to overcome any challenge, students find success and growth on the court, win or lose. About those wins, though: Voit Gym holds memories of countless victories, and Thacher’s boys' basketball history is filled with many league championships and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoff berths.
Recent Thacher graduates have continued playing basketball for the following Division III colleges: Carnegie Mellon, Kenyon, Pomona-Pitzer, and Swarthmore.
In addition to serving as Thacher’s athletic director, Pete teaches mathematics, advises sophomore boys and is the varsity coach for the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams. In his 23 years as a teacher he has worked at the Webb Schools in Claremont, California, the Holderness School in New Hampshire, and Kingswood High School in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Pete has also been a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association since 1986, having achieved the ranking of Elite Professional. He has been coaching high school tennis for 31 years. In 2007, he coached a state championship girls team in New Hampshire and led the Thacher boys team to the CIF championship in 2008. Pete lives with his wife, Ann Merlini, the Middle School dorm head, and his dogs Gracie and Betty. In his spare time he enjoys biking, boating, fly fishing, and his cabin on Lake Winnipesaukee.
Notice of nondiscriminatory policy as to students: The Thacher School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other School-administered programs.