Latin School Fall Sports 2023

c h a r l o t t e

LATIN

a t h l e t i c s

CHARLOTTE LATIN BOOSTER CLUB SPORTS MAGAZINE

performance concentration endurance determination FALL 2023

2023-2024 Booster Club Board PRESIDENT: Jen Dauska PRESIDENT ELECT: Steve Hitzemann TREASURER: Alexa Cutter

SECRETARY: Kimber Morgan PAST PRESIDENT: Jane Hunter ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: David Gatoux

ASST. ATHLETIC & SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR: Angel Trimble

Stan Archibald Ivy & Brian Babcock Susan Bliss Berry Bolt Katie & Kevin Cumbus Jennifer & Ryan Clutter Alexa & Ernie Cutter Jen & Bill Dauska Carrie & Carl Fisher Erin & Rob Gannett Gabi & Rael Gorelick Lindsay & Tripp Griffin Mike Guggenheimer

Wendy & Gary Hecimovich Stacey & Steve Hitzemann Greta & Rob Hord Robin & Mitchell Hume Jane & Tommy Hunter Courtney & Bill Hyder Kendall & Carroll Jones Catherine & Scott Kiefer Christy & Brian Krasnigor Kim & Tony Lashley Jen & Chris Latta Kate & Jeff Lee Diane & Rob McLaughlin

Jill & Rob Miles Sarah & Eric Moody Kimber & Trey Morgan Eydie & Blake Okland Beth & Steve Pence Amanda & Neil Salvage Kate & Jeff Snoots Jane & Trey Tune Katie & Johnson Wagner Adri & Will Warrick Halcyon & Ryan Worrell

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FALL 2023

CHEER » 6-11 CROSS COUNTRY » 12-19 DANCE » 20-23

GOLF » 44-47 SOCCER » 48-57

FIELD HOCKEY » 24-33 FOOTBALL » 33-43

TENNIS » 58-65 VOLLEYBALL » 66-73 COLLEGE COMMITMENTS » 74-77

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Letter from the Booster Club President Dear Hawk Family, I am excited to be the Booster Club President this year! The beautiful fall weather made it easy to watch our talented Hawks in action. When I’m not walking around campus watching games or helping in the concession stand, you can find Bill and me on the football and baseball field cheering on John (’24), and in the gym watching Alex (’27) play basketball. Now that we have wrapped up the fall season and are headed indoors to watch our winter teams, I want to thank the Booster Club board, team parents, and the MANY volunteers who tirelessly work to support our teams!

Below are several ways Booster Club supports our athletes: • Provide concessions to our fans • Distribute senior pennants and championship signs • Provide support to Student Council with pep rallies and Spirit Club for the Powder Puff Games (congratulations class of 2024 for taking home the trophy!)

• Create player buttons for our fans (688 and counting) • Design and digitally publish the fall, winter and spring magazines that include Middle School, Junior Varisty and Varsity teams • Distribute the Class of 2024 keep-sake sports magazine • Continue our “Good Works” to help the athletic department and teams Volunteer opportunities are available on Instagram @cls_hawks_boosterclub and in the Welcome to the Week email to help with events along with concessions/gates.

Congratulations to all of our fall athletes and good luck to the winter sports teams!

Go Hawks!

Jen Dauska Booster Club President

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Head of School 2023-24 athletics are off to a great start, and with each event I attend, I am reminded of this year’s theme of interconnectedness.

It is hard to imagine a greater sense of community connection than sharing the thrill of a victory or cheering alongside fellow Hawks fans. The Charlotte Latin Athletics program is a pillar in our community, one that connects every one of us. Whether it be the Lower School students dancing with cheerleaders on the track, parent volunteers lending a hand in the concession stand, team managers and trainers tracking times and taping legs, or the grounds crew lining the field before a big event. We ALL have an opportunity to support and enjoy this amazing program.

Erin and I are feeling that sense of community now more than ever. You see, for the first time in a long time as school parents, we find ourselves without an athlete on the field. Bella and Alex are living their best college lives, while Cade (Grade 11) is spending this year in Italy with the School Year Abroad program. While we knew this day would come, I am not sure we were fully prepared. The Baldecchi house is quiet. There are no muddy cleats by the back door, no uniforms to wash, and no games to rush off to, yet I find myself as excited as ever to attend Latin sporting events. Being on the sidelines as the sun goes down, hearing the crackle of the PA system, watching the Hawks under the bright lights - I cannot explain why I am so drawn to it, but if you’re reading this, I guarantee you know what I’m talking about, and I would bet you are drawn to it too.

It is that draw, that sense of community, that brings me great pride and gratitude. I am proud of and grateful for our coaches and staff who create such a positive environment for our student-athletes. We are fortunate to have them model their dedication, determination, and leadership. I am proud of our Hawks for showing up every day, putting in countless hours, and pushing through sore muscles - all for the love of a sport and a team.

I conclude in gratitude for our wonderful Booster Club. By definition, this group of leaders and volunteers are the champions who amplify and boost the Latin Athletics program. They work behind the scenes in what can, at times, feel like a thankless job. They show up to help organize, feed, and rally our Hawks and coaches. The Boosters’ orchestration of events such as the Hawkspys awards banquet and Winter Sports Showcase place Latin Athletics in a league of our own. When you see one of our Booster volunteers, please join me in thanking them for all they do to enrich our school community. Let’s be sure they know their hard work is noticed and appreciated!

Thank you, Latin families, for making this such a special school. I look forward to seeing you in the stands.

Go Hawks!

Chuck Baldecchi Head of School

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cheer

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VARSITY: CHEER

FRONT ROW (L-R) Caroline Shamblin, Mallory Morgan, Mina Hawgood, Darby Collins, Barrett Moody, Ny Green, Hannah Hurden, Elizabeth Farmer, Tori Vona BACK ROW (L-R) Head Coach Nancy Atwell, Holdyn Hendley, Jade Backerman, Margaret Cotchett, Victor E Hawk, Piper Piscitelli, Hope Gottschling, Lindsay Baker, Jessie Adams NOT PICTURED Ellie Wouters

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CHEER: SENIORS

Congratulations!

LINDSAY BAKER-CAPTAIN

As the sole captain of the cheerleading squad, Lindsay has embraced the responsibility by initiating teambuilding activities, sharing her in-depth sports knowledge, choreographing dances, and serving as an experienced leader in her stunt group. Lindsay’s favorite cheer moment was storming the field with student fans after the lastsecond football victory at Charlotte Christian. She advises young Hawks to be confident in yourself and support your peers, which she is proud to do as a leader in the Sisters program. Lindsay would like to thank Coach Atwell for being an advisor and a role model, and her parents for fueling her passion for football. She’s not sure where she’ll end up in college, but she plans to go to a lot of football games. Thank you, Lindsay!

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(L-R) Hope Gottschling, Tori Vona, Lindsay Baker

HOPE GOTTSCHLING

TORI VONA

Hope returned to the squad after spending a year abroad and the Hawks were thrilled to have her back. Described by Coach Atwell as a natural performer who lights up in front of a crowd, Hope has developed into a strong and reliable backspot to her stunt group. A favorite cheer moment is the pride Hope felt after the squad successfully performed a difficult new routine during basketball season her sophomore year. She advises young CLS cheerleaders to have fun, be enthusiastic, and create a positive environment in practice every day. Hope thanks her parents for their encouragement, love and inspiration, and she thanks Coach Atwell for being a mentor who helps all the girls on the team be their best selves. Thank you, Hope!

A role model who successfully balances commitments to cheer, service organizations, and a high level of academics, Tori has developed into a confident performer with excellent technique. She advises young Hawks that experience is not necessary to find a place on the team. Show up, work hard, and have a positive attitude. Tori is proud of reaching beyond her comfort zone to join cheer, take multiple challenging AP classes, and start up two clubs at Latin: Academic Buddies and the Research Club. She thanks her wonderful parents and sister, as well as Coach Atwell and all of her Latin teachers for supporting her and pushing her to accomplish great things. Thank you, Tori!

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RECAP: CHEER

VARSITY CHEER

The Varsity Cheerleaders had an outstanding season supporting the gridiron Hawks and other fellow athletes in a variety of fall sports! A successful UCA home camp where several athletes were named “All-Americans” kicked off summer practices. Bi-weekly sessions in the Strength Center and weekly trips to Charlotte Allstar Gym throughout the fall helped to build confidence and precision in tumbling sequences, group stunts and elite pyramids. These highly energetic athletes worked hard to perfect their technique and elevated their performances as the season continued. Team members really enjoyed participating in the fall media day and the impromptu Touchdown Tailgate pep rally, parading through the Lower School with the Drumline and Dance Team, hitting a challenging routine at the all-school HOCO pep rally, and cheering with over 30 Junior Hawk cheerleaders on the track for the last home game. The season wrapped up with four CLS cheerleaders selected for the CISAA All-Conference Team. GO HAWKS!

MIDDLE SCHOOL FALL CHEER

The Middle School Cheer team had a great time cheering for the Middle School Football team this fall.

With eight 6th graders, the team was full of enthusiasm and eagerness to learn and perform. The team worked together to learn pyramids, stunts, dances and sidelines to engage the crowd at home and away games. A highlight of the season was getting to be involved in Touchdown Tailgate by welcoming our community with cheers and putting tattoos on the Lower School students in the spirit tent. The team shared practice space with the Varsity Cheerleaders, where they were able to learn and interact with Coach Atwell and the varsity team throughout our season through team bonding games and warming up together. Coaches Chapman and Kerr were so proud of all these girls learned throughout the season and look forward to building on what they learned in future seasons.

SENIOR NIGHT: CHEER

“

If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else -Booker T. Washington 10 | CHARLOTTE LATIN BOOSTER CLUB SPORTS MAGAZINE | FALL 2023

MIDDLE SCHOOL: CHEER

FRONT ROW (L-R) Avery Alpert, Caitlin Walsh, Caroline Teddy, Campbell Porcher BACK ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Amy Kerr, Ella Ross, Quinn Lynch, Abigail Wolff, Madison Gregerson, Head Coach Jenny Chapman

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cross country

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VARSITY: CROSS COUNTRY

FRONT ROW (L-R) Caroline Staffieri, Janice Obeng, Lilly Berkovich, Austin Redmond, Caroline Jin, Marisol Wickham, Jesse Kim SECOND ROW (L-R) Connor Cruz, Amelia DiRoma, Kate Griesser, Riley Hill, Bridget Yu, Maggie Klingman, Casey Cupps-O’Sullivan, Austin Degenhardt, Lily Lund, Lucy Ratterree THIRD ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Stacy Mercer, Lydia Berens, Caroline Uys, Ryan Purdom, Charles Guggenheimer, Nikhil Ashri, Bob Shi, Maeve Upton, Katia Seeburg, Molly Martin, Sophia Smith FOURTH ROW (L-R) Eleanor Fisher, Norah White, David Tian, Ethan Khouri, Jay McCracken, HT Stinson, Jack Donnelly, Peter DiSciullo, Webb Kiser, Fielding White, Head Coach Mike Weiss BACK ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Sintayehu Taye, Anish Thota, Henry Anglemyer, Nishanth Gaddam, Jackson DiRoma, Keith Brunnemer, Spencer Frost, Erik Anglemyer, William Austin, Jack Rook, Claire Mayberry, Assistant Coach Luke Ivey NOT PICTURED Eloise Eirich, Angel Fang, Emilie Wang, Keller Hitzemann, Nathan Obeng CHARLOTTE LATIN BOOSTER CLUB SPORTS MAGAZINE | FALL 2023 | 13

CROSS COUNTRY: SENIORS

(L-R) Jack Donnelly, Spencer Frost, Lucy Ratterree, Lydia Berens, Keller Hitzemann, Nikhil Ashri, Jackson DiRoma

Congratulations!

NIKHIL ASHRI-CAPTAIN

LYDIA BERENS-CAPTAIN

From the moment he entered the cross country program as a freshman, Nikhil made an impression. He had perfect summer practice attendance that year, and has served as a unifying force on the team ever since. Nikhil is dedicated and competitive, but he keeps things light. In fact, he advises young CLS runners not to take things too seriously – enjoy the sport and the achievement will come. Nikhil’s favorite Latin cross country memories are from Arboretum cookie runs with the boys.

Known as a caring and attentive teammate, Lydia’s exemplary leadership follows in the footsteps of her siblings who also served as cross country team captains. She is always aware of others’ needs and continually extends herself to support them. Lydia’s advice to younger Hawks is to make friends across all grade levels. Instead of citing a favorite memory, Lydia says just being part of such an amazing team is her favorite thing about cross country, but she loves singing while running and cheering for her teammates.

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JACKSON DIROMA-CAPTAIN

JACK DONNELLY

Ranked number four on the CLS AllTime top 25 list in the 5k, Jackson stands out as a tough, determined competitor who trains with fluidity and power. His advice to young runners is two-fold. First, focus on building relationships with your teammates, rather than obsessing about times. Second, the showers in the science room are real. Do not pull the lever! Jackson’s favorite Latin cross country memories are the team stops at Bojangles after meets.

The key word describing Jack is perseverance. His passion for running has been evident since his freshman year, but nagging injuries have forced Jack to slow down, rehabilitate, build strength, and refine his running mechanics.

Through hard work and dedication, Jack has set a great example for how to manage adversity, and he is a vital contributor to the team. Jack’s favorite cross country moments have been the Gil Murdock relays, and he advises young Hawks to take the time to improve your form.

SPENCER FROST

KELLER HITZEMANN CAPTAIN

Described by Coach Weiss as a vital member of the cross country family, Spencer has shown substantial, consistent improvement through the past four years – including a time drop of nearly a minute already this season. Spencer says being paced to that PR by teammate Jesse Kim is one of the highlights of his Latin cross country experience. He advises younger Hawks to have fun and always remember that you’re part of a team.

Many cross country runners also compete in track, but Keller does it differently. As a pole vaulter, he was first in the conference and second in the state last year. His impressive athleticism, competitive nature, and calm demeanor make him an ideal team captain who his teammates can rely on. Keller cites being at the beach for the state championship his sophomore year as one of his favorite Latin cross country moments. Keller’s parting advice for younger CLS runners is to be a valuable teammate any way that you can.

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LUCY RATTERREE-CAPTAIN A two-time All-Conference runner, and two-year team captain, Lucy is known for her trademark toughness in races. Her unwavering dedication to training paid off last year with a state title, a moment Lucy says was so fulfilling, particularly sharing it with last year’s seniors who had become a very important part of her life. Lucy is proud to be a threesport athlete who has represented the Hawks on state championship teams in each sport: cross country, swimming, and track.

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SENIOR NIGHT: CROSS COUNTRY

“

Dig deep!

-Coach Mercer

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MIDDLE SCHOOL: CROSS COUNTRY

FRONT ROW (L-R) Grace Short, Sam Deterding, Bradley Shaw, Jackson Ollman, Henry Reichs, Ethan Fosnaugh, Ethan Spiegler, Anderson Cook, Aanya Dhakal SECOND ROW (L-R) Madeline Kochupura, Harley Shuford, Brooks Brawley, Flinn Teichman, Ethan Sung, Yorke Beaver, Jack Benonis, Gavin Hauth, Mila Willis BACK ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Camille Seeley, Assistant Coach Wendy Staffieri, Naomi Chandler, Yaz Hathiram, Will Patti, Brady Ellis, Sam Wagner, Jackson Kerr, Isabelle Morton, Head Coach Thea Moore

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RECAP: CROSS COUNTRY VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY

As the 2023 cross country season comes to a close, the athletes can look back with pride on their remarkable individual and team accomplishments.

Out of fifty athletes on our roster, thirty-two ran personal best 5K times this season. The average 5k time among our fastest seven girls exceeded that of last year’s state championship team. The boys’ team had seven athletes run sub-18:00, including three freshmen, which is a program first. Fourteen boys ran under 20:00, over half of the team, also a milestone. Success is not defined solely by race times and other statistics, however. The spirit of this year’s team, the athletes’ willingness to learn the sport, to make each other better, and to have fun along the way will be remembered by the coaches as the distinguishing trademark of the 2023 Latin XC team. This year’s team is the youngest in program history, with only seven seniors on the combined roster of fifty. The girls’ team overcame some injuries and other adversity to record an outstanding third place finish at the NCISAA Championships.

Claire Mayberry (Soph.), Lucy Rattterree (Sr.), and Bridget Yu (Jr.) earned All-Conference honors, and Lucy made the All-State team. The boys’ team, led by freshmen Erik Anglemyer and Charles Guggenheimer, finished eighth at the state meet and is primed for an excellent future. We are proud of the Hawks for a great season, grateful to our seniors for their hard work and leadership, and excited for a bright future ahead.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY

Middle School Cross Country had a great 2023 fall season. As a team we were 26 strong. The CLS MSXC trains to win races, but our primary goal as a team is to develop a love for the sport, to build relationships of mutual trust and respect among team members, and to develop a sense of belonging to a larger community of athletes. Throughout the season our athletes’ times steadily improved as they developed strategies to excel as a team and encouraged each other to meet the physical and mental challenges of the race.

While the coaches are proud of all our athletes accomplishments this season and their growth as a team, one athlete had a particularly exceptional season: Grace Short. An avid swimmer, Grace joined cross country this year to cross train but she did far more than that. Grace broke the Latin school record for the girls 3K with a time of 10.57.4 at the Cannon meet and then proceeded to break her own incredible record at the GCMSAA Conference Championships the following week, finishing first by nearly a minute with a time of 10.46.7 and a new personal best. Nearly every athlete on the CLS Boys team achieved a personal record at the GCMSAA Championship race (which is amazing) and the boys team placed 2nd overall after steadily improving their standing in the conference over the entire season.

Five of our top athletes (Jackson Kerr, Jackson Ollman, Jack Benonis, Flinn Teichman, and Brady Ellis) could not get enough of the sport this year and made a decision to enter the post season NCRunners MSXC Festival on October 21st. The competition was fierce, but our CLS boys team finished in 5th place out of 14 teams that entered. Jackson Kerr finished 11th overall in the race earning a medal for his outstanding performance. Our success for the 2023 season is attributed, in large part, to the way that our athletes encourage one another to be their best. All the coaches are in agreement that this year’s team was the most successful MSXC team in our collective memory and we could not be more proud!

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dance

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VARSITY: DANCE

FRONT ROW (L-R) Kate Seaman, Elena Lapuente, Aiyanna West, Cordelia Kim, Claire Fleischer BACK ROW (L-R) Lydia McNichols, Kate Warner, Olivia Morgan, Ashley Burbank, Head Coach Marcia Sheinis NOT PICTURED Avery Youse

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DANCE: SENIORS

(L-R) Olivia Morgan, Lydia McNichols

Congratulations!

LYDIA MCNICHOLS-CAPTAIN

OLIVIA MORGAN-CAPTAIN

Coach Sheinis says Lydia is one of the hardest workers on the dance team who relates well to everyone and has an eye for detail. Lydia is proud of her leadership role in the Sisters program and has also been involved with Hawks Lead and served as an Admissions Ambassador. Her advice for future CLS dancers is to invest in getting to know your teammates and you will form amazing friendships.

She says the team bonding and pre-game rituals are her favorite memories.

Always organized and always prepared, Olivia represents dance on the Student Athlete Leadership Team. A terrific dancer and a natural leader, Olivia is proud of her involvement in the school club Project Happiness and says the team’s pre-game rituals are her favorite dance team memories. Her advice for future CLS dancers is to always be attentive and work hard in practice.

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SENIOR NIGHT: DANCE

RECAP: DANCE DANCE TEAM

Even though our team did not significantly grow in numbers, we were able to keep our performances strong through dedication, motivation and hard work in the dance room. Sometimes a small team works well together due to getting to know each other and therefore being cohesive which shows on the football field! We look forward to building on that foundation through the winter basketball season.

“

It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer.

-Shanna LaFleur

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field hockey

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VARSITY: FIELD HOCKEY

FRONT ROW (L-R) Kadence Johnson, Noelle Okland, Peyton Samii, Bonner Kelly, Sydney Lawrence, Ellé Collier, Marion DuBose, Annie Hitzemann SECOND ROW (L-R) Kingsley Hall, Charlotte Tune, Margaret Piasecki, Caroline Hughes, Stella Burke, Maren Weiers, Elizabeth Lewis, Anna Grace Fahrney BACK ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Mia Kane, Head Coach Joey Prestidge, Alicia Edwards, Ardyn Henry, Cameron Hutchinson, Reese Morgan, Madeline Miles, Technical Director Diego Caballero, Assistant Coach Mary Yorke Oates NOT PICTURED Goalkeeper Coach Kirsten Rafferty

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FIELD HOCKEY: SENIORS

FRONT ROW (L-R) Ellé Collier, Sydney Lawrence, Kadence Johnson, Noelle Okland BACK ROW (L-R) Elizabeth Lewis, Cameron Hutchinson, Ardyn Henry, Alicia Edwards

Congratulations!

Coach Prestidge calls Ellé the heartbeat of the team, whose passion for the game and attitude on the field are often commended by opposing coaches. Ellé’s favorite field hockey moment was a recent victory over Providence Day. She advises younger Hawks to slow down and embrace all that your sport has to offer because it goes by fast!

ELLÉ COLLIER VICE CAPTAIN

ALICIA EDWARDS VICE CAPTAIN

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Alicia is described as levelheaded, calm, dependable, and intelligent by her coaches, who count on her strength in defensive tackling and her creativity in out-letting the ball. Her aerials down the sideline have become an exciting trademark of the varsity team. Alicia’s favorite Latin field hockey moment was a team outing to the mall where Coach Prestidge created a team BuildA-Bear named Victor E. Hawk.

Alicia is also proud of this year’s victory over Myers Park.

ARDYN HENRY

KADENCE JOHNSON CAPTAIN

An All-Conference defender who is both feared and admired by opponents, Ardyn tackles ferociously, distributes the ball well, and hits powerful shots on corners. Her favorite Latin field hockey moment was this year’s outing to the beach and the guacamole-making contest at Coach Diego’s home. Although she’s a fierce competitor, Ardyn’s advice to younger Hawks is to always have fun!

A two-time All-Conference, All-State, and All-Observer midfielder, Coach Prestidge praises the hard work Kadence has put in to develop her skills. She creates opportunity, carries the ball, scores goals, and attacks the circle, all while urging the team on and directing the game. Kadence cites the Myers Park win as a favorite moment, but she is most proud of being voted captain by her teammates and the knowledge that they trust her to lead them.

A powerful center forward who leads the Hawks’ attack from the middle and has an eye for the goal, Cameron gives her all to a team that loves her. Her favorite field hockey memory was the team’s win over PD, but she is also proud of this year’s victory over Myers Park.

Cameron advises younger field hockey players to work hard and have fun.

CAMERON HUTCHINSON

SYDNEY LAWRENCE

Sydney’s favorite field hockey memory is the adoption of a Build-A-Bear version of their own Victor E Hawk. She advises future players to enjoy the time with your teammates and play to the best of your ability. A strong tackling defender on the field, Sydney is also a star on the stage. She is proud of her role in the arts at CLS, having played roles in the Upper School musical every year and participating in choir since the fifth grade.

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Affectionately known as Lizzie, Coach Prestidge describes her as a shrewd and generous wide forward who has developed a great first touch, a cunning eye for the goal, and a knack for creating opportunity in the attacking circle. Her favorite memory is the recent PD win, and she advises young Hawks to form relationships that make the team your family.

ELIZABETH LEWIS

NOELLE OKLAND

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Noelle is most proud of the team’s ability to beat opponents they never thought they would through effort and teamwork.

She recalls the Build-A-Bear experience as her favorite team memory. Coach Prestidge describes Noelle as witty, fun, kind, and original, and as a player who reads the game like a chess grandmaster and intercepts passes with clinical precision. Her fearless attack pushes the team forward when needed and Noelle will be greatly missed next year.

JUNIOR VARSITY: FIELD HOCKEY

FRONT ROW (L-R) Ellen Chapman, Kira Rice, Paige Fletcher, Hayden Proffitt, Natalie Gaslin, Addison Salvage, Abbey Hanna, Alara Lowe, Ella Tarumianz BACK ROW (L-R) Head Coach Gretchan Frederick, Amanda Dimovski, Sydney Query, Kate Livingston, Ana Burk, Lucy Beam, Kate Wagner, Alissandra Kasimov, Assistant Coach Chloe Ohlinger NOT PICTURED Brooke Proffitt and Elizabeth Wolff

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8TH GRADE: FIELD HOCKEY FRONT ROW (L-R) Kennedy Clutter, Clara Ragsdale, Cam Thomas, Lillie Boone, Hunter Fitzgerald, Ogom Ighade BACK ROW (L-R) Head Coach Nikki Williams, Liza Bleakney, Alex Bleakney, Catherine Harry, Anna Edwards, Anna Day Harry, Assistant Coach Zan Biedenharn

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7TH GRADE: FIELD HOCKEY FRONT ROW (L-R) Virginia Highsmith, Nola Hitzemann, Brinkley Hall, Brooke Fletcher, Harriet Schorr, Hartley Cheek, Lila Graham BACK ROW (L-R) Head Coach Hannah Burlingame, Laura Gray Monk, Lucy Hoke, Sara Hutchinson, Emily Burleson, Arden Sunday, Assistant Coach Shannon Majors

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RECAP: FIELD HOCKEY VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY

We had a goal this year to win the State Championship together, and a focus on being active - active on ball, active off ball, active in team defense, active in practice, and active on the sideline. This year’s seniors are a special group; having joined varsity during COVID, they’ve been together through thick and thin, and have worked really hard to get to where they are today – earning the #2 seed in the tournament. Led by those seniors, and our captains Ellé Collier, Alicia Edwards and Kadence Johnson, the team has navigated a challenging season majestically. The year has seen results that the Hawks haven’t seen in a while, including a victory over Myers Park, away wins at Charlotte Catholic, PD and Covenant Day, to name but a few. The team amassed 66 goals, on its way to an official 14 and 6 record, plus 5 scrimmage victories, with 10 goals or more coming from each grade represented on this exciting roster. A roster that also looks fantastically bright for the years ahead.

JUNIOR VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY

The JV Field Hockey team persevered through a challenging early season this year to come out with an even 7-7-2 record. The team opened the season well at the Queens University play day in August and finished with a very strong showing at the Julie Firr Memorial Tournament in October, taking 4th place. The team was led by junior captains Sydney Query and Kate Livingston, who did an excellent job of guiding their peers through practices affected by the extreme heat of mid-August and challenging games against varsity teams. Notable performances for the season included the change of position for both Sydney Query and Kira Rice, moving from defense to midfield. Alara Lowe and Abbey Hanna moved to the forward line from defense and made significant contributions on both ends of the field. Paige Fletcher, Addison Salvage, and Ella Tarumianz provided offensive firepower and forward momentum in many games with their lightning speed. With the help of a return to regular practices and a steady flow of games by mid-September, as well as the addition of technical practices led by Coach Diego, the team played their best game of the season in early October, challenging Country Day in a match that could have gone either way, but ultimately saw the Hawks lose 1-0 on a late goal from the Bucs; this was a huge improvement over the 5-0 loss at Country Day from earlier in the season. In the end, everyone played hard and worked on developing their individual skills, as well as learned how to be a supportive teammate. All of these are fundamental skills for future success, both on and off the field hockey field. Way to go, Hawks!

“

There’s only us, there’s only this.

Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.

No other road, no other way.

No day but today.

- Rent (Musical)

8TH GRADE FIELD HOCKEY

We were a small but mighty team. The season started off a hot one which hindered us from being able to practice as much as we wanted.

But the heat didn’t deter us from working together, having fun and doing what we could to get better. The scores of our games did not always reflect how hard we worked or how much we continued to improve. This team supported each other as well as supported the 7th grade team when they didn’t have enough players. Both the 7th grade and the 8th grade came together to win the Ambush End of Season tournament.

The season couldn’t have ended any better.

7TH GRADE FIELD HOCKEY

The 7th grade field hockey team had a season of transformation in 2023. With a slow start due to heat and other circumstances, the season began with many games ending in a tie. As we got more experience, we built momentum, and we began to win more and more games. The season ended with an exciting win at the Julie Firr Middle School tournament against Providence Day in the championship. We had a great time learning the game throughout the season, and I cannot wait to see the girls grow as they continue their field hockey journeys! Go Hawks!

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SENIOR NIGHT: FIELD HOCKEY

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football

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VARSITY: FOOTBALL

FRONT ROW (L-R) Head Coach Drew Dayton, Neil Salvage, Aditya Banerjee, Landon Lashley, Talbot Harris, Jordan Pence, Thomas Lucas, Max Brumfield, Jack Mosrie, John Dauska, Ben Hodge, Manager Matt Cohen SECOND ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Brady Whitmore, Hudson Morrill, Cole Bradley, Na’il Diggs Jr, Ryan Marx, Bryce LaPoint, Griffin Donnelly, Holden Freno, Asher Weiers, Hudson Shoup, Cayden Pribramsky, Steele Fletcher, Assistant Coach Tito Umana THIRD ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Patrick Cooney, Cooper Holland, Gavin Provencher, Troy Logan, Carson Clutter, Avery Simmons, Charlie Smith, Dallas Chapman, Burke Denny, Jacob Filpi, Chase Curran, Assistant Coach Tony James BACK ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Brad Hoover, Myles Gathers, Timothy Schwindt, Hunter Loeffler, Matthew Flynn, Banks Cutter, Mason FitzHugh, Marco Templeton, Titus Ivory, Patrick Cunningham, Joe McGirt, Assistant Coach Na’il Diggs Sr. NOT PICTURED Dylan Mulligan CHARLOTTE LATIN BOOSTER CLUB SPORTS MAGAZINE | FALL 2023 | 35

FOOTBALL: SENIORS

FRONT ROW (L-R) Neil Salvage, Aditya Banerjee, John Dauska, Ben Hodge BACK ROW (L-R) Landon Lashley, Talbot Harris, Jordan Pence, Thomas Lucas, Max Brumfield, Jack Mosrie

Congratulations!

Known as A-D among his teammates and coaches, Aditya is an incredibly valuable part of the offensive and defensive lines. His competitiveness brings out the best in everyone at practice, and he cares deeply about his teammates.

One of Aditya’s favorite football memories is getting a strip sack and fumble recovery that sealed the game against Legion Collegiate last year. He advises young Hawks to get in the ADITYA BANERJEE Strength Center, and he thanks his parents for their trust and love, as well as Marianna Spero for always being there for support. Aditya’s future plans include studying to become a child psychiatrist.

The versatility and size Max brings to the offensive and defensive lines have contributed depth and competitiveness to the program. An achievement Max is proud of is making it through summer practices without passing out. He advises upand-coming Hawks to take each season one day at a time because it will be gone before you know it. Max would like to thank his parents for being MAX BRUMFIELD his biggest supporters and for helping him navigate difficult decisions. Max plans to study business management or agricultural biology in the hope of one day working with his father’s landscaping company.

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John’s leadership was evident early on, as he was a driving force behind summer workout participation. John says he’s proud that he made it through those summer practices without throwing up. One of his favorite Latin football memories was the first win against Hickory High School his sophomore year. John would like to thank his family for coming to all of the games, and a shoutout to his dog, JOHN DAUSKA-CAPTAIN Skipper, for faithfully waiting for him to return home. His parting advice for young Hawks is that the showers run out of warm water quickly, so get there first.

Coach Dayton says Talbot stepped up early in the season to make the Hawks competitive against some really strong opponents. A teammate who gets along with everyone, Talbot cites the last-second field goal win on the road at Charlotte Christian as his favorite Latin football memory. He says getting through summer practices as a freshman was a big accomplishment, and he TALBOT HARRIS advises future CLS football players to bring shower shoes to the locker room. Talbot thanks his parents for always getting him to and from wherever he needed to be and says he plans to study finance next year.

Described as “Mr. Dependable,” Ben held down the middle of the offensive line as a two-year starting center. As a valuable multisport athlete, Ben’s impact extends beyond the field with his positive attitude, his work ethic, and attention to detail.

A favorite football moment for Ben was his first start at Christ School his sophomore year. He advises future Hawks to listen to your coaches and BEN HODGE enjoy every moment. Ben says he’s proud to have played with the same group of guys since Middle School, and he thanks his parents for letting him play and supporting him through the years.

Landon is the rare athlete that enjoys the preparation as much as the game. He leads by example by attending all the summer practices, working at multiple positions to help the team, and greeting everyone with a friendly wave and a smile. Landon’s favorite football memories are the road trips – specifically eating at Cracker Barrel – and he advises young Hawks to have fun and take advantage of the time you LANDON LASHLEY have with your teammates. He thanks Coach Dayton for always believing in him and encouraging him to do his best and says his plans for the future are to become a dentist.

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A first-team All-Conference offensive lineman, and an advocate for the team around campus, Thomas has made an impact both on and off the field. He remembers the first-game win at Christ School last year as one of his favorite Latin football moments, and his advice to future CLS football players is to always show up and to give 100% whether you’re in the weight room or on the field, because it goes THOMAS LUCAS-CAPTAIN by fast. Thomas thanks his parents for never missing a game from Pop Warner through high school, and for always being invested in his growth as a player, and as a person.

Coach Dayton recognizes the work Jack put in to earn his spot as a starter, and says Jack is great at keeping practice light. It comes naturally to Jack, who says the brotherhood with his teammates is what he’s most proud of and being part of Coach Dayton’s first season as head coach. Jack has two favorite memories—seeing his brother kick the game-winning field goal at Charlotte Christian and this year’s come-fromJACK MOSRIE behind win against the Lions.

Jack wants to thank his brother, Dave, for teaching him about hard work, for always playing sports with him, and for being his best friend in childhood.

A three-year starter on the varsity team, Jordan has grown into a leadership role in the football program and within the Latin community. He is willing to play wherever he is needed and always gives his best. Jordan also recalls the buzzer-beater field goal win at Charlotte Christian as a favorite memory, and he agrees with Jack that the brotherhood they’ve built is something to be proud of. Jordan advises young JORDAN PENCE-CAPTAIN Hawks to trust the process and keep going. He thanks Coach Dayton, Coach Hardin and Coach Berger for their impact as he plans to head to Hampden-Sydney next year to continue his academic and athletic journeys.

Neil has played multiple positions on both sides of the ball and has shown his passion and dedication for the team and the sport throughout Upper School. His favorite football moment was scoring his first varsity touchdown, which was in the first home game after the pandemic.

Neil would like to thank God, his parents, coaches, and teammates for believing in him and for picking him up NEIL SALVAGE-CAPTAIN when he’s down. His advice for future football players is to stay true to yourself on the football field. Take pride in what you do and just grind.

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JUNIOR VARSITY: FOOTBALL

FRONT ROW (L-R) Head Coach Drew Dayton, Steele Fletcher, Cole Bradley, Ryan Marx, Bryce LaPoint, Cayden Pribramsky, Na’il Diggs Jr, Hudson Morrill, Assistant Coach Tito Umana SECOND ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Patrick Cooney, Assistant Coach Brady Whitmore, Chase Curran, Jacob Filpi, Dallas Chapman, Troy Logan, Cooper Holland, Griffin Donnelly, Assistant Coach Tony James BACK ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Brad Hoover, Myles Gathers, Marco Templeton, Mason FitzHugh, Matthew Flynn, Hunter Loeffler, Patrick Cunningham, Avery Simmons, Assistant Coach Na’il Diggs Sr. NOT PICTURED Will Morton

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MIDDLE SCHOOL: FOOTBALL

FRONT ROW (L-R) Trey Chapman, Connor Cheek, Grayson Hicks, Michael Zupp, Harrison Dellinger, Flynn Pollet, Dewey Wrenn, Fin Morrill, Wyatt Dayton, William Valentine SECOND ROW (L-R) Yates Harris, Maddox Riley, Vikram Rao, Luke Godshall, Robert Fagg, Kemp Chapman, William Alt, Elliot Meek, Jack Walsh, Gardner Kelly THIRD ROW (L-R) Kolton Arnold, Jonah Hawa, Land Lynch, Gus Fochtmann, Will Marsh, Durham Teddy, Sam Morgan, Teddy Stubbs, Nicholas Krasnigor, Trey Paige FOURTH ROW (L-R) Barrett Hicks, Richard Linch, Mills Cutter, Baker Humphrey, Henry Siegel, Smith Ragsdale, John Gray Norris, McNair Beaver, James Edge, Jack Lilly BACK ROW (L-R) Head Coach Daniel Cooke, Assistant Coach Sal Villari, Assistant Coach Ike Spearman, Holland Loeffler, Penn Siegel, Bill Wyche, Robert Comly, Assistant Coach Spencer Wims, Assistant Coach Marcus Giles, Assistant Coach Eric Smith NOT PICTURED Miller Ford

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RECAP: FOOTBALL VARSITY FOOTBALL

The 2-8 record of this year’s Varsity Football Hawks does not come close to telling the stories of success celebrated by this year’s team. I have never been around a more determined, loyal, resilient group of young men in my 20 years coaching young people. Every week, this team came to work, but also knew how to have fun and inevitably left behind a legacy showing underclassmen what is needed to produce champions on and off the field. Great team wins came vs Carver High School out of Winston-Salem in front of a sold out Touchdown Tailgate crowd and a huge come-from-behind effort at Covenant Day School where the Hawks scored 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to seal the victory. The efforts of the 2023 season did not go unnoticed by the conference as 5 players were tabbed as All-Conference selections. Seniors Thomas Lucas, Jordan Pence and Neil Salvage all earned honors, along with sophomore Myles Gathers and freshman Steele Fletcher. The senior leadership of Aditiya Banerjee, Max Brumfield, John Dauska, Talbot Harris, Ben Hodge, Landon Lashley, Thomas Lucas, Jack Mosrie, Jordan Pence, and Neil Salvage will be missed, but their valuable lessons passed on to a very young and talented group will be seen in the win column for years to come.

“

Fly with the Flock

JUNIOR VARSITY FOOTBALL

The Latin JV Football team went 3-1 this season showing signs of great development and growth for the program. A couple of games had to be cancelled or rescheduled due to player availability, but this adversity didn’t deter these young men from competing at every opportunity. Often playing in all three phases and on Friday night varsity contests, this small but feisty roster chalked great wins vs Mountain Island Charter, Covenant Day, and Charlotte Country Day. After varsity needs required some key players to move up, sophomores Dylan Mulligan, Ryan Marx, Griffin Donnelly, Na’il Diggs, Jacob Filipi, Hunter Loeffler, & Hudson Morrill stepped up playing pivotal roles in the success of the JV Football Hawks. The program is also excited about the significant impact that freshmen Cooper Holland, Cayden Pribramsky, Will Morton, Mason Fitzhugh, Bryce Lapoint, Chase Curran, Patrick Cunningham, Cole Bradley, and Marco Templeton made this year.

MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL

There was a ton of growth from our Middle School Football team this Fall. Numbers within our Middle School football program were the highest they’ve been in the last 5 years with 48 total players between 7th and 8th grade. Trey Paige was a huge highlight with several kick returns for a touchdown this season.

Paige and Baker Humphrey were outstanding in the run game all season long. The offensive line was anchored by 8th graders Holland Loeffler, Robert Comly, Penn Siegel and Bill Wyche.

Several players contributed at wide receiver including Barrett Hicks, Richard Linch, Kolton Arnold, McNair Beaver and Gus Fotchmann with Hicks and Fotchmann finding the end zone later in the season. Defense was a strong point of our team most of the year with huge contributions from linebackers Robert Comly and McNair Beaver and some huge sacks by Holland Loeffler and Penn Siegel. Several 7th graders stepped in and got valuable experience with QB/CB William Alt, OL/DL Sam Morgan and RB/DB Gardner Kelly. With thirty 7th graders on this year’s roster there are high expectations heading into the 2024 season.

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SENIOR NIGHT: FOOTBALL

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golf

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VARSITY GIRLS: GOLF

(L-R) Assistant Coach Sam Tavino, Jenna Chebaro, Evelyn Haggstrom, Kelsey Sciacca, Athena Woodward, Maya Belton, Drue Amin, Sofia Ackels, Anjali Rao, Pari Hathiram, Head Coach Tim Kelly

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GOLF SENIOR PARI HATHIRAM

Congratulations!

PARI HATHIRAM, CAPTAIN

Pari’s favorite Latin golf moment has been meeting people and making new friendships with other players in other schools while playing a round of golf.

She has made friendships that she will carry throughout her life. Her advice for future CLS Golf players is to have fun and patience while playing because it truly is a life-long sport. Pari would like to thank retired coach Robin Griffith for introducing her to the sport and for always supporting her both in golf and in life. She also appreciates new head coach Tim Kelly and assistant coach Sam Tavino for making her senior golf season a blast! Pari plans to pursue a career in medicine and specialize in working with children. Congrats Pari!

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RECAP: GOLF VARSITY GOLF

This year was a year of transition. We had a new coaching staff and several new players. I believe that we made great strides in qualifying two for the state championship with a third just missing the cut.

I believe that the girls had a lot of fun this season and each of them took their game to the next level.

I believe we are set up well for the future and hope to continue to grow the program and build on the quality and depth of Latin girls’ golf. We are all looking forward to next season.

SENIOR NIGHT: GOLF

“

Talent isn’t as important as the work and dedication necessary to become competent - Jack Nicklaus

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soccer

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VARSITY BOYS: SOCCER

FRONT ROW (L-R) Max Bai, Thomas Hamilton, Bennett Snelsire, Edward Guggenheimer, Zachary Warmath, Solo Boakye SECOND ROW (L-R) Derin Lowe, Collin Kiefer, Knox Hutcheson, Mack Hutcheson, Stewart Langley, Michael Neltner-Devine, Graham Babcock, Alex Korkowski BACK ROW (L-R) Head Coach Kyle Searles, Assistant Coach Paul Alt, Benjamin Gathers, Noah Guggenheimer, Ethan Worrell, Louis Markin, Aidan Long, Clayton Hahn, Assistant Coach Tim Masters, Assistant Coach Joseph Kelly NOT PICTURED Managers George Glassner & Cassi Ratterree

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SOCCER: SENIORS

FRONT ROW (L-R) Bennett Snelsire, Edward Guggenheimer, Zachary Warmath, Solo Boakye BACK ROW (L-R) Noah Guggenheimer, Mack Hutcheson, Stewart Langley, Benjamin Gathers, Michael Neltner-Devine

Congratulations!

SOLO BOAKYE With unstoppable determination, passionate belief in his teammates, and a “never-quit” attitude, Solo is the guy everyone rallies around to get going. His favorite Latin soccer moment was last year when he got fouled in the box and scored on the kick with only a few minutes remaining in the game. Solo’s advice to young Hawks is to show up and work hard. He would like to thank Coach Tyler for making him feel truly welcomed and a part of the program when Solo first joined freshman year. His plans for the future are in development but they include going to college and playing basketball. Congratulations Solo!

BENJAMIN GATHERS With an infectious ability to live in the moment, Benjamin finds joy wherever he happens to be. As a dynamic player who is a threat on the ball, he has overcome injuries to become an impact player. Benjamin’s advice to up-and-coming soccer players is to be kind to your teammates.

His favorite Latin soccer memory is this year’s overtime victory on the road at PD. Benjamin would like to thank Mrs. Wedding and Mr. Stokes for their constant support and encouragement, which he will carry with him next year as he heads to college to major in business management. Congratulations, Benjamin!

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EDWARD GUGGENHEIMER CAPTAIN

NOAH GUGGENHEIMER CAPTAIN

A 1st Team All-State, All-Conference, and All-Observer defender, Edward is recognized by opposing coaches for his tremendous work rate combined with talent. His position on the field is one of a quiet leader who sacrifices personal gain for the betterment of the team. Edward’s favorite Latin soccer moment was an away game at Country Day when Hawks supporters packed the visiting student section and the visitors’ side stands, and the team got the win. He advises younger Hawks to live in the moment and he thanks the entire coaching staff and his family for giving him the opportunity to both enjoy and succeed in soccer. Congratulations, Edward!

MACK HUTCHESON

After earning 1st Team AllConference his sophomore year, injuries prevented Noah from playing as a junior and into his senior year.

But he came back with a vengeance and has averaged a goal per game since returning to the pitch. Noah is a role model for patience, hard work, and determination. His eye for the goal, his desire to go forward, and his athleticism serve as a catalyst for the offense. Noah cites the pregame smoothie as his favorite Latin soccer moment, and he would like to thank Coach Searles for believing in him and in the rest of the team through all the highs and lows. Congratulations Noah!

STEWART LANGLEY

Mack is a consummate teammate who responds with conviction and hard work, regardless of what he is asked to do or what position he is asked to play. He is also recognized by his coaches as someone who interacts with everyone on the team and make them feel included. Mack’s favorite Latin soccer moment was earning the conference championship title last year, and his advice to younger Hawks is to enjoy all the time you get to spend with your teammates – both on and off the field. Mack is proud to have been a CLS soccer player throughout Middle and Upper School and he thanks his parents for attending every game and his coaches for their support. Congratulations Mack!

Described by Coach Searles as a natural leader, Stewart is observant, understanding, and relatable. He innately knows when to take charge and when to step back to allow others to come forward. On the field, he is a tremendous competitor who brings out the best in those around him. Stewart’s favorite Latin soccer memory was an 8th grade redemption victory over Holy Trinity. He is proud of his role as the Student Body President and thanks his parents for their support in every endeavor. Stewart advises young Hawks that your time with your teammates goes by fast, so enjoy every moment! Congratulations Stewart!

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MICHAEL NELTNER-DEVINE CAPTAIN The winner of last year’s Grit Award, Michael is an incredible 1-on-1 defender who puts his body on the line for his team. He plays with passion and always leads by example, from offseason conditioning to lining up for drills, Michael pushes his teammates to work harder and work together. His advice to future CLS players is excel at two things you can control – specifically, your work ethic and your attitude.

He is proud of his participation in the Night of Champions soccer tournament and he thanks his parents for their constant support, as well as Coach Searles and Coach Kelly for helping him on his varsity journey. Congratulations Michael!

BENNETT SNELSIRE Bennett is always analyzing and reading the game with an incredible soccer IQ. He asks intelligent questions, always comes prepared and has a great understanding for how the pieces should come together. Bennett’s advice to young CLS players is to focus on improving your fitness and work on your weak foot. His favorite Latin soccer memory was the overtime victory against Providence Day and he would like to thank his parents for showing up to games and supporting him throughout his high school career. Bennett plans to pursue a degree in engineering after graduating from Charlotte Latin. Congratulations Bennett!

ZACHARY WARMATH Zach brings excitement and spontaneity to the team. Coach Searles says he can always rely on Zack to put forth maximum effort and to fully support his teammates, whether he’s on the field or on the sideline. Zachary’s favorite Latin soccer moment so far has been eating pizza and building team chemistry during a bus ride back from a game at WakeMed Park.

Zachary would like to thank his grandparents, Roger and Megan, for always coming to his games. In the future, Zach hopes to keep playing soccer and own an artisan pizza restaurant someday.

Congratulations Zach!

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JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS: SOCCER

FRONT ROW (L-R) Wright Lawrence, Graham Wagner, Carsten Flowers, Asher Tallent, Jonah Danesis, Isaiah Boakye, Andrew Stravino SECOND ROW (L-R) Matthew Tewolde, Jacob Nguyen, Shiv Iyer, Charlie Sidman, Connor Gannett, Marks Gustafson, Will Moody BACK ROW (L-R) Head Coach Shane Barthram, Henry Alt, Tyler Russell, Ben Goldman, Stuart Christhilf, Thomas Warlick, Assistant Coach Tyler Spraul NOT PICTURED Assistant Coach Ruffin Tanner

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MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS: SOCCER

FRONT ROW (L-R) Turner Onstad, Parker Bange, Henry Lilly, Carter Freno, Emory Chaney, Griffin Hull, Vin Puri, Brooks Rutherford, Keaton de Jonge SECOND ROW (L-R) Lucas Pangalos, Henry Archibald, Tuck Speckman, Lawton Hull, Cooper Fights, Carsten Seeburg, Peyton Laughton, Rob Lesley, Thomas Hanna, Michael Ferro BACK ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Mark Brunton, Head Coach Paul Alt, Carter Gannett, Emery Lew, Rylan Strife, Wiliam Hamilton, Jackson Dean, Jack Lilly, Leighton Seagraves, Bryson Wilde, Assistant Coach Eric Dottarar

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RECAP: SOCCER VARSITY SOCCER

This Hawks team overcame a lot from the months of August until October. They overcame injury, adversity and heartbreak.

Looking at our 6-13-1 record one would think the season wasn’t competitive. However as one dives deeper into the stats, you see how close this team was to success. Out of thirteen losses, ten were decided by one goal. Of those ten, three were decided by overtime, and two were decided in PKs. The record doesn’t reflect the effort each individual put into the season, the passion that ignited each player, or the pride felt by each player as they represented Charlotte Latin.

This was a season of growth, a season of learning, and a season of getting 1% better. We thank the seniors for their efforts over the last four years and for all they’ve done for our program, and we are excited for the future of this program as the resilience this team showed will benefit us going forward.

JUNIOR VARSITY SOCCER

What a fantastic season we had this year with this group. This was a rebuilding year for the JV Boys’ Soccer team after losing 9 players from last year’s roster. With only 2 juniors and 5 sophomores this team was made up of mostly freshmen. We had a lot of work to do on the practice field. Early on we had a few setbacks with injuries and trying to find someone to go in goal as we did not have a true keeper on the roster. Stuart Christhilf and Charlie Sidman stepped up and volunteered to help out in goal, and as the season progressed Stuart became a standout with some amazing performances - at times keeping us in the games by himself. As the season moved on, the team started to come together playing some great soccer with remarkable discipline and chemistry. It was a joy to watch how much this team accomplished throughout this season.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER

Finishing with another strong, winning record, we truly believe we were the best team and were disappointed that there were no playoffs this year to settle this question. It really came down to Cannon and Latin. The Middle School Boys’ Soccer team played with tremendous quality, technically and tactically, and we were playing our best at the end of the season. Coach Alt, Coach Brunton, and Coach Dottarar were extremely pleased and impressed with all the growth and maturity this season.

The soccer field, as with all athletics, is an extension of the classroom and is part of the full Latin experience. We are so proud how these student-athletes are positively contributing to the Latin Community. We will dearly miss our seventeen 8th graders – all the best going into Upper School! And for our 7th graders, keep working hard towards making Fall 2024 another great season!

“

Get 1% percent better each day -Coach Searles

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SENIOR NIGHT: SOCCER

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tennis

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VARSITY GIRLS: TENNIS

FRONT ROW (L-R) Neesa Phadke, Katherine DuBose, Naomi Randall, Payton Desai, Maggie Adams, Maddie Larsh BACK ROW (L-R) Head Coach Dale Hall, Elyse Glassner, Molly Schnyder, Ansley Hoffman, Kate Hampton Haynie, Lauren McRae, Moné Cary NOT PICTURED Assistant Coach Kim Hanson

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TENNIS: SENIORS

(L-R) Payton Desai, Neesa Phadke, Ansley Hoffman, Kate Hampton Haynie, Lauren McRae, Katherine DuBose, Moné Cary

Congratulations!

MONÉ CARY-CAPTAIN Moné has been a huge contributor to the Hawks’ success on the courts since she arrived her freshman year.

As an All-State and All-Conference athlete, Moné’s favorite memory of Latin tennis is the hug she received from former partner Nina Lavelle after their last doubles match together – a victory in the state championship – and the smiles on the coaches’ faces. Her advice to younger players is that you don’t need to be outgoing to be a leader; just care for the well-being of your team and lead by example. Moné is grateful to Coach Hall for the encouragement to use drop shots and slices, and for generally being Moné’s biggest supporter, along with a therapist, coach and friend. Moné also thanks Coach Hanson for pushing her to develop time management skills. Moné hopes to continue playing tennis and making art while studying marine biology…possibly in Scotland. Congratulations Moné!

PAYTON DESAI-CAPTAIN Payton’s sage advice is to remember that tennis is a game that fluctuates.

Play your best on any given day and fight for every point because the match is not over until the handshake.

She would like to thank her parents for teaching her the importance of positivity, and also Coach Hall and Coach Hanson for encouraging her during the moments when that positivity faltered. Payton is proud of the leadership skills she has developed and the opportunity to put them to use to advocate for her teammates. Her favorite CLS tennis moment was celebrating the state title with her teammates sophomore year and feeling the joy and the pride they had in one another. Payton plans to major in nursing to follow her mom’s footsteps and make a positive impact on the community. Congratulations Payton!

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KATHERINE DUBOSE Katherine’s advice to aspiring CLS tennis players is to take advantage of practice to work on new things that you can implement in matches, which is exactly what she has done.

Her effort and execution earned her a spot in the singles lineup this season and she continues to learn and improve in the nuances of doubles play. Katherine’s favorite Latin tennis moment so far has been the Florence trip hangout sessions. She is proud that she has been able to push herself beyond her comfort zone as a Latin student-athlete and she is grateful to her parents for being her biggest support system while preparing her for the path ahead – which in Katherine’s case, includes studying psychology in college. Congratulations Katherine!

ANSLEY HOFFMAN

KATE HAMPTON HAYNIE CAPTAIN With an enviable winning percentage in both singles and doubles, Kate has quietly become an MVP on the court. She takes pride in being a contributing part of the State Champion team and the State Runner Up team because of all the team’s hard work that paid off during the tournament. That’s also her favorite tennis moment – competing at states and feeding off of the energy there that is totally different than the regular season. Kate is also proud of her commitment to orchestra since the 5th grade! Kate’s advice to younger players would be to always give your best effort because the season goes by super fast. She would like to thank her parents for always supporting her and Coach Hall and Coach Hanson for pushing her to become the player she is today. Congratulations Kate!

LAUREN MCRAE

Ansley’s advice is to try to come to practice with a calm and open mind, ready to work hard. That approach has served her well as she has shown rapid improvement on the court and earned her a spot on varsity. As a year-round swimmer who also competes with Latin, Ansley debated whether she should continue with tennis this year, but now she is incredibly happy that she did because she loves being a part of the team. Ansley’s favorite Latin tennis moment was getting to know everyone better during the tournament trip in Florence, and she would like to thank her parents for their never-ending support in all aspects of life. Her plans for the future include pursuing a degree in industrial design. Congratulations Ansley!

Walking with the team through the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru is one of Lauren’s fondest tennis memories, and it embodies the advice she offers to younger players: focus on the experience of being part of a fun, caring team. She is proud of the strides she has made in that regard, and would like to thank Mr. P for his role in helping her and the entire team with the mental aspect of the game. Lauren is an approachable teammate who is a fantastic role model for her hard work and commitment. She is thriving in her second season on varsity and it is fun to see her shine on the court.

Next year, Lauren plans to pursue studies in biology and animal or nature sciences. Congratulations Lauren!

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NEESA PHADKE Neesa brings a one-of-a-kind, infectious energy to every game and match. Her enthusiasm and her support of her teammates carry into her relationships beyond the court. Neesa says the team bonding on their trip to Florence is her best memory so far and has two pieces of advice: (1) Room with someone you might not know as well on trips so you can grow closer, and (2) have the memory of a goldfish. Each point is a fresh start. Neesa thanks her parents for always telling her to go “just one more point” and for pushing her to compete against herself. Next year, she plans to begin her journey toward becoming a pediatric pulmonologist.

Congratulations Neesa!

“

Be a Goldfish…focus on the present moment and not on anything past or future. And enjoy the ride!

RECAP: TENNIS VARSITY TENNIS

The Girls’ Varsity Tennis team had a very competitive season this fall, despite very tough competition and losing 6 players (and 3 starters) from last year’s team. Moné Cary, Kate Hampton Haynie, Naomi Randall, and Payton Desai handled most of the heavy lifting at the top four positions, and got solid play at the lower half by Lauren McRae, Katherine Dubose, and Maddie Larsh. Newcomers Ansley Hoffman, Neesa Phadke, Molly Schnyder, Elyse Glassner, and Maggie Adams improved greatly by season’s end and supplied great spirit and backup support to their teammates. The Hawks finished tied for 3rd with Charlotte Christian in the CISAA Conference, and finished the regular season 7-8.

This earned them the 4th seed in the NCISAA State Tournament, where they lost a close contest to 5th seeded Charlotte Christian. Moné Cary earned All-State honors and was named 1st Team All-Conference, while Naomi Randall and Kate Hampton Haynie each earned spots on the All-Conference Second Team.

JUNIOR VARSITY TENNIS

The 2023 CLS JV Girls’ Tennis record was 4-7, with one incomplete match. Our young roster improved from week to week as they became stronger and more savvy – improvement gained through dedicated time, practice, and commitment. The turning point of the season began with the fifth match, a very close loss (4-5). Success is rarely linear but the team won 3 of their last 4 matches, beating two teams to whom they had lost earlier in the season. Freshmen Emma Wilson (11-1), Saanvi Gaddam (5-2) and Hattie Young (6-4) had strong results in singles, and the duo of Wilson with sophomore Jackie Rao won 5 of their 10 doubles matches. There was great chemistry among the girls on the team, due in part to the great leadership from co-captains Rao and Evy Linker. Well done, Hawks!

MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS

The 2023 season’s motto was “unfinished business.” The year prior we had lost in the championship to a very talented opponent but we were confident that this season we would have the opportunity to finish on top. This confidence was rooted in a very experienced roster which consisted of ten returning players as well as five new members. It was clear from the very beginning that our athletes had worked hard to continue to improve and were motivated to compete at a high level. Our team completed an undefeated season with the closest match score being 6-3. It is fair to say that the business was finished! More important though than the success on the court, our team grew close and supported one another on and off the court. We wish our twelve eighth graders the best of luck with their next chapter as they prepare to transition to Upper School tennis and we are excited to see our three returning seventh graders make major competitive contributions next year!

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SENIOR NIGHT: TENNIS

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JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS: TENNIS

FRONT ROW (L-R) Kathryn Wu, Jackie Rao, Divija Rao, Ananya Banerjee, Zoe Panzo, Saanvi Gaddam BACK ROW (L-R) Evy Linker, Emma Wilson, Lila Highsmith, Alex Bean, Hannah Blackhall, Hattie Young, Head Coach Bill Drury

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MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS: TENNIS

FRONT ROW (L-R) Kylie Wilson, Maya Borkowski, Grace Porcher, Vivian Randall, Maya Rao, Ella Hennessy, Claudia Burke, Claire Siever BACK ROW (L-R) Head Coach Colin Imwalle, Radhika Dutt, Reynolds Burns, Cecilia Clifton, Ivy Brown, Harris Hollmeyer, Eve Willette, Assistant Coach Isa Stokes

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volleyball

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VARSITY: VOLLEYBALL

FRONT ROW (L-R) Serena Hu, Reilly Desai, Sahana Mahesh, Wallace Roberts, Madison Nabors, Emily Cao, Alison Archibald, Emma Bearden BACK ROW (L-R) Head Coach Caitlin Peters, Scarlett Black, Ashley Malone, Camille Becker, Allie Haynie, Ava Nadeau, Zoey Sideris, Assistant Coach Corey Sarubbi NOT PICTURED Assistant Coaches Alyssa Doby & Madi Kuch

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VOLLEYBALL: SENIORS

Congratulations!

(L-R) Serena Hu, Ashley Malone

Serena has been part of the Latin volleyball program since 7th grade and is a two-year captain on varsity. She is known for hustling for every ball, every day, for lifting the team up during matches, and for the job she brings to the game. Serena is the glue that binds the team together like family. She’s also the starting setter and surpassed the impressive milestone of 1,000 assists during the match at Covenant Day. Serena is currently second in both the conference and the state in assists.

SERENA HU-CAPTAIN

Serena’s favorite Latin volleyball moment is a very recent one – the win in a grueling, five-set match playing away at Providence Day. Serena’s advice for younger players is to fight through hardships and make a habit of looking forward, while making the most of every moment and season. She is proud of the growth in the volleyball program the past four years, and she thanks the seniors from her sophomore year for teaching her about true leadership and connection. Serena also thanks her parents who, as she puts it, “embody the characteristics of supportive, amazing parents.”

Beyond Latin, Serena plans to study business with an emphasis on biotechnology with a goal of making medical technology and treatments more accessible.

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Ashley came to Latin last year and she immediately became part of the volleyball family. She leads by example – always the first to show up and putting full effort into everything she does. Her hard work has paid off, earning her All-State and All-Conference honors last year and she is well on her way to being recognized again as a senior. Ashley had 402 kills throughout the season, which led the conference. She was top three in the state for kills and top ten hitting percentage in the state. For her varsity career, Ashley exceeded the impressive milestone of 750 kills.

Her parting wisdom for future CLS volleyball players is to take in advice, apply it to every rep, keep trying again….and again….. and again when you fail, and to dive in to your teammates who will become your best friends. Ashley’s favorite Latin volleyball moment was the trip to College of Charleston and the bonding that comes with dancing and singing together on a long bus ride. She would like to thank her parents for showing up to every game and supporting her, and she thanks Coach Peters for making her a better person on ASHLEY MALONE-CAPTAIN and off the court. For her path beyond Latin, Ashley plans to study to become a nurse.

SENIOR NIGHT: VOLLEYBALL

“

Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.

- Nelson Mandela

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JUNIOR VARSITY: VOLLEYBALL

FRONT ROW (L-R) Sejal Dhiman, Lily Coble, Nymah Pieper, Emily Farmer, Sara Grace Starner, Sophia McGirt, Talia Hawa, Elle Hahn BACK ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Alyssa Doby, Ashley Bean, Avery Bly, Sophie Dunn, Sloan Ellison, Morgan McLaughlin, Sydney Thune, Sophie Edwards, Head Coach Madi Kuch NOT PICTURED Manager Ainsley Sullivan

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8TH GRADE: VOLLEYBALL

FRONT ROW (L-R) Caroline Coble, Sophie Wenninger, Jayne Hale, Mimi Hanley, Gwen Magno, Emma Griggs, Sita Sagunarthy BACK ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Marianna Spero, Head Coach Vanessa Blas, Ryan Burrell, Ainsley Bly, Sutton Ellison, Ellie Holland, Lexi Vineyard, Leela Rhodes, Reese Gail, Assistant Coach Elizabeth Owen

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7TH GRADE: VOLLEYBALL

FRONT ROW (L-R) Sophie Gregerson, Emma Korkowski, Shirley Gorelick, Isabelle Edwards, Sara Bridges, Erin Greathouse, Maddy Lay, Claire Putman, Madison Glasscock BACK ROW (L-R) Assistant Coach Marianna Spero, Assistant Coach Jenna Sinclair, Devon Celli, Caroline Burleson, Alex Krasnigor, Grace Orsinger, Dayla Strachan, Sofia Heaton, Head Coach Jojo Taylor

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RECAP: VOLLEYBALL VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

Varsity Volleyball finished a great season with a 13-11 record and a final finish of 5th in the NCISAA 4A Tournament. This team had an amazing season making huge improvements every single day and ending 3rd in the conference with a second half conference 4-1 record. The highlight match of the season was during the second round of playoffs, on the road at Rabun Gap, where the Hawks took down the Eagles in a 5-set thriller in front of a rowdy crowd. Senior Ashley Malone was named to 1st team All-Conference and the All-State Team with 402 kills throughout the season. Ashley led the conference and was top 3 in the state for kills and top ten hitting percentage in the state. Senior Serena Hu was also named to All-Conference 2nd Team for an incredible setting season with 538 assists. Both seniors hit career milestones this year with Serena surpassing 1,000 assists and Ashley exceeding 750 kills. Junior Alison Archibald was named 1st Team All-Conference as she led the way with 380 digs as the Libero. Sophomore Allie Haynie also made 2nd Team All-Conference as a first year varsity outside hitter. The Varsity Volleyball team has a lot to feel proud about for the season and look to build off of it going into next year. Go Hawks!

JUNIOR VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

The JV Volleyball team went 5-9 this season. Some team highlights were our sweep over Providence Day at home, as well as over Charlotte Country Day School at home on senior night. While our record may not have reflected a winning season, every individual grew as a person and a player and were able to improve every day. Notably, junior Sydney Thune was one of our captains this year and was named this season’s Most Valuable Player. Ashley Bean is a new student this year at CLS and was also new to volleyball, and was named this season’s Most Improved Athlete. Sophie Edwards, also a freshman, was an amazing teammate in all aspects and always brought a positive energy to the court and to practice and was given the Positive Player award for this season. I am proud of the way that the team came together every day to compete for each other and represent Charlotte Latin in the best way possible.

8TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL

The chemistry of the 8th Grade Hawks is something that teams of even the highest caliber struggle to achieve. The energy brought to every game was unmatched. Their love of the sport showed through every point of competition and every practice. We faced adversity with injuries and sickness, but our Hawks overcame adversity time and time again. They showed their strength by finishing our season with a phenomenal win at home against Lake Norman Charter, who was also our first loss of the season. Their open mindedness allowed for so much opportunity to grow their understanding of our sport. We coaches are so appreciative of their ability to adjust and try new things. We are thankful for the laughs, the memories, and for teaching us to be better coaches as well.

We hope they keep learning, keep growing, and keep being great humans.

Remember to be smart, take care of yourselves, and always stay on your feet.

7TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL

I have coached many different teams of all ages but this by far was my most exciting season. This 7th grade team started with most of the girls never playing volleyball before, but they were eager to learn, and I was eager to teach and coach them to be successful. They improved so much as a team and individuals; it was an incredible thing to see. We were successful with the support of my amazing coaching staff Jenna Sinclair, Marianna Spero, and super supportive help of our team manager Lily Dunn. The theme of this season was “Becoming better people and players.” This theme helped the girls on and off the court with being good human beings first. We ended the season with a record of 6-2 with both very close losses to Country Day. I am super excited to see the future for this great group of girls!

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congratulations

Fall College Commits

The growth James has shown from his Middle School years on one of our travel teams to now mirrors the development in our program that he helped initiate. James and a few teammates embraced year-long strength and conditioning and have set an example that has changed the CLS baseball culture for the better. His dedication outside of school workouts to improve his pitching, strength, flexibility, and nutrition is impressive and rare in a high school athlete.

JAMES PETERS

James began his baseball journey at age five, was playing travel ball by age eight, and learned to love the game when he focused on pitching at age eleven. He enjoyed having an impact on each play and found he was pretty good at getting outs. As he sought out schools, he was drawn in by the architecture of a campus in Ohio, where he attended a class he found engaging, met members of a winning baseball team, and found opportunities for an active social life. He plans to study economics while he continues to play on the diamond as a member of the Scots of The College of Wooster.

Congratulations James!

As a sixth grader, Ellé was less than a year into her lacrosse career when she was asked to play goalie in a middle school tournament. She jumped right in and dedicated herself to learning as much as she could in the days leading up to the tournament. After one of those games, the opposing goalie complimented Ellé and asked how long she’d been playing. Ellé responded something like, “Seven days or so.” Looking shocked, the girl exclaimed, “You’re going to be good!” And yes, through all of her hard work and perseverance, Ellé has turned out better than good.

ELLÉ COLLIER

Congratulations Ellé!

Some of the features Ellé was hoping to find in her college search were heat and proximity to the beach. Of course she sought strong academics and a successful lacrosse program, but she really wanted to find those attributes in Florida. When she discovered a school that is small in enrollment but had a large, walkable campus, it felt similar to Latin. Then she met the team, watched them practice, and had lunch with the freshmen. Everything about it felt right to Ellé, so she’ll be soaking up the sun in Winter Park, Florida as she studies and plays lacrosse at Rollins College next year.

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A summer league swimmer from age five, Ivy got hooked on the thrill of adrenaline that came with relay team wins. Her love for the sport continued to grow and she soon joined a year-round team.

Ivy appreciates all that swimming has provided, including the friends made, travel to new places, and lessons learned through years of working hard towards her goals. Ivy is a patient, kind, and caring teammate, who has a voice that people listen to.

IVY MONK

Congratulations Ivy!

A lifelong Tar Heel fan due to her mom’s legacy and other family connections, Ivy says she fell in love with Carolina in a new way when she visited as a recruit. In addition to the academic and athletic offerings, it was the team culture she experienced there that resonated. Unknowingly, lvy created a full circle moment when she agreed to swim for Coach Mark Gangloff, who brought me to Missouri as one of his first recruits early in his career. Ivy is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the UNC family and we look forward to following all that she will achieve at the University of North Carolina.

Childhood asthma may be credited with Wiley’s swimming career, who started club swimming with Dynamo in Atlanta at age six in an effort to improve his lung capacity. Clearly, he stuck with it, and says he has valued the competitive outlet, the friendships forged in the pool, and the support and guidance he has received from coaches. Wiley hasn’t just received support, he’s given it. He has an intuitive sense of when to be a leader or a follower, a friend or a counselor, a competitor or participant.

WILEY SPINNER

Wiley had two very specific criteria for potential colleges: One, to have an elite academic curriculum, and two, a swim team that could compete on a national level. When he discovered impressive athletic facilities, academic resources, a supportive coaching staff, and a rich team culture in a stunning lakeside setting located near family that lives outside of Chicago, he says it was a no-brainer. We know he’ll be putting his brain to work, though, as he continues to excel in the classroom and the pool at Northwestern University next year.

Congratulations Wiley!

Ardyn has spent her high school career mastering the two skills that can change the direction of a game: the eight meters and the draw. In fact, the draw is her favorite part of the game. Ardyn thrives on the feeling of jumping over an opponent to snag the ball out of the air. Her relentless study and practice, combined with her dedication to building strength, have made her unstoppable and have undoubtedly been a huge part of our program’s success.

ARDYN HENRY

Following her goal to study biomedical engineering, Ardyn sought out the best engineering schools that also offered an opportunity to play lacrosse. She was drawn to a campus she describes as diverse and unique, a culture she calls incredible, and new leadership that looks to establish something special in the lacrosse program. Ardyn is excited to be heading across the country to become a California Golden Bear at Berkeley.

Congratulations Ardyn!

Originally a competitive gymnast, Natalie credits her brother, Alex, for putting a lacrosse stick in her hand and getting her hooked on the sport. She’s gained lifelong friends, a sense of purpose and something to work toward, the satisfaction of earning success, and a feeling of being grounded when things are unsettling. Natalie’s appreciation for the sport shows in the way that she plays defense. It’s a style of play that is perfectly suited for the collegiate game, with her physicality, speed, and intelligence.

Combined with her fierce competitiveness, Natalie has become one of the best defenders in Charlotte.

NATALIE MASSARDO

She says lacrosse culture is unlike anything else and she feels lucky to be a part of it. Natalie found some kindred spirits on her future team during a campus visit that impressed her with the academic offerings, the intense culture around sports, an enthusiastic coaching staff, and the chance to stay in the south. In fact, she’ll only be about two hours away, as Natalie heads to Furman University next year.

Congratulations Natalie!

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In ninth grade, after only two years in the sport, Evie decided that she wanted to play lacrosse in college.

Ever since then, she has dedicated herself to making that goal a reality. What she has accomplished in such a short amount of time is remarkable, and she’s done it through relentless hard work, continuous study, seeking out information, and good, old-fashioned practice. Although her impact on the field is undeniable, it’s the way she uses her knowledge and skills to help her team get better. Evie is always sharing and teaching, with her peers, her younger sister’s team, and her coaches. Our appreciation for her contributions is immeasurable.

EVIE MCMAHAN

Congratulations Evie!

With a plan to study business and play lacrosse, Evie set out to find a college that was strong in both and ultimately found what she describes as a perennially competitive lacrosse program, a great team culture, excellent academics, and abundant resources for student-athletes. We have no doubt that Evie will continue her dogged pursuit of learning in the classroom and on the field at the University of Virginia next year.

A summer league swimmer at age seven, Aidan made the commitment to year-round training when he was ten, and he hasn’t turned back. He says it’s the excitement of achieving a best time that makes all the hours of hard work pay off and keeps him motivated. It’s also an inherent competitiveness that is evident in tight races. Aidan gets his hand on the wall first when it matters most. With his drive, his work ethic, and the foundation he’s built with years of hard work, Aidan’s potential is unlimited.

AIDAN HILL

As someone who has been cheering for his mom’s alma mater his whole life, Aidan was thrilled to find that the school he supports wasn’t just an option for him – it was a great fit. He feels at home on the campus, the coaches are welcoming, he meshes well with the current swimmers, and there are numerous benefits for student-athletes that will help him achieve his goals both in and out of the pool.

We look forward to following the next part of his journey as he belts out Rocky Top at the University of Tennessee next year.

Congratulations Aidan!

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