Untold Stories of DDS: Issue 23

APR 2026

ISSUE N.23

DAVIDSON DAY UPPER SCHOOL NEWS MAGAZINE

PG 1

UNTOLD STORIES OF DDS ALEX HAPONIK’S CROSS COUNTRY SUCCESSES

ADDITIONAL STORIES BY: CAOMI SILVA LORELEI ROBERTSON SEAN JONES

BY LILLIAN RUTTER

PUSHING LIMITS: HOW ALEX HAPONIK TURNED FOUR YEARS OF RUNNING INTO RECORD-BREAKING SUCCESS

BY LILLIAN RUTTER, CLASS OF 2027

F

ew Davidson Day athletes leave a lasting mark on both the cross country and track programs, but senior Alex Haponik has done so. By placing second at the Disney Half Marathon two years in a row (2024 and 2025) while running a personal best time of 1:11:12, setting school records in the 800 meter run (2:00), 1600 meter run (4:13), and 3200 meter run (9:26), as well as winning the local Turkey Trot, and committing to run cross country and track at Emory University, Alex has become one of the most accomplished runners in Davidson Day School history.

The Disney Half Marathon on October 26, 2025 proved to be a pivotal moment in Alex’s running career, as he competed head-to-head with older, more experienced runners, and still finished on the podium, finishing second overall and first in his age group. “Running half-marathons and other races outside of school has been a great experience because they push me beyond the typical high school race,” Alex said. “Racing longer distances and competing against runners who have already had success in college has helped me get stronger both physically and mentally. Placing second two years in a row at Disney was motivating because it showed me I could compete at a high level outside of the shorter track races that I’m used to.”

Photo credit: Steve McGill

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APR 2026

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In high school meets, Alex continues to push himself to try new distances within the sport. In addition to the cross country distance of 5 Kilometers (3.1 miles), and the track distances, Alex has also competed in the 2,000 meter steeplechase, which involves running over barriers and a water jump each lap. “Trying a variety of events helps,” he said. “Each distance teaches you something different and all of that carries into my main events. I like racing new distances because it keeps things exciting and challenges me in new ways. The steeplechase in particular is probably the most chaotic race in track, it’s taught me to be adaptable and not to be scared of things that stand between me and my goals.”

In the past two years, Alex has been adding to his Davidson Day School Cross Country and Track practices by training with RunCCG–an online running coaching and mentorship program headquartered in Texas. They help high school distance runners improve, achieve their goals, and transition to collegiate running. “The opportunity to train with Coach Catton at RunCCG has been awesome,” Alex said.

“Obviously, the training is top notch, the workouts are tailored to my weaknesses to help me improve as much as possible. But maybe not as obviously, the connections I’ve gained through the program have been arguably even more important. I now can regularly train with guys who have run 4:08 in the mile, 1:50 in the 800, under 15:00 in the 5k–guys who are All-Americans, going to big-time distance programs like Villanova and Furman.”

Besides the breadth of his accomplishments, what makes Alex’s success even more impressive is that he is relatively new to the sport, having only begun running competitively four years ago, during his freshman year at DDS. “When I first started running, it was mostly just about having fun and being part of a team. But it very quickly became more about the love of competition and improvement. Being committed to running in college has made me take my training, recovery, and mindset more seriously. Although I still try to remember why I started.”

During his four years, Alex has battled numerous injuries, including a hip strain sophomore year that proved to be not only a challenge, but a crucial lesson that molded his mentality for his second half of high school. “Injuries, mainly in the first few years of my running journey, taught me that while growth is always on the other side of discomfort, not everything over there is beneficial. It is very possible, and super easy to accidentally push too hard, go too deep in the well for too long, and go past your body’s limitations. [Injuries] have taught me that running is in fact 90% mental like some people say. But most of the time, a ‘pain is good, that just means I’m growing’ mentality is not the way to go, and over a long time you’ll end up worse off because of it.”

By reshaping his outlook on training, and emphasizing recovery when needed, Alex has been able to bounce back from injury and surpass expectations. “My accomplishments are definitely motivating, but they also push me to keep working hard rather than settle.

Each success makes me want to see how much better I can get and what my limits really are. I try to use those moments as confidence boosters while still staying focused on long-term improvement.”

Inspired by his high school success and achievements, Alex has bigger goals for his next four years running at Emory University, a Division III program in Atlanta. “My main goal in college is to continue improving and contribute to my college team as much as possible. I want to help my team win a national title maybe as soon as next year, and I want to be running sub 4 [minutes] in the mile, sub 14 [minutes] in the 5k [on the] track, and under 30 [minutes] in the 10k. I’ve learned that success in running comes from doing the small things really well over a long period of time. It’s better to do all the small things maybe 1% more effectively than it is to run 5% faster in workouts. Obviously it’s best if you can do both, but if you don’t place emphasis on the smaller things like nutrition, lifting, sleep, and recovery, the workouts will suffer and you’ll start to plateau. I also hope to qualify for the 2028 Olympic marathon trials. Though that may be a dream, the idea of competing with the best endurance athletes in the nation and world helps keep me motivated, regardless of its likelihood to pan out for me.”

Quiet and humble away from competition, Alex becomes a warrior when it’s time to race. We can all learn from the example he has set.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL? EMAIL US YOUR UNTOLD STORIES, IDEAS, AND PITCHES. LORELEI.ROBERTSON @DAVIDSONDAY.ORG SMCGILL@DAVIDSONDAY.ORG

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APR 2026

ISSUE N.23

DAVIDSON DAY UPPER SCHOOL NEWS MAGAZINE

PG 3

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: A SISTERLY BOND

BY CAOMI SILVA, CLASS OF 2028

Photo credit: Davidson Day Athletics

T

he Davidson Day Varsity volleyball program, known for winning back to back state titles in 2023 and 2024, has built built more than a winning record and state championship trophies. Behind the scenes, the team has formed a family bond that is visible on and off the court. They don't play as separate individuals, but as a single unit.

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Players describe the team's culture as intense but loving. When asked to describe the DDS volleyball team, junior Reese Mitchell said, ¨disciplined, relentless, and united. While Mitchell’s words describe the team’s tough exterior on the court, some of her teammates emphasized the sense of ¨family¨ that defines the team off the court.

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Junior Alena Rollison’s three words used to describe the team were ¨grit, family, and fun,” encapsulating the strong ties the team has created. Communication on the court, high expectations from coaches and teammates, discipline in practice, and the balance of fun with hard work, are ultimately what has led this team to success.

Building such a culture does not happen overnight. It is the result of fighting in the trenches together throughout the season. The playoff game against Asheville Christian was a defining moment for the team, as they felt exceeding pressure and nerves going into this matchup. But the pressure motivated the group to play "the best we've ever played," as one team member said. Others emphasized the team's hard work leading up to this game. Big wins like this didn't just happen from talent and skill, but from time spent together off the court, like the summer team-bonding trips and long bus rides after games. Bonding outside of school makes it possible for the players to have personal friendships and support each other outside of sports. These long-lasting memories for this team is what makes them a family.

Being a member of the girls volleyball team at DDS means growing athletically and personally each year. Sophomore Lilly Marinelli says “it definitely taught me to never back down and go for what you want because you never know what could happen.¨ On a more personal level, Reese Mitchell says, ¨Being on this team changed me as a person; it forced me to adopt a team-oriented mindset, and it also taught me discipline in the smallest details.¨ Senior Molly Brown, better known for her exceptional talents on the lacrosse field, has also gained a lot from playing on the volleyball team: ¨These pressures,” she said, referring to the intense playoff games, “made me want to work hard for the girls on the team – to show them that I cared and made sure our blood, sweat, and tears were for a bigger reason.¨ The summer trips and long bus rides built trust, the culture led to success, and the family bonds built strength. Between the best memories, life lessons and life long friendships, Davidson Day volleyball, led by Head Coach Cathy Glass, has created something special for this group of girls. As Reese put it, “Coach Cathy doesn’t allow us to cut corners. We're a family and forced to be accountable to each other.”

THE FASCINATING LIFE OF MALENA LESSA

BY LORELEI ROBERTSON, CLASS OF 2026

S

enior Malena Lessa has participated in a variety of activities in her two years at Davidson Day School, some of which she has served as the founder. If you like to attend musicals and plays, you probably know her mostly from her activities with the theatre program, where she performed in her first school musical, Once Upon A One More Time, last spring. n that production, she played Snow White. In addition, she was the stage manager for the fall play – The Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane. She assists with Mrs. Griswold's musical theater club, and has also participated in Ms. Gerdy’s Performance Ensemble class. Most recently, she played a starring role in the DDS 2026 musical, Big Fish–a highly requested show among the seniors for this year’s Spring Show.

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Photo credit: @davidsondayschool on Instagram

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APR 2026

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Malena had dove into the world of theater long before she came to DDS. She has done theatre for 17 years, and says that “Getting cast as Sandra Bloom in Big Fish has been a definitive moment for me. I first saw the show in fifth grade at Northwest School of the Arts when Renee Rapp played the role, and I immediately fell in love with the story. Playing Sandra has been a full-circle moment and a wonderful finale to my 17-year journey in theater. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and has gifted me with the chance to perform my final show alongside my best friends. While I don’t plan on pursuing theater in college, this experience has only solidified that performing will always be a part of who I am.”

Off the stage, Malena has been very busy as well. In the fall of her senior year, she founded the DDS chapter of the Teens For Courage Club. Based out of Charlotte, “TFC,” Malena explained, “is a youth-led organization dedicated to raising awareness about domestic violence and promoting peer advocacy. Our primary goal is to provide teenagers with the resources and the platform they need to take a stand against teen dating violence and create actual change in their local communities.”

Amidst all these activities, Malena, like her peers in the senior class, also had to work on completing college applications while managing a demanding academic workload. In regards to the application process, she says, “It’s been a journey of self-reflection. While the applications and logistics are a lot to manage, the process forced me to evaluate my priorities and goals. Balancing the workload with all my current commitments has been a challenge, but it has given me a much clearer sense of where I want to go next. I’ve found a lot of value in the writing process; you discover a lot about yourself when you’re forced to put your story on paper.”

Malena, who will be attending the University of Georgia next year, says that she wants “to pursue a degree in Animal Science. My long-term goal is to earn a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. I’ve always had a natural curiosity for the sciences, and nothing motivates me more than the idea of helping and learning more about all kinds of animals.”

EMPOWERING COMMUNITY VOICES

BY SEAN JONES, CLASS OF 2027

I

n September of this school year, Head of School Andrew Bishop met with the leaders of the Belonging Council – co-presidents Sean Jones, Abbie Barsosky, and Ashley Adkins (all juniors), and faculty advisor Mr. Steve McGill – for three hours one day to discuss the

Council’s vision for the school year. While the Council (formerly known as the Diversity Council) has been in existence for six years, the Council leaders were looking to expand the scope of their activities by aligning the Council’s approach with the school’s new mission statement and core values.

In brainstorming ideas to give students more “voice and choice,” as Mr. Bishop put it, he suggested having students tell stories about themselves during upper school meeting times, emphasizing the value of sharing stories as a means of encouraging more empathy for one another within our community. Ashley Adkins mentioned that it would be cool for students to hear from teachers too, because students only know their teachers as teachers, but don’t know them well outside of that context.

From that meeting, the idea for “Student/Faculty Voices” came about. Planned by the co-presidents, it was decided that at least one student and at least one teacher would deliver a speech of 2-3 minutes in which they talked about something meaningful them, told a story that had a personal element to it, and made sure their remarks referred either directly or indirectly to one of the school’s core CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE values.

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DAVIDSON DAY UPPER SCHOOL NEWS MAGAZINE

Photo credit: @ddsbelongingcouncil on Instagram

In the first session, Sean Jones and Mr. McGill spoke. Their remarks set the precedent for what could happen if we give people a voice within our community. Quickly, the “Student/Faculty Voices” platform gained traction within the school. The council has since hosted at least one session each month during Upper School meetings, and it has been a feature that has meaningful connection within our community.

With senior speeches taking place during meeting time now, the “Student/Faculty Voices” program will begin again in the fall of the 2026-27 school year. This year, we have heard outstanding speeches from several members of our community. Besides Mr. McGill and Sean Jones, students and faculty members who have spoken include senior Malena Lessa; juniors Abbie Barsosky, Ashley Adkins, Bella Lee, Callum McAloon, and Elizabeth Grasso; faculty members Kevin Julian, Patrick Letourneau, Teresa Crowe, Michelle Mullineaux, Jen Shiley; and Head of School Andrew Bishop.

Ms. Shiley, an English teacher, loves the opportunity that the Voices sessions provide, saying, “We are creating a space for students and teachers to get to know each other and have the opportunity for people to put themselves out there.”

Junior Ava Armstrong shared her experience as an audience member listening to the panel, saying, “You are able to hear people’s stories and listen to what they are going through, which you don’t get to see on the daily. You never really know what people are going through. Growing up, you hear the saying ‘never judge a book by its cover,’ but you never really fully grasp the meaning of the saying. Listening to people’s stories within our community has helped.”

Mr. Michael Smith, Head of Upper School, said he appreciates the willingness and courage of both students and faculty members who have taken the time to share their remarks. He said he loves how it has “humanized” members of the community and, importantly, humanized the faculty within our community, because we can often forget that teachers have experiences beyond the classroom. “I think it fortified connections,” he added.

Callum MacLoon said he felt grateful for the platform to speak. Previously, the only opportunity for students to speak to the entire upper school community occurred during senior speeches. “It was a positive experience, he said, “and a lot of people complimented my speech. It felt pretty good to be recognized for what I talked about.”

Perhaps senior Sophie McMahon summed up the value of the speeches best: “You obviously don’t get on the personal level unless you’re friends with people. Understanding that there are things going on in others’ lives gives you perspective that everyone has something going on, and that realization can let you treat people with more kindness and patience.”

We’re definitely looking forward to hearing from more students and faculty members next year!

LORELEI.ROBERTSON @DAVIDSONDAY.ORG SMCGILL@DAVIDSONDAY.ORG

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