FWCD Athletics Newsletter - Fall 2013

Fireworks in the Fall!

Sharon Ellman

FALL 2013

The fall season culminated with the Southwest Preparatory Conference Tournament in Fort Worth November 8 and 9. It marked the end of a season full of highs and lows. The spirit of competition was present on every court, course and field. The Falcons worked hard and played their very best every time they put on their uniforms.

Field Hockey

Lisa Wallace

Field hockey ended its season with a coveted spot in the SPC Division I Championship game.

The team beat the No. 1 seed St. John’s of Houston 1-0 in the first round. The team then beat Hockaday of Dallas in the semifinals in a thrilling triple overtime victory. The team faced Casady of Oklahoma City in the finals, and, after a hardfought back-and-forth game, the Falcons lost 1-0.

Field Hockey, SPC Division I Runner-Ups The team thrived under the leadership of 13 seniors, nine of which had been in the 2011 SPC Division I Championship game. Seniors Mary Madison Arnold, Claudia Boyd, Mary Claire Ekstrom, Alden Griffin, Darby Loth, Madison Nelson, Reign Parker, Jordan Roland, Eliza Wagner, Lauren Wagner, Bailee Wallace, Elizabeth Wilkinson and Emily Wilkinson have contributed greatly to the success of the program over the years and will be missed.

Through the highs, lows and all the music, these girls led their team through some incredible moments. The team is also sad to be graduating manager Reed Simpson.

With several players returning, the goal is to keep the momentum going. The team looks forward to this challenge.

Continued page 2

Deep Nana, Malcolm McDonald and Kathryn Kientzy. They will be greatly missed, but the returning letterman and coaches are excited about what lies ahead.

Football

George Rodriguez

By Jack Livingston ’14

Cooper Baird ’15 and Melody Rodriguez ’15 earned an invitation to compete at the U.S. Association for Track and Field Junior Olympics Cross Country Championships in San Antonio, Texas on December 14. Both runners ran a 5K at the Southwestern Association USATF Championship to qualify. Rodriguez finished first in the 17-18 year-old women’s division with a time of 20:48, and Baird finished second in the 17-18 year-old men’s division with a time of 17:03. Baird also competed at the Foot Locker South Regional on November 30 in Charlotte, North Carolina. He finished 137th in the Championship division with a time of 16:08 in the 5K. Baird finished 39th on December 14 at the Junior Olympics Cross Country Championships.

Cross Country After a lot of hard work and mileage that began in early June, the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams posted strong finishes at the SPC Championship Meet at Trinity Valley School on November 9.

Both teams were 11th in team scoring, and juniors Melody Rodriguez (7th) and Cooper Baird (15th) received AllConference recognition.

The team found many ways to bond outside of practice with pasta parties, ice cream socials and breakfast runs.

The program is saying goodbye to 12 seniors: Ricky Rodriguez, Maddy Stripling, Caroline Carvalho, Ryan Hunt, Dan Sun, William Nober, Nic Klein, Salik Naqvi, Zane Lincoln,

The Class of 2014 has strapped on their helmets under the Friday Night Lights for the last time as Country Day Falcons, in what was a great end to a great beginning. As freshmen, we had the chance to experience the leadership and emotions of the 2010 SPC Championship Team, which we have carried with us ever since. Our 2013 record of 5-4 did not rival that year’s final results, but our memories will. We started the season at 3-0, but had some difficult losses in the challenging SPC South Zone. We did have a memorable 29-0 win against St. John’s of Houston, who went on to face ultimate SPC Champion All Saints’ Episcopal School in the SPC small school semifinal game.

I wish I had the space here to talk about every senior player because each played an important role in leading our team. There is no one more talented or determined than captains Robert Arnold and J.R. Gideon. On offense,

Rodriguez (2nd), senior Maddy Stripling (6th) and Baird (1st) received All-Zone honors at the SPC North Zone Meet on October 18. The course was run at Norbuck Park in Dallas.

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Sharon Ellman

There were a lot of team highs this season with the boys’ team winning its first meet in many years, and Baird winning his first high school race. Baird would go on to win the SPC North Zone Meet as well. The teams traveled for the first time to the Chile Pepper Festival in Arkansas and, despite muddy conditions, had the opportunity to not only see some of the top college programs run, but they also raced against some of the best high school cross country runners in the Midwest.

Seniors Robby Stackhouse, Ben Sankary and Robert Arnold celebrate bringing the Battle trophy home.

Girls’ Volleyball

Caleb Rooker had many amazing pass receptions, and Ben Sankary had as many determined runs to keep us in the game. Also, a special “fat man” mention to Will Belton, Patrick Gordon and John Callaway, who have played with me for three years on offensive line. On defense, Campbell Boswell, Kyle O’Brien, Jesse Tipton, Tyler Steele and Robbie Stackhouse made sure to get our offense back on the field as quickly as possible.

Thank you to Coach Frank Gendusa and the entire coaching staff for standing behind us the last six years. We have faced some adversity together, and we are glad you were there to share that incredible last game. It was the Battle of Bryant Irvin and FWCD’s 50th anniversary Homecoming celebration.

We claimed a decisive 40-14 victory over Trinity Valley School and earned the Battle trophy. It was the end of our football careers, and we ended it with fireworks.

Cheerleading

By Natalie Rosenthal ’16 The Fort Worth Country Day varsity cheerleaders competed at their first ever competition on November 9. They performed in the Advanced Large Varsity Division at the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium with 27 girls and brought back a first-place trophy.

The 2013 girls’ varsity volleyball team overcame many obstacles this season.

Some of the biggest highlights for the team were beating Tolar High School in five games and defeating Casady School in Oklahoma City.

Each week, the players continued to improve and grow defensively and offensively. The girls worked hard and stayed focused on improving their game. The team was led by four seniors: McKenna Breedlove, Aria Sanders, Tori Barrett and Reagan Smith. We will miss our graduating seniors, but are looking forward to the future.

Adele Elkind ’16

Boys’ Volleyball

placement was a direct result of their dedication, hard work and commitment as a team. I will never forget the chills I had as we watched them hit an absolutely perfect routine. Country Day has instilled exceptional values in these girls, and they continue to exceed all expectations on a daily basis. I am beyond grateful and encouraged by each and every one of these athletes.”

The 2013 season was a rebuilding year for the varsity boys’ volleyball team. Having lost nine seniors in 2012 and eight seniors in 2011, the newcomers to varsity rallied around the strengths of the team’s lone senior, Michael Wittman. With four freshmen seeing regular playing time against an experienced and tall (!) SPC Conference, the team ended up with few wins, but gained immeasurable experience and improved a ton Continued page 4

“Coaching this team has been one of my most memorable experiences as a cheerleading coach,” Collings, a former competitive cheerleader, said. “Their stellar performance and Championship

Robin Willis

Fort Worth Country Day is new to cheer competitions but Cheer Program Director Robin Willis plans to take more teams in future years.

Competitions occur every few months at varying locations in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area and can sometimes last all day because of the number of teams. Willis, Coach Courtney Collings and Coach Sara Stallard trained the team weeks in advance and watched backstage as the cheerleaders performed.

FWCD cheerleaders pose with their trophy after their first competition win at the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium.

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throughout the course of the season.

Frasher Pergande ’81

The end of a season is always bittersweet. The hardest part is knowing that when the season starts the next year, there will be a huge hole left by the graduating seniors. It is this hole that the underclassmen are charged with filling, and they tend to step up to the plate and make their predecessors proud. Good luck to our 64 seniors that participated in a fall sport. We wish you well in your next seasons and beyond.

Caleb Rooker ’14 was selected to play in the Tom Hillary All-Star Football Classic for private schools.

Frasher Pergande ’81

Mason Beasley ’15

Frasher Pergande ’81

With so many returners for next year and some strong additions from the JV squad, next year already looks promising!

Sharon Ellman

Elizabeth Wilkinson ’14 saves the stroke in overtime.

Varsity cheerleaders perform their dance routine at halftime of the football game.

Get your Falcon in Action and Support the Falcon Club

Lisa Koger

Athletic event photos are available to view and download on the Falcon Club Photo Archive page. Existing photo archive members can access the photos by logging in to fwcd.org and selecting the Falcon Club Photo Archive link under the Activities tab. Photo archive membership is required to view and download photos. To purchase, visit www.fwcd.org/falconclub. Questions?

Contact Lisa Parker, athletic administrative assistant, at lisa.parker@fwcd.org.

Michael Wittman ’14

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2013 Fall Postseason Athletic Awards Postseason honors for the fall varsity athletic season were announced at the Athletic Awards assembly on Wednesday, November 20.

Boys’ Volleyball

Football

Most Valuable – Michael Wittman ’14 Most Improved –John Wittman ’16 SPC All-Conference – Michael Wittman ’14 SPC All-Zone – Quentin Pinto ’15, Michael Wittman ’14

Most Valuable – J.R. Gideon ’14 Outstanding Offensive Player – Caleb Rooker ’14 Outstanding Defensive Player – Robert Arnold ’14, Campbell Boswell ’14 Outstanding Lineman – Will Belton ’14 Outstanding Special Teams Player – Vincent MarquisCartier ’15 SPC All-Conference – Robert Arnold ’14, J.R. Gideon ’14, Caleb Rooker ’14 SPC All-Conference Honorable Mention – Will Belton ’14, Campbell Boswell ’14, Robbie Stackhouse ’14, Tyler Steele ’14 SPC All-Zone – Patrick Gordon ’14, Jack Livingston ’14, Ben Sankary ’14

Cheerleading LeBlanc Award – Alyssa Brotherton ’14 Cheer Spirit – Maddie Jiongo ’14

Cross Country Most Valuable Boy – Cooper Baird ’15, Deep Nana ’14 Most Valuable Girl – Melody Rodriguez ’15 Most Improved Boy –William Newton ’16 Most Improved Girl – Ava Shen ’16 SPC All-Conference – Cooper Baird ’15, Melody Rodriguez ’15 SPC All-Zone – Cooper Baird ’15, Melody Rodriguez ’15, Maddy Stripling ’14

Field Hockey

Most Valuable – Laura Murphy ’15 Most Improved – Adele Elkind ’16 SPC All-Conference – Laura Murphy ’15 SPC All-Zone – Laura Murphy ’15 SPC All-Conference Honorable Mention – Sarah Ransom ’15

Got Questions? Get Answers!

If you have a question about the athletic program at FWCD, email Athletic Director Frank Gendusa at frank.gendusa@fwcd.org.

Lisa Koger

Most Valuable – Elizabeth Wilkinson ’14 Heart and Hustle – Laura Catherine Wilson ’15 SPC All-Conference – Kate Laughlin ’15, Eliza Wagner ’14, Elizabeth Wilkinson ’14, Emily Wilkinson ’14 SPC All-Zone – Isabella Burnette ’15, Laura Catherine Wilson ’15 SPC All-Conference Honorable Mention – Devon Davis ’15, Jordan Roland ’14, Lauren Wagner ’14, Bailee Wallace ’14

Girls’ Volleyball

SPC All-Conference Athletes: Kate Laughlin ’15, Eliza Wagner ’14, Emily Wilkinson ’14, Elizabeth Wilkinson ’14, Melody Rodriguez ’15, Laura Murphy ’15, Cooper Baird ’15, Michael Wittman ’14, Robert Arnold ’14, Caleb Rooker ’14 and J.R. Gideon ’14 5

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2013-14 Winter Season Coaches Athletic Director Frank Gendusa Administrative Assistant...... Lisa Parker Athletic Training Head.................................... Ed Chisholm Assistant....... Chelsea Procter-Willman Basketball Boys Varsity Head Coach............Joe Breedlove ’78* Assistant Coaches......... Chris Anderson Pepper Ackers ’92 Travis Masterson JV Red Head Coach... Brandon Livingston Blue Head Coach.......Travis Masterson Red/Blue Assistant Coach ........................................ Spencer Smith Middle School A Head Coach.............Adrian Washington Middle School B Head Coach............................Ryan Hunt Middle School B Red; White; Blue Head Coach........................... Tim Nullan Assistant Coach............. Chris Anderson 6

Basketball GIRLS Head Coach....................Shelley Rains* Assistant Coaches...........Aimee Jenkins Rachel Donahue Middle School A Head Coach.................... Butch Traeder Middle School B Blue Head Coach...........................DeAnn Hall Middle School B Red Head Coach....................Chuck Maddux CHEERLEADING Robin Willis* Varsity Head Coach...............Courtney Collings JV Head Coach..................... Sarah Stallard Middle School Head Coach....................... Killian Naylor SOCCER BOYS Varsity Head Coach.................... Mike Vincent* Assistant Coach.................Jeff Rozanski Goalie Coach ...................... Ryan Byerly

JV Head Coach..........................Tafaria Fray Middle School A Head Coach.....................Frank Remmel Middle School B Head Coach...................... Aaron Hoover SOCCER GIRLS Head Coach.................. Tarik Guendouzi Assistant Coach................. Ashley Weeg JV Head Coach...................... Nicole Donati Middle School A Head Coach......................... Ryan Byerly Middle School B Head Coach................. Kristin Cummins SWIMMING Jessica Wood ’06* Head Coach............ Kathy Steinbrenner WRESTLING Varsity Head Coach..........................Joe Murph* Assistant Coach................ Ruben Martin

*Indicates program director