AT H L E T I C S
Awards and Achievements • For the second time in the four-year history of the BlueCross Championship Series Award, GPS has been recognized for having the highest performing athletic program among Division II-AA schools. Consideration is based on athletic excellence and sportsmanship, two of the key tenets the TSSAA strives to promote. TSSAA Marketing Director Courtney Poole Brunetz ’92 presented the award. • Bowling Head Coach David McGowan has received the 2015 South Sectional Coach of the Year Award for Girls Bowling by the National Federation of State High School Associations for demonstrating excellence in coaching on the state, sectional, and national level. McGowan was named the Tennessee recipient of the Coach of the Year award in the fall. • Two seniors signed scholarship papers to play their chosen sport at the collegiate level. Rower Nicki Backus signed a National Letter of Intent for University of Tulsa, and in late January, Mary Melissa Manuel committed to play golf at Rhodes College in Memphis. • The three seniors on the GPS soccer team — Zoe Rustand, Lucy St. Charles, and Keyle Snyder — were named members of the 2015 Division II AA East-Middle All-Region team, and Snyder was named the Region’s Most Valuable Player. Snyder was also Player of the Year on the 2015 Chattanooga Girls Prep Soccer Super Team; Lane Lawrence, Rustand, and St. Charles were team selections.
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GPS: The Magazine | Winter 2015 – 2016
Middle School Fall Sports Wrap Up The Middle School Cross Country team, Region Champions, finished strong in all regular season meets, placing third or higher. “I really enjoyed training with this great group of young runners this fall and seeing each girl improve her time,” said Head Coach Gina Wells, who took the team photo below. “Each softball player made improvements throughout the Middle School season, not only in skill but also in knowledge of the game. The support they showed each other was contagious, and the addition of Kamri Chester ’08 made the fall season truly enjoyable,” said Head Coach Susan Crownover. “We had a great tennis season this fall with girls who showed tremendous enthusiasm and new assistant coach Sarah Evans ’10,” said Head Coach Billy Bartlett. “With 12 wins and only two losses, this was one of the best teams in recent years, with new sixth grade talent and leadership from our 8th graders.” “In 10 games over eight weeks, we outscored our opponents by 25 goals, finishing the 2015 season with an 8-1-1 record,” said Head Soccer Coach Marina Kugler of the Black team. “It was truly a privilege to coach this team,” Team Blue Coach Heather Faasse added. “The girls had a definite passion for the game of soccer, and their talent promises a great future for GPS Soccer.”