Athletics

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL MAKES HISTORY WINNING 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

2021 SOFTBALL ROSTER

Audrey Barnes A’21 Zeta Bennett A’21 Genevieve Chiellini A’23 Chase Cordoves A’21 Ciara Daly A’21 Lucy Dyer A’22 Camryn Feast A’23 Keala Hollenkamp A’24 Camille Petrarca A’24 Rachael Petrarca A’21 Chloe Pleasants A’24 Belle Sardja A’21 Maisi Sigler A’24 Devin Tauber A’21 Amber Torres A’23 Jeff Krone, Head Coach Elysse Gorney, Assistant Coach Samantha Miller A’20, Assistant Coach Michael Valdes, Assistant Coach

According to pitcher Belle Sardja A’21, the 2021 softball season was a fairytale. For a team whose prior season was cut short by the pandemic, the year’s theme was Unfinished Business, and they were out to avenge their loss. As in all fairytales, the team met a season full of adversity and uncertainty.

In March, the team received a tragic blow: the passing of Nicholas Petrarca, father of shortstop Rachael Petrarca A’21 and second baseman Camille Petrarca A’24. Known for his positive attitude and love for all, the loss of Nick united the team around a common goal. Rallying around the family and relying on their faith, the team turned around the season’s rocky start and kicked off a 14-game winning streak. Recalling her emotions, Sardja said, “I wanted to do this for him. … I thought I was doing this for the Lord; now, I am also doing this for one of His servants who is up with Him.”

The latter part of the season was not smooth sailing with several key games coming down to the wire. The team saw four walk-off wins in clutch games, including the district final, region semifinal, and state final — all courtesy of hits from Sardja. The day before the state semifinal, Camille dislocated her fingertip. With grit, she fought through the pain. Her sister, Rachael, could not be prouder. “She embodied the spirit of our team. She wanted to be there. We all wanted to be there. She wanted to do whatever it took to win that title and do what was best for the team. She knew we needed her, and she was not going to let anything get in the way.”

Facing an impressive Windermere Preparatory team in the state final, the Jags were down through the middle of the seventh inning. The game was a nail-biter thanks to Sardja’s pitching and a stellar defense. Key plays came from right fielder Amber Torres A’23, Camille and catcher Genevieve Chiellini A’23. With Camryn Feast A’23 and Chiellini on base in the bottom of the seventh, Sardja stepped up to the plate. Repeating to herself, “By grace through faith,” Sardja “felt the spirit of the Lord” and swung. A bomb dusted the glove of Windermere’s center fielder. Chiellini scored. The catcher missed a wild throw home and in came Feast. Jags won 4-3.

While the team will forever be remembered as the first in Academy history to win a softball state championship, it is each of the players’ spirit that should be their legacy. Humility, faith, trust, tenacity and confidence describe each of them, and their bond is nothing short of that of a family. They did it for Nick. Business finished; history made.

To top off an amazing season, Florida Dairy Farmers named Jeff Krone their 3A Coach of the Year and named Rachael Petrarca the 3A Player of the Year.

OF THE YEAR

After four years on the softball team and two on cross country, Rachael Petrarca A’21 was named Senior Athlete of the Year. According to Athletic Director Kevin Vargas, “She is an incredibly talented young lady whose name is synonymous with leadership, and whose skills, work ethic and determination are lauded by her coaches, teammates, and opponents alike. A fierce competitor who has helped to reshape our record books, she has represented our school and athletic program with the utmost class, and will forever serve as a model for what we look for in our student-athletes at the Academy.

2020-2021 ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

HIGH SCHOOL WRAP-UP

The Academy’s athletics teams faced some of their biggest challenges this year — both in the caliber of competition and disappointing losses tied to the pandemic. However, our teams fought adversity with a positive attitude and sportsmanship that is synonymous with an Academy athlete. Our athletes and coaches went above and beyond this year and brought our school great pride!

BASKETBALL

The team went 17-9 on the season and won the Jaguar Holiday Invitational, defeating Mitchell High School for the title.

TRACK AND FIELD

The team advanced athletes in four events to the 2A state meet, with the 4x4 relay team of Britton Byrd, Jayda Pinder, Camille McClendon and Catalina Gonzalez setting a new school record. Gonzalez also set a new school record in the javelin.

CREW

In the spring, two boats received recognition as scholastic state champions: Emory Peterson, Amelia Vitello, Emma Grace Coley, Julia Talbot and Kate Merrill won the Davis Cup in the Junior 4+, and Teryn Collins, Isabella Killian, Coley and Talbot in the Junior Quad.

SWIMMING AND DIVING

The team defended its district title for the 13th consecutive year and its region title for the 11th year. They finished 4th at the Class 2A state finals and set new school records in three events: medley relay, 200 IM and 500 freestyle. Cassidy Neely participated in each of the three events, along with Kate Petitt, Ashlin Cannella and Ava Zaritsky in the relay.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team went 18-9 and won the 4A-District 7 and 4A-Region 2 championships, advancing to the state Final Four for the second consecutive year.

COLLEGE-BOUND ATHLETES

This year, seven student-athletes committed to continuing their athletic careers in college.

Grace Cronen rowing, West Virginia University Rachael Petrarca softball, Providence College Jessica Reynolds rowing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Maddie Rodriguez cross country/track & field, Flagler College Belle Sardja softball, Florida Southwestern College Mia Zazzero volleyball, Randolph-Macon College Sophia Hassara swimming, Rollins College

2020-2021 ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

MIDDLE SCHOOL WRAP-UP

Academy’s middle school girls’ teams dominated the Florida West Coast League this year, winning championships in cross country, volleyball, soccer and track & field.

FOUR-SPORT VARSITY ATHLETES

Mia Dill

soccer, tennis, track, volleyball

Madison Growcock

cross country, soccer, softball, track

Reina Larkin

soccer, softball, track, volleyball

Maia McCullough

basketball, softball, track, volleyball

Nico Miranda

Basketball, cross country, lacrosse, track

Kelsey Overstreet

cross country, soccer, tennis, track

Cameron Powell

cross country, soccer, softball, track

Katarina Till

soccer, softball, track, volleyball

Carolina Ward

soccer, tennis, track, volleyball