ATHLETICS

2020-21 ATHLETIC AWARDS

Ken Simpson Sportsmanship Award:

Katie Palmaccio ‘21 and Alston McCaslin ‘21

In an era where moral and ethical behavior can seem less important than winning in high school, these two athletes display the greatest respect for their opponents, officials and teammates. They have both proven that they know how to win well and lose with class.

Connie Houston Spirit Award:

Amelia Wylly ‘21 and Paul Mosley ‘21

This award is given to two individuals who have contributed the most to the atmosphere of our school. They have been a constant support for all of our teams, whether by participating on the playing field or cheering in the stands.

Bill and Charlene Saunders Most Versatile Athlete Award:

Olivia Carney ‘21 and Kenny Odom ‘22

This award is given in respect to leadership, work ethic and athletic ability in various sports for this past year. The Saunders developed the athletic program at Savanah Country Day School, and Saunders Gym and Saunders Field are named in their honor.

Lillian Belzer and Gray Grayson were crowned Mr. and Miss SCDS during the basketball senior night festivities. Mr. & Miss SCDS is voted by both faculty & students, and the recipients best demonstrate the spirit of SCDS in terms of their good character, positive attitude, strong academics and exemplary extracurricular involvement.

Congratulations to Erik Brown ‘21 on surpassing the 1,000-point milestone on January 16 against visiting Aquinas High School. Brown ended the season with 1,168 career points and is the sixth male basketball player in Country Day history to reach 1,000 points.

Basketball

Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams had fantastic seasons and won their Region 3A Private Championships. The boys had an 18-11 record and advanced to the Elite Eight round of the Class A Private State Playoffs. The girls’ team went 18-5 during the regular season and advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the State Playoffs. Region accolades went to 1st Team Erik Brown, Gray Grayson, Olivia Carney, and Abby Nicholson; 2nd Team Ethan Myers, Catherine Goodman, and Amelia Wylly; Honorable Mention Timo Moeller, Paul Mosley, and Robert Spaulding. The Savannah Morning News named Erik Brown and Abby Nicholson to the All-Greater Savannah Basketball 2nd Team. Honorable Mention accolades went to Gray Grayson, Ethan Myers, Timo Moeller, Olivia Carney, Catherine Goodman, and Amelia Wylly. In addition, Erik Brown and Abby Nicholson were named to the GHSA Class-A Private All-State Team for Regions 1-4.

Boys’ Basketball Awards

Offensive Player of the Year – Erik Brown Defensive Player of the Year – Paul Mosley Passion Award – Ethan Myers Purpose Award – Robert Spaulding Positivity Award – Gray Grayson Effort Award – Timo Moeller Ultimate Hornet Award – Ethan Myers Captains – Erik Brown, Ethan Myers Scholar Athletes – Varsity: Noah Carney, Gray Grayson, Hawkeye Hrones, Timo Moeller, Ethan Myers, William Whitfield. JV: Phil-Anthony Ajayi, Gabe Kaminsky, Sawyer Tarr, Leiden van Abshoven, Eoin Wilson. Head of School Award – Gray Grayson, Ethan Myers

Girls’ Basketball Awards

Screen and Score Award – Abby Nicholson Ball, Deny and Help Award – Catherine Goodman Coaches’ Award – Olivia Carney Love of the Game Award – Amelia Wylly Hornet Award – Anna Pollak Scholar Athletes – Varsity: Olivia Carney, Catherine Goodman, Kat Johnson, Abby Nicholson, Anna Pollak, Grace Wilson, Fiona Wilson, Anna Wollenburg, Rachel Wollenburg, Amelia Wylly. JV: Gracie Daters, Anna Loren Dekle, Alex Kaminsky, Eliese Latham, Julia McGoldrick, Anna Claire Pankey, Olivia Wells, Rachi Wilson Head of School Award – Olivia Carney, Amelia Wylly

Basketball Cheerleading Awards

Captains – Emma West Mixon, Reese Ritchie, Kendall Yarber Initiative Award – Mia Goldberg, Peyton Lewis, Sloan Mullins Scholar Athlete – Lily Barton, Brooke Coulter, Molly Fountain, Liv Hecht, Sara Hiltzheimer, Annie Lelos, Peyton Lewis, Emma West Mixon, Sloan Mullins, Ellie Neil, Reese Ritchie

ATHLETICS

Baseball

Hornet baseball had a 20-win season and finished as the Region Runner-up in 3A Private. They advanced to the Elite Eight round of the GHSA State Class A Private Playoffs. Cole Meyer was selected as the GHSA Region 3A Private Offensive Player of the Year by the region coaches. Cole Meyer, Cade Garola, Barry Kleinpeter, and Roman Smith were selected to the 1st Team All-Region, and 2nd Team honors were given to Ryan Beamon, Luke Everett, and Ty Schneider. Savannah Morning News honored the following players with an inclusion on the All-Greater Savannah Team: 1st Team Cole Meyer, 2nd Team Barry Kleinpeter and Cade Garola, and Honorable Mentions Roman Smith, Luke Everett, Ty Schneider, and

Ryan Beamon.

Senior Cole Meyer hit four homers during the playoff games to set a new school record for single-season home runs with 14.

Baseball Awards

Hitter of the Year – Cole Meyer Co-Pitcher of the Year – Roman Smith & Cade Garola Rookie of the Year – Dalton Brown Teammate of the Year – Rooster Bing School Record Hit by Pitch – Ty Schneider School Record of 14 Home Runs in Season – Cole Meyer Scholar Athletes – Ryan Beamon, Jon Day, Leiden van Abshoven

Golf Awards

MVP – Reed Lotter Rookie of the Year – Andrew Messalle Scholar Athletes – Reed Lotter, Lane McCullough, William Whitfield

Golf

Varsity golf had an outstanding season, finishing tied for 2nd with Brookstone School in the GHSA Class-A Private State Golf Championship. The team went 15-1 during the season, highlighted by second-place finishes in both the City Championship and the Area 2A Private Tournament. Reed Lotter had an exceptional season, including an appearance in his first PGA-sponsored event, Korn Ferry Tour’s Club Car Championship at The Landings Club. He was also named to the All-State GACA 1st Team. Savannah Morning News honored the following golfers with an inclusion on the All-Greater Savannah Team: 1st team Reed Lotter, 2nd team Landon Durham and Andrew Messalle, and Honorable Mention Connor Cohen and Lane McCullough. In addition, AJ Goldman was named the Savannah Morning News Boys Golf Coach of the Year.

Swimming

Despite fewer meets than usual due to Covid restrictions, the Varsity swim team had a memorable season that concluded with a combined first-place finish at the Hornet Invitational. At the GHSA State Class 1-3A Championship Swim Meet, Yenna Park took fourth place in the 100m breaststroke and eighth in the 200m freestyle. Yenna was named to the Savannah Morning News All-Greater Savannah 1st Team.

Swimming Awards

Most Valuable Swimmers – Yenna Park, Logan Lin Most Improved Swimmers – Blake Huennekens, Jackson Mondy Coaches’ Award – Katie Horne, Landon Stone Captains – Lucas Miller, Blake Huennekens ACE (Attitude, Commitment, Effort) – Maria Miller, Justin Gaouette Positivity Award – Anna Bunger, Pericles Lelos Hornet Spirit Award – Lucas Miller Sportsmanship Award – Alston McCaslin Scholar Athletes – Carey Bass, Annie Berman, Anna Bunger, Justin Gaouette, Katie Horne, Pericles Lelos, Alston McCaslin, Mary Page McCaslin, Lucas Miller, Maria Miller, Anna Mondy, Jackson Mondy, Ellie Neil, Yenna Park, Leilee Pishva, Jordan Ruben, Landon Stone Head of School Award – Jack Vaught

ATHLETICS

Boys’ Soccer

The boys’ soccer team went 12-2-2 for the season, clinched the Region 3A Private Championship, and hosted Atlanta International in the Elite Eight round of the GHSA Class-A Private State Playoffs. The Savannah Morning News All-Greater Savannah Boys Soccer Team included David Gilpin and Liam Horne on the 1st Team, Harry DeWalt on the 2nd Team, and Madden Gerlach, Zach Bueno and Max Iezzi as Honorable Mentions. The Region 3A Private coaches selected David Gilpin as the “Player of the Year” for boys’ soccer. First Team honors were given to Harry DeWalt, David Gilpin, Madden Gerlach and

Liam Horne. William Barnes, Zach Bueno, Hawkeye Hrones

and Max Lezzi were named to the 2nd Team All-Region.

Boys’ Soccer Awards

Guerry Beam Award – Liam Horne MVP – David Gilpin Unsung Hero – Madden Gerlach Player Development – Zach Bueno Captains – David Gilpin, Liam Horne Scholar Athletes – Brayden Allen, Langston Bass, Carson Cook, Owen Elkin, David Gilpin, Ross Goodman, Brayden Heiges, Hawkeye Hrones, William Lovett, Roni Rosales, Eoin Wilson Head of School Award – David Gilpin, Owen Elkin

Girls’ Soccer

Girls’ soccer finished 9-7, third in the region and made the opening round of the GHSA Class-A Private State playoffs. Amina Okumu scored an impressive 19 goals in just 12 matches. The Savannah Morning News All-Greater Savannah Girls Soccer Team included Amina Okumu on the 1st Team, Olivia Carney on the 2nd Team, and Haley Avino, Grace Wilson, and A.C. Davis as Honorable Mentions. The Region 3A Private coaches selected

Haley Avino, Olivia Carney, Amina Okumu

and Grace Wilson to the 1st Team All-Region for girls’ soccer. Second Team honors were Emily Buerger, Anna Claire Davis, Catherine Goodman and Fiona Wilson.

Girls’ Soccer Awards

Guerry Beam Award – Olivia Carney MVP – Olivia Carney Coaches’ Award – Katie Horne Most Improved – Emma Best Captains – Olivia Carney, Amina Okumu Scholar Athletes – Phil-Isabelle Ajayi, Hayden Anderson, Greer Hollis, Julia McGoldrick, Rachi Wilson, Selene Zhao, Haley Anderson, Ella Barrow, Emma Best, Emily Buerger, Olivia Carney, Taylor Conley, Gracie Daters, Anna Claire Davis, Molly Fountain, Catherine Goodman, CeCe Hargrove, Haley Hiltzheimer, Edie Levit, Anna Claire Pankey, Lauren Sparks, Ella Stone, Fiona Wilson, Grace Wilson Head of School Award – Olivia Carney

Tennis

Both teams enjoyed success on the court, with the boys’ team finishing with a 15-6 record while the girls’ team an even better 15-4. The boys clinched the Region 3A Private Championship before advancing to the Sweet Sixteen round of the GHSA State Class A Private Playoffs. The girls kicked off the season with a runner-up finish at the Jekyll Jam and concluded the season as the Runner-Up in the Region 3A Private and the Sweet Sixteen round of the State Playoffs. All-Region 1st Team honors included Nico Dascombe, Jake Felser, Wilson Player, Claudia Birthisel, Mya Felser and Carmen Mandel. All-Greater Savannah honors included Lamar Kirkley as the Boys’ Tennis Coach of the Year and Wilson Player as the Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year. Wilson and Claudia Birthisel were selected to the 1st Team, and Chase Huggins, Jake Felser, Henry Berg, and Skye Horn were named Honorable Mentions.

Boys’ Tennis Awards Girls’ Tennis Awards

MVP – Wilson Player Captains – Wilson Player, Victor Zheng Most Improved – Chase Huggins Scholar Athletes – Henry Berg, Chase Huggins, Pericles Lelos, Henry Moretz, Wilson Player, Lawson Zhou MVP – Charlton Strong, Katherine Ezelle Most Improved – Anna Wylly Scholar Athletes – Lily Barton, Emiline Baxter, Mary Anne Bennett, Banks Bradley, Anna Conley, Katherine Ezelle, Mya Felser, Izzy Gonzalez, Sara Hiltzheimer, Skye Horn, Alex Kaminsky, Annie Lelos, Ella Lowery, Carmen Mandel, Maison Miller, Sofia Pablo, Mary Sheehan, Charlton Strong, Eliza Stubbs, Anna Wylly

ATHLETICS

Track and Field

Both the boys’ and girls’ Track & Field teams had great seasons, concluding with an outstanding showing at the GHSA Class-A Private State Championship Meet. Kenny Odom, Paul Mosley, Alex Wynn, and Johnathan Jackson took first place in the 4x100m with a new school record of 42.50. Other State meet results included Kenny Odom 2nd in the 100m, 3rd in the 200m and 4th in the high jump; Paul Mosley 6th in both the 100m and 200m; Alex Wynn 7th in the high jump. Reese Ritchie broke the school record in the 300m hurdles with a time of 49.64 during the season. Savannah Morning News honored Kenny Odom with an inclusion on the All-Greater Savannah 1st Team. In addition, teammates Johnathan Jackson, Paul Mosley, and Alex Wynn were named as Honorable Mentions.

Girls’ Track Awards

MVP – Reese Ritchie Rookie of the Year – Eva Beauchamp Coaches’ Award – Anna Pollak Most Improved – Sydney Hoye ACE – Sarah Jane Schulze Captains – Reese Ritchie, Emmeline Taylor Scholar Athletes – Alexis Almedia, Eva Beauchamp, Anna Bunger, Brooke Coulter, Anna Loren Dekle, Fina Dooley, Sydney Hoye, Sophie Jaakkola, Eliese Latham, Ericka Ann McKeever, Emma West Mixon, Anna Pollak, Reese Ritchie, Sarah Jane Schulze, Emmeline Taylor

Boys’ Track Awards

MVP – Kenny Odom Rookie of the Year – Ned Henneman Coaches’ Award – Johnathan Jackson Most Improved – Cole Gensheimer ACE – Alston McCaslin Captains – Johnathan Jackson, Alston McCaslin Scholar Athletes – Aden Adjei, Sowah Adjei, Reagan Carlson, Cole Gensheimer, Ned Henneman, Tristan Lantham, Alston McCaslin, Landon Stone, Ethan Wheelock, Alex Zhang Head of School Award – Sowah Adjei, Alston McCaslin

Lacrosse

In the program’s second year as a GHSA varsity sport, the team showed progress and had several big wins. They finished third in the area and advanced to the first round of the State Playoffs. The Area 8 Class A-5A All-Conference honored 1st Team Arden Watson (Attack) and John Austin (Defensive Midfield). Second Team All-Conference were Ian Jones (Defense) and Lucas Miller (Face-Off Specialist) with Honorable Mention to John Neely (Defense), Trey Celaya (Attack) and Kevin Georgescu (Attack). The Savannah Morning News All-Greater Savannah Boys Lacrosse Team included 1st Team Arden Watson, 2nd Team John Austin, Lucas Miller, and Ian Jones, and Honorable Mentions Kevin Georgescu, Trey Celaya, and John Neely.

Lacrosse Awards

Erik Johnson ACE Award – Vaibhav Patel Offensive MVP – Arden Watson Defensive MVP – Ian Jones Most Improved – John Neely Scholar Athletes – John Avino, Sam Bueno, Justin Gaouette, Kevin Georgescu, Ian Jones, John Neely, Vaibhav Patel, Preston Stone, Sawyer Tarr, Jack Vaught Head of School Award – Vaibhav Patel, Jack Vaught

Middle School

SPAL Championships

Basketball:

5th Grade and 7th Grade girls: SPAL Basketball Champions 5th/,6th grade boys and 8th Grade girls: SPAL Runners-up

Soccer:

Girls’ Gold team and the boys’ team: SPAL Champions

New School Records:

7th Grade 100m: Josh Washington (11.61) 7th Grade 200m: Chris Frazier (23.84) 7th Grade 400m: Kendrick Joshua (55.76) 7th Grade 800m: Stephen Cannon (2:13.03) 7th Grade long jump: Kendrick Joshua (18’3”) 7th Grade 4x100m: Kendrick Joshua, Josh Washington, Chris Frazier and Stephen Cannon (48.62) 7th Grade 4x400m: Chris Frazier, Josh Washington, Kendrick Joshua and Stephen Cannon (4:06.25) 6th Grade 400m: Amirah Brahim (1:03.89) 6th Grade 400m: Chris Wynn (1:05.84) 6th Grade 800m: Chris Wynn (2:39.35) 6th Grade high jump: Chris Wynn (tie 4’7”) 5th Grade 4x100m: Anders Northup, Justin Washington, William Rhodes, and Gabe Bosch (1:01.22) Harris Stone was selected as the 2021 DeWitt Award honoree as the 8th Grade female “Athlete of the Year” for private schools. Harris is a three-sport athlete competing in volleyball, basketball and soccer while being a Middle School scholar all three years. Congratulations, Harris!