ATHLETICS

2021-22 ATHLETIC AWARDS

KEN SIMPSON SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: CARMEN MANDEL AND REED LOTTER

In an era where moral and ethical behavior seems 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: EMMELINE TAYLOR AND VICTOR ZHENG

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: ABBY NICHOLSON AND BARRY KLEINPETER

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

New Collegiate Athletes

In addition to the five seniors who committed in the fall, Country Day was honored to celebrate Amina Okumu and Reese Ritchie in the spring.

Soccer

Both the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams had fantastic seasons and GHSA Sweet Sixteen Playoff appearances. The boys’ team clinched the Region 3A Private Championship and finished with an 11-2-1 record. On the girls’ team, Amina Okumu scored an impressive 26 goals in 12 games. Region 3A honors included 1st Team William Barnes, Harry DeWalt, Madden Gerlach, Wesley Hooker, Hawkeye Hrones, Haley Avino, AC Davis, Amina Okumu and Fiona Wilson. 2nd Team Langston Bass, Zach Bueno, Chase Buerger, Coley Hamilton, Hyers Holland, Haley Hiltzheimer, Sophia Okumu, Harris Stone and Lawler White. Honorable mentions included Gracie Daters and Ella Stone. Savannah Morning News All-Greater Savannah Soccer Teams included 1st Team Harry DeWalt, Wesley Hooker and Amina Okumu; 2nd Team William Barnes, Hawkeye Hrones, Madden Gerlach, Zach Bueno, Fiona Wilson and Haley Avino; and Honorable Mentions Coley Hamilton, Langston Bass, Hyers Holland, Chase Buerger and AC Davis.

Boys’ Awards:

Guerry Beam Award – Harry DeWalt MVP – Zach Bueno Unsung Hero – Langston Bass, Madden Gerlach Scholar Athletes – Brayden Allen, William Barnes, Langston Bass, Chase Buerger, Harry DeWalt, Ross Goodman, Brayden Heiges, Hyers Holland, Hawkeye Hrones, William Lovett, Roni Rosales, Crosby Sywassink, Mathias Weiland, Eoin Wilson Head of School Award – William Barnes, Langston Bass, Harry DeWalt, Ross Goodman, Hawkeye Hrones, William Lovett

Girls’ Awards

Guerry Beam Award – Amina Okumu Coaches’ Award – Fiona Wilson Most Improved – Lawler White Captain – Amina Okumu Scholar Athletes – Haley Anderson, Haley Avino, Ella Barrow, Emily Buerger, Gracie Daters, AC Davis, CeCe Hargrove, Haley Hiltzheimer, Greer Hollis, Edie Levit, Stella Oelschig, Anna Claire Pankey, Lauren Sparks, Ella Stone, Harris Stone, Mary Mobley Varnedoe, Lawler White, Fiona Wilson, Emerson Wright Head of School Award – Haley Avino, Emily Buerger, Haley Hiltzheimer, Lauren Sparks

Lacrosse

In the program’s third year as a GHSA varsity sport, the team showed great 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 and Kevin Georgescu; 2nd Team: Zander Paderewski, Tyler Redmond and Josh Rodriguez; Honorable Mention: Trey Celaya and Sawyer Tarr. The Savannah Morning News All-Greater Savannah Boys’ Lacrosse Team 1st Team included Arden Watson, Kevin Georgescu; 2nd Team Zander Paderewski, Tyler Redmond, Josh Rodriguez; Honorable Mention Trey Celaya and Sawyer Tarr.

Lacrosse Awards

Erik Johnson ACE Award – Trey Celaya Offensive MVP – Arden Watson Defensive MVP – Sawyer Tarr Most Improved – Sam Bueno Scholar Athletes – John Avino, Sam Bueno, Ian Foose, Justin Gaouette, Kevin Georgescu, Shane Ross Glisson, Ian Jones, Karlo Jukic, Jack Lovell, Nikhil Manocha, Cash McCoy, Jackson Mondy, Zander Paderewski, Tyler Redmond, Drew Salyer, Philip Slatinsky, Sawyer Tarr, Thomas Wynn Head of School Award – Kevin Georgescu, Ian Jones

Abby Nicholson

Tops 1,000

Congratulations to Abby Nicholson on surpassing the 1,000-point milestone during the season. Nicholson ended her career with 1,182 points and is the 10th female basketball player in Country Day history to reach 1,000 points.

Wrestling

This winter, Country Day reintroduced the wrestling program at both the Middle School and Varsity level. The athletes look forward to competing next year at the Varsity level as a GHSA sport.

Varsity boys’ golf had an outstanding season, winning the City Tournament, finishing second in the Area 2A Private Tournament and finishing 6th in the GHSA Class-A Private State Golf Championship. Reed Lotter, who will play at Auburn next year, had an exceptional season, including Low Medalist at the City Tournament and an appearance in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Club Car Championship at The Landings Club. Savannah Morning News named the following golfers to the All-Area Golf 1st Team: Bryn Sorge, Reed Lotter, Andrew Messalle, and William Whitfield. Dallas Hunter was named to the 2nd Team and Lane McCullough was named as an Honorable Mention. Reed Lotter was named the Male Golfer of the Year and Tommy Crenshaw was named the Boys’ Coach of the Year. Reed was also named to the All State 1st Team by the GHSA golf coaches. For girls’ golf, Bryn Sorge qualified as an individual for the GHSA State Championship and finished 9th in the strong field.

Golf Awards

MVP – Girls: Bryn Sorge, Boys: Reed Lotter Coaches’ Award – Parker Hall Most Improved – Dallas Hunter Scholar Athletes – Brock Bettle, Parker Hall, Dallas Hunter, Reed Lotter, Lane McCullough, Jack Owen Myers, Bryn Sorge, William Whitfield Head of School – Reed Lotter, Lane McCullough

Baseball

Baseball Awards

Hornet Baseball had a 20-win season and advanced to the GHSA State Class A Private Playoffs. Barry Kleinpeter, Cade Garola, Roman Smith, Dalton Brown, Tyler Scott, Brooks Kleinpeter and Ty Schneider were selected to the 1st Team All-Region, and 2nd Team honors included Corbett Salandi and Leiden Van Abshoven. Brooks Kleinpeter was named the Region Rookie of the Year. Savannah Morning News named Barry Kleinpeter to the All-Greater Savannah 1st Team. 2nd Team included Ty Schneider and Dalton Brown. Honorable Mention Cade Garola, Roman Smith, Brooks Kleinpeter, Tyler Scott, Corbett Salandi, and Leiden Van Abshoven. MVP – Barry Kleinpeter Gold Glove – Cade Garola Silver Slugger – Ty Schneider Cy Young Award – Roman Smith Hornet Award – Derrick Bing Rookie of the Year – Brooks Kleinpeter Scholar Athletes – Rivers Carson, Jack Day, Garrett Lorfano, Walker Price, Leiden van Abshoven Head of School Award – Rivers Carson

Swimming

Despite fewer meets than usual due to Covid restrictions, the Varsity swim team had a memorable season that included 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. Freshman Will Harmon also participated in the State Meet with a strong showing in the prelims.

Swimming Awards

Most Valuable Swimmers – Yenna Park, Will Harmon Most Improved Swimmers – Maria Miller, Grant Hunter Coaches’ Award – Anna Mondy, Ethan Harrison Scholar Athletes – Devin Beauchamp, Annie Berman, James Crake, Justin Gaouette, Will Harmon, Ethan Harrison, Ned Henneman, Grant Hunter, Pericles Lelos, Cameron MacLeod, Maria Miller, Anna Mondy, Jackson Mondy, McKade Neal, Yenna Park, Rohan Patel, Leilee Pishva. Head of School Award – Annie Berman, Justin Gaouette, Pericles Lelos, Anna Mondy

Tennis

Both teams enjoyed success on the court, with the girls’ team finishing with a 19-2 record and the boys finishing 15-6. Both teams clinched the Region 3A Private Championship before hosting Holy Innocents in the Sweet Sixteen round of the GHSA State Class A Private Playoffs. AllRegion 1st Team honors included Henry Berg, Jake Felser, Chase Huggins, Nico Dascombe, Charlton Strong, Katherine Ezelle, Carmen Mandel, Mya Felser; Honorable Mentions included Pericles Lelos, Victor Zheng, Alysa Young, Anna Wylly, Skye Horn, Claudia Birthisel. Lamar Kirkley and Carrie Vetrovsky were named the Region 3A Private Coaches of the Year. Savannah Morning News honored Henry Berg and Claudia Birthisel with 1st Team selections. Honorable Mention included Jake Felser, Chase Huggins, Katherine Ezelle, Mya Felser, Skye Horn, Carmen Mandel, and Charlton Strong. In addition, Lamar Kirkley was named the Boys’ Coach of the Year!

Track and Field

Hornet Track and Field had a strong season and concluded with a good showing at the GHSA Class-A Private State Championship Meet. The 4x100m team of KJ James, Reese London, Kenny Odom and Alex Wynn finished 3rd overall (42.79). Individual top-ten finishes included Kenny Odom with 3rd place in the 100m (10.92), Anna Pollak 6th in the 400m (59.47) and 8th in the 200m (26.59), John Ryan 6th in the 1600m (4:26.47), Alex Wynn 7th in the 100m (11.11). In the high jump, Helen Kenney finished 3rd (5’) and Alex Wynn finished 6th (6’2”). Savannah Morning News named Anna Pollak and John Ryan to its All-Area Track & Field 1st Team and Helen Kenny, Keith James, Reese London, Kenny Odom and Alex Wynn as Honorable Mentions. John Ryan broke two 50-year-old records with an 800m time of 1:56.94 and a 1600m time of 4:26.47. Other school records include the 4x100m team of KJ James, Reese London, Kenny Odom, Alex Wynn (42.74), the 4x200m team of Reagan Carlson, Michael Grandy, KJ James, Reese London (1:41.17) and the 4x800m team of Anna Pollak, Sarah Jane Schulze, Ericka Ann McKeever, Eva Beauchamp (10:57.71).

Track and Field Awards:

MVP – Anna Pollak High Point – Keith James Rookie of the Year – Andrew Wynn Most Improved – Ray Ray Jackson, Emmeline Taylor Hornet Pride – Sydney Hoye Coaches Award – Sarah Jane Schulze, Devin Beauchamp ACE (Attitude, Commitment, Effort) – Eva Beauchamp Captains – Anna Pollak, Emmeline Taylor Scholar Athletes – Boys: Ramon Barboa, Devin Beauchamp, Reagan Carlson, Ned Henneman, John Ryan, Ethan Wheellock, Alex Zhang. Girls: Eva Beauchamp, Mason Howington, Sydney Hoye, Sophie Jaakkola, Ella Lowery, Ericka Ann McKeever, Anna Pollak, Sarah Jane Schulze, Mary Elizabeth Semones, Emmeline Taylor

Boys’ Awards

MVP – Henry Berg Captains – Pericles Lelos, Victor Zheng Scholar Athletes – Henry Berg, Charles Huggins, Pericles Lelos, Henry Moretz, Paawan Patel, Owen Rogers, Davidson Wilkes, Lawson Zhou

Girls’ Awards

MVP – Katherine Ezelle, Charlton Strong Captains – Mya Felser, Carmen Mandel Scholar Athletes — Lily Barton, Mary Anne Bennett, Banks Bradley, Mary Margaret Carroll, Anna Conley, Mary Conley, Katherine Ezelle, Mya Felser, Molly Fountain, Sara Hiltzheimer, Skye Horn, Carmen Mandel, Anne Mandel, Maison Miller, Sofia Pablo, Daisy Salyer, Mary Sheehan, Charlton Strong, Eliza Stubbs, Anna Wylly, Alysa Young Head of School Award — Katherine Ezelle, Carmen Mandel, Charlton Strong, Anna Wylly

Basketball

Both teams had strong seasons, with the girls’ team clinching the Region 3A Private Championship for the second consecutive year and advancing to the Sweet 16 of the GHSA State Playoffs. Abby Nicholson was named the Co-Player of the Year for Region 3A and Amy Brooks was named Coach of the Year. Other Region accolades include 1st Team Catherine Goodman, Timo Moeller and Robert Spaulding. 2nd Team Kat Johnson and Lane McCullough; Honorable Mention Grace Wilson, Noah Carney and Michael Grandy. Savannah Morning News named Amy Brooks the Coach of the Year and Abby Nicholson to the All-Greater Savannah Basketball 1st Team. 2nd Team included Catherine Goodman, Kat Johnson, and Timo Moeller. Honorable Mention accolades went to Lane McCullough and Robert Spaulding. In addition, Abby Nicholson was named to the GACA All-State Team Class A Private.

Girls’ Basketball Awards

Offensive Machine Award – Abby Nicholson Defensive Stopper Award – Grace Wilson Coaches’ Award – Catherine Goodman Love of the Game Award – Kat Johnson Hornet Award – Fiona Wilson Scholar Athletes – Ayo Ajayi, AC Davis, Catherine Goodman, Parker Hall, Kat Johnson, Feriby McCorkle, Julia McGoldrick, Abby Nicholson, Stella Oelschig, Anna Claire Pankey, Mary Elizabeth Semones, Ella Stone, Harris Stone, Lawler White, Grace Wilson, Fiona Wilson, Rachi Wilson. Head of School Award – Catherine Goodman, Abby Nicholson, Grace Wilson

Boys’ Basketball Awards

Ultimate Hornet Award - Robert Spaulding Offensive Player of the Year – Timo Moeller Defensive Player of the Year – Michael Grandy Passion Award – Reese London Purpose Award – Noah Carney Positivity Award – William Whitfield Effort Award – Lane McCullough Scholar Athletes – Noah Carney, Dallas Hunter, Gabe Kaminsky, Cash McCoy, Lane McCullough, Timo Moeller, Zander Paderewski, Philip Slatinsky, Sawyer Tarr, Leiden van Abshoven, William Whitfield Head of School Award – Lane McCullough

Middle School

Stephen Cannon was selected as the co-winner of the 2022 DeWitt Award as the 8th Grade Male Athlete of the Year for private schools. Cannon is a three-sport athlete and competed in football, basketball and track all three years of Middle School. Congratulations, Stephen!

SPAL Championships

Basketball: 5th Grade girls, 6th Grade Gold girls, SPAL Gold girls and SPAL Gold boys Soccer: Both girls’ and boys’ teams

New School Records:

5th Grade

400m Liza Grace Bromley (1:11.52)

7th Grade

Long Jump Amirah Brahim (15’6.75”), High Jump Chris Wynn 5’ (Tied Record)

8th Grade

100m. Josh Washington (11.51 Tied Record) 200m. Josh Washington (23.70) 800m. Stephen Cannon (2:23.09) 4x100m. Noah Buchanan, Stephen Cannon, Kendrick Joshua, Najee Young (48.40) 4x400m. Stephen Cannon, Chris Frazier, Kendrick Joshua, Josh Washington (3:46.01) Long Jump Kendrick Joshua (18’11”)