Music to our Ears

Sports Wrap-Up

Due to COVID-19, the spring sports season was cut short. However, in the short time the teams were together, they demonstrated a toughness and dedication to their sports. Each Warrior team would have been a solid contender in their leagues by the end of the season.

I was really looking forward to our spring season. Thanks to all of our athletes for their hard work and determination. You should be proud of your efforts."

Mark McDaniel

SMES Athletic Director Winter

BASKETBALL

The A-girls coaches, Susan Murphy and Zach Leitgeb, taught the team new skills and strategies. The team dominated on the court and won six of their 11 conference games. They ended the season strong in a tight playoff game against Davis Academy. The B-girls basketball team completed their season with a 7-1 record and placed second in the MAAC B-league tournament. Coach Amanda Walker and Coach Valentina Lee worked hard with the girls all season, and it paid off. They had success and lots of fun along the way. The C-girls basketball team played hard and had fun all season long with Coach Sarah Taylor. The players improved their skills in all aspects of the game, came together as a team as the season progressed and finished strong with a big win against Epstein. The A-boys basketball team was young this year and had a slow start to the season. After Christmas break, they went on a roll and finished with a 6-6 record overall, earning a spot in the playoffs. They faced The Museum School in the first round and fought hard the whole way, but unfortunately got knocked out. Coaches Rob Harris and Michael Albanese were proud of the boys’ efforts this year. The B-boys basketball team was “full of awesome people,” said Coach Mark McDaniel. They worked hard and improved tremendously over the season. After a slow start, the boys won four games in a row and dominated the end of the season. Every member played a ton of minutes and contributed to the team’s success.

The C-boys basketball team went 4-1, with some close and exciting games. All the boys improved their play over the season and worked well as a team. Coach Spence Camp and Coach Ricky Brown were very impressed with everyone’s effort throughout the season.

A-BOYS BASKETBALL

A-GIRLS BASKETBALL

SWIMMING

St. Martin’s swim team competed in three meets this year. The swimmers performed well, placing in each of the competitions, despite having fewer participants than any other schools. There were a couple of top finishers, and many of the Warrior swimmers broke their personal best. Hopefully, more swimmers will compete next year and continue the excellence!

2020 BASEBALL TEAM

2020 GOLF TEAM

Spring

BASEBALL

Despite a rainy start to the season, the baseball team came out strong and won all three of their league games with a combined score of 48-1. The pitchers did not give up any hits during those three games. Coach Michael Albanese did a great job of putting together and coaching this top-tier team!

GOLF

The golf team played two matches, a fourman stroke play, and a scramble event. At both events, golfers played well and worked together to post low scores. Each player represented St. Martin’s well and gained valuable experience. Neil Conrad and Kenneth Alexander coached the team.

Winter 2019-20 Athletic Awards

GIRLS C BASKETBALL

Warrior Awards ...............................Reese Richardson & Hannelis Rodas Hustle Awards ..................................Anna Mitchell & Riley Mitchell

BOYS C BASKETBALL

Warrior Awards................................Ryder Degitz & Drew Park Most Improved .................................Mateo Tagtachian

GIRLS B BASKETBALL

Warrior Award..................................Campbell Fletcher Most Improved .................................Reese Hudson & ................................................................Charlotte Zalenski Hustle Award ....................................Kiley Spink

BOYS B BASKETBALL

Warrior Awards................................Quin Brown & David Albert Most Improved .................................Ian Gaffney

GIRLS A BASKETBALL

MAAC All Conference Award .....Eloise Smith Warrior Award..................................Janie Alexander Most Improved .................................Eva McLaren

BOYS A BASKETBALL

MAAC All Conference Award .....Nathan Altiery Warrior Awards................................Archer Love & Luke Williams Most Improved .................................Reece Williams

A special thank you to our 8th-grade spring sport athletes. Best wishes for your continued success in high school!

BASEBALL

Wesley Lybrook Reece Williams

GIRLS SOCCER

Riley Vassian Avalana Brock Zoe Embleton Ansley Granade Annabelle McMennamy Laurel Studdard

GOLF

John Madden

TENNIS

Makayli Anochie Alexandra Craig Katherine Davis Erielle Harris Anna Loffredio Katie O’Mara Jake Curcio Charlie Duerr

YOUTH PASSING LEAGUE

Ian Gaffney Peyton Gunnels Carter Hathaway Luke Holbert Christopher Kartsonas Grayson Leiter Taylor Norris

TENNIS

The tennis team achieved impressive results at the two Hudlow Invitational matches this season. The team finished 6-4 overall in the first match and came away with six wins and three losses in the second. The team was just getting started and was sure to execute more big wins for the season under the leadership of Coach Chris Nama and Coach Amanda Walker.

SOCCER

The A-girls soccer team played a well-fought game against Davis Academy. The girls played hard and persevered through the final whistle. Although they came up short, Coach Katharine Veal and Coach Maggie Tereshinski could not have asked more from this talented team.

The B-girls soccer team showed great dedication and work ethic, applied the coaches’ suggestions and played aggressively in practice. Coaches Alan Shafir and Michele Davis are proud of the team’s efforts.

YPL

St. Martin’s fielded three talented Youth Passing League teams this season. Each player gave their best effort and the A2 team came away with a win this season. All three teams had great talent and were a pleasure to coach for Coach Rob Harris and Coach Susan Murphy. n

2020 TENNIS TEAM

“Thanks to all of our athletes for their hard work and determination. You should be proud of your efforts.”

Mark McDaniel

SMES Athletic Director

2020 A-GIRLS SOCCER TEAM

2020 YPL TEAM

Portrait of a Graduate

ELIZABETH GOINES

SMES graduation year: 2014 High School: Riverwood

International Charter

School College: Georgia Southern

University Degree: Bachelor Of Science in Public Relations Currently: Elizabeth is a rising junior at Georgia

Southern University (GS) where she competes as a member of the women’s tennis team. As a freshman, she was selected by her peers as the GS “Female

Freshman Athlete of the Year.” During her freshman season, her team surpassed expectations and won its way to the

Sunbelt Conference Finals, despite being ranked as the conference’s 8th seed.

In addition to playing tennis, Elizabeth and her teammates volunteer at various tennis clinics. She loves and has a lot of fun coaching, especially with younger kids. This past year, her team helped to organize and run a clinic at Richmond Hill Tennis

Center in Savannah. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys hanging out with her friends, going out to eat, and exploring the live-music scene in Statesboro.

Something special you learned at SMES:

St. Martin’s taught me how important it is to stay in touch with friends, especially those that you’ve known since you were really young. I have a few friends from SMES that I still keep up with and it is always nice to reconnect with people who have known you your entire life.

Favorite SMES tradition:

Definitely the Grand

Canyon Trip. It was so much fun!

Most influential SMES teacher and why:

My 1st-grade teacher, Mrs.

Burnett, because I only have good memories of her. She was a constant part of my life at SMES, and even after. My mom and I ate dinner with her during my senior year of high school when I was playing tennis in Memphis, where Mrs. Burnett now lives.

What is your favorite way to give back?

Every year, my team and I organize a tennis clinic at

GS to raise awareness for a cause of our choice. At the clinic, student-athletes that play a sport other than tennis for GS, local high schools or local middle schools come out and have fun participating in various tennis drills. It is always really fun!

The person I’d most like to meet and why?

Robin Roberts because she is an advocate for female college athletes and athletics programs. I also grew up watching her on

“Good Morning America” every morning before school, and I think she is really good at her job! n