CampusNews
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Riverbank Roundup by PERRY MCINTYRE ’71
Sports Information Director Spring sports on the Riverbank began as winter sports reached their culmination, and eagerly anticipated beginnings
overlapped with exciting ends.
Basketball With both basketball teams again advancing to the state tournament, it was the boys team, under first-year coach, Ryan Koudele, which made the most noise, claiming the regular season region championship with a 12-2 record, and then advancing to the Elite Eight of the State Tournament. The strong tournament run ended with a 22-7 season record, and the Lions’ furthest advance into the tournament since back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2007 and 2008. Senior Henry Richardson was recognized as both first-team All-Region 6-AA and All State. Freshman Ryan Greer was voted AA Freshman of the Year.
Wrestling Making great use of the new Glasser Gymnasium, coach Billy Maldonado’s wrestlers claimed another Area Duals championship, going on to finish third in State Duals. The wrestlers ended the season with a third-place finish at State Traditional, with one State Champion, junior Grainger Reeves (120). All eight State qualifiers placed, earning All-State honors. Senior co-captain PJ Johnson (145) and senior Brooks Layson (170) placed third. Senior Elliott Layson (152) and senior co-captain Hamp Dykes (182) placed fourth. Juniors Robert Wilkes (106) and Grant Garrett (160) placed fifth. Senior Nick Foster (132) placed sixth.
Swimming The Lions made a big splash in the pool, where the girls posted an undefeated, 11-0 dual-match season record. During the course of the seasons, the boys and girls teams combined to set 11 new school records. Senior Samantha Sloman, a 14-year Lovett student, left her mark on Lions Swimming, claiming four individual or relay records and being recognized with the rarely given Lovett Legend Award. At the GHSA State Swimming and Diving Meet, which is grouped classifications A-AAAAA, the Lovett boys 36
Lovett
finished 19th, and the girls finished 15th. Junior Andrew Ferrell was part of four new school records set at State: the medley relay with Will Horlock, Mason Anthony, and Sam Bayne; the 400 freestyle relay along with Bayne, John Moffett, and Michael Propp; and individual marks in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
Lacrosse Girls lacrosse returned to the State Tournament behind the leadership of lone senior All State selection, Alden Shiverick. Boys lacrosse was led by seniors Crosby Matthews (a Delaware signee), PJ Johnson, Sam Parry, Rob Pavloff, Mason Newberry, Carter Chanaberry, Sam Baker, Cole Taylor, Alex Schmidt-Fellner, and Max McCrady, all of whom played big roles in the team posting a 13-5 record for the season.
Golf Both golf teams advanced to their respective State Tournaments after taking runner-up placements in region tournaments. Seniors Jordan Budd, Isabella Ko, Virginia Mathews, and Allie Schonberg led the girls to an 11th place finish, while Alexander DeRosa (a Georgia Southern signee) led the boys to finish third at State.
Tennis Up on the tennis court hill, where deep runs into the State Tournament have become the norm, the girls team, led by seniors Carolyn Bland, Annie Mayfield (a Wofford signee), and Marilyn Morgan, played through to the semifinals. It was the boys team, however, which provided the unexpected surprise of the spring. Led by lone senior Ladd Harrison, coach Ricky Davis’ boys made a run to, and through, the finals, claiming the program’s first championship since 1997, and 21st in the program’s history.
Track and Field Another of the school’s rich spring sports traditions