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Riverbank Roundup by PERRY MCINTYRE ’71
Sports Information Director
Cross Country The boys cross-country team managed to blend senior experience and the enthusiasm of younger runners to build another successful season. It ended with a great effort at the state meet in Carrollton, where Lovett finished fourth. Senior Everett Smulders (an Ole Miss signee) finished fifth individually, while senior Nicholas Klavohn claimed 12th. Freshman James Lewallen was the next Lion finisher in 26th, closely followed by sophomore Cem Geray in 29th. Senior Josh Eiland was the final scoring runner in 38th. As two-time defending champions, the girls cross-country team knew the challenge would be even greater with the move up to AAA. Despite outstanding efforts in the state meet, with all seven runners finishing in the race’s top 23 runners and the five runners in the race’s top 14 finishers, the Lions fell two points short of a third consecutive title. Senior Serena Tripodi (a Columbia University signee) ended her cross-country career by setting an all-classification course record of 18:17.85 and claimed her third-straight title. Senior Emma Sidman (an Alabama signee) was ninth at state, sophomore Haley Hooper was 11th, sophomore Kate Pritchard was 13th, and junior Elizabeth Beveridge was 14th. Both cross-country teams competed fiercely throughout the season, and their efforts in Carrollton stand as tribute to coach Jimmy Jewell’s dedication in his final season coaching the Lions.
Softball Coach John Rice and his staff continued to build another strong season as the program posted an outstanding 16-5 record, claiming second in Region 5-AAA and another berth in the state tournament. Led by seniors Betsy Brennan, Abby Fenbert (a University of Rhode Island signee), Claire Kenan, and Stephanie Kurzweg, an otherwise young Lions squad gained valuable experience and learned the success brought by hard work.
Volleyball Welcoming first-year coach Katie Johnson to the Riverbank, the volleyball Lions did not miss a beat from previous 38
Lovett
seasons, posting 29 wins during their campaign. Falling 3-2 in a closely contested state semifinal, Lovett ended up just short of a return to the state championship match. The Lions will bid farewell to some outstanding seniors: Kirby Ellis, Stokes Kandzari, Anna Salmon, Janie Salmon, Libby Lee, and Lauren Ward. Lee and Ward were named All Region players, and Ward was also selected to the All-State team.
Football Coach Mike Muschamp’s Lions have become a regular in the discussion of teams to watch, and moving up to AAA only changed the landscape slightly. Running through their Region 5-AAA schedule with only two losses, Lovett secured third seed going into the playoffs. Entering the playoffs, no team or coach in Georgia in any classification had posted more road playoff wins than the Lions during Muschamp’s 12 seasons on the Riverbank. That record would be tested in the first round, with the Lions visiting Dawson County. In perhaps their best all-around performance of the season, Lovett came away with a 49-28 win. Advancing to the second round against an undefeated Crisp County team in Cordele, Lovett proved up to the challenge. The Lions led late in the game, before suffering a gut-wrenching 30-29 loss to be eliminated from contention. Quarterback Brady Tindall (a Mercer signee), selected early in the season as Back of the Week by the Atlanta Touchdown Club for his performance in Lovett’s overtime win at Marist, and four-year letterman John Staton (a Samford signee) led the Lions throughout the season.
Basketball Coach Ryan Koudele returned Lovett to the state tournament from a tough region featuring some of the state’s top talent. Lovett claim a 55-47 win over Westminster in the region tournament for a third place seeding in the state tournament. The Lions then went to Greater Atlanta Christian School, where they advanced to the second round with a 62-58 win. Seniors Gregory Rogers, Cameron Wilson, Kyle Riley, and Ryan Pate were among the stal-