CampusNews
warts for Lovett, but it was sophomore Ryan Greer who was one of the mainstays throughout the season, surpassing the 1,000-point mark in only his second season with the Lions. The season ended in the Elite Eight, for the second season in a row, after two exciting road wins at Greater Atlanta Christian and Crisp County. Coach Liz Kennedy’s team also took a big win in the region tournament to claim the third seed from a talented field. This was the ninth consecutive season the Lions advanced into the state tournament. Senior Quinn Barry, who was selected as the Region 5-AAA Player of the Year and All Region, along with teammates senior Janie Salmon and sophomore Sydney Johnson, led the team throughout the season.
Swimming and Diving Coach Nolan Morris and his boys swim team enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history, breaking numerous school records. Scoring 172 points at the A-AAAAA state meet, the Lions placed fifth. Senior Andrew Ferrell finished 3 second in the 200-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard butterfly, both in school record times of 1:40.44 and 51.01. The boys’ 200-yard medley relay claimed fourth place, when seniors Will Horlock, Mason Anthony, Ferrell, and John Moffett posted a new Lovett record of 1:37.96. Anthony, in 21.68 seconds, broke the Lovett 50-yard freestyle record in the lead leg of this relay. The 400-yard free relay (seniors Moffett, Anthony, Sam Bayne, and Ferrell) finished fifth with a new Lovett record time of 3:14.92. Lovett’s girls swimming also showed well in the pool at state. Junior Mary Anglin Toole finished 14th in the one-meter diving competition with a score of 360.05. Junior MacKenzie Lee finished 19th in the 500-yard freestyle at 5:32.39. The 400-yard free relay (senior Claire Tobin and juniors Ashley Wright, Emily Ann Martin, and Claire Hadley Benton) finished 17th.
3
Wrestling A strong senior group led coach Billy Maldonado’s wrestling Lions throughout a grueling campaign. The season ended with the team’s fourth-place finish at the State Traditional meet and six Lions making the medal stand. Senior Smith Brooks took the state championship at 182 pounds, while classmate Robert Wilkes was runner-up at 106 pounds. Senior Grant Garrett was third at 160 pounds, as was junior Rogerick White at 145 pounds. In his final season and coming off shoulder surgery, former state champion Grainger Reeves (a Washington & Lee signee) was fifth at 126 pounds. Junior Chris Ocana was sixth at 152 pounds.
4
1 Everett Smulders signed with Ole Miss to run cross country and track, as did Emma Sidman with the University of Alabama. Abby Fenbert will continue her softball-playing career at the University of Rhode Island, while Bailey Taylor and Peyton Bogard both signed to play lacrosse at Furman University and the University of Maryland, respectively. 2 Grainger Reeves signed to continue his wrestling career at Washington & Lee. Brady Tindall and John Staton will play football at Mercer University and Samford University, respectively. Heitho Shipp, goalkeeper of the Lions’ 2016 State Championship team, will play at Carnegie-Mellon University. 3 Senior Andrew Ferrell had an outstanding state meet, claiming second in the 200-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard butterfly. The Lions’ fifth-place finish is the best in school history in the multi-classification format of the state meet. 4 Lovett seniors, Serena Tripodi and Emma Sidman, were leaders by example all season for the Lions’ outstanding campaign. Tripodi won her third consecutive individual title in the GHSA State CC Championships, setting an all-classification course record in the process. Sidman finished ninth individually, with the Lions finishing all seven runners in the race’s top 25.
Spring 2017 39