Wildcat Den
Fall/Winter 2017-18 by Katie Trainor, Assistant Director of Athletics National Signing Day Nineteen Wildcats signed letters of commitment with college teams at our National Signing Day ceremony on February 7. Oliver Babb Crew, Columbia University Bronte Bacchetta Track & Field, U.S. Naval Academy Gabi Dolan Volleyball, Georgia Tech Joe Egan Football, Lafayette College Will Floyd Swimming, Colorado College Alex Gracey Football, Stanford University Delaney Graham Soccer, Duke University Paris Howland Track & Field, Cornell University Truman Jones Football, Harvard University Raegan Kelley Soccer, Vanderbilt University Julian Mason Lacrosse, Hampton University Ryan Miller Baseball, Georgia Tech Santiago Morales Diving, University of Florida Vishan Patel Squash, Columbia University Peter Rooney Football, University of Connecticut Ella Shamburger Soccer, Vanderbilt University Malcolm Strickland Football, University of Pennsylvania Sam Woodhouse Track & Field, University of Pennsylvania Peter York Football and Baseball, Rhodes College
Volleyball The VolleyCats competed for the state championship for the fifth year in a row, battling the Pace Knights to five sets before falling short of the title. The Cats were no strangers to challenging matches, earning a spot in the championship after defeating Lovett in a thrilling five-set semifinal. Gabi Dolan ’18 headlined the postseason honors with Area MVP accolades. Four additional players—Maggie McSwain ’18, Mary Emily Morgan ’21, Lexi Saulny ’18, and Claire Zhou ’20— were recognized as all-area players.
Softball The BatCats completed the season with an outstanding 19-7 record. The team earned a berth in the state tournament for the sixth straight year, falling short in a first-round game against Bremen. Season highlights included big wins over rivals Lovett, Blessed Trinity, and Decatur. The team will graduate four
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seniors, but the BatCats have a bright future as 19 players return, nine of whom were freshmen on this year’s squad.
Boys Cross Country The boys cross country team was crowned the state champion for the first time since 2013 and for the 26th time overall. Led by the second-place finisher, Will Wallace ’19, as well as Peter Huff ’19 and Zach Roe ’20 (who finished sixth and seventh, respectively), the team had an average course time of 17:21 at the state meet. For his efforts this season, Will earned Atlanta Track Club’s third team all-metro honors. Coach Joe Tribble was named the All-Metro AAA Coach of the Year.
Girls Cross Country There’s no stopping the Sisterhood! The girls cross country team won its fifth consecutive state championship this fall. The team cruised to the program’s 30th title with five runners finishing in the top 10. Naima Turbes ’19, Delaney Graham ’18, Bronte Bacchetta ’18, Olivia Tordella ’20, and Katherine Vuckovic ’20 paced the Cats with an average course time of 20:31. Naima earned Atlanta Track Club’s first team all-metro honors, and coach Amy Eubanks was inducted into the Georgia Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Football Our football team had another stellar season and earned a bid to the state tournament for the 12th straight year. After opening the season against some of Georgia’s toughest teams, the Cats found their stride during a memorable overtime win at Pace and used that momentum to spark a 5-1 record to end the regular season. The Cats made the most of their postseason bid and upset North Murray in the first round, followed by a narrow high-score win against East Hall in the second round before falling in the quarterfinals against Peach County. Seven players— Joe Egan ’18, Alex Gracey ’18, Charlie Ham ’19, Nance Hill ’19, Truman Jones ’18, Peter Rooney ’18, and Malcolm Strickland ’18—received all-region honors.
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