As the 2025 spring season comes to an end, it is important to recognize the dedication and effort each team has shown. Looking back, each group has faced challenges and evolved together, and with the season now behind us, there is an excitement in the air as teams look ahead to next season’s opportunities to improve and compete.
At the same time, many team dynamics will soon change as the seniors head off to university. Yet, incoming and existing athletes from this year have ensured that Germantown Academy’s spring sports programs will continue to thrive in the years to come.
Throughout the 3-month season, GA’s crew team has had tremendous success, with Alex Brown ‘27 and Mirabelle Hayes’ ‘26 quad making it to nationals. Star rower Benjamin Moorhouse ‘26 attributes the team’s success to the mentorship of the seniors and the dedication of his teammates, giving the team momentum for next year.
“My favorite part of crew is the people,” Moorhouse said. “As a team sport, crew requires dedication from the whole team, and everyone takes the sport seriously. Because of this the season has gone pretty well. I think that the current seniors have mentored the rising juniors and sophomores really well, so I’m not too worried about the ability of the team.”
The boys tennis team echoes a similar sentiment, with their strong team spirit being the binding glue to drive them to winning matches.
“My favorite part about the tennis team is that it is one of the only times when I’m playing tennis where I get to play for something that is bigger than myself,” captain Aiden Swartz ‘25 said. “At tennis tournaments, it is a pretty lonely experience where everyone is out there just trying to win for themselves, so playing on the tennis team is a great change of pace. I love fighting out there with the guys.”
Indeed, the tennis team has seen major victories with the help of Swartz, most notably against Penn Charter, as he clinched the win four to three in the third set tiebreak. Though their run in the state championship was cut short due to a heartbreaking loss in the tiebreak match, the team has placed third overall in the Inter-Ac.
“I am a big believer in making your own motivation,” Swartz said. “I hope that the leaders of the team next year will continue to bring the energy and enthusiasm to the team that the seniors brought this year.”
Shifting to the lacrosse fields, boys lacrosse in particular has seen great improvements from previous years with the help of incoming freshmen and sophomores. Especially with the strong junior class, they were able to hold a solid record this season.
“We’re actually in a pretty good spot even for next year without seniors because most of our starters and juniors and seniors, and we have a few freshmen there too,” defensive player Jack Dillon ‘26 said. “And even if we didn’t win the Inter-Ac this year because of the strong competition, the boys and I still love the game and the hustle.”
On the girls side, the new head coach has shifted the dynamics of the program as a whole. Additionally, with the support of a strong freshmen class, the girls lacrosse team has seen major success out on the fields.
“This year, our new head coach Colleen has really encouraged us to make lacrosse much more intense and to work as a unit rather than focus on individual success,” captain Sydney Wanner ‘25 said. “Overall, she is taking it much more seriously, and I like the idea that it’s really intense, but it can also be so much fun.”
With the increased intensity of the girls lacrosse team comes extra practices and tougher workouts, but the resilience and motivation of the group as a whole has seen great results, including making the semifinals in the state championship.
Meanwhile, on the track, there has been a variety of both team and individual success. In particular, the girls team placed third in the Inter-Ac, and at the recent state championships, many athletes performed well in their events.
Most notably, Evan Badami ‘26 in the 400 meters ran a time of 47.86 seconds, winning his heat and breaking the school record simultaneously. Reflecting on both the team’s accomplishments and next year’s season, Badami expressed mixed feelings regarding next season.
“It’ll be sad to see the seniors go because we’ll all miss the energy and personality they bring to the team,” Badami said. “That being said, I’m really excited for next year, as hopefully some of the underclassmen will step up as leaders and bring the best out of the whole team.”
With such strong underclassmen and hard-working junior and senior athletes, the track team will be strong in the next year’s Inter-Ac season.
This year’s softball season has also had a positive turnaround under the new leadership of Coach Tim Ginter. His role in motivating the team is evident in the team’s success.
“This was my favorite season yet at GA, and you can’t underplay Ginter’s role in turning us around,” Alex Johnson ‘25 said. “He stepped up for us and led us to be a more motivated and happy team.”
Furthermore, the softball team’s unity and teamwork have made it the perfect environment for personal development for seniors who are going on to college.
“GA Softball has made me a far more resilient person and a better teammate,” Johnson ‘25 said. “I’ve grown so much on this team, and I hope I continue to do the same in college.”
On the baseball field, players gave it their all through the highs and lows, showing grit, teamwork and growth throughout the season. The team’s close bond and strong leadership were key to their success and will continue to leave a lasting impact.
“It’s the reason we win,” pitcher Sean McGettigan ‘26 said. “The bonding and the love we have for each other really just promotes a winning atmosphere.”
Moreover, it is important to highlight the contributions of the seniors, who have played baseball all four years at GA and have been instrumental to the team’s culture and success.
“The atmosphere, the energy, and the winning attitudes that the seniors bring is great for our younger guys,” McGettigan said. “Next year, I think the team will evolve and become a really special season because of these guys and the examples they set.”
Overall, the 2025 spring season showcased not only athletic talent but also the strength of leadership, camaraderie and resilience across all teams. As seniors pass the torch to rising athletes, Germantown Academy’s spring sports programs are well-positioned for the seasons to come.