Spring is gradually coming to an end. As the temperatures rise, graduation approaches, and the school year comes to a close, spring sports are finishing strong with their final games and races. Within each of the softball, lacrosse, crew, track, and baseball seasons, there have been a series of highs and lows. The teams have been working diligently to keep our school proud, and will continue representing us from March into June.
The softball team in particular has shown real resilience over the course of their season. Although there have been many highlights, the one that stood out most to Mr. Kyle Donahue ’14, varsity assistant coach, was Varsity Girls vs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy on May 2. GA won the tough game 1-0, with Kayleigh Howard ’23 making the winning run for GA to defeat one of their strongest competitors.
Furthermore, the softball team’s competitive spirit has been one to admire this season. They have worked tirelessly to improve their skills and work collaboratively with their teammates. There is no doubt that the members of the GA softball team will continue to work hard and maintain their undying persistence in years to come.
Shifting to a different season, both the girl’s and boy’s lacrosse teams have shown vigorous ambition this spring as well. With their sticks held high in the air, one of the most empowering lacrosse games was the girl’s away game at William Penn Charter School on April, 25. The game was intense and its outcome was truly memorable. GA came back from a losing streak to win in the last 22 seconds of the game. Mrs. Diana Shumar, the head varsity coach for girl’s lacrosse, says her favorite part was “seeing the excitement the girls wore after they won,” as it displayed the team’s pride for their school and their continuous efforts, Coach Shumar is also proud of how close the team is, especially the “positive, family feeling” that the GA girls’ lacrosse possesses.
The boys’ lacrosse team, as well, embodies GA pride. With outstanding effort from each and every one of the players, Mr. David Martin, their varsity assistant coach, especially admires their 14th game of the season. It was during this game that the boys’ lacrosse team beat Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in a stunning 13-10 victory. The lacrosse teams proudly represented GA, proving their raw grit and determination in the 2023 spring season.
The crew 23’ season has also been one to go down in the books. Both the girls’ and boys’ teams have exhibited their efforts in the waves of regattas. With the beautiful days on the water and the positive attitudes all around, Mr. Dick O’Hern, head coach for the girls, commends the overall passion of the team as the season’s highlight. Each rower entered the regattas with an eagerness to do their best every weekend, including one outstanding race for the varsity girl’s quad (Ryleigh Dougherty 23’, Aisosa Idahosa ’23, Sarah Beth Sandifer ’23, and Livy Shafer ’23), winning 1st place in the 5th of the Horvat Series of Manny Flick regattas. Coach O’Hern views all the races as successes, and is proud of each and every one of his athletes.
This entire athletic season is one for the GA community to be proud of and to specifically honor the athletes’ ongoing resilience, ambition, and passion.