Lancers Illustrated 2023-2024

Commitment to Academic and Athletic Excellence

By Dr. Peggy Pelonis, ACS Athens President

At ACS Athens, the harmonious blend of academic rigor and athletic vigor shapes students into exemplars of holistic education. Each day, these young scholars demonstrate an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, delving into complex subjects with a curiosity that knows no bounds. Their intellectual pursuits are matched by a deep awareness of their roles as Conscious Global Citizens eager to contribute positively to the world around them. Yet, it is on the playing fields where their character shines brightest. Here, they embody

ACS Athens Philosophy of Athletics

the essence of sportsmanship—collaboration, discipline, hard work, teamwork, focus, and ethics. These are not mere activities; they are transformative experiences that mold them into resilient and ethical individuals, ready to face the challenges of tomorrow.

The coaches at ACS Athens play a pivotal role in this journey, guiding these young athletes not only in honing their physical skills but in instilling values that transcend the sports arena. Their dedication and wisdom are the bedrock upon which students build their dreams. Watching these students excel, balancing the demands of both academics and athletics with grace, fills us with immense pride. These are the leaders of tomorrowConscious Global Leaders - compassionate and capable. To the coaches who tirelessly nurture these future global leaders, we tip our hats in gratitude. Your impact is immeasurable, and through your guidance, ACS Athens continues to be a beacon of excellence, inspiring students to reach their fullest potential.

The gratification we feel as we watch our students compete is profound and unwavering. Witnessing them bring out their best selves—through both victory and challenge—is a testament to the strength and spirit of our community. Their resilience and excellence not only showcase their personal growth but also affirm the enduring values that ACS Athens instills in each of its students. This is the true measure of success, and it fills our hearts with immense pride and hope for the future.

In accordance with the ACS Athens Mission Statement, the Athletic department’s intent is to provide students with athletic opportunities that will challenge them and will further develop each student’s educational maturity. The athletic program will always be in conformity with the general objectives of the school and at no time will the educational curriculum be placed in a secondary role.

The fundamental principle of sports, particularly competitive athletics, is to augment the education of the young. Athletics should both promote and supplement the regular curriculum at the school. The athletic department’s concern is the personal development of each athlete. It is however necessary for the student who elects to participate in Athletics to understand that he/she is voluntarily making a choice of self-discipline, self-responsibility and commitment.

Publisher: ACS Athens

Editor/Director of Athletics: Annie Constantinides

Co-Editor: Valia Efstathiou

Photo credits: Valia Efstathiou, Sevasti Vrakatseli, Vangelis Stolis

Concept & publication design: Maria Matakia www.acs.gr acsathens.athletics

The Importance of Goal Setting and Focus

By Annie Constantinides, Director of Athletics

Sports activities play an important role not only regarding the physical component, but also for the emotional and intellectual well being of individuals. Through sport, leadership qualities are being developed and nourished from the daily experiences. Virtues such as discipline, sportsmanship, effort, respect, motivation, and pride are cultivated as they are very important in molding one’s personality.

Every student-athlete aims to be successful in the present but also in the future, whether it’s on the academic front or the sports field or in their professional path later; ultimately the aspiration of success leads their journey. Goal setting and focus are the bricks for the foundation of success, whatever that may be for any individual.

Setting goals and maintaining focus are not merely tasks to be checked off a list; they are essential components in the creation of a structured and achievable life path. Goals serve as beacons of direction, guiding individuals toward their desired destination. They provide clarity amidst the chaos of life’s uncertainties and empower individuals to take charge of their own destiny. Goals need not be grandiose; they can be as humble as mastering a new skill, improving a grade point average, or shaving seconds off a personal best. What truly matters is the journey embarked upon to achieve these goals—the lessons learned, the growth

experienced, and the resilience gained along the way. It is the process of striving towards these objectives that adds value to the lives of our student-athletes. Setting goals is also a way to challenge oneself with clear and realistic milestones.

At ACS Athens, we make it our mission to cultivate essential qualities such as discipline and effort, which are not only fundamental to success but also act as the foundation upon which goals are built. Discipline teaches student-athletes the importance of consistency and dedication, while effort instills the understanding that nothing worth achieving comes without hard work.

However, goal setting is not a solitary endeavor. Motivation acts as the fuel that propels individuals forward on their journey towards their objectives. Whether it’s the desire to excel in academics, to triumph on the sports field, or to simply become the best version of oneself, motivation provides the impetus to keep striving, even in the face of adversity.

Goal setting and focus are not mere buzzwords; they are simple “tools” that allow individuals to set a clear path in order to reach their dreams.

ACS Athens Athletics “10 Commandments”

Æ Never underestimate your opponent.

Æ Work on your weaknesses until they become your strong points.

Æ Remember that a great effort is usually the result of great attitude.

Æ Win with humility, lose with grace.

Æ Ignore those who discourage you.

Æ Remember that how you conduct yourself off the field is just as important as how you conduct yourself on the field.

Æ Talent is God-given – be humble. Fame is man-given – be thankful. Conceit is self-given – be careful.

Æ Don’t ask to be deprived of tension and discipline – these are the tools that shape success.

Æ Do what has to be done, when it has to be done, and as well as it can be done.

Æ Always give your best!

EFFORT RESPECT

DISCIPLINE

Competitive Teams

2023 2024

High School Cross Country

Junior Varsity Girls Soccer Varsity Girls Soccer

Middle School Boys Cross Country

Middle School Girls Cross Country

FALL

Junior Varsity Boys Soccer

Varsity Boys Soccer

Junior Varsity Girls Volleyball

Varsity Girls Volleyball

Junior Varsity Boys Volleyball

Varsity Boys Volleyball

SEASON WINTER

Middle School

Swimming

High School Swimming

Junior Varsity Girls Basketball

Varsity Girls Basketball

Junior Varsity Boys Basketball

Varsity Boys Basketball

SEASON SPRING

Middle School Track & Field

High School Track & Field

Middle School Tennis

Varsity Tennis

Our

Coaching Team

Angelos Dimitropoulos

JV Boys Volleyball, Varsity Girls Basketball, Track & Field, Cross Country

Justin Cramer Varsity Boys Basketball

Ilias Karapiperis Varsity Boys Soccer

Vasilis Mikros

JV Boys Soccer, Cross Country, Track & Field

Labrini Rontogiannis Varsity Girls Volleyball

Dean Moraitis Varsity Girls Soccer

Efi Karatopouzi Track & Field

Nick Naoum Varsity Girls Soccer

Natasa Antoniou Swimming

Antonis Polychronopoulos JV Girls Basketball

Igor Schoenefeld Varsity Tennis

Chris Kourtis Middle School Tennis

Niki Dimitropoulou JV Girls Volleyball

Kostis Pallikaris Swimming

Camille Fox Varsity Girls Basketball

Vicky Klimou JV Girls Soccer

Babis Mamas

Varsity Boys Volleyball, Track & Field

Alexandros Giannopoulos Swimming

Chris Stachikas JV Boys Basketball

Ivo Marovic, class of 2022

From ACS Athens to the Pro Leagues

By Valia Efstathiou, Athletic Programs and Events Coordinator

ACS Athens is proud of the sports opportunities that are available for its students; sports activities play an important role in the daily life of all those involved. Through our competitive sports program, talented students have the means to showcase their abilities by participating in local as well as international competitions.

Ivo Marovic joined our school in 2017 as an 8th-grade student and his athletic ability was clearly seen from early on, as he was the only student from the Middle School on the Varsity team. In 9th and 10th grade he was the starting goalkeeper of the Varsity soccer team and at the same time a member of the JV Basketball team and the Middle School Track & Field Team. Soccer however was clearly in

his heart as his focus at the end of his high school career was on developing his goalkeeping skills.

His hard work during his junior year, which was a COVID year, paid off; his senior year of high school was completed online and at the same time he played professionally for PAOK in Thessaloniki. Since then, he played professionally in FC Panserraikos in Serres and FK Iskra in Montenegro.

I had the opportunity to reach out to Ivo and talk briefly about his tenure at ACS Athens; it was a pleasant conversation and it was clear that ACS Athens had an impact on his sports path.

Photo credit: Ivo’s personal archive

Q: What was your most memorable moment playing as a Lancer?

A: I loved traveling with the soccer team for the ISSTs because I got to play soccer against other schools from Europe as well as hang out with my friends. Memories from those tournaments will forever stay with me and I always talk with my friends about that time.

Q: Do you still keep in touch with your teammates and coaches?

A: Yes, I keep in touch with my teammates as well as my soccer coaches Ilias Karapiperis and Spyros Paspalidis.

Q: What advice would you give to an ACS Athens student-athlete?

A: My advice is to enjoy the moment, make good memories with your classmates as well as teammates and to have fun playing the sport you choose. To listen to your teachers as well as coaches because you can learn a lot from their experiences. Also, don’t forget to keep up with the assignments :)

Q: Anything else you would like to add? :)

A: I wish you all the best and to achieve your academic goals as well as in your sports.

Congratulations Ivo for your accomplishments thus far; remember “dream big” and keep up the good work.

Championship Dreams Built on Small Goals

By Labrini Rontogiannis, Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach

The desire to win a championship can feel like an ominous task; a daunting mountain to climb. However, like any other far-away goal, whether that be academic, athletic or personal, the secret to reaching the summit lies in setting small, achievable goals. This strategy not only builds confidence and skill in increments but also cultivates a sense of unity and purpose within the team. Without realizing it, this is exactly what the Girls Varsity Volleyball team achieved this past season.

Setting small goals is about focusing on the process rather than the outcome. This past season, week after week, the girls set out to achieve their goals; whether it was working on offense, working on serves, or simply working on relationships by concentrating on specific, shortterm objectives, athletes can make consistent progress without feeling overwhelmed by the ultimate goal of winning a big tournament or a championship. By setting and achieving small goals, we build the

foundation for our achievements to come.

As the season got underway, we broke it down into daily and weekly targets. Daily goals often included skill development and conditioning. Weekly goals sometimes focused on mastering our rotations and lineups, or increasing teamwork and communication on the court. These goals helped the team and I stay focused and motivated. Our team huddles and chats ensured

that we stayed centered on our goals, our team and that everyone’s voice was heard.

Although incredibly challenging in team sports at this age level, setting small goals also provided a degree of an advantage when it came to the emotional state of the team. At times, it helped reduce anxiety and pressure by shifting the focus from the anticipation of winning, to small achievable tasks. This helped the girls stay engaged and motivated, turning the journey up the mountain into a series of wins and thus also contributing to a growth mindset.

Achieving small goals also helped boost individual confidence and team morale. Each success, no matter how small, solidified the belief that the team is on the right path. This growing confidence helped the girls understand what to expect from each other and how to work off of each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

In the final points of the game, as the gym erupted in cheers, and the players celebrated, their journey to the top was ultimately defined by discipline, teamwork, and our focus on small goals. By focusing on the process and celebrating each small victory, whether that be a meaningful practice or a challenging game, a championship dream turned into reality, one small goal at a time.

Service through sports

The Sports Shoes Recycling project dates to the early part of 2015; it is a project that the Athletic Department has embraced through the years and one which makes us proud because it is a testament that simple, small gestures can and do make a difference in someone’s life.

By Themis Soukakou, ACS Athens Athletic Council

Most people think being a student-athlete is solely about representing your school in tournaments and striving towards a healthy lifestyle. While that is true, it is so much more than that!

As athletes and members or leaders of teams, we naturally understand that sports are also a means of service in a world where a great percentage of people lack the equipment and facilities to enjoy them as much as the rest of us. Therefore, we look for and create opportunities to contribute not only to our school but also to the greater community.

Early in the Lancers season, we held the annual ACS Athens Halloween Festival, hosting dozens of stands and games for the ACS community. Our Fall sports teams had already kicked off their seasons and were anticipating the upcoming European competitions. This excitement was channeled into volunteering at the Halloween Festival, where members of each team participated and led a game booth for participating students. Ranging from the Haunted House to bowling, our athletes never failed to not only liven the celebration but also put a smile on our community members’ faces. But this was just the beginning!

After the holiday break, we commenced the ACS Athens Shoe Drive; an initiative dating back to 2015. This was a collaborative effort of the athletic department and the NGO “Institute Team for the World” with the goal of supporting the less fortunate members of our greater community.

The first step was displaying creative and captivating posters designed by our very own athletes around the school campus, which would inform our entire student body of the drive. Soon enough, the collection bins placed around the school began accumulating hundreds of well-kept shoes of various sizes. With determination and satisfaction, we took up the task of organizing and packing an impressive number of 200 pairs of shoes. The process took a few days, as we put in hard work between our classes and during our lunch breaks, reaching the finishing line with an unbelievable and significant number of shoes along with a fulfilling sense of pride and gratification.

From the sight of the packed shoes alone, we realized the importance of such initiatives for our community. We also soon came to acknowledge the power that we have not only as student-athletes and student leaders but also as a community and school. You don’t need to have money or power in order to serve others in need, but compassion and empathy.

Cross Country Meet at Syngrou Park

The annual local cross country competition took place on October 31st at Syngrou Park with the participation of five schools: St. Catherine’s, Byron College, ISA, Campion and ACS Athens.

More than 150 runners competed in three categories: Middle School Girls and Middle School Boys in the 3 km race, and High School Girls & Boys in the 5 km race. A number of the ACS Athens runners completed the races with a “personal best” time and medal performances. Our team finished the competition with two 1st place, two 2nd place and three 3rd place medals. Congratulations to all the athletes.

ISAA Girls Volleyball

ACS Athens hosted the ISAA Girls Volleyball tournament with the participation of five schools: ACS Egham, ACS Hillingdon, International School of Eindhoven, Schutz American School, and ACS Athens. Throughout both days of competition, there was a packed gym full of Elementary, Middle, and Academy students cheering for the Varsity Girls Volleyball team! An unbelievable sports atmosphere that will be remembered by many! After some exciting and thrilling matches, the girls got 1st Place with two all-star tournament nominations! Congrats to all the players and coaches.

ISAA Girls Basketball

ACS Athens hosted the ISAA Div. 1 Girls Basketball Championship and our girls finished in 2nd place playing a heartbreaking final against TASIS - the girls lost by 1 point in the last 3 seconds of the game!

There were some exciting games throughout the tournament; the ACS Athens Varsity girls team started off the tournament with a loss from TASIS (3238), won against Cairo American College (36-13) and the British School of Netherlands (29-10).

The final game against TASIS was certainly a game to remember (25-26) with the girls celebrating with the 2nd place trophy.

Once again, the ACS Athens International Swimming Cup took place with the participation of many schools from abroad as well as Athens; swimmers from ACS Tunis, Gems Dubai American Academy, The International School of Azerbaijan, Cairo American College, ACS Cobham, ACS Amman, AIS Riyadh, AAS Sofia and St. Lawrence joined us for two exciting days of swimming competition.

Congratulations to the ACS Athens Academy and Middle School Swimming teams for their performance as many of the swimmers had many “personal best” times, and all of them contributed to the final standings of the teams. The ACS Athens Academy team finished in 2nd place overall, and the Middle School team finished in 3rd place overall. Great team effort!

International Track & Field Meet

The International Track and Field Meet took place at the ACS Athens campus and the facilities of Campion school; six schools participated including ACS Cobham, AIS Bucharest, ACS Tunis, Campion, Ellinogermaniki Agogi, and ACS Athens.

Approximately 175 Middle School and High School athletes competed in a number of events; as usual, the highlight of the meet included the two relays (4 x 100 and 4 x 400) that took place at the end of the competition schedule, and all races were very exciting and enjoyable

to watch.

The ACS Athens Middle School team finished in 2nd place, only 3 points in total behind Campion with a total of 11 gold, 11 silver and 7 bronze medals.

The High School team finished in 1st place, with a total of 6 gold, 9 silver, and 8 bronze medals.

Great effort by all the athletes and there were a number of “personal best” performances in some events.

Tennis

Varsity & JV local Tournaments

ACS Athens hosted a number of Junior Varsity and Varsity local tournaments with the participation of young tennis players from St. Catherine’s, St. Lawrence, Campion as well as local clubs joined us for a full day of tennis action.

The ACS Athens tennis players faced some good competition as many of them were preparing for their International event in the Netherlands. Congratulations to everyone for their effort and as well as for the top performances.

ISAA Boys Basketball Back-to-back Champions!

Which House do you belong to?

May 11-12

The International Basketball Coaches Clinic took place at the ACS Athens gymnasium with the participation of a number of local as well as international guests joining us for a professional development opportunity. The speakers, well known coaches with tremendous experience, spoke on tactical as well as fitness coaches for athletes of all ages.

What a great opportunity to learn from Ilias Zouros (Head Coach of AEK and former coach of the National teams of Greece and Georgia), Ryan Pannone (Asst. Coach of the University of Alabama and former Asst. Coach of the NBA Pelicans and Henry Barrera, the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the University of Alabama.

Ryan Pannone

Henry Barrera

Ilias Zouros

The year through the lens