Athletics at Devon Prep
Devon Preparatory School has been a standard for academic excellence since its doors opened in 1956. This has not changed. The focus on rigorous academic offerings is still a main focus. However in today’s educational climate, the classroom is not the only place students learn and find value in their high school years. The school understood this concept with the creation of its mission statement, “Devon Prep is a private, Catholic, college prep school, grades six to twelve focused on the holistic education of young men for life.” For decades the holistic aspect of the school was lacking as athletics took a back seat to academics. When it comes to sports, Pope St. John Paul II said it best, that they can be “a means to total and harmonious physical, moral and social development.” Action needed to be taken. To give students of Devon Prep a truly holistic experience, an equal emphasis has been placed on athletics and academics.
The athletic programs at Devon Prep have made tremendous strides in recent years. State baseball championships in 2014 & 2019 and a golf state championship this season, in addition to our move to the Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL), has really put the school on the map for athletes looking to play competitively at the high school level and beyond. The increase in exposure and competition revealed a need for upgrades in the athletic programs. Previously, the normal approach for sports at Devon was to show up to practice and games then go home. Now it requires more commitment. To keep up with the competition in the PCL, each sport has implemented an offseason, preseason, and in-season plan. Every team has access to the recently-renovated weight room with our on-campus Certified Trainer during offseason, preseason, and within the season. On-field workouts are now commonplace for baseball, soccer, and lacrosse during the offseason. Basketball and crew have a year-round plan to get the guys on the court and in the water, respectively, as much as possible. A more in-depth approach to athletics has allowed Devon to appeal to a more diverse pool of applicants. Your academics are also your athletes, and regardless of your interests or talents, all our students are held to the same expectations. The rigorous classroom environment has not changed. What has evolved is the school’s understanding that in order to develop our students to be the best version of themselves, the school must provide the best it can both inside and outside the classroom.
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