SPRING 2014
Baseball SPC Division I Runner-Up
Falcons Finish Proud The 2013-14 athletic seasons ended with a lot of excitement. Track crowned three Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) Champions, and the baseball team earned a spot in the SPC Division I title game. The Falcons practiced through the crazy spring weather and enjoyed a Falcon Club cookout along the way. The athletes continue to make us proud as they prove perseverance pays off.
Baseball
By Reed Simpson ’14 This is supposed to be a season write-up only about this year. However, it is impossible to talk about this season without looking into the past or into the future. When Coach Brady Benoit took over the baseball team in 2013, he preached building a program, and, over the past two seasons, we have done that. Last season, we played in the last-place game for SPC Division II. It was awful and painful.
JR Gideon ’14
However, this season we went into our Oklahoma games during the last week of North Zone counters and sealed Division I. It was different sitting in the hotel in Dallas for the SPC tournament. This year felt much more like a business trip, rather than last year’s leisure trip to SPC in Houston. The season did not begin so well. We started 0-6 and sat at 2-10 entering counters. However, we kept our eye on our end goal. We did all the little things right in practice knowing that when it came time to perform in the clutch, we'd be able to make a play. Our confidence paid off as we went 6-3 in North Zone and earned the No. 3 seed in the North for the SPC Tournament. In game one, we faced the four-time defending champions and SPC athletic powerhouse, Houston Episcopal High School. It was an intense game from the very beginning, and we fought tooth and nail. After the 21st out was recorded, the defending champs were dethroned, and we got one of Continued on page 2
the program’s biggest wins in School history. In the semifinals, we played St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, a team that was also in Division II the previous year. The game was one of the most emotionally tough games of the season. We won a very hard-fought dog fight in the bottom of the eighth inning. The championship game did not go as we planned. Taking a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth, Houston Christian High School broke ahead and ended up beating us 5-1. Coach Benoit told us after the game that it didn't matter whether we had won or lost, his speech would have been the same. No one expected us to get where we got. No one in the Country Day community expected us to get where we did. No one, except for my teammates and coaches, had the confidence in us to think we could do what we did. Our season was, without a doubt, a reflection of the hard work put in by both players and coaches. The success does not stop here. This senior class (Dan Sun, Caleb Rooker, Jesse Tipton, Bo Totten, Crosby Lipscomb and myself) would like to believe that we kick-started a powerhouse Fort Worth Country Day baseball program that will be around for years to come.
Track team with retired Dallas Cowboys football player Emmitt Smith, Brandon Evans ’16, Brian Evans ’17 and Joseph Breedlove ’17
Crosby Lipscomb ’14
Lauren Wagner ’14, Olivia Woodson ’17, Emily Hodnett ’16, Eliza Wagner ’14
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Track
By Savannah Norman ’16 The varsity track team thrived around two core ideals this season: achieving personal bests and having fun. Although the season got off to a bumpy start with multiple days of cold and rain, both the boys’ and girls’ track teams performed well in all types of meets ranging from large public school-dominated meets to practice meets with two or three private schools. From week to week, visible progress could be seen: Personal records were broken left and right by huge amounts.
Particularly noteworthy was the long-distance team, with 3200- and 1600-meter standouts Cooper Baird ’15, William Newton ’16 and Conner Williams ’17 breaking personal records along with 800-meter runners Melody Rodriguez ’15, Maddy Stripling ’14, Colton Baird ’17 and Deep Nana ’14 shattering 2014 personal bests by multiple seconds. For the short-distance runners, times really began dropping as the weather finally improved toward the end of the season. The North Zone meet, annually hosted at Greenhill School, was a great success, with the girls placing fourth overall and the boys placing third, just one point short of runner-up. Three weeks later at the final SPC meet hosted at St. Mark’s School of Texas, all athletes performed exceptionally. Both the boys’ and the girls’ 4x100 meter relays advanced to the finals. Brandon Evans ’16 placed in the top three in the 100 and 200 meters, Ryleigh Rains ’17 placed third in the high jump with a personal record of 5’2”, and Baird was
Boys’ Tennis
By Garrett Podell ’15 At the beginning of the season, I had no idea if we’d win any matches at all. Four of our varsity teammates graduated last year. However, we had an incredible contribution from new guys that really helped buoy our team.
crowned champion in the 1600- meter run with a personal and School record in an exciting sprint to the finish. Evans was also crowned champion in the long jump and triple jump, breaking the FWCD triple-jump record. Clinton Harlin ’14 finished third in the pole vault. Out of 19 schools, the boys placed fifth and the girls ranked ninth. Along with achieving both personal and team goals, the entire track team really had a great time throughout the season. Centered around a large group of great seniors, track practice and meets, no matter how cold, rainy or humid they may have been, were filled with plenty of laughter, memories and great food thanks to irreplaceable team parents Mike and Julia Leonard, parents of Matt Leonard ’14. Lastly, neither the personal achievements nor the fun could be possible without the unparalleled track and field coaches, Mark Brady, Tracy Carrington ’95, Chelsea Hayes, James Mott, Eliud Njubi and Alee Sable.
Senior Bailee Wallace committed to play field hockey this fall at Hendrix College in Arkansas. Fort Worth Country Day celebrated on April 24 with Bailee, her family, teammates, friends and faculty members. Good luck to Bailee as she continues her field hockey career as a Warrior.
Valley School (always a plus); beat Nolan Catholic High School; and swept the Episcopal School of Dallas, a team that has given us a lot of trouble in the past. We ended up going 1-3 as a team in SPC, but the last match of the season this year was the opposite of a downer. Walker Wade ’15 and I beat All Saints’
Logan Lawrence ’15 came out of nowhere, transforming from a JV player into one of the varsity team’s top players, using his rugged backboard style to wear his opponents out. We also had some new additions to the team, freshmen Nicholas Aufiero and Ben Nober, and “world-famous” Stephen “Pumpy” Nolan ’15. The freshmen joined together to create the line two doubles duo of the “worms.” The overall chemistry of this team was unlike any other I’ve ever been a part of. The guys would just tease each other and mess with each other like we were actual brothers. The camaraderie was something else. When it came time to play the matches, we swept Trinity
National Signing Day
Walker Wade ’15
Logan Lawrence ’15
Episcopal School in doubles after three agonizing sets. Once I had the winning shot of the match and last of my career, an overhead smash at the net, I ran and just tackled Walker in jubilation. That match summed up our season as a team: some incredibly fun wins, but an overall team loss. Despite our mediocre eighth-place finish in D2, we had some great times, and that’s what counts. 3
Boys’ Golf The FWCD varsity boys’ golf team enjoyed another fantastic year! Not only did the team accomplish tournament victories, but each player contributed his spirit, hard work and character to an already strong program. FWCD golfers won the FWCD-St. Mark’s Match Play event and placed in the top five in the Kent Henning Invitational, the Chick-Fil-A Invitational and the Leonard Cup. The JV boys’ team won the Kent Henning Invitational Junior Varsity Tournament. Standout players this year were junior Turner MacLean and freshman Jared Imber. Also providing leadership were senior captains (and four-year lettermen) JT Hodnett and Shane Markwardt. Rounding out the team were Mason Beasley ’15, Connor Cassady ’15, William Kleinheinz ’15, Joel Horton ’15, Phillip Herd ’17, John Davidson ’15, Isaac Klein ’15, Reilly Clark ’17 and Brian McConnell ’15. The season ended with the SPC Championships at Woodforest Golf Club in Magnolia, Texas. MacLean brought home second-place honors and was designated All-SPC. He fired a two-day total of 149.
Hannah Kelly ’14
Girls’ Tennis
By Madison Nelson ’14 Although the spring 2014 season did not end like last year’s season with a D2 championship, the team bonded and made lifelong friendships.
Shane Markwardt ’14, JT Hodnett ’14, Turner MacLean ’15, Coach Bill Arnold ’86, Mason Beasley ’15 and Jared Imber ’17
Girls’ tennis won only one counter during the regular season, but triumphed in the first round of SPC and beat Saint Mary’s Hall. Unfortunately, we lost to Casady School and Trinity Valley School to get fourth place in D2, but the team was still proud and happy with the outcome. Throughout the season, each girl improved significantly and made friendships across all grade levels. Overall, it was an exciting and rewarding season that each girl will remember forever.
Girls’ Golf Girls’ golf began the season with some very chilly practice days leading up to the opening tournament at Hawks Creek on March 5. Matches with Trinity Valley School and team competition got us through spring break and the rest of March. Better weather greeted us on March 31 when the varsity girls participated in the FWCD Invitational at River Crest Country Club. Winter returned briefly for the ChickFil-A Tournament on April 14 when both varsity and JV girls played in the coldest temperatures of the year. Spring returned for the Hooton Cup on April 22, the traditional SPC warm-up tournament for all the Dallas/Fort Worth teams. Reign Parker ’14, Meg Moritz ’15, Caroline Malanga ’15, Ellee Conway ’15 and Kate Laughlin ’15 traveled to the Woodlands for the SPC Tournament on April 28-29. A difficult course and high winds were a challenge, but the girls each played well. The team capped off the season with a dinner and awards program at Joe T. Garcia’s planned by the team moms. Thanks to everyone for making this another successful golf season! 4
Reign Parker ’14
FWCD Receives Safe Sports School Award Fort Worth Country Day received the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for their student-athletes and reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention and treatment. Back row: DeAnn Hall, Bastian Wood ’15, Krista Madrid ’14, Olivia Darrow ’16, Laura Murphy ’15, Elizabeth Wilkinson ’14, Libby Kerrigan ’15, Annalee Kerrigan ’17, Michael Estrada ’15, Shelley Rains; front row: Emily Wilkinson ’14, Rebeca Avila ’15, Gabi Maldonado ’15, Edie Huling ’17, Reagan Smith ’14, Sarai Dominguez ’15
Softball
By Elizabeth Wilkinson ’14 The Falcon softball team had a great season this year. The team was led by its four seniors, Krista Madrid, Reagan Smith, Emily Wilkinson and myself. The team was rounded out by some great underclassmen, and, from the beginning, we knew the team chemistry would be good. The team went 8-1 in conference play, earning the No. 2 seed going into the SPC tournament. Even though the Falcons lost a tough game in the first game at SPC, the team was able to bounce back and beat Holland Hall. This win was especially fulfilling because Holland Hall was the only team we had lost to in conference play. With this victory, the Falcons won fifth place and finished the best out of all North Zone teams in the tournament. Looking ahead, there are great things on the horizon for the softball program.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from NATA, and we remain committed to keeping our student-athletes safe during physical education classes, team practices and games so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship and good health,” said Ed Chisholm, FWCD head athletic trainer. “Our goal is to lead our athletics program to the highest safety standards for our players.”
Congratulations!
Lacrosse Lacrosse ended its season with a thrilling win over Trinity Valley School. The Falcons took the lead early and never gave it up. Senior defensive specialist Tyler Steele finished his career at FWCD by scoring the final goal of the game. Other seniors enjoying their final victory are goalie Will Waltrip, Malcolm McDonald, Carson Bennett and Edward Hudson. Hudson, McDonald and Waltrip were four-year lettermen. While the seniors will be sorely missed and their contributions to the lacrosse program are greatly appreciated, the returning players are excited and optimistic for what the future holds.
David Burton ’16
Trainer Chelsea Procter-Willman is “Da’Bomb.” She was named the athletic trainer Preceptor of the Month by Texas Wesleyan University. 5
Spring 2014 Postseas Outstanding Freshman Athletes Ryleigh Rains, Joseph Breedlove This award is given annually to the outstanding freshman athletes, who in the opinion of the coaches, displayed athletic talents that significantly contributed the most to the entire FWCD athletic program. Outstanding Sophomore Athletes Adele Elkind, Brandon Evans This award is given annually to the outstanding sophomore athletes, who in the opinion of the coaches, displayed athletic talents that significantly contributed the most to the entire FWCD athletic program.
Varsity Awards John Callaway, J.R. Gideon, Maddy Stripling, Elizabeth Wilkinson Presented to the rare athlete who has lettered on 12 (or more in this case) varsity teams. Congratulations to these individuals for their leadership, sportsmanship and for the legacy they leave to other Fort Worth Country Day athletes.
Dr. Bill Curtis ’67 Award Cooper Baird ’15, Erik Lopez ’15 Awarded annually to the outstanding undergraduate boy athlete(s) whose athletic talents significantly contributed the most to the FWCD athletic program. Richard Steed ’83 Award Melody Rodriguez ’15 Awarded annually to the outstanding undergraduate girl athlete(s) whose athletic talents significantly contributed the most to the FWCD athletic program.
Don Welch Memorial Trophy Madison Nelson Awarded annually to the senior girl, who in the opinion of the coaches, has demonstrated consistent improvement in athletic performance. William A. Landreth, Jr. ’67 Award Caleb Rooker Awarded annually to the outstanding senior boy athlete(s) whose athletic talents significantly contributed the most to the FWCD athletic program.
Class of ’72 Award Robbie Stackhouse Awarded annually to the senior boy, who in the opinion of the coaches, has demonstrated consistent improvement in athletic performance. 6
Class of ’70 Award Maddy Stripling Awarded annually to the outstanding senior girl athlete(s) whose athletic talents significantly contributed the most to the FWCD athletic program.
Dr. Lawrence P. Kleuser Memorial Trophy McKenna Breedlove, Robert Arnold Awarded annually to that senior boy and/or girl who in the opinion of the head of School, head of Upper School and the athletic director, has in athletic endeavor displayed the qualities of character, sportsmanship, enthusiasm and team spirit, and who in so doing has contributed significantly to the general excellence of Fort Worth Country Day. Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Award J.R. Gideon, Emily Wilkinson, Elizabeth Wilkinson The Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Award is awarded annually to that senior boy and that senior girl, who in the opinion of the coaches, most nearly epitomize the ideal scholar-athlete by demonstrating academic excellence and outstanding athletic performance while attending FWCD. Rosacker Award (Outstanding Middle School Athletes) Samantha Burke ’18, Cedrina Landrum ’18, Gregory Sholars ’18 Old Sport Award Elizabeth and Jim McCoy
son Athletic Awards Baseball Most Valuable Reed Simpson ’14 Most Improved Clinton Carter ’14 Jesse Tipton ’14 SPC All-Conference Crosby Lipscomb ’14 Caleb Rooker ’14 Reed Simpson ’14 SPC Honorable Mention Clinton Carter ’14 James Ferguson ’16 All-Zone Crosby Lipscomb ’14 Caleb Rooker ’14 Reed Simpson ’14
Boys’ Golf Most Valuable Turner MacLean ’15 Most Improved Jared Imber ’17 SPC All-Conference Turner MacLean ’15
SPC All-Conference (back row) Turner MacLean ’15, Brandon Evans ’16, Alexander Chieffalo ’16, Crosby Lipscomb ’14, Reed Simpson ’14, Clinton Harlin ’14, Caleb Rooker ’14, Will Waltrip ’14, Cooper Baird ’15 (front row) Laura Murphy ’15, Adele Elkind ’16, Ryleigh Rains ’17 and Madison Nelson ’14
Most Valuable Caroline Malanga ’15 Most Improved Kate Laughlin ’15
SPC All-Conference Adele Elkind ’16 Laura Murphy ’15 SPC Honorable Mention Edie Huling ’17 Reagan Smith ’14 Emily Wilkinson ’14 Elizabeth Wilkinson ’14 All-Zone Adele Elkind ’16 Edie Huling ’17 Reagan Smith ’14
Lacrosse
Boys’ Tennis
Girls’ Golf
Most Valuable Will Waltrip ’14 Coaches Award Tyler Steele ’14 SPC All-Conference Edward Hudson ’14 Will Waltrip ’14 SPC Honorable Mention Malcolm McDonald ’14 All-Zone Will Waltrip ’14
Softball Most Valuable Adele Elkind ’16 Emily Wilkinson ’14 Most Improved Laura Murphy ’15
Most Valuable Alexander Chieffalo ’16 Most Improved Logan Lawrence ’15 SPC All-Conference Alexander Chieffalo ’16 SPC Honorable Mention Garrett Podell ’15 All-Zone Alexander Chieffalo ’16
Girls’ Tennis Most Valuable Madison Nelson ’14 Most Improved Samantha Hubbard ’14 SPC All-Conference Madison Nelson ’14
SPC Honorable Mention Isabella Chieffalo ’14 All-Zone Isabella Chieffalo ’14
Clinton Harlin ’14 Tucker Hayes ’16 Clapsaddle Award Matt Leonard ’14 Kyle O’Brien ’14
Boys’ Track and Field Most Valuable Running Cooper Baird ’15 Most Valuable Field Brandon Evans ’16 Most Improved Running Kelton Rippetoe ’15 Most Improved Field Will Belton ’14 SPC All-Conference Cooper Baird ’15 Brandon Evans ’16 Clinton Harlin ’14 SPC Honorable Mention Will Belton ’14 Joseph Breedlove ’17 Brian Evans ’17 Patrick Gordon ’14 Jack Mock ’17 Kelton Rippetoe ’15 All-Zone Cooper Baird ’15 Joseph Breedlove ’17 Brad Chilcoat ’17 Brandon Evans ’16 Brian Evans ’17 Patrick Gordon ’14
Girls’ Track and Field Most Valuable Running Melody Rodriguez ’15 Most Valuable Field McKenna Breedlove ’14 Most Improved Running Olivia Woodson ’17 Most Improved Field Ryleigh Rains ’17 SPC All-Conference Ryleigh Rains ’17 SPC Honorable Mention McKenna Breedlove ’14 Emily Hodnett ’16 Eliza Wagner ’14 Lauren Wagner ’14 Akailah Warner ’15 Olivia Woodson ’17 All-Zone McKenna Breedlove ’14 Adele Elkind ’16 Ryleigh Rains ’17 Payton Rubel ’17 Melody Rodriguez ’14 Olivia Woodson ’17 Clapsaddle Award Savannah Norman ’16 7
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID FORT WORTH, TX PERMIT NO. 676
Summer Weight Room Workout Schedule May 27-August 1 (Monday – Friday) Closed July 4
4200 Country Day Lane Fort Worth, Texas 76109-4299
8-9 a.m. Open Work-Out 9-11 a.m. Football 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Girls Only 12:30-2 p.m. Girls Only 2-4 p.m. Open Work-Out 4-6 p.m. Football 6-7 p.m. Open Work-Out
Address SERVICE REQUESTED
Save The Dates First Home Football Game Friday, September 5 Homecoming “Battle of Bryant Irvin” Friday, October 24
Preseason Information Fall 2014 (Please see team pages at fwcd.org for more detailed information)
Boys’ Volleyball Program Director – Missi Kovachev ’89 (missi.kovachev@fwcd.org) Start Date – Monday, August 11 9:30-11:30 a.m. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Cheerleading Program Director – Courtney Collings (courtneycollings@gmail.com) Start Date – Friday, August 8 4-7 p.m. Cross Country Program Director – DeAnn Hall (deann.hall@fwcd.org) Start Date – Monday, August 11 (Upper School Circle) 7 a.m.
Field Hockey Program Director – Paige Chisholm ’87 (paige.chisholm@fwcd.org) Start Date – Wednesday, August 6 9 a.m.-noon
Girls’ Volleyball Program Director – Butch Traeder (butch.traeder@fwcd.org) Start Date – Thursday, August 7 9 a.m.-noon
Football Program Director – Frank Gendusa (frank.gendusa@fwcd.org) Start Date – Monday, August 4 7:30-9:30 a.m. (Equipment will be handed 3-6 p.m. out the first day) Middle School Equipment Check-Out: Friday, August 15 (Round Gym) 11 a.m. (Grade 8) 11:45 a.m. (Grade 7) Start Date – Tuesday, August 19 2:35-3:55 p.m. ***All Middle School teams other than football will start Tuesday, August 19 All K-12 students must have a current FWCD Annual Physical Evaluation form on file in the nurse’s office before they are allowed to participate in any practice/conditioning program or game. Please contact any of the following for further information regarding annual physical: Nurse Lori McCormack lori.mccormack@fwcd.org Trainer Ed Chisholm ed.chisholm@fwcd.org Trainer Chelsea Procter-Willman chelsea.procter@fwcd.org