Artemis Magazine February 2011
panther Pride! from the athletic director
“Sports do not build character, they reveal it,” legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden often said. That being the case, plenty of character has been on display at The Archer School for Girls. Forty percent of the student body participates in sports, which has kept the athletic department busy as, together with our athletes, we build a successful program. Archer offers competitive teams in volleyball, tennis, cross country, basketball, soccer, softball, swimming, track and equestrian.
The “secret” to the success of the program is no secret at all, it can be found each day in practice. Archer players and coaches enthusiastically put forward their best effort at each and every practice. Coaches name a “Practice Player of the Day” at every practice, and this has become a great source of pride among our student-athletes. Honoring practice and building solid fundamentals in the Middle School have laid the proper foundation for Upper School accomplishments.
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New teams have been added to the Middle School this year (swimming and tennis) along with an off-season program for all levels that fits into Archer’s multi-talented base of students. The progression from Middle to Upper School and the off-season training have been key in developing the skills needed to succeed. The fact that orders for Varsity letter jackets have tripled over the last two years is indicative of the pride our athletes take in their involvement.
A top program also requires help from outside of the teams. Thanks to a generous donor, the new outdoor Harold Richards Court hosts Middle School basketball and volleyball practices and games. New scoreboards, equipment and storage areas have made management of the activities more efficient. A partnership with Adidas has provided the sharp look our student-athletes work for and deserve. This past summer I attended the memorial of John Wooden (1910-2010). What impressed me most was not the
staggering accomplishments he and his teams accomplished, but the lessons his athletes learned about life. Our athletic department understands the responsibility we have and enjoy the challenge of teaching through sports. Each day we arrive at our offices, the quote at the top of our stairs from Coach Wooden reminds us: “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” -Denny Lennon, Athletic Director
After a stellar 2009 Varsity volleyball season, one that saw the Panthers win the Delphic League championship and advance to the CIF playoffs, the team faced a huge challenge in 2010. Conference rules stipulated that, based on a strong record the previous year and despite the fact Archer is a 5A school (1AA is the top division), the team would move up to the Alpha League. Archer was matched with the four other 3A teams in league play, three of whom advanced to the CIF section semifinals! While the Varsity and JV teams fought to win even single games within a match, they clearly raised their overall level of play. Playing a competitive non-league schedule, Varsity and JV posted a combined 13-10 record. Varsity opposite/setter Leslie Baker ’12 was named to the Alpha All-League second team, while the defensive wizardry of libero Lindsay Levesque ’13 earned her first team honors. Considering the Varsity started three sophomores, two juniors and a freshman, the future looks bright for the program. Further evidence of a bright future was the performance of Archer’s Middle School volleyball team. The Panthers stormed through the 20-school Pacific Basin League playoffs, advancing all the way to the championship game. Along the way was an epic third game overtime victory on the Harold Richards Court over New Roads as well as an exciting game three win on the road over favored Turning Point. Archer’s volleyball program is in great shape to compete against the best for years to come.
