Panther Pride! Athletics Update

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. 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

volleyball

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.

cross country

tennis

soccer

The cross country program made tremendous strides under new coach Kim Smith. With a fresh, aggressive training approach, both the Upper and Middle School teams improved greatly. The Upper School Varsity team easily recorded the best season in school history. In early September, Archer won the championship of the Providence Invitational in Burbank, the first time the Panthers have won an invitational. The girls then ran in the prestigious Mt. SAC Invitational in Walnut, an event featuring teams from across the country. Archer recorded a top ten finish in the Mt. SAC small schools division, then followed that up with a best ever third place finish in the Delphic League. Julia Gordon ’12 and Jasmine Chen ’13 led the way; both were named to the Delphic All-League team.

Tennis also entered into a new era as coaches Paige Bartelt and Julio Rivera took over a young Varsity team and launched the School’s first-ever JV team. Tennis, like volleyball, played in a competitive league featuring schools three divisions higher. Both teams raised their level throughout the season, evidenced by the Varsity team’s 4-2 record outside of league, including a huge win over rival Crossroads. Sophomore sensation Chloe Mills led the way for the girls, while junior Austin Maddox and senior Masha Brumer also made big contributions. Considering the strides made by the JV team and the fact that there will be a Middle School team competing in the spring, the Panther tennis program is on the rise.

Varsity soccer, despite losing four starters to graduation, finished the regular season with a 12-6 overall record, 5-3 in league play. By taking 2nd place in the Delphic League, the team automatically qualifies for the CIF Division VII playoffs, which begin February 15. Season highlights include a huge 4-1 home win over Campbell Hall on December 8 and a strong showing in the Bellflower High School Varsity Soccer Tournament over the Winter Break. While many players made huge contributions, junior Izzy Rust has been stellar in goal, while senior Megan Loughman has led the way on offense.

The Archer School for Girls

The New Harold Richards Athletic Court

The Harold Richards Court is the latest addition to The Archer School for Girls campus. Installed over the course of two months last summer, the new athletic courts are composed of various materials, including elements from thousands of recycled sneakers. This new space, which accommodates volleyball, basketball and other activities, was made possible by a generous contribution made in memory of a beloved Archer grandparent. Our athletic space was also enhanced by the installation of a new, outdoor scoreboard. Since the first serve on the court was put into play in early October, the Harold Richards Court has been the site of numerous Archer wins.

Following up on an 11-8 record and a CIF playoff appearance last season, the Varsity team compiled a 16-7 overall record in regular play. They took 2nd place in league with a final record of 7-3. The team is currently ranked #5 in the CIF Division 5A, the highest ranking ever for an Archer Varsity team. The girls won three straight games the first week of December to capture The Buckley School Holiday Basketball Classic championship, including a final game win over Paraclete High School of Lancaster. For the first time ever, players, parents and coaches jumped onto a ferry and into Archer sports history as they sailed to Catalina Island for the Avalon Basketball Classic. It was the first ever “travel” tournament for an Archer team, and the girls took full advantage of the opportunity, winning three of four games to finish in 2nd place. Ninth grader Maia Barnett and 11th grader Coco Maurice were named “AllTournament” at both of the tournaments.

The equestrian team has made a strong showing this year. After three shows, Archer is ranked 3rd overall out of 70 schools. While all of the riders are working hard and placing well, we have had a couple of individuals stand out: 9th grader Hero Stevenson is ranked 1st within the freshman division and 7th grader Ella Angel is ranked 1st within the novice division. We expect to continue to see great things from this talented group of 20 riders at our last show on April 16.

Visit www.archer.org for the most up-to-date athletic information.

basketball

equestrian

“I am a three sport athlete (volleyball, basketball, and softball). Playing sports at Archer has really helped me with my time management. I feel honored to be a part of the Athletic

Program here because of all the progress we have made in the past few years. As a student athlete, I have support from my teammates, family, teachers, friends, and especially my coaches. ” - Maia Barnett, Class of 2014