Girls’ Soccer
The Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team persevered through this year’s 2024 fall season with grit and teamwork. With an overall record of 15-5-1 and a record of 9-2-1 in the Inter-Ac, the girls showed up this season with hard work and determination throughout each practice and game. Led by Co-Captains, Maya Bright ’25, Lauren Creamer’25, and Quinn Whitaker ’25 along with a returning senior class of fifteen players. Head Coach Andy Fraggos speaks to the camaraderie of the team, saying, “The senior class is a really fun group of girls, they have been making it fun for years.” He greatly appreciates the leadership and efforts demonstrated by the fifteen members of the senior class, “they are a very talented group, and we will miss the competitive culture that they brought to practices and games.” Their victory against Agnes Irwin on AIS Day is by far the most memorable part of the season. “We had our ups and downs this year and not everything went our way but, our victory on AIS showed who we are as a team, we came together and ended on an amazing win,” remarks captain Quinn Whitaker ’25.
Girls’ Field Hockey
The Girls’ Field Hockey Team, captained this year by Caroline Powell ’25, and Arden Mankovich ’25 dominated each challenge with an overall record of 14-7-1. With an intense schedule, “the team fought really hard in very close competition and we kept up with the teams we faced” remarks Head Coach Paul Zelenak. The season was marked by teamwork and competitive energy. Some memorable moments according to Zelenak are, “Beating Kingsway, sweeping the Max field hockey tournament, and our AIS day triumph.” But, the more important moments according to Zelenak were the “fun practices, especially Halloween practice, along with the energy every day, and being able to have fun even in intense situations.”
Girls’ Tennis
With astounding success, the Girls’ Tennis Team took on this season with fierce pressure and success in order to dominate their opponents. Led by captain Carter Yearley ’25 the team had an impressive record of 22-1. With a reputation for success and room for little failure, the young team stepped up to the challenge. Yearley’s leadership steered the team through every match. Every player competed to the best of their ability this season but, most noticeably, Carter Yearley ’25, Avery Morris ’26, and Gwen Morris ’28 stood out with their impressive performances. “The energy of the team was always high, every match everyone came to play and this is what led to our success,” remarks Morris. The girls’ impressive victory on AIS day was also their PAISSA championship winner, ending their season on a high note.
Girls’ Cross Country
Despite the tough competition, the Girls’ Cross Country Team took this season in stride by having fun, running their fastest, and never giving up on each other. Led by Megan Reagle ’25 and Joy Ying ’25, the girls lifted each other up. “The team spirit was really good this year, everyone was happy and supportive of their other teammates which made the atmosphere really enjoyable,” remarks Ying. With a senior class of seven, the leadership was strong and effective towards the newer runners on the team. Sophomore Kendra Williamson ‘27, had an astonishing win at the Delco races and broke a school record at EA’s home course with a time of 18:22. Head Coach Lauren Finnical remarks that the senior class was “a solid group, with Ellie Moran and Tatum Schmedlin contributing their leadership and voices. The overall progress of the team this season was tremendous, despite the loss on AIS day, each and every runner gave their best times and effort.”
Girls’ WaterPolo
With an overall record of 5-11,the varsity girls water polo team faced some challenges this season but were able to Head Coach Max Kelly talks about how captains Bridget Murphy ‘25 and Talia Thomas ‘25 “ did a great job bringing the group together.” Although it was a tough season the girls were “always in the games, there was never a point when they were too far out of touch of scoring distance.” The camaraderie of the team this season was positive and brought the girls closer together. “We are such a family and we embrace the toughness and drive that the sport forces you to have. We have all gone through tough times together and it makes us super close.” remarks Co Captain Thomas.
Boys’ Soccer
Varsity Boys’ Soccer found success in and outside of the Inter-Ac league. Captained by Evan MacFarland ’25 and Dylan Vengoechea ‘25, the boys qualified for the PAISSA final for the first time in program history, fighting bravely and passionately and securing a second-place finish. Head Coach Zachary Ward states, “Every season there are challenges in the way that the team meshes, but we could always rely on the seniors, and not just the captains. They all set a standard for younger guys to follow.” To Ward, the best parts of the season were “Scoring goals even when playing away in a new field or environment, competing hard on EA/Haverford day, and working through adversity—the team’s mentality was never lacking.” Furthermore, he found several moments and players’ performances exceptional, including Mikey McGonagle ’26’s last-minute game-winner during the semi-finals at the PAISSA tournament, Graham Roe ’27’s game-winner in overtime versus Penn Charter, Will Cohen ’25’s two goals against Malvern, and Rahul Bhan ’25’s goal against Germantown Academy.
Boys’ Football
Overcoming vast challenges, the Varsity Football team had a difficult season. Having graduated a large class of seniors, Head Football Coach Todd Fairlie states, “Many athletes had to play on the field in different areas than what they were used to.” The team pushed through unprecedented injuries, with many athletes stepping up and stepping into new roles. According to Fairlie, the group of seniors this season was “selfless, and learned to be patient and positive as we grew as a team.” The ability to be both supportive and understanding is a difficult thing, yet the group persevered through everything that was against them. Some parts of the season that stood out to Fairlie were Co-Captain Jake Virbistky’s ’25 “incredible touchdown which he caught on senior night,” and Jackson Orcutt’s ’26 “consistency, especially given that other teams could predict that we would throw him the ball.”
Boys’ Golf
With a young and passionate team, Varsity Boys’ Golf was led by Junior Co-Captains, Will Krietsch ’26 and Jimmy Warmkessel ’26. Head Golf Coach Doug Borgerson states, “The coaches were extremely pleased with the leadership the two provided. They made sure to include everyone, implementing an uplifting program.” Additionally, without any seniors, Borgerson notes that it was a “challenge but also a blessing. The five returning lettermen stepped up with their performances, playing at a high level all year, winning several events along the way.” Specifically, Liam Crowley ’27 and Freddy Hartmann ’27 both averaged 36 for nine holes throughout the fall—a feat that only a few skilled golfers can accomplish. Furthermore, the team had an extremely successful season, opening the first league event of the year winning by nine shots, and ultimately tying for second in the Inter-Ac, along with a third-place finish in the PAISAA Championship. Additionally, a new school record score was shot at Merion West (177).
Boys’ Cross Country
One of the most dominant programs in EA sports history, the Boys’ Cross Country team finished strong this season, winning the Inter-Ac for the fourth time in a row. The team ran the fastest-ever average in the Inter-Ac championship race. Head Coach Jim Farrell comments, “There’s always that target on our back coming into the year because every team wants to beat us, but we overcame that challenge because of the great leadership and even better group of kids.” Although it may be easy to become four-year champions, the team never sold themselves short. Working together, they beat Penn Charter, which according to Coach Farrell is “The most competition we’ve had in four years.” Additionally, the team worked around Co-Captain Eli Engelman’s ’25 stress-fracture injury, achieving goals that may have seemed unrealistic at the start of the season. Coach Farrell states, “The boys were always easy to coach, and with such great leadership—not just from our captains or top seven runners—it made it fun for us to just be around them.”
Boys’ Water Polo
The Boys’ Water Polo team overturned last year’s losing season, finishing second overall in the Inter-Ac, and third at the Eastern Preparatory School Tournament. Head Coach Max Kelly says, “There were challenges in the fact that we were a young and relatively inexperienced team, so we had to overcome that by buying into a different style of play that relied on our strengths.” The team ultimately found success in their speed and decision-making, which developed a tougher mentality and facilitated many successes in tight situations. “The camaraderie of the team was very noticeable, and the captains did a great job of uniting the guys all together,” says Kelly. Kelly’s highlights of the season were beating Germantown Academy on senior day and clinching two tight victories against The Lawrenceville School, both in double overtime. Overall, Kelly states that the team “played together, played for each other, and believed in one another.”