Audrey Shaud ’28
Jaina Markle ’28
Keira Gallagher ’28
Photo courtesy of Max Boyko ’28
Field Hockey
Being ranked the #2 team in the country, the Episcopal Academy Girls’ Field Hockey Team has had a remarkable season, built on hard work and determination. Led by captains Eliana deGennaro ’26 and Inter-AC MVP Rebecca Block ’26, the field hockey team had an overall record of 18-2, finishing 2nd in the Inter-Ac and runner-up at the PAISAA championships. “Everyone has really stepped up to fill in roles. We were really efficient, working hard every day, especially in pre-season, which was huge for us,” states deGennaro when reflecting on the team’s accomplishments this past season. Head varsity coach Paul Zelenak says the team’s greatest accomplishments include, “big wins over Hill and Villa, and going into every game with the right mindset.” With their passion, unity, and persistence, the Field Hockey team has proven their capability, establishing themselves as a top team on the national level.
Boys’ Golf
Led by senior co-captains Jimmy Warmkessel ’26 and Will Krietsch ’26, this year’s Episcopal Academy Boys’ Golf Team will certainly go down as one of the best in history, finishing with a record of 33-3-4. Krietsch reflects on the team’s goals going into this season, recalling, “Winning the Inter-Ac was a huge goal for us, since we haven’t won that in 10 years.” The team completed this goal with ease, and junior Freddy Hartman ’27 was named the league MVP. The team also went on to win the PAISAA championships and other crucial non-conference matches, including defeating the reigning PIAA state champions: Unionville High School. The team demonstrated immense growth and success from August to November, and they closed out their season with an impressive win over the Haverford School, the first step toward reclaiming the sweater.
Boys’ Soccer
Varsity Boys’ Soccer had an impressive season, finishing with an overall record of 14-4-1 and 3rd place in the Inter-Ac. The team was led by senior captains Caleb Lebowitz ’26, Mikey McGonagle ’26, and Frank Shanahan ’26. “We have some really strong senior leaders. We have 14 seniors in this year’s group, so it’s a large group, and [they all] have been very impactful throughout the season, throughout their career, and helping develop younger players, ” states Head Coach Zachary Ward. This talented and impactful group was a key contributor to some of the team’s greatest accomplishments this season, including regular season wins against The Haverford School and The Westtown School, two dominant programs in the area. Together, this year’s team set a high standard for the teams that will follow.
Football
Finishing their season with a crucial win against The Haverford School to bring home the sweater after six years, this year’s football team will leave its mark on Episcopal for years to come. Reflecting on the team’s season, Head Coach Todd Farlie remarks, “I think we’ve reached a lot of team goals, in terms of player development and team culture, the things we strive for outside just a win-loss record.” The team ended as Inter-Ac champions with a 9-1 record, making it one of only six teams to ever do so in EA history. Led by captains Jackson Orcutt ’26, Jamil Abdul-Malik ’26, and Dorian Dabney ’26, this year’s senior class fueled the historic season. Abdul-Malik states, “There was a lot of senior leadership and juniors stepping up to the plate, when a couple guys went down, people were there to step up, which was great. We just wanted a winning season, and now we’ve actually been able to achieve a positive record.”
Girls’ Water Polo
The Girls’ Water Polo team came into the season with the goal of improving their 5-11 record from last year. In the words of head coach and Upper School English teacher, Anna Safford, the captains Ari Roth ’26, Kathleen Stubbing ’26, and Ivie Enakhimion ’26, acted as “the glue of the team, advocating for all of our girls, and the sport as a whole”. All three captains had an impact on both the offensive and defensive ends. They prioritized the team’s goals every step of the way, helping the girls to end the season 9-7. The Girls’ Water Polo team finished 3rd overall at Easterns, including a triple-overtime win over Hill and a double-overtime win over Lawrenceville, showing that they are not only a team that can consistently level up, but also a team to be feared.
Photo courtesy of Max Boyko ’28
Girls’ Soccer
Entering preseason, the Girls’ Soccer team was filled with uncertainty after graduating 15 seniors and returning only one starter. The group was led by co-captains Caitlin McCarthy ’26, Caroline Johnston ’26, and Inter-Ac MVP Sofia Gagliardi ’26. Starting out as the underdogs and losing a few non-conference games, they were largely underestimated. However, they quickly responded by growing stronger from previous setbacks and finishing 12-0 in league play. “Going undefeated is impressive on its own, but scoring 36 goals, allowing only 2, and earning 9 shutouts in 11 games is a whole other level,” states Head Coach Andrew Fraggos. Their impressive Inter-Ac play didn’t end with their triumph on Agnes Irwin day, as the girls went on to beat the Westtown School in a thrilling PAISAA championship match, the perfect ending for such an impressive season.
Girls’ Tennis
The Girls’ Tennis team, once again, captured both the Inter-Ac and PAISAA titles. They also earned a thrilling victory over Lawrenceville, the result of a season motivated by improvement in skill, teamwork, mental toughness, and competitive energy. Led by senior captains Avery Morris ’26 and Nora Bailer ’26 – four-time Inter-Ac and two-time PAISAA Champions – the team continued its tradition of excellence. “One of the biggest challenges that comes with long-term success is avoiding complacency”, remarked Head Coach Whitaker Powell, who believes the seniors helped the team face this challenge. Their ability to balance fun with focus shaped the team’s identity, propelling the program to finish 11-1.
Girls’ XC
The Girls’ Cross Country team, led by Head Coach Lauren Finnical and co-captains Grace Schoenstein ’26 and Kendra Williamson ’27, had a very successful season. The girls finished 1st at Delco Champs, 2nd in PAISAAs, 3rd in the Inter-Acs, and ninth at the Paul Short Run gold race, which was the team’s best finish so far. On top of their successes on the course, the team had a lot of fun with the seniors, bringing a positive energy to practice every day. Finnical gives her final remarks to the team, saying, “I’m just really proud of them. They come out every day and work really hard, and they’re a really fun group to be with.” Their goal of being competitive at Delco’s was achieved, with thanks being given to the seniors’ building of team chemistry and momentum.
Boys’ XC
The Boys’ Cross Country team went into the season with a lofty goal of winning their sixth Inter-Ac title in a row, and they rose up to meet it. They were also second at PAISAA, third at Delco’s, and third at the Abington Invitational. Head Coach Jim Farrell attributes this success to the boys’ dedication, saying, “Right from the very beginning, they bought in.” The initial challenge of only having one returning senior, Captain Curtis Connor ’26, was relieved by the accompaniment of Michael Chadwick ’26. Additionally, strong leadership was present in the junior class, especially in co-captains Will Patterson ’27 and Kyle Zhang ’27. Farrell recalls from one of their meets: “It was a good culmination of a lot of hard work.” This hard work certainly paid off as the boys’ win on Haverford Day helped to bring the sweater home.
Boys’ Water Polo
The Boys’ Water Polo Team had a very successful season, finishing 22-6 and second at Easterns, while also seeing a lot of improvement from players all over the pool. The seniors, especially captains Tyler Mantash ’26, Lance Bowman ’26, and Inter-Ac MVP Khoi Tran, played a pivotal role in this success by showing the younger players how to be smarter, better water polo players. The boys were able to consistently come together and focus on their mechanical skills, while also maintaining the mindset of making the right habits. Head Coach Max Kelly ’06 emphasizes the importance of this, saying “[We] focus on the process over the outcome, and therefore we just play harder, smarter, more than anyone else will go.” He expresses his pride in the team, noting their ability to move the culture of EA Water Polo in a positive way.
