Tennis
By Shashank Jejurikar ’13, Contributor.
When the CCDS men’s varsity tennis squad set out for the 2012 Spring season, their goal was clear: make it to state for the first time in Country Day history. Led by captains Michael Barton ’13 and Patrick Wildman ’14 and spearheaded by first singles player Asher Hirsch ’15, the team surpassed this goal, not only making it to state, but returning with a very respectable third-place finish. The first match of the year saw the best singles lineup in the city rip through their conference rival Seven Hills, while the doubles players struggled. As the singles maintained their victorious consistency throughout the season, the doubles eventually found their rhythm and proved to be a force of their own. The leading doubles duo of freshmen Will Cohen ’15 and Chase Tholke ’15 were a constant threat to Country Day’s opponents, ending their season with a victory in the final state match. The other doubles players – Leonard Behrens ’15, Ani Kosaraju ’13, Shashank Jejurikar ’13, and Amar Mehta ’12 – all recorded multiple victories in the latter half of the season, culminating when Jejurikar and Tholke won a doubles match on the ATP center court during the sectional tournament. However, the true heroes of Country Day’s tennis team were its best players: Barton, Wildman, and Hirsch. The day before the state team tournament, Wildman and Hirsch played in the individual tournament, earning 2nd and 3rd place respectively, each outstanding feats. The two, with Michael Barton, proceeded to be the leading force in the acquisition of the coveted bronze trophy. With eight players returning next year, the men’s varsity team looks forward to an even more successful 2013 season.
Boys’ Track:
By Edwin Sam ‘13, Sports Section Editor.
Led by standout seniors Jordan Patterson ’12 and Kyle Kistinger ’12, the 2012 Boys’ Track team collected many accolades including five school records, a team MVC championship, and a team district championship. With the motto “Down with ‘Dre” (referencing Country Day’s 1990s record holding sprinter Andre Barkley), Patterson broke a school record of 22.18 in the 200 meter dash. Along with fellow senior Robert Settles ’12 and juniors Trent Babb ’13 and Brian Burnett ’13, he also helped break the school record in the 4×200 relay and came within .08 seconds of the school record in the 4×100 relay, both of which qualified for the state meet. In track, the top four finishers in each of the four districts go on to the regional meet and the top four finishers in each of the four regions go to the state meet. Junior Edwin Sam ’13 triumphed in both the league title and district title in the 110m hurdles before falling (literally) in the regional finals. The long-distance squad, containing mostly seniors also contributed to the team’s success. Kistinger smashed school records in the 800m run (1:57.80), 1600m run (4:18.69) and 3200m run (9:42.50), qualifying for the state meet in both the mile and two-mile. Also winning a spot at regionals, the 4x800m relay of Kistinger, Jonas Luebbers ’12, Tyler Spaeth ’12, and Michael Morgan ’12 placed second in the district. Luebbers additionally went to regionals, securing 4thplace in the district in the 3200m run. In the field events, Alex Levinson ’12 (Pole Vault), De’vere Highsmith ‘12 (Shot Put), Trent Babb (High Jump), and Brian Burnett (Long Jump) all qualified for regionals.
Girls’ Track:
By Edwin Sam ’13, Sports Section Editor.
With a potent combination of superior relays and strong individual events, the Girls’ track team continued its dominance of the league, district, and region. Many underclassmen had breakout seasons including Paige Bennett ’14 and Kaitlin Harden ’15, the hard-working pair of 800 runners who won 3rd and 4th place respectively in the MVC and 1st and 2nd place respectively in the district. The two were also vital parts of the 4×800 relay which along with Shelley Menifee ’14 and either Kira Hughes ’15 or Mackenzie Levine won the district championship and placed 2nd in the MVC. The 4×400 relay of Harden, Bennett, Shelley Menifee ’14, and Erika Armstead ’12 won the league while the sensational 4×100 relay of Armstead, Sydney and Shelley Menifee, and Dorian Bell ’12 won each the league, district, and region before placing 2nd in the state. Field events also contributed to their success as Sadie Lindner ‘12 placed 3rd in both the MVC and district in the Pole Vault, and Armstead won district and region, and placed 6th at the state meet in the Long Jump. In addition, Armstead won the league title and placed 3rd in the 100m dash before placing 2nd in the league and 4th in the District in the 200. Lastly, Sydney and Shelley Menifee both had strong seasons. Sydney placed 3rd in the MVC in the 100m dash while Shelley placed 2nd in the league in the 400 and won the district and regional titles in the 300m hurdles. The future of the girls’ track program looks bright as the young runners carry the program in the next few years.
Baseball:
By Brad Hammoor ’12, Contributor.
The CCDS men’s baseball team was led by the play of senior captain Reeve Hoover ‘12 who topped the team leader-boards in hits, steals, and runs batted in. Hoover was selected to the first team all-league, was the team MVP, and currently awaits the decision of whether he will be a member of the all-state team. Other players honored were senior captain Brad Hammoor ‘12 (second team all-league) and freshman Austin Richey ‘15 (honorable mention all-league). The team was very young this year, having only two seniors and improved greatly as the season progressed. Injuries to Hoover and Cameron Alldred ‘15 hindered the Indians’ pitching staff early in the season but the gap was filled by great performances by Austin Harden’14, Austin Frohn’15, and Luke Hall ’13. Richey was selected as the team’s most valuable pitcher and looks forward to a great career on the mound and at the plate. Alldred, too, is a promising freshman who can switch-hit and throw a mean knuckleball, making him an all-around asset as well. As the seniors depart, their shoes will be filled by very capable juniors such as Elliot Cofer ‘13 (second base), Sam Fossett‘13 (shortstop), and Sam Hall ‘13 (centerfield). The Indians look to a bright future with their wealth of young talent.
Softball:
By Annie Nesbitt ’13, A&E Section Editor.
The 2012 girls’ softball team took great steps this year. Led by four seniors (pitcher Caitlin Hilberg, catcher Rachel Neal, third baseman Gail Yacyshyn, and right fielder Adriana Ungerleider), the team easily garnered a 7-3 record in the league, winning their second MVC championship in a row. With an overall record of 9-8, the team won many games by a mercy rule, meaning they automatically won after leading by 10 runs by the fifth inning. Key moments include a victory over Lockland 10-0 and Hilberg’s two homeruns. The team surpassed last year’s overall record of 6-9 by beating each CHCA and New Miami twice, neither of which were beaten last year. Despite losing in the sectional tournament to Seven Hills, the team continues to improve. Other key players include Preeya Waite ’13, Meg Lazarus ’13, Annie Nesbitt ’13, Kelsey Zimmers ’14, and Caroline Gentile ’13. Hilberg, Neal, Yacyshyn, Zimmers, Nesbitt, and Waite all were recognized by the Miami Valley Conference.
Girls’ Lacrosse:
By Caroline Blackburn ’13, Contributor.
Country Day’s girl lacrosse team had a great year, ending the season with a stellar 12-5 record. After graduating a large number of seniors the year before, the Indians gained 7 freshmen whose propitious starts to their CCD careers played important roles in the successful season. Opening with a 14-2 victory over McAuley, Country Day then played Indian Hill and lost 10-11 in the final seconds. The squad showed heart, determination and resilience as they responded with an 8 game winning streak. Country Day lost only to Indian Hill, Division 1 Mount Notre Dame, Summit (ranked 12th in the state), Mariemont (ranked 7th). Captain and lone senior, Lily Cohen ’12, was critical to the Indians’ attack, proving to be a great leader who will certainly be missed. Along with junior Cassie Sachs ‘13 and sophomore Katie Barton ‘14, Cohen received second team all-district honors. Junior Julia Murphy ‘13 received honorable mention in the district and junior Caroline Blackburn ‘13 received first team all-district and second team all-Ohio honors. The team had a strong start to the post-season, winning 14-5 over Wyoming. Then, in a rematch with Indian Hill, CCDS fell in a close, heartbreaking overtime period by the score of 10-11, ending their season. After an excellent and satisfying season this year, the girls’ lacrosse team hopes to be even more successful next year!
Boys’ Lacrosse:
By Mitch Cruey ’12, Contributor.
Otherwise known as the “fastest game on two feet”, lacrosse often calls for 18-20 players (most of who being midfielders playing both offense and defense) at the very least to prevent fatigue. Without the luxury of a large roster, the 2012 men’s lacrosse team played 7 full games with a roster of 15, often using only 1 or 2 substitutes for the 10 players on the field. With an offense led by seniors Jake Dietz ’12, Timmy Macrae ’12, Ben Valido ’12, and junior Jack Victor ’13, the team scored a total of 73 goals. Despite a few games when the offense took some time to get rolling, it was extremely difficult to defend. On the other end of the field with a stout defense of senior Reed Davis ’12, sophomores Matt Fleischmann ’14 and Matt Valido ’14, anchored by senior goalkeeper Mitchell Cruey ’12, the Indians allowed 42 goals over the course of the season. When it all ended on senior night versus MVC rival Seven Hills, the Indians prevailed 11-8, concluding a 5-2 season. In a season defined by a lack of numbers, the Indians showed great perseverance to overcome this setback, with an average margin of victory of 10.25 goals for the 5 wins. The two blemishes on the team’s record came from a sudden-death overtime loss to Colerain and an eye-opening loss to the Dayton Lacrosse Club on Senior Skip Day. All-in-all, the 2012 men’s lacrosse team showed that CCD could still do great things on the athletic fields in the spring.
Girls’ Rowing:
By Jo Jeelani ’12, Contributor.
Medaling in the Oak Ridge, Hamilton, Midwest Scholastic and Midwest Junior regattas, the 2012 girls’ varsity rowing team had an incredible season. In their first regatta of the year in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the Indians shined with a third place finish for the girls’ varsity quad (Isabelle Hudson ’15, Jo Jeelani ’12, Hanna Gottschalk ’14, and Abby McInturf ’13) in addition to McInturf’s third place finish in the women’s varsity single. In Hamilton, the quad (Hudson, Gottschalk, Jeelani, and Celia Macrae ’16) won by multiple boat lengths, and the women’s double of Hudson and Macrae brought home silver. Country Day continued its success at the Midwest Scholastics, its nationals qualifying regatta. The junior quad (McInturf, Jayne Lester ’13, Kiersten Bannerman ’14, and Sarah Gamblin ’13) finished a close fourth, while the varsity quad (Hudson, Gottschalk, Macrae, and Jeelani) and lightweight double (Hudson and Macrae) came in first, qualifying for both Scholastic Nationals (SRAA) and Youth Nationals. At Midwest Juniors, the quad came in fourth and the double remained victorious, earning CCD yet another plaque. At SRAA, the quad (Hudson, Gottschalk, Macrae, and McInturf) ranked fifth in the nation.
Boys’ Rowing:
By Alec Bunge ’13, Contributor and Kailas Menon ’15, Contributor
Throughout the entire year, many boats of the boys’ rowing team were rewarded for their hard work, determination, and steadfast commitment. The Indians kept the Barbara Robinson Trophy (City Championships) with wins from the single (Alec Bunge ‘13), double (Bunge and Carter McMaster ‘14), and Quad (McMaster, Connor Frohn ‘13, Kailas Menon ‘15, and Henry Pease ‘12). Placing second and third respectively, freshman Menon and senior Pease each medaled in the varsity single. Frohn and Engelke won second place behind Bunge and McMaster in the varsity double. At Midwest Juniors, three boats competed in the grand finals. Bunge placed fourth in the varsity single while sophomores Jamie Ott ‘14 and Jack Findley ’14 finished second place in the second varsity double. Continuing the success of the city championship, the double of Menon and Pease placed second in the mens lightweight varsity double and Menon also came in first in the varsity single petite finals. Additionally, Frohn, Engelke, Mairal-Cruz, and Stafford won sixth place in the varsity quad. At Midwest Scholastics, Bunge won second place in the varsity single thereby qualifying for nationals. Senior Henry Pease and freshman Kailas Menon placed fourth in the Varsity Lightweight Double and Menon placed fourth in the varsity singles semifinals. Other wins included the men’s junior varsity double, with Frohn and Engelke, which finished second place. The men’s junior varsity quad of Frohn, Engelke, Mairal-Cruz, and Stafford won third place.
