November 30, 2006 Issue                                       

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©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Sports

GA girls shine in first hoops scrimmage
by TOM UTESCHER

Sophomore Jesse Carey, made a verbal commitment to the University of Connecticut. (Photos by Pack Jr.) For more photos visit www.chlocalphotos.com

No one would suggest that the other six Girls Inter-Ac schools should simply cede the 2006-2007 title to Germantown Academy before the first league game is played, but judging by the Patriots’ performance in their opening scrimmage last Friday, it’ll be rough going for anyone attempting to prevent the Pats from winning their ninth straight championship.

In GA’s 32-minute game-format scrimmage with visiting St. Hubert’s, the scoreboard was set back to zero at the end of the each quarter, but those who kept a running score found that by the end of the session, the Patriots had outpointed the Bambies, 74-15.

“I was very impressed by the chemistry,” commented Germantown coach Sherri Retif, whose squad appeared to be in mid-season form already.

“We were running a new offense,” she revealed, “and I was concerned about how much fluidity we would have out there, but we had a lot. We’re spreading the court more and looking to be more creative, as opposed to running a real structured offense. The girls will have to rely more on their instincts, and their instincts are good.”

Athletes sign scholarship agreements
by TOM UTESCHER

Colleen Magarity signs a scholarship agreement to play lacrosse for Northwestern University as her parents, Lisa and Joe, look on.

A number of local high schoolers had their pens at the ready on November 8, which was the first day when athletes could officially sign scholarship agreements with NCAA Division I colleges.

Germantown Academy lacrosse midfielder Colleen Magarity, the daughter of local auto dealer Joe Magarity, inked her paperwork for Northwestern University, the two-time defending NCAA Division I national champions.

New hoops coaches for Mount, Springside
by TOM UTESCHER

New Springside head coach Don Paettie with team tri-captains (left to right) Kira Theuer, Emily Duffy, and Nan Weisel. (Photos by Tom Utescher)

The basketball teams at Springside School and Mount St. Joseph Academy will each have a new hand on the tiller this season, as Don Paettie takes over the helm for the Lions and John Miller becomes the new skipper for the Mount Magic.

GFS Sports wrap-up

The following is a list of Germantown Friends School teams and their final season accomplishments.

MountSt. Joe’s fall crew round-up
by TOM UTESCHER

Mount juniors Devon Stewart (left) and Meg Kehan were selected to attend the East Coast High Performance Camp conducted by the U.S. Junior Women’s National Team earlier this month. (Photo by Tom Utescher)

Last Saturday Mount St. Joseph Academy rowers rang down the curtain on their fall training season and welcomed back former teammates to their Conshochocken boathouse at the school’s annual crew Class Day. After head coach Megan Kennedy presided over the ceremonial portion of the gathering, current members of the team sallied forth onto the Schuylkill for some friendly competition with some MSJ alumni and members of the burgeoning “Mount Moms” crew.

The Magic paid tribute to the man who gave most of them their grounding in the sport, Jim Glavin, who has retired after spending six years with the program. During much of his tenure he worked with the team’s novice rowers, guiding the Mount’s freshman eight to the gold medal at each of the last three scholastic national championship regattas.

GFS cross-country runners excel at Footlocker Northeast Regional Championships

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the Germantown Friends School cross-country runners traveled to Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, New York for the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Championships.

Players’ dedication, coaches’ plan led to Mount hockey success
by TOM UTESCHER

Junior Katie Reinprecht led the Mount’s scoring attack this fall, finishing the season with 32 goals and 34 assists. (Photo by Lene White)

When Mount St. Joseph Academy ended its 2002 field hockey season under first-year coaches Lois Weber and Tina Reinprecht, the local sticksters’ objectives for the immediate future were to win the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies title, advance deeper into the District One Class AAA tournament and make their first appearance in the PIAA state playoffs.

At the close of the 2006 campaign, the Magic had attained that goal, and much more. After seizing their third straight AACA crown and then capturing the District One championship for the first time, the Mounties continued their winning ways in the PIAA tournament. They kept on going until they reached the state championship game, where they finally succumbed to Lower Dauphin High School by a score of 2-1.

An unwavering commitment by the team’s mentors and by the girls themselves led to steady improvement for the Mount St. Joe franchise.

“It’s a gradual thing,” Weber noted. “It takes years to build a program.”