Private School Stars Wrap Up Spring Sports Season

The spring season is in the final stretch, with only a few games left. Predictions: Episcopal Academy’s girls’ lacrosse team will win the Inter-Ac conference, Malvern Prep’s baseball team will top the Inter-Ac, and Tower Hill’s girls’ tennis team appear to have its competitors subdued.

Boys’ lacrosse, however, is a toss-up at press time: MaxPreps has Malvern Prep as #1 and the Haverford School as #2. Episcopal is #9. The three are tied in the Inter-Ac.

Boys’ Lacrosse

Malvern Prep’s lacrosse team is ranked the #1 team in Pennsylvania, 49th in the country. Coach Matt Mackrides said his team has played “the hardest schedule in the country this year,” earning a record of 16–7 through the season. Clearly the team has talented players.

Ranked #13 nationally by Inside Lacrosse and headed for Duke University, Michael Ortlieb, playing attack, has scored 39 goals and 22 assists at midseason. He said his “best talent is fitting into Malvern’s offensive system … whether inside on the crease or behind the goal at X.” Senior Jack Carroll plays defense for the team and committed to Cornell. His believes his best talents are “communication and ability to see plays develop before they happen.”

Playing midfield or attack, Jake Bickel is ranked #23 by Inside Lacrosse, which wrote he’s a “dedicated student and multisport athlete who’s disciplined, determined and … love[s] to compete.” He’s headed to Georgetown. Also at midfield is Logan Turley, who’s committed to Harvard.

Still, the Haverford School may be the stronger team. Haverford split their matches with Malvern Prep this season, losing the first in overtime but winning the second by two points. And the Inter-Ac has Haverford as #1. Malvern is #3! Episcopal is #2. Each has an 8–2 record in the conference, but Malvern has played many games outside the conference and has an overall winning percentage that’s only .696. Haverford’s is .765.

At defense, Gavin Cooper is said to “embrace contact and was a force around GLE (goal line extended).” He’ll join Army next season. Reece Childs “makes his presence felt at each level” and has “great speed and runs with power…. [He is] certainly skilled and a fantastic athlete.” He’s been recruited by the University of Pennsylvania. Midfielder Griff Meyer, who’s played since age 4, has exceptional hand speed and hustle and is headed for the University of Virginia.

Girls’ Lacrosse

Episcopal Academy, sporting a 99.90 rating at Inside Lacrosse and having won the Inter-Ac numerous times, is again in 1st place in girls’ lacrosse with a 17–0 overall record. Coach Josie Tomaino credits a “culture of discipline, unity and hard work,” and praised three senior athletes, all headed to top college programs.

Quinn Whitaker, midfielder, will attend Boston College, the #4 school according to Inside Lacrosse. She “plays with an effortless grace. She has a smooth, fluid style … Her lacrosse IQ is exceptional.” Midfielder Maura Irish “brings a gritty, physical edge to the game,” Tomaino said. “She’s aggressive and relentless … [with] a powerful shot and great field awareness…” She’s committed to Notre Dame, Inside Lacrosse’s #2 program. And Grace Holland, at goalkeeper, “brings intensity and accountability” and will join Whitaker at Boston College.

Agnes Irwin has been a worthy challenger. Currently ranked 3rd in Pennsylvania, the school has a 11–2 record under Coach Lauren Wray. Of five co-captains, Wray selected two from her “talented, close-knit” group: midfielders Mairyn Dwyer, ranked #11 nationally, and Caroline Chisholm, ranked #4. Wray called them “great leaders, inclusive … with excellent communication skills.” They’re “excellent role models for the younger players” and good students as well. Next year, Dwyer heads for the University of North Carolina, the #3 ranked school. Chisholm — also recruited for field hockey — is Boston University bound.

Baseball

Malvern Prep has a long record of baseball success: 26 Inter-Ac championships since 1980, with 11 wins under current coach Fred Hilliard. Plus 10 PAISSA championships (PA independent school league). In mid-May, they’re in 1st place with a 9–1 record in Inter-Ac play, 21–5 in PAISSA, and ranked #7 in Pennsylvania.

Outfielder Chase Ecker committed to William & Mary. At the end of April, he had a .368 batting average, six RBIs and scored seven runs in 19 at-bats. Junior Brady Abate was PAISSA’s RBI leader at the end of April. Teammate Ecker is #2.

Delaware Independent Schools league’s second place goes to Wilmington Friends School, with star catcher Ronny Berry. Just a sophomore, he’s hitting .414 mid-season, has three doubles, two triples, a home run and gets on base more than half the time.

Girls’ Tennis

Halfway through the season, Tower Hill School’s girls’ team has won all of its six tennis matches. Ava Emrich, Delaware’s #1 player, leads the team, shutting out all competitors. Coach Wendy Berkhover said she relies on “power, placement, strategy and figuring out her opponent. She’s got it all.” Interested in biology and the sciences, she’s verbally committed to Smith College.

Boys’ Tennis

In boys’ tennis, the Haverford School is 9–1 in Inter-Ac competition and 13–1 overall. It’s a consistent Inter-Ac winner, headed for a fourth year in a row.

Playing #1 singles is junior Kaiser Zhao, with a 10–2 record. At second singles is senior Phineas Manogue at 8–2, who’s headed for the University of Chicago. “When it comes to the on-court desire to win and competitiveness, the team follows Zhao’s lead,” said Coach Tracy Tooke. “The team is hard-working and intentional in its goal to continue Haverford’s long-standing history of being the best in the Inter-Ac.”

In second place in the Inter-Ac is Episcopal Academy. Starting at first singles for his second year was sophomore Preston Lubiniecki, the 3rd best PA player in the under-18 category and 75th nationally. Senior Connor Chambers ranked 21st in Pennsylvania and generally plays second singles. An excellent student, he’s taken many honors and AP classes in physics, math, history, statistics, chemistry and computer science.

Turning to Delaware, Tower Hill School was undefeated in boys’ tennis this season and headed for the playoffs. Its lead player, David Chen, is only a sophomore.

With a 10–3 record, Archmere Academy’s tennis team is 6th in Delaware, with two matches left in the regular season. Freshman Wika Sun, Delaware’s #4 player, has played mostly first singles and won all but one match. Senior Charlie Rittereiser, in second singles most of the season, won all his matches. Coach Kevin Comny reported, “Both are very strong from the baseline on both sides. Wika is remarkably composed under pressure.”

As the spring season ends, the area’s private schools are fighting to be the best. In lacrosse, Episcopal Academy’s girls have the edge, but Agnes Irwin is close behind. Malvern Prep, Haverford School and Episcopal will continue to struggle for dominance in lacrosse. Meanwhile Malvern will likely win in baseball and Haverford tennis. In Delaware, Tower Hill and Archmere have respectable positions in tennis and volleyball. It should be exciting. We wish all the individual players well.