We are the CHAMPIONS!
What an exciting close to our fall sports season as our girls soccer and volleyball teams brought home championship wins! Read more from our head coaches about their seasons and championship game highlights:
This was my ninth year coaching the girls soccer team and it has been great; all memories are treasured. The last two years have been my most successful seasons as we ended as co-league champions with Rockbridge and runner’s up in the tournament finals in 2021 and won the league and tournament championship game in 2022.
We had a young team with most of our players returning, and we have two new additions. At the beginning of the season, I usually set a theme, and this season it was commitment. We focused on staying committed to the process because winning a championship is never easy. We started with a soccer camp, prayed before our training sessions and re-iterated our goals for the season.
Our team featured six seniors returning for their final year: Hannah Crawford, Aster Hill, Loren McLaughlin, Jaya Robinson and our captains Sofia Larsen and Zoi Whitsett. We featured two new additions Abigail McLauglin and Noelle Thomas. Returning from last year was Kiera Salazar, Julianna Crawford, Noelle Abdullah, Madison Baldwin and Keziah George. We started our season with a commanding victory against King’s Christian Academy. Our season progressed without much difficulty in terms of opponents. Our only real challenge was Rockbridge, and we beat them twice in what seemed to be close games.
Throughout the season, we had several players that stood out. Kiera Salazar (First Team All League) is a prolific goal scorer with 18 goals and the clutch player in final regular season game. Kiera scored a brace: one in regular time and one in extra time to defeat Rockbridge 2-1 for the league title. Noelle Thomas (Second Team All League), a freshman, helped the team with 16 goals in regular season and scored a stunning Golden goal in the tournament finals against Rockbridge to secure our first tournament championship. Keziah George (Second Team All League), a freshman, scored 13 goals with a break-out moment scoring a double hat-trick (6 goals) in one game. Zoi Whitsett (First Team All League) scored 14 goals and is our tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) for her exceptional ball handling skills and her ability to control the game. A few other players that stood out were Julianna Crawford (Honorable Mention), a very solid player in the middle with 5 goals; Noelle Abdullah (Second Team All League) another solid midfield player with 4 goals; Loren McLaughlin (First Team All League) a defender with 3 goals and Sofia Larsen (First Team All League) who led the virtually impenetrable defense. Our goal keeper, Madison Baldwin (Honorable Mention), finished the season with three shut-outs and least goals conceded in the season. The following players were the silent heroes who played extremely well and were an integral part in our road to championship: Hannah Crawford (Honorable Mention), Aster Hill (Honorable Mention) who, scored one goal and Jaya Robinson (Honorable Mention). You could almost say we had a stacked team.
Last year I dubbed our team “history makers” as it was our first soccer championship. This year, I called them the “record breakers” as we went undefeated all season (8-0). We won the finals in sudden death or golden goal (extra time, first goal wins). It was a brutal final game and with about 10 minutes of play, two of our top players (Zoi Whitsett and Noelle Thomas) got injured. Thanks to a strong team, we were able to hold off the onslaught of Rockbridge soccer team until they returned. About 5 minutes into extra time, Julianna Crawford sent a cross into the middle of the pitch to Kiera Salazar. Kiera passed the ball to Noelle Thomas who took one touch then riffled it into the net for the game winner.
With half the team graduating, that was an awesome way to finish the year as the league and tournament champions. This is a worthy send off for our seniors. Next year we will be in a semi-rebuilding phase as we recruit some new players and I am super excited and looking forward to next season.
-Philip Verley, Head Coach
“Put a banner on that wall!” was one of the very first team goals announced and prayed over during the first practice of the season, and that memory was mentioned almost immediately as we piled into the van after our league championship win late that night.
This volleyball season has been prayed over and planned for by many people months before we ever stepped foot on the court. While I knew change was necessary, putting that change into action required hard work and wisdom from a plethora of experienced coaches. Under the leadership and support of our new Athletic Director, David McGlone, the volleyball department decided to move forward with those changes through developmental programs including camps, tryouts, and a junior varsity team. I believe the interest in this season’s middle school team is largely due to the success of our first summer camp week which was run by MS head coach, Helissa Cunningham. She and her MS assistant coach, April Smith, led a large group of girls to playoffs in a very successful season! Our JV team kickstarted under the willingness and leadership of head coach, Katelyn Foltz, and assistant coach, Jennifer George—a pair who brought their team through their first year in an impressive, undefeated season.
Varsity assistant coach, Angie Thornton, and I had such a unified vision in the development of our varsity team this season. As athletes jotted down their individual and team goals (including winning the championship), I recognized that our collective mindset as a team was aligned. I loved seeing them aim big and put in the work to get there. That desire to succeed was evidenced in their willingness to be challenged, corrected, and uncomfortable. These girls improved their skill and drew closer as a team practice after practice, game after game.
Unity was a driving force to the success of this team. The individual talent was undeniable, but I wanted a team that trusted one another both on and off the court. I desired the girls to share experiences beyond volleyball. This started early in the season with attendance on the Salisbury trip to play an out of league game. I knew the closer the girls were with one another off the court, the more they could trust one another on the court. That proved to be true much more immediately than anticipated, when our setter, Savannah Sylvestre, suffered an ankle injury during the third set of a five-set match that weekend. Her teammates rallied around her on the court, protecting her and covering her position. We suffered our first loss that day. But it was such a huge learning experience. I don’t think we would have continued with the same success rate this season without the challenge and unity from that game.
Each game this season brought difficulties, whether physical or mental, that developed and prepared our team for their championship game. The one that is most notable to our record was that first and only league loss against Takoma. That game gave our team a passion that was needed to continue developing through the season. Getting comfortable is one of the biggest dangers to the success of a team. I’m so grateful for the games that shook our girls up and made them uncomfortable–from practicing an entirely new lineup against Calverton to battling with Grace toward the end of the season. Each new challenge only brought our girls stronger. We’d watch footage, assess stats, and make changes. And having athletes that were passionate and remained coachable really made the difference!
Our championship game against Takoma encapsulated this season. Not only did our girls carry themselves with such kindness and grace that they were met with fan support from two opposing teams, but they were taking part of the first varsity volleyball championship game in SMCA’s history. This was one of the most high-pressure situations they have ever faced. After losing the first and third games, our girls entered their fourth game with a whole new pressure. In order to win that championship title—they were required to win two games in a row. AND THEY DID IT! How beautiful to have this season of growth end with a league season champion title and a championship win. Our tournament MVP, Tirzah George, said that the championship game, “really brought our strengths out” as she began describing her teammates’ athletic abilities. She followed by saying that the game, “showed how much we trust each other.” These varsity volleyball girls truly grew in unity and in talent. They put in the work each step of the way. I couldn’t be more proud to be their coach. A huge congratulations is due to Hannah Foltz (First Team All League), Lily Foltz, Tirzah George (Second Team All League), Kennadi Johnson (Honorable Mention), Andria Kirkendall, Eden Riley, Jaiyana West, Olivia Satterwaite (League MVP, First Team All League), and Savannah Sylvestre. This win was well deserved, and I’m so unbelievably proud of each of you. Congratulations to Coach Angie who has provided such valuable expertise, support, and motivation to this team. Girls have mentioned to me that her words have given them the drive when they need it most! Also, much love and thanks to Jesus – our King! We are blessed.
– Katelyn Young, Head Coach