Country Day’s varsity athletics teams recently wrapped the 2022–23 winter season. Our athletes and teams showcased their ability of high performance and competitiveness. Girls’ swimming earned the NCISAA 4A State Runner-Up title, along with several individual swimming and wrestling awards.
Boys’ Basketball
The Bucs ended their season with a winning record, expanding on last year’s success. The team competed competitively in the regular season, and in conference play. The Bucs ended their season in the NCISAA quarterfinals. Senior, Dallas Gardner, reached 1,000 career points and was chosen to play in the 2023 Private School All-Star game.
- First Team All-Conference: Dallas Gardner
- Second Team All-Conference: Amare Bethel
- NCISAA All-State: Dallas Gardner
Girls’ Basketball
After a year of progress and development, our girls’ team held strong during the regular season. The team advanced to the quarterfinals in the NCISAA playoffs and ultimately fell to Cannon School. Country Day’s girls’ basketball program continued its rise in both achievement and in participation.
- Second Team All-Conference: Margaret Blythe
Swimming
Bucs varsity swimming had another strong season, acquiring several conference and state achievements and recognitions. It was the Bucs first season in the Klein Aquatic Center, where they competed closely with other conference schools. At the state championship meet, our girls placed second overall, and our boys came in fifth. Twelve school records were broken at the state meet.
New school records:
Girls Swimming:
- 200 Medley Relay: Taylor Klein, Campbell Baumgartner, Esme Van Orden, Caroline Mallard
- 200 Freestyle- Julia McGovern
- 500 Freestyle- Julia McGovern
- 200 Freestyle Relay- Kaylee Daniell, Campbell Baumgartner, Julia McGovern, Taylor Klein
- 100 Breaststroke- Esme Van Orden
- 400 Freestyle Relay- Kaylee Daniell, Esme Van Orden, Julia McGovern, Caroline Mallard
Boys Swimming
- 200 Medley Relay- Marshall Pifer, Charlie O'Shea, Freddy Klein, Sawyer Krisko
- 200 Individual Medley- Freddy Klein
- 500 Freestyle- Freddy Klein
- 100 Backstroke- Marshall Pifer
- 100 Breaststroke- Charlie O'Shea
- 400 Freestyle Relay- Marshall Pifer, Sawyer Krisko, Charlie O'Shea, Freddy Klein
Additional Awards
Boys’ Swimming:
- Second Team All-Conference: Freddy Klein (200 IM), (500 Free) and Charlie O’Shea (100 Breaststroke)
- NCISAA All-State: Freddy Klein (200 IM) and Charlie O’Shea (100 Breaststroke)
Girls’ Swimming:
- First Team All-Conference: Taylor Klein, Campbell Baumgartner, Esme Van Orden, Caroline Mallard (200 Medley Relay); Kaylee Daniell, Campbell Baumgartner, Julia McGovern, Taylor Klein (200 Free Relay); Kaylee Daniell, Esme Van Orden, Julia McGovern, Caroline Mallard (400 Free Relay).
- Second Team All-Conference: Esme Van Orden (200 IM), Kaylee Daniell (50 Free), Caroline Mallard (100 Fly), and Esme Van Orden (100 Breaststroke)
Wrestling
Country Day’s wrestling had a season filled with achievement and success. Senior Dillon Kercher secured his 100th career win this season. The Bucs also placed first in the Blue & Gold Invitational at Cary Academy this season, taking the top spot out of 10 participating teams. After securing wins at the conference and state meet, seniors Dillon Kercher, Derrick Boskie, and Colin Kelly headed to Nationals up in Maryland where they officially ended their season.
- First Team All-Conference: Colin Kelly, Jacob Johnston, Derrick Boskie
- Second Team All-Conference: Pope Shuford
- NCISAA All-State: Dillon Kercher, Derrick Boskie
Indoor Track
The All-State List for our NCrunners Independent Schools Indoor Championships are as followed:
Girls:
- Abby Kerrins: 1600, 1000
- Jada Erwin: 55, 300
- Lindsey Kerrins: 500 (State Champion)
- Kasey Cone: 3200
- Kate Stajos: Shot Put (State Champion + New School Record)
- Jada Erwin, Lela McMichael, Lindsey Kerrins, Mikenna Williams: 4x200m relay (State Champions)
- Ava Goggin, Lindsey Kerrins, Emma Lewis, Abby Kerrins: 4x400m relay (State Champions)
- Lacey Cook, Lily Giardi, Ava Goggin, Shayna Strasser: 4x800m relay (State Champions)
Boys:
- Spencer Mermans: Shot Put (State Champion)
- Pete Pignetti: 500 (New School Record)
- Sam Stevens, Pete Pignetti, Lionel West, Everett Norton: 4x400m relay (New School Record)
- Cameron Brown, Everett Norton, Hunter Wilkerson, Lionel West: 4x800m relay (State Champions)