Fall Sports Wrap Up Successful (And Unusual) Season

A fall season like no other concluded in mid-November with a series of NCISAA competitions that saw Country Day student-athletes produce strong individual and team performances. After all the results were in, The Bucs has compiled one individual state championship, two team runner-up finishes, and 19 individual All-State recognitions. Country Day finished the fall season ranked 3^rd in the 4A division of the NCISAA’s Wells Fargo Cup standings, which awards points for team postseason finishes across all sports.

 “It took considerable effort, creativity, flexibility, and patience from athletes, staff, and families, but we were able to complete the season with only a few disruptions,” said Country Day Director of Athletics, Abe Wehmiller. “While the season was far from normal in any way, we are thankful we had the opportunity to have our student-athletes back together and back in competition as much as they were.”

Boys’ Cross Country finished 3^rd in the CISAA championship meet at McAlpine Creek Park and then finished out the season with a 5^th-place team finish on that same course at the NCISAA 4A state championships. Connor Kleiderer ’22 earned a 1^st Team All-Conference nod and Armando Chardiet ’21 was 2^nd Team All-Conference. Kleiderer’s 7^th place finish at the state meet also put him on the All-State team.

Girls’ Cross Country earned a runner-up team NCISAA championship meet, missing a team state championship by only a narrow margin. Kasey Cone ’24 was the NCISAA 4A individual state champion, making this back-to-back years a Buc has stood on the top step of the podium in that race. Cone was joined on the All-State team by Harper Shaw ‘22 (5^th place) and Linde Fonville ‘22 (6^th place). The Bucs also finished 2^nd as a team at the CISAA championships, with Cone (2^nd), Fonville (3^rd), and Shaw (6^th) earning 1^st Team All-Conference recognition.

Field Hockey advanced all the way to the state championship game before falling to Providence Day by a 2-0 score. It was the third consecutive year the Bucs have made an appearance in the state title game. Ellie Dixon ’21, Cameron Park ’22, and Caroline Switzer ’22 were named 1^st Team All-Conference; Adele Morris ’21 and Zella Thomas ’23 earned 2^nd-Team spots. Dixon, Park, and Switzer also received All-State nods.

Football earned a return trip to the NCISAA Division 1 state playoffs as the #4 overall seed, but had its season come to an abrupt and unfortunate end after having to default from its semifinal matchup with Charlotte Christian. The Bucs finished with a 2-3 regular season record, with all three losses coming by close margins to the #1- and #2-seeded teams in the state. Second-Team All-Conference honorees were: Daniel Bach ’21, Scott Hosmer ’21, Spencer Mermans ’23, Davis Prevette ’21, Reid Simmons ’22, and Parker Stephens ’22. First-Team All-Conference awards went to seven seniors: Eddie Cassells, Jordan Erwin, Jack Flowers, Sam Hedrick, Cameron Ray, Tyler Swinehart, and Russell Tabor. All-State recognition went to: Bach and Mermans (Honorable Mention); Cassels, Erwin, Flowers, Ray, and Swinehart (2^nd Team); and Hedrick and Tabor (1^st Team).

Girls’ Golf finished 2^nd as team at the CISAA championships, with juniors, May McDonnell, Annabelle Thomas, and Sarah Blair Harner all earning All-Conference recognition. McDonnell, Thomas and Harner all qualified individually for NCISAA Division 1 championships, and their three individual scores at that tournament earned the Bucs a 7^th-place team finish. McDonnell finished 8^th individually, earning her a spot on the All-State team.

Boys’ Soccer battled through a tough slate of conference opponents to finish the regular season with a 5-5 record and earn a bye in the first round of the NCISAA 4A playoffs before falling to Providence Day. Parrish Gosney ’22 (1^st Team), Tyler Swinehart (1^st Team), and Taylor Lafar (2^nd Team) represented the Bucs on the All-Conference teams, with Swinehart also being named All-State.

Girls’ Tennis likewise fought its way through the regular season to emerge with a .500 record before defeating Charlotte Christian in a first-round state playoff match and then falling to Providence Day in the round of 16. Lulu Sasz was a 2^nd-Team All-Conference performer.

Volleyball put together an impressive 8-2 regular season campaign and advanced to the state semifinals before succumbing to eventual state champion, North Raleigh Christian Academy. Sydney Schulze ’22 earned 1^st Team All-Conference and All-State recognition; Kayla Spangler ’21 and Addison Pignetti ’21 both received 2^nd Team All-Conference nods.