Boys and Girls of Fall

     

              By the time this blog is posted, this weekend will have been a critical one for the Wildcats in the post-season.  As I write this I, like many of you, am trying to figure out the suspension of the laws of physics (or at least Chattanooga traffic) that will allow me to be in two places at once—Baylor for the semi-finals in soccer against St. Agnes and on campus for the 7:00 start of the McCallie match-up.  The soccer girls face a tough opponent in St. Agnes, which knocked our volleyball girls out of the quarter-finals and has lost only one soccer game this season.  The game against Briarcrest, with six goals in the second half and some great saves by Ansley Tomlin, demonstrated both our offensive and defensive strength, and I hope that the girls build on that momentum.  Coach Morrissey’s girls are always well prepared, and this year they benefit from one of the strongest groups of seniors in many years.  Several girls have already committed to Division-I programs—Kinsey Sessions at Samford University, Sydney Eddy at Ole Miss, and Cara Ledman at UK.  Mary Hannah Winstead (who is expecting to play basketball at the next level), Megan Kisling, and Kaitlin Davis round out the group of very talented seniors.  I hope that we will have a good turn-out to support them.  If the girls made it past St. Agnes, they will face the winner of the Baylor-Father Ryan game on Saturday evening.

            The football game against McCallie will also be hard-fought.  A large boys’ school with a long and storied athletic tradition, McCallie will bring a great running game and some talented athletes.  Similarly blessed with strong senior leadership, the boys (7-3) have already amassed a great record under Coach Batten and his staff.  Like the soccer squad, several football players already have offers; others have received interest as post-secondary players: C.J. Beathard at Ole Miss, Blake Thomson at Harvard, and Jordan Smith at the Air Force Academy (though he is looking at other options as well).  Jimmy Redovian, another outstanding senior, will be playing baseball at Wake Forrest, and Matt Martin, in the process of returning after a long injury, has had contact with several schools.  There are many other senior players who deserve special recognition for a great season.  Thanks to all our seniors for their leadership: Michael Smith, Reed Loeffel, Sam Wade, John Adgent, Bryce Poisson, Hayden Hickernell, Ty Ragsdale, Connor Mitchell, Corey Amos, Cole Aycock, Austin Davidson, and Chris Falgout.  A win would take the boys to Memphis to face perennially strong Memphis University School. 

           Finally, cross country will be in the state championships Saturday at the Steeplechase at Percy Warner Park.  The squad of just over twenty has been augmented by the addition of a middle schooler—Matthew Minor--who moved up after the end of his season (Matthew won the HVAC championships).  I wish all of our Wildcat athletes the best in the post-season and am excited about the contests still to come. 

I would be remiss if I did not mention another major event that I hope you will place on your calendars.  We are returning to a traditional open house model and are excited about introducing BGA to prospective families on Sunday, December 4^th, at 3:00 P.M.  Please encourage your friends and neighbors to attend this fun event.  In addition to prospective families, we welcome our own families to join us.