Throughout my life, I’ve associated the word “sentimental” with many different experiences. Whether it’s attending a sibling’s high school graduation or looking through old picture books, I tend to get misty-eyed. The Radnor Sports Roundup has provided a sense of community and enthusiasm for the athletic world at the high school. As I write this introduction for the last roundup of the 2023-24 school year, I can’t help but feel a sentimental attachment to the biweekly publication. It’s truly a testament to how sports allow individuals to represent their community and gain valuable skills–team work, leadership, self-discipline, and resilience. Thank you for tuning in to the Radnor Sports Roundup this year.
—Margarita
Color Guard – Sofiia Kuzmenko
The color guard had their last performance during the Memorial Day Parade on Monday, and it was a hit with the entire town. On behalf of the color guard, I would like to thank all of the teachers, parents, and chaperones who have supported them this year—and a special thank you to the director, Maria Drew.
Crew (Boys) – Dan Kaper-Barcelata
The past two weeks have been nothing short of successful for RBCC. At the Stotesbury Cup, our Lightweight 4 won 4th against competitive teams from Canada and across the US. Our Varsity 4 won 3rd in their semi-final, coming 6th overall out of 50 boats. These boats then headed to the Cooper River in New Jersey to compete at SRAA Nationals, one of the most competitive races in the rowing circuit. The Varsity 4, stroked by Colin Mucksavage, won 5th overall. This four has proved itself to be one of the fastest the team has seen, consistently ranking highly in one of the most competitive categories. The lightweights made Radnor history as one of the first lightweight crews to medal at nationals, taking home silver. Unfortunately, that’s where their season ends, as US Rowing has banned lightweight events in the next level of racing. Still, this season has been incredible and I expect much more to come from the team and our future captains, Matt Tyburski and Ian Sutherland.
Crew (Girls) – Arielle Mims
This past Memorial Day weekend, Radnor Girls Crew competed in the SRAA Nationals. RGCC raced 3 boats in the regatta: a Varsity 4, a JV 8, and a Freshmen 8. In their first races, the Varsity 4 placed 2nd and the JV 8 placed 2nd as well, which qualified them for finals races the next day. The Freshmen 8 placed 4th, which unfortunately did not qualify them for finals. The Varsity 4 placed 3rd in their second race. In their semi-final round of races, the Varsity 4, composed of rowers Hannah Lyons, Anna Conen, Kaitlin Browne, and Margaret Lebaudy, and coxswain Annie Sears, placed 4th and went on to place 1st in their petite final. The JV 8 placed 2nd in their semifinal and 6th in their grand final. With these boats completing their last regattas and placing on a national level, the whole team has finally finished the season on a good note. On Wednesday, RGCC had their banquet to officially close the season. The girls will be ready to have a successful fall season after a summer of rest and training!
Lacrosse (Boys) – Margarita Moreland
Throughout the latter part of the Radnor Boys Lacrosse season, many crucial players have been injured. These setbacks did not slow down the Raptors, as they demolished Central Bucks South in the 2nd Round of the District 1 Playoffs. Owen Smith had five goals, and the game concluded in a 17-6 win. The boys faced Pennridge in the quarterfinals that following Tuesday that, yet again, ended in a smooth victory (18-4). During that game, seniors Kessy Cox and Owen Knight contributed with four goals, respectively. The nerve-wracking matchup of Radnor and Springfield came on Thursday, May 23rd, for the District 1 Semifinals. Despite a hard-fought game, witnessing goals by Owen Smith, Owen Knight, Kessy Cox, and Sawyer Smith, the Cougars took home the win (10-8). The team went on to crush Downingtown East 14-5 in a District 1 playback game for third place on Wednesday, May 29th. Owen Smith scored eight times and senior goalie John Webb saved seven shots. Looking ahead, RALA is continuing their run and will begin the state tournament on Tuesday, June 4th.
Lacrosse (Girls) – Tatum Brown
Radnor Girls Lacrosse continues their incredible season and is crushing their playoff run so far. They are 3-0 in the District playoffs and have one more game against rival Conestoga for the District Championship. The girls had a bye in the first round of districts and played Council Rock North in the second round of playoffs, winning an impressive 17-5. The girls then moved onto the quarterfinals against central league competitor Garnet Valley. Both Garnet and Radnor played a good game, but Radnor was better coming out with the 13-8 win. In the semifinals, the Raptors were set to play Penncrest, a strong central league rival and one of their toughest competitors. Ultimately, Radnor demolished them 18-2. Senior goalie and Penn State commit Arden Jansen was a brick wall, saving all but two shots that came her way. The draw circle was where Radnor excelled, with specialists Grayson Buono and Taylor Murphy winning draws to Kate Gallagher and Grace Gordon fighting for possession, Radnor came out on top far more than Penncrest. This team is made up of talented, smart, and motivated players who love the game of lacrosse. They have been chasing their goals and ripping off wins, closing in on their end goal of a District Championship and a State Championship. Come out on May 29th, 2024 at 7:00pm at Haverford High School to watch the rematch of Conestoga vs. Radnor for the District Championship!
Tennis (Boys) – Ben Brecher
Since the last roundup was published, Radnor Boys Tennis has not had much going on to report. This previous weekend, the boys wished senior captains Antonio Fidelibus and Graham Bernabeo the best of luck as they competed in States, which was being held in Hershey, PA. Unfortunately, Antonio and Graham were knocked out of the tournament in the first round by a score of 6-7, 1-6. In other news, the team held their annual banquet, during which all eighteen seniors were recognized in front of teammates and family members. Overall, Radnor Boys Tennis had a very successful season, going 17-3 against opponents in all competitions. Furthermore, 21 different players were able to play a varsity match this year for Radnor. On that note, the boys wished all eighteen seniors the best of luck as they head to their respective colleges and cannot wait to see what next year has in store for the program!
Track and Field (Boys) – Commerce Fisk
The Radnor Boys Track and Field season has largely come to an end, but the final two weeks of this successful season have embodied every bit of greatness and prowess this group demonstrated all year. On the warm but rainy days of May 17th and 18th, a group of talented runners and jumpers made the long trip to Coatesville High School to compete in the highly anticipated and renowned District 1 Championships. On Friday the 17th, the boys woke up early and prepared themselves for an exciting first day on the big stage. To begin the meet, Radnor’s 4x800m team, composed of senior Alex Karnavas, junior Commerce Fisk, freshman Aidan Haas, and junior Aiden Landau, ran hard among a field of very talented teams and finished with a great time of 8:34.39. Noah Wampole’s exceptional skill at the high jump also began early and continued well into the meet. Finishing second place in all of District 1, the senior and Rowan University commit jumped 6”5, securing a spot in States. In the 100m, Senior Lionel Dunbar put on a fantastic performance in a stacked field, finishing with a time of 11.45. Dunbar also ran a speedy 200m, finishing with a time of 23.38. To cap off Radnor’s strong Friday, senior and Brown University commit Luke Bodden ran an electric 4:18.30 1600m, a testament to his enduring work ethic. The next morning, the team made their way back to Coatesville, where Bodden once again ran in the early afternoon, this time in the 3200m, finishing with an excellent time of 9:28.52 and completing a stunning district double. In the 800m, junior standout Joseph Garzio held the spotlight for Radnor. In one of the fastest races in the state, Garzio emerged from the toil in first place, with an unreal and state-qualifying time of 1:53.22. After a week of hard work and recovery following great performances at the district level, Garzio and Wampole paid a visit to Shippensburg University for the State Championship on the hot and sunny Saturday of May 25th. At the high jump, Noah Wampole finished 5th place in the entire state, jumping 6”5, earning himself a well-deserved medal. In the 800m, Garzio finished a similarly outstanding 6th place in the state, with a time of 1:53.37. The boys’ experience was certainly one to remember, and one that is sure to carry into the athlete’s next years in the world of track and field. On Thursday, May 30th, the boys and girls teams will commemorate their season with a banquet at Aronimink Golf Club. Despite the closing gestures, Joseph Garzio’s season will continue in mid-June as he travels to the City of Brotherly Love for the nationally-acclaimed New Balance Nationals. Other athletes will look forward to the day after the banquet for the John Hay Distance Festival, where they will look to further leave impressive marks on their 2024 season. Congratulations to each and every member of the Radnor Boys Track and Field team for an incredibly successful season and we wish all the best for the devoted seniors who have given their all to this strong and competitive team. Go Radnor!
Track and Field (Girls) – Kayla Cormier
We have officially reached the final roundup for the Radnor Girls Track & Field 2024 season. Throughout their postseason, RGTF has wasted no time, making every practice and meet count. On Friday, May 17, the girls traveled to Coatesville High School to participate in the PIAA District I Championships. There, Sophia Hill took to her specialty, pole vaulting her way to a spot in the PIAA State Championships. She placed fourth and marked 11-06.00. Later, Radnor’s 4×800 meter relay (Courtney Kearns, Zoe Margolies, Kayla Cormier, and Keira Mucksavage) rose to the competition and ran their best time all year. They came in sixth place overall with a time of 9:28.30, taking home an eleven-second PR, medals, and an entry in the PIAA State Championships. The following day, on May 18, Zoe, Kayla, and Courtney returned to the track with freshman Katelyn Anderson. Zoe and Katelyn ran the 3200 meter, placing fifth and sixth, respectively, and qualifying for States. Courtney and Kayla both raced the open 800 meter run. All of RGTF braved the rainy weather (and imminent prom night, for some). The following Memorial Day Weekend marked the girls’ journey to Shippensburg, where RGTF raced in the PIAA State Championships. Despite the scorching temperatures and high pressures, Zoe and Katelyn both ran excellently in the 3200 meter dash. As for the 4×800 relay, after an incredible year, the girls unfortunately suffered a devastating disqualification. Each leg, however, still ran with pace and effort. The DQ serves as a learning experience for future meets and relay teams, but doesn’t take away from the immense amount of work that the girls have put in this season. RGTF’s 4×800 relay plans to attend New Balance Nationals on June 14, with Katelyn joining to run the freshman 1600 meter run. With a satisfied reflection on all that the girls have accomplished this year, and a positive outlook on the future to come, the Radnor Girls Track and Field team signs off of the Radnorite. Until next spring, and as always, Go RGTF!
Ultimate Frisbee (Boys) – Kavin Thapar
Radnor Boys Ultimate frisbee finished off the 2024 spring season this weekend with an amazing performance at states. The week before, Radnor practiced as hard as they could, applying what they learned from Cities. On Saturday, the boys played four matches, beginning with a win against Holy Ghost Prep (14-5). At their next game, the team won against Fox Chapel 14-8, lost to Pennsbury 5-15, and lost the last game of the day against Masterman 7-10. The boys played three matches on the second day and finished the season off strong. To start off the day, Radnor beat Hampton 14-10. In the next match against Harriton, the team sadly lost a close game at 11-12 but was able to come back against Abington in a 10-9 victory. With 58 teams participating, Radnor finished 11th overall in the state. The boys team is content with their performance and excited to start the next season in the fall.
Ultimate Frisbee (Girls) – Anrui Xu and Sofie Jubelirer
Facing an unfortunate string of injuries and setbacks, RGUF has remained resilient and spirited. Over the Memorial Day weekend, the team battled through State Championships with only twelve players. Rather than concentrating on final scores, they focused on trusting one another and having fun. The team recounted fond memories in their annual yarn circle, shouting out friends and coaches while sharing stories of the positive impact ultimate frisbee has made in their lives. The weekend was full of intense and high-level performances from everyone. In particular, freshman Graci Gill continued to add bids and goals to her rookie season statline, Annika Dillon and Olivia Cohen-Freue controlled the deep space with numerous defensive blocks and hucks, and Nayra Garcia scored three game-winning goals over three consecutive games. On Thursday, RGUF will host a friendly senior night scrimmage against Lower Merion to celebrate the accomplishments of its five seniors: Sofia Dillon (captain), Diana Huang (captain), Rona Liu-Zhong (captain), Sofie Jubelirer, and Sam Gasink. The season will conclude after the team makes a highly anticipated trip to the High School National Invite on June 7-8 in Rockford, Illinois. As the team prepares to compete at nationals and begin anew next fall, hopes are high for the future of Radnor Girls Ultimate!
