A new school year is defined by new beginnings: maybe novel classes, maybe different lunch tables, but definitely a fresh start. Each new year also means the return of RHS’s fall sports – and with them, in all its blazing glory, the beloved Sports Roundup. Although Radnor is still attempting to wake up from summer, for the past two months, the RHS fall sports teams haven’t wasted any time getting busy and finding success.
I eagerly anticipate this year’s biweekly Roundups and hope their content, written by the talented Sports Editorial Board, will deliver a dazzling coverage of Radnor’s athletics to further connect our incredible community.
— Kayla
Cheerleading – Abby Merschel
Over the past few months, Radnor Cheerleading has been working hard to perfect their sideline dances, cheers, tumbling, and stunts, all of which help keep the crowd engaged with the game! Recently, the team got their 2024-2025 competition routine – they hope to compete at the UCA Nationals later this season. Our girls have spent the past seven Fridays cheering on the Radnor Football team to their current 3-4 record. Now, the focus has shifted towards the LM routine, which will debut at the Rally, on November 2nd. Many more things to come from Radnor Cheer!
Crew (Boys) – Will Ledbetter and Arnav Sadashiv
Over the past month, Radnor Boys Crew has been hard at work with intense practices both on and off the water to prepare for upcoming races. This Sunday’s Navy Day Regatta will be the first competition of the fall season, taking place in Philadelphia on the Schuylkill River. Recently, the team has also participated in community events including the Radnor Fall Festival and the Ergathon fundraiser with Radnor Girls Crew.
Coming up on October 18-20 is the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, the largest rowing competition in the world. RBCC will be sending a Youth Varsity 8+ and a U17 4+. Through a series of tests (on the erg and the water), the following lineups have been selected:
In the 8+: Mohammed Badri (cox), Matthew Tyburski, Hugo Rowbotham, Timmy Ledbetter, Ian Sutherland, Gavin Payne, Isaac Denham, Arnav Sadashiv, and Louis Martin-Labille.
In the 4+: CJ Drobile (cox), Veer Gaur, Sev Thomas, Mason Piskun, and Andrew Wang.
RBCC will focus hard over the next two weeks to perfect the boats’ technique, power, and cohesion to put forth the strongest performance at the upcoming races.
Crew (Girls) – Arielle Mims
Lately, Radnor Girls Crew Club’s season has been picking up steam. After weeks of training, they were ready for the first head race (long distance) at the Kings Head Regatta, which took place on September 29. The dreary weather and hectic docking didn’t affect their performances at all. RGCC raced two varsity 8+’s and two JV 4+’s. The varsity A placed 3rd overall, and the varsity B placed 5th. As for the JV boats, the JV A placed 9th and the JV B placed 7th. Though no freshmen raced, they’re also working hard during practices everyday. Last Sunday, both RGCC and RBCC participated in the Ergathon, the annual joint fundraising event. Rowers from both clubs combine in teams to row on ergs against each other. They obtain sponsors to support them, and donations from family and friends as well. The winning team was powered by rowers Aster O’Riordan, Kate Troncelliti, and Malaika Virk, in addition to some of the RBCC rowers. Radnor Girls Crew Club will be continuing to work hard for their many upcoming regattas, including the Navy Day Regatta on the Schuylkill this Sunday.
Cross Country (Boys) – Harsh Kakkar
Radnor Boys Cross Country is off to an excellent start this year, with strong performances across multiple meets. Their season began at the Unionville 2 Mile Bash on September 7, setting the stage for what has been an exciting few weeks. At the Central Athletic Meet 2, Joe Garzio led the boys with an 11th place finish, followed closely by Jack Wible, Connor Walsh, and two other teammates, all of whom finished in the top 20. The team built on their momentum at the Souderton Invitational, where both Wible and Garzio medaled again. A major highlight of the season came at the Delco XC Championships, during which the novice boys took first place, with Luke Waltman and Dillon Adams achieving huge personal records. The JV team also performed well, securing 3rd place overall. With districts and states on the horizon, Radnor Boys Cross Country is looking to finish the season strong. Best of luck to the boys as they continue to push forward!
Cross Country (Girls) – Nadia Dougherty
The Radnor Girls’ cross-country team has had astounding success this season. The girls have worked to create an impressive 10:1 win ratio for their meets. Most recently, last weekend marked the Paul Short Meet, in which many of the girls reached new personal records. Radnor placed first overall in their bracket. Senior Emma Hyde placed in the top ten, breaking nineteen minutes. Senior Sonia, junior Mia, sophomore Grace, and freshmen Coco and Lakshmi all raced their personal bests. The meet was a huge triumph for the team, across all grades. Radnor cannot wait to cheer on our victorious runners in their last couple meets of the fall season!
Field Hockey – Nancy Wible
So far, the Radnor Field Hockey team has had an incredible season, currently boasting a record of 12-4. Their hard work has earned them the third-place ranking in the PIAA District 2A rankings. Some of this season’s highlights have included their domination of Ridley on Senior Night (5-1), overcoming Harriton in an overtime win, and upsetting Downingtown West (3-2). RGFH has been led by senior captains Sophie Green, Marin Mooney, and Alex DeCain. Hopefully, the girls will stay strong through their last two regular season games, which are both home: versus Carroll (October 10) and Haverford (October 15).
Golf – Will Walsh
Coming off a rather disappointing second place Central League finish last season, Radnor Golf has come out firing so far in their 2024 campaign. The phenomenal play of star juniors Lannon Boyd and Brad McDermott has been beautifully paired with solid contributions from fellow junior captain Elayna Fanelli and senior captains Tom Cairns, Michael Slinkard, and Will Walsh. This year, RAGO successfully achieved a perfect (11-0) regular season record, claiming the 2024 CL title.
Additionally, the Raptors sent eleven players to the individual Central League Championships, which ensued on Monday, September 30. All three girls cleared the District 1 Championship qualifying number, and 4/8 boys made the top 21-player cut, which fell at 80 (+8) to get into an 8-for-6 playoff to survive. Lannon Boyd, Will Walsh, Brad McDermott, Michael Slinkard, Molly Ott, Elayna Fanelli, and Sara Fanelli all advanced to the district tournament, which will take place over October 14-15 at Turtle Creek. They hope to secure their spots in the PIAA State Championship (held at Penn State the following week). Stay tuned for those results!
Soccer (Boys) – Commerce Fisk
A new and exciting season is well underway for Radnor High School’s Boys Soccer team; they have looked to build off the success of last year’s District 1 Championship winning team. Thus far, their success has come in dramatic and flying fashion. Led by captains Roman Rivera and Commerce Fisk, as well as a supporting cast of dedicated playmakers, the Gents won their first 13 games, with marquee wins over Lower Merion, Owen J. Roberts, and Downingtown West. Among those 13 matches, the team won in overtime three times – against Delaware County Christian, Harriton, and Garnet Valley. Though Radnor has certainly had a knack for the climactic, the boys have only given up 5 goals in 14 games, a testament to their relentless midfield and defensive play. Up top, senior duo Matt Santarian and Andrew Marino have combined for 15 points (goals and assists) and remain the catalysts for the Gents’ scoring prowess. With the increased roles of technical players like seniors Kieran Haas, Dean Moon, and Devin Karadagli, the team has adopted a clinically sound style of play, while continuing their unyielding press and directness. Younger players including sophomores Aiden Haas and Tyler Ferst, starting center-back junior Quincy Hippler, and junior Jagger Holt have also added their fair share of quality. The Gents’ heated 2-1 win over Lower Merion established Coach Joseph Caruolo as the winningest coach in Radnor Boys Soccer history: 161 wins in his incredible 13 year run. The Gents suffered their first loss of the season to Conestoga in a tightly-contested 2-1 game. Nevertheless, readers can expect Coach Caruolo, assisted by coaches Tim McGrath and Kyle Shilcock-Elliot, to continue to instill the values of hard work, positive mindsets, and passion for the game into his players. Each member of the Gents, including their 22 seniors, remains devoted to deliver a special season as they gear up to play Penncrest (October 10), followed by matchups with Haverford and Shipley to end their regular season. Up the Gents!
Soccer (Girls) – Alexa Cahill and Reece Brown
Led by senior captains Meara Balachandran, Ivy Chaskelson, and Olivia Jacobs, RGS has had a rollercoaster of a season so far. They currently hold a record of 8-6-1. The girls have had their fair share of tough losses this year, but continue to persevere and stick together. The team’s wins over Lower Merion, Harriton, and Conestoga have proved RGS’s ability to make a promising comeback. After painfully trailing 2-1 at the half, Radnor managed to overcome Harriton by scoring twice in the second half for a final score of 3-2. Against rival Lower Merion, junior Anna Reger clenched the victory with her fantastic goal in the first half. Throughout the second half, Radnor’s defense kept the team in the game by valiantly protecting the net. Conestoga, similar to the Harriton match, was leading Radnor by one at the half. The girls recovered in the last ten-minute stretch, thanks to goals scored by Meara Balachandran and sophomore Keira Mucksavage. These games have provided a blazing momentum for Radnor Girls Soccer leading into their playoffs.
Tennis (Girls) – Mia Negrey
The bittersweet ending of RGT’s 2024 season came too quickly for the close-knit group of players. From preseason’s long hot summer days to cool fall afternoon practices, the team has put in their best efforts while playing atop the freshly painted red and green courts. Radnor Girls Tennis had a successful year, winning 7 out of their 11 matches. The girls were represented by two of their top singles players, junior Perri Simonian and sophomore Natalie Tyburski, at the Central League Singles tournament on Friday, September 20. Both players won in the first round. Earlier that week, on the 17th, the team celebrated their seniors before a victorious match against Ridley. Shoutout to the three captains: Amelia Hilbert, Rebecca Goldberg, and Samantha Takefman! The girls’ impressive season would not have been possible without these encouraging, Radnor-proud leaders. Good job RGT!
Ultimate Frisbee (Boys) – Kavin Thapar, Ben Rickmond, and Anthony Degregorio
Radnor Boys Ultimate Frisbee is fresh off their successful spring season, during which the team went 4-3 at the PA HS Ultimate State Championships. This established Radnor as the 11th best frisbee team in the entire state. Since late August, RUF has jump started their fall season, practicing in preparation for more competition. RUF gears up for the annual Kit-Kat Halloween tournament in Philly. There, Radnor will be competing against other highly ranked schools from around the area. We are always looking for more players, so if you have any interest, come to a practice to check it out with a friend – no experience necessary. More information at radnorultimate.com!
Ultimate Frisbee (Girls) – Anrui Xu
The 2023-24 season’s deeply emotional conclusion saw Radnor Girls’ Ultimate Frisbee winning the Spirit Award at Nationals and granting its seniors a joyous, unforgettable final game in the pouring rain. This fall, the team has set its sights on rebuilding. RGUF has been hard at work recruiting new players and strengthening its foundations in preparation for their major tournaments in spring. Anyone who is interested in Ultimate Frisbee is welcome to join, regardless of experience level!
Volleyball – Ava Preate
Radnor Girls Volleyball is well into their season, and they have come out with an exciting start. After a long month of preseason, including six-hour practices, two-a-days, and a difficult three days of try-outs, the girls showed off their skills in a scrimmage against Notre Dame. The Raptors won the scrimmage in three quick sets, during which they showcased their hard work and dedication. Now, Radnor currently holds a record of 8-8. The girls are led by senior captains Kinsey Carrigan and Monika Mortensen. Carrigan recently committed to Grinnell College to continue her volleyball career and has consistently demonstrated her exceptional leadership and skill on the court throughout the season. On September 24, the girls traveled to Penncrest looking to add another win to their record. After a thrilling 5-set match, the Raptors triumphed and left Penncrest with a huge win. Unfortunately, they could not carry that momentum into their game against 14-1 Garnet Valley on October 7. The Raptors put up a strong fight in the first two sets, but the Jaguars took the game in three sets. Despite their recent loss, the girls remain focused and committed to the team and aim for a strong performance against Upper Darby in their upcoming game on October 8. Let’s go RGV!!!
Interested in writing about Radnor sports for the Roundup? Contact Kayla Cormier ([email protected], 215-821-4699) or stop by the next Radnorite meeting.
