The countdown is over and the Sports Roundup has returned! As an active student photographer in the Radnor community, I have witnessed the thrilling anticipation that athletic events provide for students, parents, and staff. I hope that the Radnor Sports Roundup only further amplifies this experience, celebrating the wide array of athletics that this place I am lucky to call school offers.
Before going any further, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Sports Editorial Board. The Roundup writers have demonstrated their dedication and passion to report on their respective sports; integrating coverage on Radnor sports into Radnorite would not be possible without these talented and committed writers.
—Margarita
Cheerleading – Trinity Emery
As the clock for the LM pep rally ticks down, the cheerleaders are preparing not only their individual routine but also their football cheer dance. The girls are excited to showcase their jumps, tumbling, and stunting. The cheerleaders are also excited to watch the Football team take on the Penncrest Lions on their away field at 7pm. Keep your eyes out for new tumbling skills and stunts from the cheerleaders on the sidelines!
Crew (Boys) – Dan Kaper
Over the past months, Radnor Boys Crew has had a packed schedule. The team trains 5 days a week, mixing on and off water workouts to maximize progress. RBCC started off its racing season at the Core Creek scrimmage, winning a multitude of events against Holy Ghost Prep. The team has also engaged in community events, such as the Radnor Fall Festival and last week’s Ergathon fundraiser. Our rowers have done three 5k erg tests to straighten out lineups for the Head of the Charles Regatta, which is the world’s largest rowing competition. RBCC is sending a Varsity 4 that requalified from last year’s performance and a Varsity 8 that was selected this year. Although the list is not set, you can expect to see a strong performance from V4 rowers Colin Mucksavage, Matthew Tyburski, Timmy Ledbetter, and Ian Sutherland. Radnor’s V4 made history last year as the first RBCC boat to ever requalify for the HOCR, and I’m confident these rowers have what it takes to keep the streak going.
Crew (Girls) – Arielle Mims and Nadia Dougherty
On Sunday September 24th, the Radnor Girls Crew Club opened up their season with the King Head Regatta. While the rainy conditions were not the ideal weather for racing, the RGCC did not let that affect their performance. The varsity girls had 4 boat races. The two eights placed 5th and 10th out of 11 boats, and the two fours placed 7th and 10th out of 15 boats, getting a solid start to the racing season. The one novice eight boat, with coxswain Hannah Montgomery and rowers Lizzie Martin, Tatum Jolley, Estelle Hain, Catherine Oblack, and Nili Swisa, as well as freshmen Nadia Dougherty, Ani Harper, and Ryan Troncelliti, prevailed, taking home 1st place in their race. Regarding the race, Troncelliti noted that even with the rain, “It was totally worth it and it was a great way to start the season.”
Following these races, the boy and girl crew teams combined for an exciting Ergathon fundraising event held on North Wayne Ave. With the whole crew split into groups, rowers showed their team spirit with their homemade swag as they raced to see who could get the furthest. Simultaneously, the team raised money for their sport through a raffle. Winning team of Ryan Troncelliti, Jake Fles, Kate Mallory, Tatum Jolley, Isaac Denham, Anna W, Weston Gallagher, Ian Sutherland, and Anna Conen secured first place, with novice rower Caroline Croke winning the raffle. We can only hope the crew team can showcase the similar enthusiasm and skills for their upcoming races, and we wish them the best of luck!
Cross Country (Girls) – Niva Menon
This season, Radnor Girls Cross Country has faced strong competition but managed to come out on top. As they practiced hard through rain and shine, the team is not giving up. On September 30th, 11 runners attended the Lehigh University Paul Short Run, where senior runner Zoe Margolies placed 12th out of 370 runners. Earlier this month, the team ran at the Delaware County Championships, where–once again–Zoe Margolies speedily ran with a medal for 4th place (18: 57), and junior runner Emma Hyde finished 12th. As the girls are preparing for the rest of the season, keep a lookout for these speedy runners, as we wish them best of luck for the Central League Champs!
Cross Country (Boys)- Niva Menon
Radnor Boys Cross Country has proved their abilities to excel this season. Continuously working hard, the team has had some amazing outcomes. While the girls were at the Paul Short Run, the boys headed over to the Carlisle Invitational on September 30th, where senior runner Luke Bodden placed 8th overall out of 323 runners. A week later the boys team joined the girls to run at the Delaware Country Championships. Here, Luke Bodden struck gold and won first place overall with a time of 15 minutes and 24 seconds. This was not only the second fastest time ever, but it was also the first student from Radnor to secure a victory at the Delco Championships. As the boys continue to stride to the finish line, we wish them the best of luck and can’t wait to see them at the Central League Champs!
Field Hockey – Cailin Kelly
Radnor girls FIeld Hockey is having an impressive season this fall, currently holding an 11-4 record. They began the season with a dominating home win against Upper Perkiomen (8-2) and later brought Garnet Valley to overtime but couldn’t seem to beat them. The girls then showed Haverford what they’re capable of and scored an extra 4 goals on them (8-4). Following this win, the team went on a 7-game winning streak against Harriton (3-0), Strath Haven (2-0), Springfield (9-1), Penncrest (5-1), Marple Newtown (6-1), and Lower Merion (7-1). On October 3rd, the varsity girls managed to beat Garnet Valley 4-1 on GV’s territory. Soon after, at 4:00pm on Encke Field, Upper Darby arrived on our turf and put up a good fight against Radnor. The girls came out to a 7-1 win. Senior night was on October 10th, where we recognized the 10 incredible seniors, including the impeccable goalie, Ashley Vantrieste. The girls gave Archbishop John Carroll their all but came out to a 0-2 loss.
Football – Margarita Moreland
Despite some unfortunate losses and injuries this season, the Radnor Boys Football team has continued to hold their heads up high. After practicing in the intense summer heat, the boys had two games scheduled before school started. They fell short against Chichester (7-42) and Marple Newtown (7-56). Following the tough matchups, the Raptors faced Methacton on Prevost on September 8. With bleachers packed with Radnor students, parents, and staff, the boys fought hard but ultimately lost (19-22). The players analyzed film, attended daily practices, and came back to prevail over Upper Moreland in a 26-20 victory. Following the exciting win, the Radnor Boys Football team came up short against Conestoga (7-21), Strath Haven (7-54), and Upper Darby (40-46). Looking forward, the team has four games remaining for the regular season.
Soccer (Boys) – Margarita Moreland
The Radnor Boys Soccer team, better known as the Gents, have done fantastic work on and off the field to accomplish a 11-2 record, with one tied game. This has included watching film, practicing almost every day, and attending team outings off-campus. During the last week of August, the boys secured two wins against Masterman (7-0) and Upper Merion (2-0). When they hosted Downingtown East on Encke Field, they unfortunately fell short (1-3). However, the Gents bounced back with six wins and one tie: Haverford (1-0), Penn Wood (5-0), Strath Haven (1-0), Harriton (1-1), Springfield (4-0), Penncrest (3-0), and Marple Newtown (7-0). Following their winning streak, the team battled against Lower Merion but ultimately fell short in a 0-1 loss. The Gents quickly recovered and triumphed over Owen J Roberts (2-0), Garnet Valley (2-0), Upper Darby (Senior Night, 4-0). Looking forward, Radnor Boys Soccer will conclude their regular season next week.
Soccer (Girls) – Kayla Cormier and Tatum Brown
The Radnor Girls Soccer teams have had an exceptional season this year with Varsity’s 9-2-3 record and JV’s 11-2-1 record. RGS looks to be a top competitor in this year’s playoffs, currently seated at first in districts. Throughout the season, captains Mallory Toomey, Selah Koleth, Sarah Kelly, and Sea Sea Perrin-Hee have led the team to many successful wins over top rivals. Just yesterday, Radnor traveled to West Chester Rustin and suffered an unfortunate 0-1 loss in overtime. “However,” commented sophomore Anna Reger, “We’ve still had a really great season and are looking forward to Senior Night.” On Thursday, October 12th, RGS will be honoring said twelve seniors–who have spent the past four years contributing to the RGS community–at 7:00pm on Encke against Ridley.
Tennis (Girls) – Daisy Madden and Nyah Yao
The Radnor Girls Tennis season got off to a quick start, with a clean sweep of Haverford, Harriton, Springfield, Penncrest, Garnet Valley, and more. Challenges arose against the teams of Agnes Irwin and Lower Merion. With severe weather conditions, rescheduling matches became a part of the hectic but fun season. Radnor battled against Anges Irwin, Lower Merion, and Wissahickon but still came out on top with wins. Conestoga was undoubtedly the most anticipated match of the season, starting with a pasta party and t-shirt decorating; last-minute roster changes and meeting with talented rivals resulted in a 2-5 loss. Although the girls fell short during this matchup, there is no doubt the rivalry will continue. Shout out to our winners for smashing Stoga!
On top of their matches, the girls’ tennis season has been full of fun on and off the court. From a suspenseful scavenger hunt, an exciting team trip to the US open, plenty of pasta parties, and a memorable senior night, this season was certainly one to remember. Kicking off the year with the much-anticipated scavenger hunt, the girls were not disappointed. The costumes went all-out: girls showed up as cops, construction workers, Barbie, and more, with a chaotic and adventurous task list.. There were old favorites–like the classic photo in a nova dorm–and new challenges like eating an entire container of baby food. After hours of running (but mostly driving) through Radnor to achieve the demanding 25 tasks, the girls had a bonding experience to remember. The US Open trip was undoubtedly another highlight of the season for the girls. Joining with the boys tennis team, they left bright and early one morning in August to catch as much tennis as possible. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a roughly 2-hour long bus ride became a 4-hour trip due to navigation errors. However, the team got to see NYC from the comfort of the Coach bus and Coach Beth came prepared with various snacks. In the end, everyone had an unforgettable afternoon at the Open by exploring the many eateries the city has to offer and watching famous players take home historic wins.
Volleyball – Hailey Gasink
Radnor’s volleyball team has been killing it this fall, but they aren’t done yet. As the regular season comes to an end next week, Radnor Girls Volleyball reflects on a successful two months. RGV has had a winning season with an overall record, thus far, of 10-5. The team will also hopefully be making Radnor history as they will most likely be moving on to playoffs later this month. Freshman setter Ysa Sanchez, junior Monika Mortensen, senior Sam Gasink, and freshman Kayla Tilghman have been racking up kills on the court. Senior Yleina Sanchez stepped up to the plate as starting libero following the unfortunate injury of senior Audrey Kuhn. Through a few difficult losses, the Raptors still didn’t miss a beat; they gave their all throughout many great wins over Central League (Marple Newtown, Ridley, Harriton, Springfield, and Penncrest) along with non-league teams (Mount St. Joseph and Merion Mercy). This past week, the girls fell short against Lower Merion (3-0) and Garnet Valley (3-0). Despite a rough week, the girls remain motivated. It’s been one of the most successful seasons for RGV in recent years. With three games remaining of the regular season and hopes to move on to District 1 3A playoffs, the girls are ready for what’s yet to come.
Ultimate Frisbee (Boys) – Kethan Kalra
The Boys Ultimate Frisbee team entered the fall season with hopes to build on a strong showing in States last spring, where they ultimately placed seventh. The team, while losing several key seniors, looks to their returning captains: Antonio Westby and Dustin Shrader (who were invited to try out for the US National Team), along with current seniors Kethan Kalra, Jack St. Amand and David Hopkins, The boys aim to propel Radnor Boy’s Ultimate Frisbee back to the State Tournament. They face their first test this weekend at Stockton University, where they will compete against several Division II and Division III opponents for a $1000 cash prize for first place. The team looks poised to make a deep run this year and for many years to come thanks to a strong incoming freshmen class, and they are ready to show what they’re made of.
Ultimate Frisbee (Girls) – Sofie Jubelirer
Although fall is not their main season, the Girls Ultimate Frisbee team has been gearing up for the start of their season. Preseason back in August was a blast, with five new teammates joining the team as well as a new assistant coach. From layout slip-and-slide practices to scrimmaging at Ditmar, the girls feel ready to enter tournament season. Their first tournament, KitKat, will be in two weeks at Edgely Fields. After that, they plan on competing in the Coconut Classic in Freehold, NJ at the beginning of November, where the team will face off against other elite regional teams. A big shout out to RGUF’s three captains, Sofia Dillon, Rona Liu Zhong, and Diana Huang, who were just invited to try out for the US National Team ahead of the WFDF World Junior Ultimate Championships in 2024! In other news, both the girls and the boys just hosted a Honeygrow “Dine For Dollars” event to raise money for the club, and are also currently selling cookie dough with a variety of flavors.
Interested in writing about Radnor sports for the Roundup? Contact Margarita Moreland ([email protected], 267-546-7775) or stop by the next Radnorite meeting.
