Varsity Boys Swimming 

1/8 at Coppermine Bel Air Athletic Club
LOSS: Gunston 46-Curley 47 
WIN: Gunston 49-John Carroll 44

The Varsity Boys Swimming team put together a strong showing on the road at Coppermine, competing in two tightly contested MIAA matchups. The Herons narrowly fell to Curley, 46–47, before bouncing back with a hard-earned 49–44 victory over John Carroll. Several Herons delivered standout performances throughout the meet. Dylan Kroncke led the way with a 1st-place finish in the 200 Free and a 2nd-place finish in the 100 Fly, while Preston Allen captured 1st place in the 50 Free. Strong distance and stroke performances came from Brody Shultz (2nd, 500 Free) and Ben Clark, who earned 2nd place in both the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Backstroke. Additional podium finishes included Jack Owens (3rd, 50 Free) and Caden Quirion (3rd, 100 Breaststroke).

The relay teams were equally impressive, with Dylan Kroncke, Jack Owens, Landon Kelley, and Grant Edgar taking 2nd place in the 200 Free Relay, and Dylan Kroncke, Brody Shultz, Jack Owens, and Preston Allen finishing 2nd in the 400 Free Relay.

1/13 at Club One vs. Rockbridge Academy
WIN 77-75
The Varsity Boys Swimming Team earned a thrilling 77–75 victory over Rockbridge Academy in a meet that came down to the final points.
Highlights:

• Preston Allen placed 1st in the 100 freestyle
• Ben Clark placed 1st in the 500 freestyle
• Dylan Kroncke, Landon Kelley, Preston Allen, and Ben Clark placed 1st in the 400 freestyle relay
• Dylan Kroncke placed 2nd in the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle
• Ben Clark placed 2nd in the 100 backstroke

The “game ball” goes to Cole Euler, who stepped up to swim the 100 backstroke. His 4th-place finish earned two critical points, the difference in securing the Herons’ narrow win.
 

Varsity Girls Swimming 

1/13 at Club One vs. Rockbridge Academy
WIN 97-43
The Herons delivered a dominant performance at Club One, defeating Rockbridge Academy 97–43 in a decisive home win.
Highlights:

• 1st 200 Medley Relay: Emma Morris, Ali Workman, Bridget Walden, Peri Overton
• 1st 200 IM: Bridget Walden
• 1st 50 Freestyle: Emma Morris
• 1st 100 Butterfly: Bridget Walden
• 1st 500 Freestyle: Ali Workman
• 1st 200 Freestyle Relay: Mya Volker, Emma Morris, Peri Overton, Bridget Walden
• 1st 100 Backstroke: Emma Morris
• 1st 100 Breaststroke: Ali Workman
• 1st 400 Freestyle Relay: Sydney Cummings, Jemima Shank, Isabel Gerstmyer, Ali Workman

An outstanding team effort across all events showcased the depth, speed, and consistency of the Herons’ program. Strong relay performances and multiple individual wins powered the Herons to victory!

Photo by Kenny Gray, P’29
 

JV Boys Basketball

1/8 vs. Jemicy 
WIN 49-41
The JV Boys Basketball team secured their first conference win of the season, defending their home court with a hard-fought victory over Jemicy. From the opening tip, the Herons set the tone playing with confidence, energy, and intensity and held the lead for the majority of the game. Despite Jemicy keeping things close and making it a competitive matchup throughout, the Herons responded every time with strong defensive effort and timely execution. Several athletes stepped up on both ends of the floor, making key plays that helped preserve the lead and seal the win.

1/12 at Key School
LOSS 41-49
In a well-fought battle the JV Boys Basketball team lost 49 to 41 on Monday. Highlights were led by Declan Ferner leading the team with 14 points, many of which came as a result of his hard-charging drives to the basket. In addition, James Schopfer poured in 10 points, including a pair of three-pointers, as the team mounted a second-half comeback run. The team's toughness may have been best displayed by Tommy Connelly, who needed medical attention during the third quarter, only to be patched-up and return for the last few minutes of the game.

1/13 at Beth T’Filoh
LOSS 11-71

Photo by Kenny Gray, P’29

Varsity Boys Basketball

1/9 vs. Park School 
LOSS 50-64
The Herons battled hard in a competitive MIAA C Conference matchup but fell 64–50. Gunston came out strong, jumping to an early 6-point lead in the first quarter and setting the tone with high energy and confidence. Park responded in the second half, pulling away as the Herons fought to regain momentum but couldn’t quite reclaim the lead.
Senior leaders Amir Williams and Ben Simons powered the offense, combining for 33 points (Williams 18, Simons 15). The dominant duo controlled the paint with a strong presence under the net, giving the Herons a consistent scoring threat. Max Rene chipped in 8 points, continuing to show growth and poise on the court. Proud of the fight and leadership shown as this group continues to build.

Photo by Jess Coner

Varsity Girls Basketball

1/9 vs. Sts. Peter and Paul 
LOSS 24-42
The Gunston girls basketball team battled defensively but fell to Saints Peter and Paul, 42–24, in a hard-fought matchup. Gunston was led by Layla Kent, who finished with a strong all-around performance, scoring 14 points and grabbing five steals to keep pressure on Saints Peter and Paul throughout the game. Kent accounted for more than half of Gunston’s offense and consistently attacked on both ends of the floor. Emma Walker and Eleanor Owings each added four points for Gunston, providing key contributions as the team worked to find rhythm against a tough defensive opponent. Despite the loss, Gunston showed resilience, particularly on defense, forcing turnovers and competing until the final buzzer. The team will look to build on its defensive intensity and continue developing offensive consistency as the season moves forward.

1/14 vs. North County High School
WIN 50-49
The Lady Herons pulled out a dramatic one-point win over North County, 50–49, thanks to a clutch second-half performance from junior Emma Walker and a balanced team effort. Walker caught fire after halftime, pouring in 14 of her points in the second half to help push the Herons past a tough North County squad in a back-and-forth contest that stayed close until the final buzzer.