Fall 2024: Season Breakdown

This fall, over 240 student-athletes—more than 95% of the student body and a 5% increase from last year—participated in Gunston’s Athletics & Fitness programs. Among them were 11 team managers who supported six different sports teams and 10 students who pursued independent sports such as equestrian, dance, and ice hockey. Our teams were led by 26 dedicated coaches across 11 fall sports. Notably, 60 of these student-athletes were seniors, competing in their final fall season at Gunston.

Girls Soccer

The Girls Soccer team—also known as “Soccer Island 21617” (if you know, you know!)—celebrated a second straight winning season, facing a challenging schedule that included multiple top IAAM opponents. They showcased impressive offensive skills, scoring 25 goals in just 12 games, while defensively securing three clean sheets, amounting to over 240 minutes without allowing a single goal.

Two standout victories defined the season. The first came on September 25 against Salisbury Christian, last year’s ESIAC champions. In a memorable rematch, Gunston defeated the defending champs 4-1, turning the tables from last year’s championship game loss by three goals. The second signature win was a nail-biting ESIAC semifinal against The Salisbury School, held on home turf. With under a minute left in regulation, senior Nina Johnston scored to tie the game 2-2, pushing the match into double overtime. After two scoreless overtimes, the team entered a thrilling penalty shootout, ultimately prevailing 4-2 to advance to the ESIAC finals for the second year in a row—a testament to their resilience and growth.

Congratulations to the team on another remarkable season, and please give it up for the 2024 ESIAC Girls Soccer runners-up! Special thanks to our seniors for their dedication and contributions: Lily Brantner, Vee McCluskey, Nina Johnston, and team manager Katherine Sadler.

ESIAC All-Conference Team Girls Soccer
Nina Johnston, Hannah Mae Conner, Vee McCluskey, Abby Philippon, Olivia Blusk
HONORABLE MENTION: Reagan Johnson

JV Boys Soccer 

In their inaugural season in the MIAA JV C-Conference, the boys' team made an impressive debut, finishing 3rd in the league and narrowly missing the championship game by a single result—not bad for a first-year effort! Their marquee win was a memorable homecoming victory over Key School on September 27, where they clinched a hard-fought 1-0 win thanks to a game-winning goal by sophomore Landon Kelley.

The team showcased remarkable defensive consistency, holding their conference opponents to just six goals throughout the entire season. With strong teamwork, adaptability, and a focus on continual improvement, the JV boys demonstrated persistence and determination in every game. This season also marked the arrival of a brand-new coaching staff, Coaches Salles and Ribeiro, who bring a piece of Brazil with them but are always welcome here in Centreville!

Varsity Boys Soccer

The Varsity Boys Soccer Team concluded their season with an impressive 9-4 record, including a strong 5-3 performance in their inaugural season in the MIAA “C” Conference, earning them a 4th-place league finish. Over just 13 games, the team scored a remarkable 51 goals—16 more than last year—averaging 4 goals per game. Defensively, they conceded only 26 goals, achieving three clean sheets and holding opponents scoreless for over 240 minutes. While we eagerly await next week’s announcement of the MIAA All-Conference team selections, it’s clear that these players represented Gunston with pride and should be very proud of their accomplishments. 

Additionally, over the last two games, the boys positioned themselves for a MIAA championship this coming weekend. On Thursday, October 31st, they dominated Chapelgate Christian Academy with a 7-1 victory, featuring goals from Jackson Frederick, Bennett Wirts (two goals), Gareth Borghardt, Alex Elfenbein, Ethan Harper, and Landon Kelly. The following day, Friday, November 1st, they triumphed again with an 8-1 win over Cristo Rey Jesuit. Alex Elfenbein led with two goals, while Bennett Wirts and Van Topjian each contributed two, and Ethan Harper and Kazys Morris added one goal each. This victory secured their 4th place finish in the conference standings and earned them a coveted spot in the MIAA quarterfinals, where they went on to defeat St. John’s  3-1 on November 5. On Thursday, November 7, a fan bus full of Gunston supporters followed the team to play the top seeded Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Herons soared to victory 5-4. 

In their FIRST SEASON playing in the MIAA Conference, the boys will head to the finals to play Key School this Sunday at UMBC stadium for the championship!

Special thanks to the seniors—Gareth Borghardt, Alex Elfenbein, Jackson Frederick, James McDonald, Kazys Morris.

We don’t find out until next week which of our varsity boys soccer players made the MIAA All Conference team but when we do we will make sure to highlight those students to the community!  

Field Hockey

The team finished the regular season with an impressive 9-3 record, highlighted by statement wins against three IAAM schools: a 3-1 victory over Friends School of Baltimore, a dominant 6-0 shutout against Indian Creek, and a 5-3 win over Roland Park Country School. Defensively, they achieved seven shutouts, holding opponents scoreless for over 350 minutes of field hockey. Offensively, the team was on fire, scoring 62 goals in 12 games—23 more than last season, with an average of 5 goals per game.

The girls finished 2nd in the conference and reached their third consecutive ESIAC Championship game. Let’s give it up for the 2024 ESIAC Runner-Ups!
A special thank you to the seniors—Victoria MacGlashan, Tori Nessly, Grace Shepherd, and team managers Alexa Duncan and Pearl Kontarinis—for all they’ve contributed to the program.

ESIAC All-Conference Team Field Hockey
Layla Kent, Gabi Shepherd, Grace Shepherd, Izzy Labrador 
HONORABLE MENTION: Isabel Gerstmyer

ESIAC Player of the Year for Field Hockey
Layla Kent

Boys & Girls Cross Country

The varsity boys cross country team kicked off their season on September 4 with a quad meet at Gunston, where junior Lucas Watkins led the Herons with a 12th place overall finish. This strong start laid the foundation for a season of growth as the team faced increasingly challenging conference meets. Notably, the boys’ team made school history as Gunston’s first athletic team to compete in the MIAA. They shared a special moment before their inaugural conference meet at Key School in September, recognizing the significance of this milestone.

Over the season, the boys competed in five MIAA conference meets, gaining valuable experience against some of the top competition in the state. Their performances showcased both individual progress and team unity as they consistently improved their times, showing endurance on some of the toughest courses they’ve ever encountered. In Gunston’s first home MIAA meet on October 9, the team faced Indian Creek, Key School, and Saints Peter and Paul, where senior captain Zach Steinberg’s 7th-place finish helped secure a win over Saints Peter and Paul with a time of 20:55. Throughout the season, several team members set personal bests in each race, highlighting the team’s commitment to training and their promising future.

The varsity girls cross country team also opened their season on September 4 with a home meet against ESIAC conference schools, where they claimed 1st place. Freshman Phoebe Fritz took 2nd overall, while seniors Margaret Randolph and Grace Hanlon finished closely in 4th and 5th. The girls continued their success, ending the regular season as the top team in the league. They won two out of four conference meets and narrowly missed a third, tying for 1st place but losing in a tiebreaker.

At the ESIAC Championship meet on October 15, the girls made history. After finishing as runners-up in the 2022 and 2023 championships, they finally broke through to win the first ESIAC Girls Cross Country Championship in school history, with three of their runners finishing in the top six. This season marked an incredible journey for the team—from a single girl on the roster four years ago to 2024 conference champions today.
Both teams also welcomed new Assistant Coach Mr. Henry Sabetti, whose support contributed to this landmark season. Congratulations to Coaches Stephenson, Sabetti, and both cross country teams for their exceptional achievements! A special thank you to the seniors—RP Johnson, Eli Moore, Zach Steinberg, Grace Hanlon, Louise Mulock, and Margaret Randolph—for their dedication and contributions.

ESIAC All-Conference Team Girls Cross Country
Phoebe Fritz, Grace Hanlon, Margaret Randolph 
HONORABLE MENTION: Louise Mulock

JV Volleyball

The JV Volleyball team wrapped up another remarkable season, finishing with an impressive 7-3-1 record. This marks their third consecutive winning season, bringing their three-year record to 20-5-1—an outstanding achievement. This season, the JV girls defeated some prominent programs, including a 2-1 victory over St. Vincent Pallotti, a 2-0 win over Severn School, and a redemption match against Indian Creek, winning 2-1 after last season’s only loss to them.

For those unfamiliar with volleyball scoring, JV volleyball matches are best-of-three sets, meaning the first team to win two sets takes the match. In contrast, varsity volleyball matches are best-of-five sets. This season, out of the 23 sets they played, the JV girls lost only nine, with five of their wins being 2-0 shutouts. For the third consecutive year, they went undefeated in conference play, and impressively, they haven’t lost a single set in conference in three years.

Varsity Volleyball

The varsity volleyball team concluded an outstanding regular season with a record of 14 wins and just two losses—a remarkable feat, especially given the caliber of teams they faced. This season, they triumphed over six IAAM schools: St. Vincent Pallotti, Friends School, Indian Creek, Concordia Prep, Key School, and Severn, with each victory achieved in a 3-0 shutout. The team also dominated their local rivals from Easton, Saints Peter and Paul, defeating them twice in the regular season and again in the ESIAC semifinals—all in straight sets.
Throughout the season, the varsity girls played a total of 44 sets and lost only six, securing 12 of their wins with 3-0 shutouts. They finished the regular season tied for 1st place in the conference and advanced to their second consecutive ESIAC Championship.

Congratulations to the 2024 ESIAC Runner-Ups, the Gunston Varsity Volleyball team, on another incredible season! Special thanks to the seniors—Olivia Arthur, Phoebe Kelly, Ali Lutz, Mia Walker, and team manager Maggie Porciello—for their dedication and lasting impact on the program.

ESIAC All-Conference Team Girls Volleyball
Liv Labrador, Scotia Hopper, Emma Nkanza, Allie Merkle
HONORABLE MENTION: Mia Walker

ESIAC Player of the Year for Volleyball
Emma Nkanza

Crew

The Crew team opened their season at home, hosting Freedom Rowers at the Head of the Corsica. For their first away regatta, the Herons competed at the Head of the Christina, facing top programs from across the tri-state area. Their boats raced against large schools like Walter Johnson High School, with a student body of 2,900, and Unionville High School, with 1,400 students. In this challenging field, the Men’s Varsity 4 earned an impressive second place, finishing ahead of schools such as Bishop Ireton and Walter Johnson.
Next, the team competed in the Navy Day Regatta in Philadelphia, a major event featuring over 100 teams from high school, collegiate, and club programs across the region. Facing a large field and unpredictable weather, the Men’s JV 8 made a strong debut. Closing out their season in Philadelphia, the team raced at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, the second-largest regatta in the country, which draws more than 2,000 entries. The Men’s Varsity 4 showcased their improvement, shaving over three and a half minutes off their Navy Day time, while the Varsity Women’s 4 delivered an impressive performance, surpassing teams like Merion Mercy Academy, Villa Maria, and Haddonfield.

A special thank you to the seniors—Allen Burgett, Brayden Hamm, Tanner Hatch, Trevor Janssen, Lennox Franks, Isla McCollum, and Alivia Runz—for their hard work and dedication to the program.

Sailing

The sailing team has enjoyed a phenomenal fall season! After competing in nearly 100 individual races, both the JV and Varsity teams ranked 7th within the Maryland Interscholastic Sailing Association. This league includes 40 JV teams and 30 varsity teams, representing schools such as Indian Creek, Severn, Saints Peter and Paul, and Spalding.

Adding to their success, the team qualified for the Mid Atlantic Sailing Association (MASSA) Championship—a first in the program’s history—placing them among the top 18 teams from Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Traveling to Fort Monroe, VA, for the championship regatta, the Herons competed in 30 races over a rigorous 14-hour weekend, finishing 13th overall out of the Mid-Atlantic’s 96 active teams.

This weekend, the team will compete in the Tier 2 Championship to defend their back-to-back titles against 18 teams, including Spalding, Walt Whitman, Saints Peter and Paul, and Great Mills, at the Tred Avon Yacht Club. Best of luck to the Herons!

A special thank you to the seniors for their tremendous impact on the program: Alix Allison, Owen Daffron, Ben Gilbert, Logan Kille, Justin McCubbin, Tommy McGeady, Alex McIntyre, Ethan McWilliams, Kate Seybert, and Jackson Stranahan.