The Gunston School announced today that it has been formally invited by a two-thirds vote of the membership to join the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) as a provisional member, becoming the only school from Maryland’s Eastern Shore to hold membership in the state’s most prestigious girls’ private school athletic conference. This historic move marks the culmination of a multi-year review process and follows a period of unprecedented competitive success and facilities enhancement that has seen Gunston’s girls’ programs rise to the top of the regional standings.

Acceptance into the IAAM is widely considered a hallmark of institutional excellence. The league’s membership committee conducts an exhaustive review of a school’s athletic program scope, facilities, on-field performance, athletic leadership, enrollment trends, coaching standards, and athletic philosophy. By securing this membership, Gunston joins an elite group of 29 independent schools—historically concentrated in the Baltimore/Annapolis metropolitan area—that are recognized for maintaining the highest level of competitive play and sportsmanship in the nation.

“Joining the IAAM is a proud moment for our entire community,” said Head of School John Lewis. “This move reflects the caliber of our female athletes and our commitment to providing them with the best possible opportunities for growth, leadership, and sportsmanship. It also aligns our girls' programs with our boys' teams, who compete in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), bringing our entire athletic department under the most elite conference umbrellas in the region.”

Gunston’s competitive readiness is underscored by a roster of athletes who have earned the highest honors on the Eastern Shore. In the 2025-2026 academic year alone, Gunston produced ESIAC league championships in soccer, volleyball, tennis, and pickleball, as well as four Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) Players of the Year in soccer, volleyball, tennis, and field hockey. Additionally, individual standouts have garnered statewide statistical rankings, including top-10 placements in points and steals for prep school basketball, while our waterfront programs, sailing and crew, continue to compete and succeed within highly respected conferences, MDISA for sailing and WMIRA for crew.

The transition to the IAAM allows Gunston’s female student-athletes to compete for conference championships and individual accolades against Maryland’s most storied athletic programs. It also provides Gunston’s athletes with increased visibility among college recruiters, who frequently look to the IAAM as a primary source for Division I, II, and III talent. 

Following a provisional first year in the 2026-2027 season, in which Gunston’s girls teams will continue to compete in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) and play non-conference games within the IAAM, Gunston will begin full conference play in the 2027-2028 academic year.