Athletics News

Congratulations to junior Drew Lang, who on February 19 won the 6A state wrestling championship title in the 132-pound weight class.

This is Drew’s second state title—and it’s an especially sweet one because he earned it by defeating Westlake High School’s Jacob Finlinson, who was pursuing his fourth state title this year and who beat Drew at divisionals and state in 2020.

“I’ve been chasing him the whole season,” Drew told the Deseret News after his victory.

Drew’s accomplishments are absolutely amazing.—Kendra Tomsic, Rowland Hall director of athletics

Although Drew attends Rowland Hall, he is one of the school’s student-athletes who pursues a sport off campus: he has wrestled for Salt Lake City’s West High School since his freshman year, where he has enjoyed much success. This season alone, Drew boasted a 40–2 record, was ranked first in the state for his weight class across all classifications, and was named a MountainStar Healthcare Star Athlete of the week just 11 days before taking the state title. Rowland Hall Director of Athletics Kendra Tomsic put these accomplishments into perspective when asked about Drew’s season.

“It is very rare to repeat as a state champion in wrestling at the 6A level—and to post a 40–2 record and be ranked as the number-one wrestler in the state across all classifications at 132 pounds is unheard of,” she said. “Drew’s accomplishments are absolutely amazing.”

Drew is now 28 wins away from West High’s all-time wins record, which is currently held by his brother and Rowland Hall alum Jack Lang ’19. (You can read more about the Lang wrestling dynasty in Fine Print.)

“Congratulations, Drew!” said Kendra, on behalf of the Rowland Hall community. ‘We are so very proud of you.”

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Interested in playing a sport that’s not offered at Rowland Hall, or curious about how your student can pursue a Rowland Hall education alongside their athletic passion? Contact our Admission Team for more information.

Athletics

Senior Winged Lion swim team standout Grace Smith was named the 3A Swimmer of the Year for 2020–2021 at a ceremony at the State 3A swim meet, held in mid-February.

The award is based on a point system that tracks the performances of all swimmers throughout the season. Grace captured the Region and State titles in the 200 IM this season, took second in the 100 Fly at both Championship events, and anchored our 200 Free Relay (earning first place at Region and fourth at State) and 200 Medley Relay (earning second at Region and third at State), in addition to racing to similar results in those races at the other meets our team attended during the regular season.

We are proud of Grace’s accomplishments not only this year, but during the past three seasons, and will definitely miss her talent and leadership in our swim program.

Congratulations, Grace!

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Athletics

Academic Honors

Each sports season, the Region 17 Board of Managers bestows Academic All-Region honors to senior athletes who are on the varsity teams of their respective sports and who meet unweighted GPA requirements and ACT/SAT test scores on a predetermined index table. If their GPA and scores qualify them, they are also nominated for the UHSAA Academic All-State award.

This winter, seven athletes earned Academic All-Region: Alexandra Hodson and Anna Jiricko, girls basketball; and Katie Moore, Grace Smith, Sarah Wahlen, Matthew Goh, and Jesus Lamas, swimming. Of those athletes, two earned the prestigious UHSAA Academic All-State award in their respective sports: Alexandra Hodson and Katie Moore. Congratulations to you all for your excellence in the classroom as well as in the competitive arena!

Postseason Recognition for Basketball Players

Six athletes in our basketball program were named to the Region 17 All-Region Team for the 2020–2021 season. Congratulations to Galib Ibrahima, Sam Andrew, Ozzie Smith, Anna Jiricko, Micha Nenbee, and Kaitlyn Bates on being recognized for their outstanding play by the coaches in the region!

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Athletics

By Zack Alvidrez, Head Coach

Two words define this season: appreciation and chaos. During a time of much uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had a successful basketball season. I appreciate all of the hard work and planning that was done behind the scenes by our administration, faculty, and staff, as well as the many sacrifices made by our student-athletes and their parents, in order to keep the program alive during a very challenging year. I am truly thankful for the nine student-athletes who stuck with it and finished the season during a truly unparalleled time.

The season was a rollercoaster ride in terms of continuity and planning, but our young men continued to buy into the program, no matter the challenges, and finish what we started. Led by captains Galib Ibrahima, Ozzie Smith, Sam Andrew, and Lorenzo Parker Pillow, we finished the season with an 8–5 record and a 6–2 record in Region play. The season was filled with highlights, whether it was a near triple-double from senior Galib Ibrahima against St. Joe, or junior Sam Andrew’s monster 21-point and 25-rebound performance against UMA Hillfield. Another fantastic highlight from this season was our hosting a first-round UHSAA State 2A Tournament game against Freedom Prep where everyone on the team scored and got to experience tournament play. The season came to an end with a loss on the road at the hands of the Draper APA Eagles in a hard-fought second-round State game.

We were excited about the news that we had three players selected for the All-Region 17 Team: Galib Ibrahima, Sam Andrew, and Ozzie Smith. Galib Ibrahima was also named to the 2A Senior All-Star Team, a prestigious honor.

Team awards will be presented at a season celebration later this spring to the following athletes: Sam Andrew, MVP; Galib Ibrahima, Most Improved; and Ozzie Smith, Coaches’ Award.

A thank-you to our lone senior, Galib Ibrahima, for his inspirational leadership—he will be very much missed. Many thanks to part-time assistant coach Paulino Beach for his help, and to videographer Monty Rogers for faithfully capturing our games on film and livestreaming them for our fans. Finally, a thank-you to the players, all of whom we hope to see back on the court next year (along with others who were unable to participate this year): Sam Andrew, Ozzie Smith, Kai Dowdle, Lorenzo Parker Pillow, Yeshi Tsering, Andrew Johnson, Wynn Mellor, Max Rohovit, and Quentin Pezolesi.

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Athletics

By Bill Tatomer, Head Coach

The Rowland Hall girls basketball season did not start on schedule this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players took to the gym floor after the Thanksgiving holiday and continued through the second week of February. The 2020–2021 program was like no other. Twenty-four girls had originally signed up to play, but after specific protocols were established that required all participants to learn from home for 10 weeks, only nine girls remained.

Despite its challenges, this year was one of the most rewarding for the program and for the players as they showcased their commitment and respect for one another throughout the entire season—a season they can be proud of and that the coaching staff will never forget. As in years past, student-athletes were given the opportunity to develop leadership skills and to learn the value of teamwork and how to handle and deal with adversity—and adversity loomed around every corner! They learned about the importance of commitment, respect, integrity, selflessness, and time management, as well as about the dividends of working hard and placing the welfare of the team ahead of oneself. These positive character skills remained the foundation of the Winged Lion girls basketball program for this season.

The 2020–2021 season was an incredibly competitive year for the squad, which only got a few weeks of practice prior to their first contest. The team rose to the occasion and quickly gelled as a well-oiled and unselfish group, sharing the basketball, looking to get everyone involved, and working hard on both sides of the ball. Finishing the year with an impressive 9–3 record, this group accomplished all of their goals this season, and truthfully just felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete as a team from late November through February. They were tested for COVID every two weeks, and the girls kept their promise to one another to minimize their COVID exposure risk outside of the gym; once we started playing in early January, they successfully completed all testing with no positive test results—a testament to the many sacrifices this team endured.

Led by two senior captains, Anna Jiricko and Alex Hodson, the team conducted individual workouts all summer in preparation for the season, and this hard work was evident as soon as they took the floor in November. Inspired by the phenomenal improvement in senior captain and last year’s Offensive Player of the Year, Anna Jiricko, the Lady Lions stepped onto the court with a vengeance, winning three of their first four games, and only losing by one point to rival Rockwell in a hard-fought contest. Finishing second in Region 17 at 9–3, highlights for this memorable season included a 26-point effort by Anna Jiricko against APA West Valley; another State rebounding title for Micha Nenbee in all classifications (and yes, this is her second rebounding title in a row); several double-digit scoring outings by juniors Kaitlyn Bates and Micha Nenbee; several stellar defensive performances by senior Alex Hodson; and numerous zero-turnover and double-digit assist outings for junior point guard Grace Baranko. Sharpshooter junior Ana Rodriquez, with fellow junior and first-year varsity player Paris Everett, paired with sophomore sensations Heidi Paisley and athletic Vika Feletoa, all contributed immensely over the 12-game schedule, making this year a true team effort by all. This was such an amazing season for this group of nine players, and the team’s outstanding three-year student assistant, Cedi Hinton.

In anticipation of the awards banquet, which will be held later this spring, players and coaches selected the following players for individual awards: Anna Jiricko, MVP; Grace Baranko, Coaches’ Award; Micha Nenbee, Offensive Player; Kaitlyn Bates, Defensive Player; and Heidi Paisley, Most Improved Player. We are also proud of Alex Hodson and Anna Jiricko, who earned Academic All-Region honors; Alex Hodson was additionally named to the UHSAA’s prestigious 2A Academic All-State Team.

Region 17 coaches recognized Anna Jiricko, Micha Nenbee, and Kaitlyn Bates as All-Region athletes. Additionally, juniors Grace Baranko, Micha Nenbee, and Kaitlyn Bates have been selected as team captains for the 2021–2022 campaign; these three will be leading a senior-heavy team of six seniors into battle next year. A huge shout-out to our team videographer, Dr. Phil Jiricko, who ran the livestream and HUDL video requirements for all 12 games, and for all the emotional and medical support provided by athletic trainer Josie Harris.

Seniors, thank you for a miraculous season! Your legacy will live on for years to come at Rowland Hall. Thanks for helping make this season one that your coaching staff will never forget.

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Athletics

By Julia Sanderson, Assistant Coach

While it was different, this past season was such a success for our Rowland Hall swim team. At the few meets we had, the team really came together and showed what a force they can be.

Our swimmers put in a lot of hard work this season to make up for any irregularities that resulted from COVID-19. Because of our team’s small size, it is difficult to earn enough points to make Rowland Hall a powerhouse in the swimming world. The UHSAA classifies us as a 2A school; however, our swimmers compete at 3A championships with many schools that are much larger than us. Despite that, our “Finned” Lions continue to surprise not only the coaches and themselves with excellent performances, but other teams as well, as our athletes outshine all others with their hard work, dedication, sportsmanship, team spirit, and overall support of one another. Rowland Hall’s swim team is truly tiny in number but mighty in talent, and we continue to prove our ability to compete with larger, higher-ranked teams and swimmers.

At the Region 13 Championships held at Wasatch High on January 29, the girls and boys teams placed fourth and sixth, respectively. Grace Smith placed first in the 200 IM and second in the 100 Fly; Katie Moore took second in the 100 Back and sixth in the 100 Fly; Isabelle Louis took second in the 50 Free and fifth in the 100 Free; Ava Erickson placed seventh in the 50 Free and fifth in the 500 Free; and Sophie Zheng took fourth in both the 100 Fly and 100 Back. The women finished in first place in the 200 Free relay and second in the 200 Medley relay; the competitors in those races were Grace Smith, Isabelle Louis, Katie Moore, and Sophie Zheng.

On the boys’ side, Matthew Goh took first in the 100 Free and third in the 100 Breaststroke; Thomas Shakib placed first in the 100 Fly and second in the 100 Back; and Jesus Lamas took eighth in the 100 Free and eleventh in the 50 Free.

The venue for the 3A State Championships was moved from BYU to the South Davis Recreation Center and, because of COVID-19 restrictions, the girls and boys championships were held separately, forcing the events to take place back-to-back and preventing swimmers from getting much rest between races. This made the performances by both the girls and boys teams that much more impressive, with our Winged Lions girls team placing fifth and our boys team taking 14th at State.

At the 3A State Championships, our five qualifying girls all performed above and beyond. Senior Grace Smith took first place in the 200 IM and second place in 100 Fly; senior Katie Moore placed ninth in the 100 Fly and fourth in the 100 Back; junior Ava Erickson, because she was in the B final, placed ninth in the 500 Free, but with a final time that placed her fifth overall in that race; junior Isabelle Louis took fifth in the 50 Free and ninth in the 100 Free; and freshman Sophie Zheng placed sixth in the 100 Fly. Our relay team, comprised of Sophie Zheng, Katie Moore, Isabelle Louis, and Grace Smith, took third in the 200 Medley relay race and placed fourth in the 200 Free relay competition—just one second off the podium in that race.

Senior Winged Lion Grace Smith earned 3A Swimmer of the Year honors based on her times throughout the 2020–2021 season—we are very proud of her accomplishments!

Our three-person boys State team made up for lack of numbers with significant time drops and fantastic performances across the board. Senior Matthew Goh took fifth in the 100 Free and third in the 100 Breaststroke; senior Jesus Lamas dropped significant time in both the 50 Free and the 100 Free; and freshman Thomas Shakib took sixth in the 200 IM and second in the 100 Back.

The following swimmers received medals and podium recognition for placing in the top eight in their individual event races: Grace Smith finished as the State 3A Champion in the 200 IM, and finished a close second in the 100 Fly; Isabelle Louis placed fifth in the 50 Free, bumping up three places from her seed time; Katie Moore placed fourth in the 100 Back; Sophie Zheng had an excellent State Championship debut, with a sixth place spot in the 100 Fly; Matthew Goh finished his high school swimming career with fifth place in the 100 Free and third place in the 100 Breaststroke; and Thomas Shakib really set the pace as a freshman, with sixth place in the 200 IM and second place in the 100 Backstroke. Those who did not make the podium made excellent improvement in their races, and we saw major time drops and fantastic performances across the board.

Congratulations to Academic All-Region swimmers Katie Moore, Grace Smith, Matthew Goh, Jesus Lamas, and Sarah Wahlen. A special shout-out to Katie Moore on her hard work to earn Academic All-State honors from the UHSAA.

Team awards, which will be presented at a gathering this spring, were earned by Grace Smith and Matthew Goh, Most Valuable Swimmers; Ava Erickson and Jesus Lamas, Most Improved; Katie Moore and Thomas Shakib, Coaches’ Award; and Isabelle Louis and Liam Boyle, Winged Lion Spirit Award.

In order to be successful at swimming, you need to be dedicated and put in as much hard work as you hope to get out of it. You cannot go a day without disciplined practice and expect to reach your goals. The events of this past year made it very difficult for our Rowland Hall swimmers to practice that necessary, regular discipline. The team was forced to be flexible, not only in their practices, meets, and other events, but in their expectations as well. I’m sure I speak for co-head coaches Cole Jackman and Hope Feliciano when I say that, looking back on this season, our team exceeded expectations at every unknown turn. They made the very best out of a difficult situation and did it with positivity and enthusiasm. We love our fun, goofy little team and are so lucky to be able to coach such a wonderful group of smart and talented kids.

Congrats and thank you for a fun and successful season to the entire team: Liam Boyle, Ava Erickson, Matthew Goh, Diego Ize-Cedillo, Jesus Lamas, Isabelle Louis, Olivia Milavetz, Kathleen Moore, Thomas Shakib, Grace Smith, Cambrin Taylor, Taryn Thompson, Sarah Wahlen, and Sophie Zheng.

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Athletics

Fall Academic Honors for Winged Lion Athletes

Each sports season, the Region 17 Board of Managers recognizes with Academic All-Region honors seniors who meet the award criteria (being a regular starter or performer on the varsity team and meeting Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) index qualifications based on non-weighted, cumulative GPA and ACT or SAT scores). Eight Rowland Hall fall sports athletes were recognized: girls soccer players Lily Scaife and Catherine Wall; boys cross country runner Jack Lange; girls cross country runners Ellie Hyde, Laisha Padilla, and Kathryn Plavan; girls tennis player Maddie Keil; and boys golf team member Isaac Holbrook.

The UHSAA also recognizes excellence in the classroom with the designation of Academic All-State status, awarded to senior student-athletes who are regular starters or performers for their varsity teams and who fall in the top ten of 2A athletes who met the UHSAA index based on their non-weighted, cumulative GPA and ACT or SAT scores. Two of our fall sport student-athletes earned that award: Lily Scaife (girls soccer) and Isaac Holbrook (boys golf).

Congratulations to these Winged Lions on achieving excellence not only in the competitive athletics arena, but also in the classroom.

Five 2020 Spring Sports Winged Lion Teams Earn 2A Academic State Champion Honors

We were recently notified that five of our 2020 spring athletics teams earned 2A Academic State Champion honors based on their cumulative team GPA. This prestigious award is presented each sports season by the Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (UIAAA).

Congratulations to our spring 2020 boys soccer, girls track, boys track, boys tennis, and girls golf teams on this outstanding achievement!

Fall State Champions Honored by America First Credit Union

America First Credit Union honored on KJZZ and KMYU television a number of State champions at halftime of the 6A and 5A State football semifinal games. Several Rowland Hall athletes and teams were recognized with a video presentation and commentary sharing their accomplishments.

Congratulations to our State Champion girls soccer team, #1 Singles State tennis champion Lucy Wallin, and boys cross country State Champion Carson Burian on this well-deserved recognition!

Bobby Kennedy Named High School Coach of Significance

This fall, Bobby Kennedy, former longtime head coach of our girls soccer program, was named a recipient of the fourth annual High School Coach of Significance Award by the United Soccer Coaches and Association’s High School Coaches Advocacy Group. This award recognizes members who coach for character and use the soccer field to teach life lessons at the high school level. It is an opportunity for each state, in conjunction with United Soccer Coaches, to recognize coaches who make an impact within their schools and communities well beyond their records of wins and losses.

“Among the various achievements and plaudits to which one may aspire as a coach, the loftiest is to be known as a coach who has touched lives and shaped people. This is the essence of the teacher-coach,” said Kevin Sims, United Soccer Coaches president. “I salute and thank all of the recipients of the High School Coach of Significance Award for understanding that first, we are coaches of people. To develop responsible adults and contributing citizens through the beautiful game of soccer fulfills the calling of high school coaches.”

Congratulations to Coach Kennedy on a stellar career in our soccer program, where he led our girls team to four State and five Region championships, all the while caring more about the heart and effort of his players, and about their character both on and off the field, than about accomplishments, recognition, or trophies. He’s truly a coach of significance.

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Athletics

By Mark Oftedal, Head Coach

What started off as a tentative Let’s see how far we can get into this season before we’re shut down feeling back in August grew determinedly and confidently into a fortification: We can do this! Buoyed by the encouragement and ever-supportive direction of Rowland Hall Athletic Director Kendra Tomsic, along with the assurances of the comprehensive health and safety protocols developed over the summer months by our attentive administration, our team of 27 committed and excited harriers—bent on embracing the challenges of developing muscles, hearts, and minds— set aside any distractions for the chance of making gains toward their goals of racing their fastest 5Ks.

A core of 17 returning runners, led by six seniors—Carson Burian, Max Eatchel, Ellie Hyde, Jack Lange, Laisha Padilla, and Katie Plavan—set the tone in August for the work to be accomplished in the months ahead. The authenticity of this goal-oriented tone was not lost on any of our team members, as returning juniors Emery Bahna, Dillon Fang, Tyler Gerstein, Lorenzo Parker Pillow, Ana Rodriguez, Max Smart, and George Wintress, along with sophomores Eli Borgenicht, Will Cunningham, Rodrigo Fernandez-Esquivias, and Mikel Lawlor, picked up where they’d left off after a successful 2019 season. Our seven incoming ninth graders—Dean Hijjawi, Max Jansen, Joey Lieskovan, Harris Matheson, Luke Sarin, Jagger Winkler, and Sophie Zheng—and sophomore newcomer Boden Dumas seemed to need no introduction to serious training, taking to the workload without a hitch. In addition to these eight newcomers, our team benefited from the addition of two very talented and experienced sophomore transfer students, Ezra Shilling Rabin and Evan Jahn, joining our ranks.   

Though our season’s competitive offerings were slim compared to normal years, our team members took full advantage of the two opportunities they had to race prior to our Region championships. Both of these races challenged our runners on hilly courses: the Wasatch Cross Country Invitational offered up the site of 2002 Olympic cross country skiing venue at Soldier Hollow as our first test, and two weeks later the Sanpete Classic in Fairview lent its long-lasting ups and downs, preparing our runners for Region championships on the relatively flat and more forgiving 5K course at Wheeler Farm in Murray. Perhaps more helpful to our season’s successes were this year’s addition of team time trials—thank you, Coach Laura Johnson (a.k.a. L.B.J. and Dr. J)! Reluctant to use time trials the past 25 years during the cross country season, I became convinced that they may be the thing in absence of racing opportunities (COVID has changed many things these past nine months!). Coach Johnson was right, as our runners seemed to enjoy (that’s most likely a stretch) seeing their times drop in the four opportunities they had to trial on the same course at Liberty Park.

The Region championships found our athletes ready to compete for a chance to qualify for State. Our girls team finished second, assuring them of that opportunity, and two seniors secured top-ten finishes: Ellie Hyde (fifth) and Laisha Padilla (sixth). Newcomer Sophie Zheng (14th) captured the third spot for the team, while senior Katie Plavan (17th) and junior Emery Bahna (19th) finished out the top-five scoring runners for the team. Our boys team claimed the top three spots overall, followed by the sixth and tenth spots, to complete the team’s scoring total of 22 points. Senior Carson Burian, who is familiar with top-spot placing this season and last (and the two seasons before that), was once again the Region Champion, while sophomore and newcomer Ezra Shilling Rabin took second, and senior Jack Lange took third. Filling out team scoring were sophomores Will Cunningham and Evan Jahn, and completing our varsity team of seven runners was the impressive running of ninth graders Luke Sarin and Max Jansen. The boys team captured an amazing eighth consecutive Region Championship trophy!

As I said: “We can do this!” And we did. This season was a team effort like no other. Our team’s caring cooperation—in addition to maintaining practice and competition health and safety protocols—added to their grit and determination. The encouragement of seniors showed learned leadership skills, and with consistently focused training efforts, we more than completed our season. We practiced and learned much. Our girls were unable to field a full team for the State meet, but that didn’t reduce the effort and fun on display as seniors Ellie Hyde, Laisha Padilla, and Katie Plavan shared the joy of competing at State with their new ninth-grade teammate Sophie Zheng.

On the boys’ side, Carson Burian easily ran to another State Championship victory; senior Jack Lange and sophomore Ezra Shilling Rabin finished fifth and seventh, respectively, thus placing three of Rowland Hall’s team members in the top ten. Senior Max Eatchel finished his high school career in an impressive 28th place, followed by sophomores Evan Jahn, Will Cunningham, and Max Smart (further revealing the future of our team!). The boys’ team finished in second place, impressively—just four points shy of first.

All of our team members have much to be proud of at the completion of this 2020 cross country season. Thank you for the positive dynamic you helped to create and share. You represented Rowland Hall as positive role models at practice sessions, at contests, and beyond. Continue to be well and do well.

The 2020 Rowland Hall cross country team award recipients are Ellie Hyde and Carson Burian, Most Valuable Players; Sophie Zheng and Ezra Shilling Rabin, Most Improved; Laisha Padilla and Will Cunningham, Coaches’ Choice; and Emery Bahna and Max Jansen, Tough as Nails.

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Athletics

It was a great season for all of our Middle School teams. We had a total of six Middle School basketball teams and 64 basketball players on our rosters this season! A heartfelt thank you to every one of our Winged Lions families for your support throughout the season—for sharing your children, for coming out to the games, and for all the snacks!

Thank you also to our Middle School boosters for providing every athlete with a colorful pair of Rowland Hall socks or a pop socket, and for hosting fan appreciation nights. We are fortunate to have a dedicated coaching staff who put in so much time, effort, and care to develop our student-athletes.

Please read on for a recap of each team’s season highlights.

A Girls Basketball
Coaches Zack Alvidrez and Mike Roberts

The A team players consistently impressed us with their work ethic, team-first mentality, and willingness to learn. After a successful season where we improved on the fundamentals of the game, the players put it all together and ended the season by taking third place in the tournament. The most impressive aspect of the team was that no matter what the end result was, they always left their best effort out on the court! We greatly enjoyed the time we spent with the players on and off the court, and we wish them the best in their future basketball endeavors.

B Girls Basketball
Coaches Zack Alvidrez and Sarah Yoon

The B team was full of intensity and spirit throughout the season. Athletes worked hard during practices to improve their understanding of all aspects of the game. As the season progressed, the team gained confidence and was excited to expand their defense and offense skills. At games, B team showed tremendous support for one another and displayed professional graciousness towards other teams. The camaraderie among teammates on bus rides made basketball games fun and brought the team together. B team ended the season with a third-place win! The coaches were very proud of their strong efforts, and we look forward to seeing these ladies continue to develop their skills.

C Girls Basketball
Coaches Zack Alvidrez and Tyler Tanner

The C team had a fantastic season! Players committed to practices on Monday mornings during late start time and learned skills on dribbling, cuts, properly executed passes, and shooting. These athletes showed incredible spirit and high energy during practices and games. They cheered for each other and loved to be part of this team. This display of team spirit and love of basketball brought excitement and strengthened the C team as a community. As the season progressed, the team gained confidence and won some games. The best aspect of the team was all the creative cheers the girls came up with. The fun carried over into the playoffs, with a successful third-place finish! We were very proud of all the players on the C team and how much they developed their skills over the course of the season. It was a good time for all!

A Boys Basketball
Coaches Zack Alvidrez and Mike Roberts

The A team had a strong year! They went 6-4 in the regular season, finishing second in the league. During the end-of-season tournament, all the boys stepped up their game, and they capped things off by crushing Waterford for third place. Throughout the course of the season, the coaches were extremely impressed with the focus and commitment the team displayed. They consistently represented Rowland Hall in a positive manner on and off the floor, and the coaches are very proud of everything these young men accomplished this season.

B Boys Basketball
Coaches Zack Alvidrez and Sarah Yoon

The B team had a terrific season! Athletes were committed to improving their skills and worked hard during practices. As the season progressed, overall skills improved and a clear display of teamwork was evident in defense and offense plays. All players showed strong support for one another and represented the team with character and professional graciousness at games. The season ended with a third-place win, and the team played with tremendous heart and excitement. The coaches are very proud of B team,  and we look forward to seeing everyone continue on with their basketball journey in the future.

C Boys Basketball 
Coaches Zack Alvidrez, Tyler Tanner, and Brian McCloud

The C team played hard and had a terrific season. Players committed to practices on Monday mornings during late start time and learned skills on dribbling, cuts, properly executed passes, and shooting. The team worked well together and played hard in every game. They supported each other through all their wins and one loss with excitement and team spirit. The team played well in the tournament, dominating their opponents and taking first overall! Congrats to all the members of the C team! It was awesome to watch their development over the course of the season. We are very proud of all their accomplishments and the way they represented Rowland Hall this year.

Middle School Athletics Winter Season Results

Athletics

It was a great season for all of our Middle School teams. A heartfelt thank you to every one of our Winged Lion families for your support throughout the season. We are fortunate to have a dedicated coaching staff who put in so much time, effort, and care to develop our student-athletes. Please read on for a recap of each team’s season highlights.

A Soccer
Coaches Chelsea Vasquez and Mary Lawlor

This year’s A soccer team had a strong season, with many well-fought games in a new, more challenging conference. Our seventh graders showed many improvements throughout the season, and our eighth graders stepped into leadership roles, creating a true team mentality. The difference in cohesive gameplay from the first game to the final was astonishing. The team learned to communicate and trust each other, which significantly improved their performance on the pitch. A memorable moment was beating McGillis on our practice field after losing to them in an earlier match. Even their coach congratulated the players on their dynamic play, connected passing, and determination throughout the game. It was a fun season filled with lots of laughs, and we look forward to seeing what’s next for our seventh graders and graduating our eighth graders to the high school program.

C Soccer 
Coach Campbell Ainsworth

The C team had a fantastic season this year. All season long, they worked on skills, moving with and without the ball, and, above all, how to play as a team. Their hard work paid off in the WAC tournament as the team, losing 1-0 at halftime in the semifinal game, came back to win 2-1 in overtime, and then won the championship the following day. Drew Lipson and Anthony Goorman led the attack, Freddy Gowski and Noa Fukashima were unstoppable in the middle of the defense, and Madsen Varner and Milan Mickelson were outstanding goalkeepers. This team never gave up, and their championship trophy reflects the hustle and 100% effort they put into games all season long. The players should be proud of their pluck and determination, and we look forward to seeing them play for the A team next year.

A Volleyball 
Coach Doug Booher

What a great season for an amazing, talented, and fun group of volleyball players! The A team, with a huge emphasis on team, worked hard, laughed hard, and played hard all season. There was great skill improvement, some practice with mental performance techniques, a few tears (those darn Waterford Ravens!), some baked goods, increased strategic and game knowledge, and a little bit of fire, as we went from a team that gave up points for being out of rotation early in the season to a strong second place finish in the tournament. I look forward to watching the eighth graders take their skills to the Upper School program and am already hoping and planning for next year for the seventh graders.

B Volleyball
Coaches Mike Roberts and Sarah Yoon

The B2 team saw continuous improvement throughout the season. They consistently improved both their skills and their understanding of the game each and every week. Additionally, they were very supportive of one another and became an extremely tight-knit group by the end of the season. Highlights of the season included multiple three-hit rallies, consistent serving (including some overhand serves), and even a few hits at the net! The team hit their stride during the tournament, and as a result, they were able to walk away with the third-place trophy. The team should be proud of their effort, and I look forward to seeing them continue their volleyball journey next year.

B Volleyball
Coach Jen Schones

The B1 team had a great season, and all of the girls showed a lot of improvement. Some goals for the season were to move to the ball, call the ball, control passes, and have fun! The entire team accomplished these goals, and it was an exciting season. I had a great time watching the girls mature as volleyball players and learn to play different positions. The team had several games that were super close, and it was fun to watch everyone fight to the final point. In our final game against Waterford, we played our best, and it was great to see beautiful, controlled passes, high sets, and some strong attacks on the net. Between playing some good volleyball, making up new cheers, and overcoming some mental aspects of the game, it was a good season and I enjoyed coaching this group of girls. Thanks for the great season!

C Volleyball
Coach Chad Obermark

The sixth-grade girls volleyball team showed amazing improvement this season. For many of the players, this is their first real exposure to volleyball. To see them grow from learning the fundamentals of passing and serving to playing intense points with multiple volleys is incredible! I appreciated the grit and perseverance this team showed all season. We started with a few losses, but they rallied back and our improvement by the end of the season was impressive. I look forward to seeing each of them develop their skills and build on this strong start to their volleyball careers.

ATHLETICS

It was a wonderful season for all of our Middle School teams. We had two Middle School soccer teams, and 60 athletes participated in cross country this season. A heartfelt thank you to every one of our Winged Lion families for your support throughout the season—for sharing your children, for coming out to the games, and for all the snacks! Thank you also to our Middle School Boosters for providing every athlete with a colorful pair of Rowland Hall socks and for helping to host a successful cross country meet. We are fortunate to have a dedicated coaching staff that commits so much time, effort, and care to develop our student-athletes.

Please read on for a recap of each team’s season highlights.

Girls A Soccer
Coach Campbell Ainsworth

Our soccer team had a fantastic season! The A team battled throughout the year and ended up winning the WAC tournament. This was truly a team effort, as the defense and forwards worked together to pressure the opposing team and have a cohesive attack. These Winged Lions never gave up; games were played under the searing sun and the freezing rain, rarely with substitutes, and the girls played with pluck and joy. Three times during the season, they came back to win the game after being down a goal, a true testament to their grit and positive attitude. Despite coming into the season with no true goalkeeper, several players stepped up to volunteer to be goalie; shout-outs to Molly Friedman, Maddie Carlin, Mei Mei Johnson, Maile Fukushima, and Rachelle Prasthofer for giving it their all between the goal posts. This team’s hustle and fun-loving spirit made this a memorable season. We look forward to seeing these skilled players contribute to the high school team in the upcoming years!

Girls C Soccer
Coach Bobby Kennedy

While the weather was a little unpredictable this spring, the results for the soccer team were not. They had lost only one game entering tournament play, and earned the number-one seed. After handling LCA in round one, they were poised to avenge the only loss of the season in the final against Waterford. The Ravens got off to a quick start, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes. Rowland Hall responded with back-to-back goals in the dying minutes of the first half. After a few adjustments at halftime, both teams battled for the balance of the second half. Waterford scored with three minutes remaining, and the Winged Lions never really threatened in the limited time in the second half. Of course, results matter, but the true winner was the game of soccer. While we have players that play outside of school, we also have student-athletes that play very little, and they were part of a great experience.

Cross Country
Coaches Mary Lawlor, Chelsea Vasquez, and Sara Donnelly

This has been an excellent and fun cross country season, with our largest team yet! Even in freezing temperatures and torrential downpours, our runners showed up, ran quickly, and worked hard to improve their times. A highlight of this season was our dynamic group of awesome eighth graders, who, without being asked, led by example during each practice and meet. They acted with intention and modeled kindness and effort for our whole team, and they truly made our season more fun and fulfilling. We also had a great bunch of sixth- and seventh-grade runners. Whether they were returning runners or trying out the sport for the first time, it’s been great to watch their progress and feel their positivity. As a team, we placed in every meet and often had multiple runners in the top-10 slots for each respective age group. Nice work! Special shout-out to Will Cunningham (A boys) and Nina Martin (C girls) who consistently placed in the top three in their divisions. We had so much fun with you all and can’t wait until next spring.

Mountain Biking
Coach Jen Schones

Despite a few meetups being foiled by rain or thunder, we enjoyed some fun rides down in Draper at Corner Canyon with our awesome group of bikers. Our team consisted of a mix of skill levels, ranging from beginners to advanced riders, and everyone enjoyed honing our jumping skills at the Draper Bike Park. We loved learning from (and trying to keep up with!) the more advanced riders, while seeing the beginners grow their confidence and skills climbing and descending. Parent volunteers made the rides more diverse and we appreciate your participation!

Middle School Athletics Spring 2019 Season Information

Season results:

Athletics

It was a great season for all six of our basketball teams and all 75 of our athletes! A heartfelt thank you to every one of our Winged Lions families for your support throughout the winter: for sharing your children, for coming out to the games, and for all the snacks! Thank you, also, to our Middle School boosters for providing every athlete with a colorful pair of Rowland Hall socks and hosting fan-appreciation nights. We’re fortunate to have a dedicated coaching staff who put in so much time, effort, and care to develop our student-athletes. Read on for a recap of each team’s season highlights.

A Girls Basketball
Coaches: Zack Alvidrez, Mike Roberts, Sarah Yoon, Brian McCloud

These outstanding young ladies consistently shared their high energy during both practice and games. They worked hard to improve their fundamentals, and they learned the basic offensive and defensive formations in preparation for the Upper School basketball program. After a successful regular season, the girls rounded out the season with a dramatic come-from-behind championship. We hope these young ladies continue to develop their love of the game, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to share time with them on the court.

B Girls Basketball
Coaches: Zack Alvidrez, Mike Roberts, Sarah Yoon, Brian McCloud

The B team was full of intensity throughout the season, and the girls gained a better understanding of all aspects of the game. As the season progressed, the team really started to jell, and they consistently showed a solid grasp of competitive basketball. The coaches were proud of their attitude and behavior on and off the court, and we look forward to seeing these ladies continue to develop their skills.

C Girls Basketball
Coaches: Zack Alvidrez, Mike Roberts, Sarah Yoon, Brian McCloud

The C team had a fantastic season. Players committed to early morning practices and honed skills on dribbling, cuts, and properly executed passes. These athletes showed incredible spirit and high energy during practices and games. After each match, win or loss, they huddled together and danced to the “Ole, Ole” song. They were inspirational! Their team spirit and love of the game was infectious and strengthened the group as a whole. As the season progressed, they gained confidence, made excellent shots, and played aggressively. They also adopted Hippo the Whale as a team mascot—they continue to pass Hippo around, and it inspires them to play basketball. The athletes finished their season in third place. Go, Winged Lions! The coaches are proud of the C team and look forward to each player returning next season.

A Boys Basketball
Coaches: Zack Alvidrez, Mike Roberts, Sarah Yoon, Brian McCloud

The A team had a great year. They went 5-2 in the regular season, finishing second in the league. During the end-of-season tournament, they stepped up their game to play their two best matches of the year. In the end, they pulled off a well-deserved tournament championship. Throughout the season, the coaches were extremely impressed with the team’s focus and commitment. They consistently represented Rowland Hall in a positive manner on and off the floor, and the coaches are proud of everything these young men accomplished.

B Boys Basketball
Coaches: Zack Alvidrez, Mike Roberts, Sarah Yoon, Brian McCloud

The B team’s season was filled with improvement in all areas of the game. Practices focused on shooting, making smart passes, and moving without the ball. After a solid regular season, the boys performed well in the tournament, improving their play in all aspects of the game. The coaches are proud of the team’s effort and growth, and we look forward to seeing these athletes continue on their basketball journeys.

C Boys Basketball 
Coaches: Zack Alvidrez, Mike Roberts, Sarah Yoon, Brian McCloud

The C team played hard and had a terrific season. Players committed to early morning practices and honed their dribbling, screens, cuts, and passes. Their increased accuracy and precision helped them clinch an impressive seven wins. They also learned more about the value of team sports: they kept team spirit alive and well throughout the season, and supported each other through wins and losses. At the tournament, they played with heart, gave it their all, and took second place! Congrats, C team! Their growth and development is commendable. The coaches are proud and look forward to the players returning next year.

Middle School

It was a great season for all eight of our Middle School teams. A heartfelt thank you to every one of our Winged Lions families for your support throughout the season. We are fortunate to have a dedicated coaching staff who put in so much time, effort, and care to develop our student athletes. Please read on for a recap of each team's season highlights.

A Soccer
Coaches Campbell Ainsworth and Christian Waters

We were fortunate to field two highly competitive teams this year. Players began the year working on developing fundamental skills and learning how to play together as a team. We emphasized defense, how to use the whole field, and making smart decisions with and without the ball. The team consistently had a positive attitude and put in a lot of effort on the field. One of the most exciting games this season was when A1 played A2; players gave it their all during the game and finished with hugs and high-fives all around. Both teams were successful this year. A2 finished second in the league and third in the tournament, and A1 finished first in both the league and won the WAC tournament. We hope to see some of our eighth graders back on the same pitch next fall; their hustle and dynamic play will be a great boost to the high school team!

C Soccer
Coach Campbell Ainsworth

What a fantastic season the C team had this year! All season long they worked on skills and movement with and without the ball, and learned how to play as a team. These plucky sixth graders never gave up, no matter the odds. Their resilience was particularly evident in the WAC tournament at the end of the season. During the semifinal game, the team was one goal down at halftime and came back to win the game. The next day in the championship, the team was losing 2-0 with 20 minutes left and came roaring back to win 4-2. They finished with huge smiles and their signature team dance moves. These players should be proud of their hustle, determination, and great camaraderie.

A Volleyball
Coach Doug Booher

Wow. What a wonderful season! Vast skill improvement; learning new things about volleyball, ourselves, and others; laughing together, sweating together, playing together. From placement practice through the tournament, bus rides, team huddles, practices, and games, this group of Winged Lions (phonetically pronounced) embodied the word team with everyone willing to play their role while also being capable and eager when asked to step into less familiar positions. I look forward to watching the impact this awesome group of young people has on the Upper School programs they choose to be a part of.

Oh, and we completed the first undefeated volleyball season in memory at Rowland Hall.

B Volleyball
Coach Mike Roberts

The B2 team saw continuous improvement over the course of the season. They improved both their skills and their understanding of the game each and every week. Additionally, they were very supportive of one another, and became a very tight-knit group by the end of the season. Highlights of the season included multiple three-hit rallies, consistent serving, and even a few hits at the net! The girls should all be proud of their efforts, and I look forward to seeing them continue their volleyball journey next year!

B Volleyball
Coach Jen Schones

The B1 team had a great season and all of the girls showed visible improvement. Some goals for the season were to move to the ball, call the ball, control passes, and have fun. I would say that the entire team accomplished these goals and it was an exciting season! I had a great time watching the girls mature as volleyball players and learn to play different positions. We were challenged in the final game against Waterford, but the girls fought hard to win the championship. We consistently had beautiful passes, nice high sets, and some great attacks on the net. Our serves were also spot-on in the championship, with a 98% success rate. Between playing good volleyball, making up new cheers, overcoming some mental aspects of the game, and pushing Waterford to work for those last two points, it was a super successful season and I'm so proud to have coached this group of girls.

C Volleyball
Coach Chad Obermark

The sixth grade girls volleyball team showed amazing improvement this season. For many of the players, this is their first real exposure to volleyball. To see them grow from learning the fundamentals of passing and serving to playing intense points with multiple volleys is incredible! I loved this team's positive energy and willingness to work together. They had fun in practice and games while being willing to play hard. I look forward to seeing each of them develop their skills and build on this strong start to their volleyball careers.

MS Athletics Fall 2018 Season Info

Season results:

Athletics

It was a great spring season for Middle School Athletics. Thanks to all of our players for their dedication, and thanks to their families for their support throughout the season. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated group of coaches who continue to invest countless hours to develop our student-athletes. Additionally, I'd like to thank our Middle School boosters for providing every athlete with a sport-specific T-shirt to show our school spirit. A huge shout out to Melanie Bates, Ashley Holbrook, and Erica Keil for representing Middle School Athletics. We will miss you! Read below for a recap of each team's season. —Shannon Casson

Girls A Soccer
Coaches Bobby Kennedy and Campbell Ainsworth

The girls soccer teams had a fantastic season. The A2 team improved throughout the year. Not only did their individual skills improve, but they learned how to work as a team and became stronger with a more cohesive attack and defense. They had a good season and played hard against tough competition. The A1 team finished the season undefeated and won the WAC tournament, yet the road was not always easy. Twice during the regular season, they were losing by two goals at halftime, yet they were undaunted and came roaring back to win both games with inspired second halves. The WAC tournament was tense, with both games at 0-0 until late goals by Maddie Carlin spurred the Winged Lions to victory. A special shout-out to the defense and goalkeeper Micha Nenbee who had six shutouts this year. The team never gave up all year, and though they rarely had any substitutes, their hustle and positive attitude made this a memorable season. Go Winged Lions!

Cross Country
Coaches Mary Lawlor, Chelsea Vasquez, and Sam Lawlor

What a season for this dynamic group of sixth- through eighth-grade racers! It's been quite an experience running through the 9th and 9th business district with over 50 Middle School runners. Each of the six meets was held in a different location along the Wasatch Front. We competed against the same nine schools at every meet. The season began with the girls battling Saint John the Baptist, and the boys went head-to-head with McGillis, St. Joe's, and SJTB. Towards the end of the season, it became obvious that every runner needed to give their best effort in order to accumulate the points to win each meet, and the most possible meet wins to finish first for the 2018 season. The last two meets in Draper and Layton included dramatic finishes for every age group. Rowland Hall earned first place for both the A team (seventh and eighth grade) girls and boys. The C team (sixth grade) girls earned a third-place season finish, and the C team boys brought home a fourth-place finish. Special shout-outs to our top A team runners: Will Cunningham (seventh) and Jasmine Le (seventh). We are already looking forward to next season with this special group of runners.

Mountain Biking
Coaches Jen Schones and Chelsea Vasquez

Despite a few meetups being foiled by rain or thunder, we enjoyed beautiful days of Park City pedaling with our awesome group of bikers. We had a mix of skill levels this year, ranging from never-evers to cross-country mountain bike racers. Needless to say, this kept our ride sessions exciting and allowed students to teach each other. We have loved learning from (and trying to keep up with!) the more advanced riders while seeing the beginners grow their confidence and skill climbing and descending. We are psyched to get more kids on bikes!

2018 MS Spring Sports Rosters

2018 WAC Sports Season Results

2018 Spring Sports Photo Album

Athletics

We had a total of eight Middle School basketball teams and 80+ basketball players on our rosters this season! It was a huge turnout, with high participation numbers for both boys and girls in our Middle School Athletics Program. Thank you to all our families for your support during the season and thanks to our Middle School boosters for providing every athlete with a sport specific T-shirt and for hosting fan appreciation game nights to show our school spirit. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated group of coaches who put in countless hours to develop our student-athletes. Please read on for a recap of our basketball seasons.

A Girls Basketball: First-Place Season, First-Place WAC Tournament
Coach Zack Alvidrez

These 12 outstanding young ladies shared their high energy in practice sessions and game play this season. They worked hard to improve fundamentals and learned the basic offensive sets and man-to-man defensive principles in preparation for the Upper School basketball program. As the season progressed, they found their stride, displayed more confidence, and meshed well together as a team to execute during pressure situations in the final moments of competitive game play. I hope that these young ladies will continue to develop their love for this game and play in our Upper School program, and I encourage each of them to play on their own outside of school to continue to build their basketball skills.

B Girls Basketball
Coach Zack Alvidrez

These 15 young ladies were full of intensity on the basketball court and unafraid to be aggressive and play threatening defense against our opponents. These players used their lightning speed on the court to force turnovers and create scoring opportunities during gameplay. Throughout the season the girls gained a better understanding of help defense and fought hard to get rebounds during close-game situations. This season also included a buzzer-beater three-pointer by Elisabeth Bocock to go into overtime with McGillis! Overall, the girls were fun to coach and they started to come together more as a team as the season progressed. I look forward to seeing these girls next season for more basketball action in the Middle School and encourage them to play on their own outside of school to continue to build their basketball skills.

C Girls Basketball
Coach Shannon Casson

These seven young ladies made huge gains in their fundamental basketball skills this season. Additionally, they gained a better understanding of basketball strategies and rules of the sport. Each practice focused on a specific skill such as dribbling to the hoop, give and go, V-cut to get open, or how to rebound. The girls played well together and looked out for each other on and off the court. By the end of the season, their shooting improved as did their rebounding. The girls' genuine excitement for the game and competitive spirit came alive during our end-of-season tournament, as did our rowdy fans who cheered positively and loudly in the stands! I look forward to these girls improving as basketball players throughout their Middle School years and encourage them to play outside of school.

A Boys Basketball
Coach Zack Alvidrez

The A team had a great year that culminated with a championship over a tough St. Joseph's team. The boys all did a wonderful job of staying focused and committed throughout the season. The A team represented Rowland Hall in a positive manner on and off the floor. I am very proud to have coached these young men and hope they continue their journeys as athletes in the Upper School.

B Boys Basketball
Coaches Zack Alvidrez and Mike Roberts

The B teams had a season filled with improvement in all areas of the game. Time in practice was spent working on shooting, making smart passes, and moving without the ball. After a successful regular season, the teams both performed well in the tournament, taking home second (B1) and third (B2) places. Overall, we are very proud of the effort and growth of the teams, and we look forward to seeing all of them continue on with their basketball journeys.

C Boys Basketball
Coaches Zack Alvidrez and Shannon Casson

The C team had a tremendous season of growth. Many of our players were new to the sport and progressed throughout the season in their basic fundamental skills including the triple-threat position, passing and cutting, and rebounding. Although players were divided into two teams during game play to maximize playing time, all players studied the same concepts during practice sessions. The players learned the importance of moving without the ball, court spacing, and communication both on and off the court. We are proud of their effort and growth and look forward to seeing them continue to improve throughout their Middle School basketball careers, and beyond.

Middle School Athletics Winter 2017–2018 Season Info

Girls Basketball Team Rosters

Boys Basketball Team Rosters

Season Results - Girls and Boys

A Volleyball
Coach Doug Booher

Recipe for an Awesome Volleyball Season

Ingredients:

• Five seventh-grade players (make sure one is new to Rowland Hall and one has not played organized volleyball before)
• Five eighth-grade players (a mixture of two returners to the A team and three B team veterans)
• Great attitude
• Hard work
• Volleyball skill
• Laughter
• Teamwork
• Family support and cheering section
• Adversity and challenges

Mix the ingredients for eight weeks through nine matches and one tournament. Yields 10 wonderful, strong young women, one second-place tournament trophy, and unlimited delightful memories.

B Volleyball
Coach Mike Roberts

This year's B team had a great season from start to finish! The players steadily improved their skills, and by the end of the season, three-hit rallies had become the norm. All of the girls brought a positive energy to the court, and even when they weren't in the game, they could be seen (and heard) cheering for their teammates from the bench. And while the tournament didn't quite turn out as hoped, the girls played hard, and in the end, they brought home the third-place trophy. I enjoyed the opportunity to work with all the players, and I look forward to seeing them continue their volleyball careers.

C Volleyball
Coach Chad Obermark

The sixth grade girls volleyball team showed amazing improvement over the course of the season. For many players, this was their first exposure to volleyball. To see them grow from learning the fundamentals of passing and serving to playing intense points with multiple volleys is incredible! I loved this team's positive energy and willingness to work together. They had fun in practice and games while playing hard. I look forward to seeing each of them develop their skills and build on this strong start to their volleyball careers.

A Boys Soccer
Coaches Campbell Ainsworth and Christian Waters

The A team had a fabulous season. Through practices in the heat of late summer and crisp, windy October mornings, players worked on their defense and their individual skills, and learned how to play as a team. The A2 team, after some tough losses, finished the year in style by winning their last game. The A1 team, despite some tough competition, rolled to an undefeated season. The championship game was tense; McGillis was winning 1-0 at halftime before Rowland Hall stormed back to win the championship 3-1. This group of young men jelled as a team and supported each other with enthusiasm and humor all season long. For our eleven eighth graders, winning the WAC tournament and the division was a fantastic capstone to a great Middle School soccer career!

C Boys Soccer
Coach Campbell Ainsworth

Sliding gleefully in the mud at an away game in early October. A valiant comeback to tie Waterford after losing by two goals at halftime. Diving headers off of corner kicks. Players at practice, laughing as they played "ninja," "wa," or "boppity-bop-bop-bop." These are some of the memories from this year's C team soccer season, which featured a lot of energy, effort, and enthusiasm. The team finished with a tense penalty shootout for the last game of the season, ultimately won by the Winged Lions to secure a third place finish. These talented players will certainly contribute to the Rowland Hall soccer program for years to come.

Middle School Athletics Fall 2017 Season Information

Volleyball Team Rosters

Boys Soccer Team Rosters

Season Results

Google Photo Album

Athletics

By Troy Price, Junior Program Director

As I take time to reflect on the past season, I see so many areas where the Rowmark Junior Program has been successful. I’m very proud of our program. As part of our team values, we focus on the skills of perseverance and determination. This past season has presented its challenges, yet in every case the Rowmark community has persevered. We had to adapt to a new race schedule splitting genders or teams. Parents stepped up to provide transportation and lodging as needed to meet protocols. Coaches have picked up extra hours and created training sessions to meet the needs of every athlete. The athletes continue to thrive as they find balance in pursuing their sport at the highest level and also stay committed to their academic workload.

Our training sessions at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP) and Park City Mountain Resort continue to provide the ideal mix of terrain and course setting, allowing our athletes to develop new skills. We also continue to benefit from our use of the Ikon Pass, as we free-ski our local resorts: Deer Valley, Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, and Brighton.

The return of our Love-to-Ski program for first- and second-grade students was a great success. Thanks to Wendy Hare for leading this group. Big shout-out to our Middle School athletes as they served as mentors, paving the way for the next generation. This was yet another area where the UOP venue provided exactly what we needed.

The month of March was full of championship events. We had Rowmarkers invited to all levels, and several podium finishes. A Rowmarker won the overall award in all three levels of championship events. Congrats to Paxton Cichos, Luke Kanarowski, and Jack Hoffman for winning the overall for their respective championship events.

YSL Finals, UOP,  March 13–14

Girls Slalom

• Harper Jensen: 2nd (U10)

• Zoe Rankin: 3rd (U10)

• Dylan Galen: 8th (U12)


Girls Giant Slalom

• Harper Jensen: 4th (U10)

• Zoe Rankin: 6th (U10)

• Addison August: 9th (U12)

• Dylan Galen: 10th (U12)


Boys Slalom

• Asher Williams: WINNER (U10)

• Will Hanlon: 9th (U10)

• Paxton Cichos: WINNER (U12)

• Niklas Tognina: 7th (U12)

• Andrew Wentz: 9th (U12)


Boys Giant Slalom

• Will Hanlon: WINNER (U10)

• Asher Williams: 2nd (U10)

• Andrew Wentz: 7th (U12)

• Niklas Tognina: 10th (U12)


OVERALL WINNER: Paxton Cichos

IMD SS Champs, Snowbasin, March 17–19

March 17

• Lukas Postnieks: 5th (slalom)

• Niklas Tognina: 6th (giant slalom)


March 18

• Zoe Rankin: 7th (giant slalom); 8th (slalom)

• Harper Jensen: 5th (slalom)


March 19

• Luke Kanarowski: 4th (giant slalom); WINNER (slalom)

• Andrew Hanrahan: 5th (giant slalom); 3rd (slalom)

• Rhys Schillinger: 9th (slalom)

• Brynn Copinga: 4th (giant slalom)

• Callie Lipson: 10th (slalom)


OVERALL WINNER: Luke Kanarowski

U14 IMD Champs, Jackson Hole, March 24–28

March 24–26

• Sophia Hijjawi: 7th (super-G); 2nd (giant slalom)

• Jack Hoffman: WINNER (super-G); 2nd (giant slalom); WINNER (slalom)


March 27–28

• Lukas Postnieks: 8th (giant slalom); 3rd (slalom)


OVERALL WINNER: Jack Hoffman

Spring Series, Grand Targhee, April

Girls

• Sophia Hijjawi: WINNER (slalom); 4th (giant slalom); 2nd (Kombi)

• Tallulah Proulx: 3rd (Kombi)


Boys

• Luke Kanarowski: WINNER (slalom); 2nd (giant slalom)

• Teo Shamah: 6th (slalom); 5th (giant slalom); 2nd (Kombi)

• Chase Dennis: 8th (slalom)

• Andrew Hanrahan: 4th (giant slalom)


As I write this article, I’m in Squaw Valley, California. Jack Hoffman and Sophia Hijjawi both qualified to represent the Intermountain Division, as they were selected to attend a special development project hosted by the Western Region as an introduction to the National Development system. Jack and Sophia are joined with the best U14s in the Western US.

This has been a successful season and a true reflection of our core values, where everyone has preserved against the challenges of ski racing during a global pandemic. 

Special thanks to our new staff members, Matt Brown, Parker Acosta, Jules Parke, Lucy Doyle, and Tiffany Flygare, for making a positive impact on our program during their first year.

Note regarding banner photo: Due to COVID-19 delays, 2020–2021 Rowmark Junior Programs photos have not yet been released. We will update the above banner image when we receive those photos.

BACK TO THE FINISH LINE

Rowmark

Congratulations to junior Mary Bocock, who has had a banner year with Rowmark Ski Academy. 

Thanks to her performance at US Nationals in November 2020, Mary was invited to compete with the US Ski & Snowboard Team in Europe, starting in January. She kicked off her journey in Cortina, Italy, where she skied to fourth place overall (second for U19s) in super-G, earning an invitation to travel to Garmisch, Germany. There, she took third place (first for U19s) in super-G, followed by fourth overall and second place in alpine combined, ending with a ranking of 12th overall (second for U19s) at the German National Junior Championships.

“Mary has had an incredible season and has shown on multiple occasions that she is one of the fastest skiers her age in the world,” said Graham Flinn, head FIS coach. “The years of hard work and dedication that she has put in are showing, and we look forward to watching her continue to compete on the international stage. We are proud of her work ethic, ownership, and commitment to being an elite student-athlete.”

Since returning from Europe, Mary has continued to excel on the slopes. In the beginning of March, at Breckenridge, Colorado, she won the giant slalom. At the FIS Elite races at Sugar Bowl Resort and Squaw Valley, California, in March, she placed 10th overall (second for U19s) in giant slalom, and 11th overall (fourth for U19s) in slalom. She then won again in the giant slalom race in Breckenridge, Colorado—with this finish, Mary is currently ranked second in the nation and sixth in the world in giant slalom for her age, as well as first and ninth in the world in super-G. Mary will complete her season at the Women’s US Nationals in Aspen, Colorado, later this week.

Well done, Mary, and good luck in Colorado!

Update April 19, 2021: At the Women's US Nationals in Colorado, Mary placed an outstanding 12th in super-G. 

Check out the below video to hear Mary reflect on her time in Europe, as well as to hear Coach Graham Flinn and English teacher Kody Partridge attest to how Mary's a force on the slopes and in the classroom.

Banner photo credit: Steven Earl

BACK TO THE FINISH LINE

Rowmark

By Todd Brickson, Program Director

Competition Highlights

Below are competition highlights of current Rowmarkers who captured top finishes during the last month of the season.

FIS Elite Races, California

Many of our U19s raced in FIS Elite races at Sugar Bowl Resort and Squaw Valley, California, in mid-March against the best 100 boys and 100 girls in the Western US.

• Maddie Welling: Seventh overall (fifth for U19s) in slalom #1; eighth overall (and second for U19s) in slalom #2

• Mary Bocock: 10th overall (and second for U19s) in giant slalom; 11th overall (and fourth for U19s) in slalom

• Harry Hoffman: 10th overall (second for U19s) in slalom; 13th overall (second for U19s) in giant slalom


Divisional FIS Race, Wyoming

At the same time as the California races, Snow King Mountain Resort in Wyoming hosted a Divisional FIS race where the other half of our U19s competed.

• Charlotte Altman: Eighth in slalom; 14th in giant slalom

• Dagny Brickson: 15th in slalom

• Preston Bolus: 19th in slalom; 19th in giant slalom


Tri-Divisional Championships, Montana

Many of our U16s raced in the Tri-Divisional Championships at Big Sky Resort in Montana from March 18–21.

Boys:

• Matt Siegal: First in super-G; eighth in giant slalom; seventh in slalom

• Henry Cunningham: Second and third in super-G

• Leo Martin: Ninth in giant slalom  

• Jack Zipp: 11th in slalom; 13th in giant slalom


Girls:

• Arden Louchheim: Second in super-G; third in giant slalom

• Kaia Brickson: Fourth in slalom

• Charlotte Morris: Fifth in slalom

• Hayden Kaufman Schiller: Seventh in super-G


South Series Finals, Utah

U16 freshman Declan Morasch competed in the South Series Finals at Snowbasin, Utah, in late March, where he placed first in giant slalom.

77th Annual Snowcup, Utah

The 77th Annual Snowcup at Snowbird, Utah, held March 30 to April 2, was an excellent race for Rowmark, with outstanding finishes from across the team. Notably, Ian Hanrahan and Elisabeth Bocock won the prestigious Snowcup overall titles! Below are some standout finishes from this series.

Boys:

• Ian Hanrahan: Second in slalom; first and second in giant slalom; first overall

• Jack Abuhaidar: Second in slalom; first and second in giant slalom

• Ford Hodgkins: Third and third in slalom

• Preston Bolus: 10th in slalom; fourth and seventh in giant slalom

• Frank Stearns: Fifth and 11th in slalom

• Karsten Schillinger: Sixth in slalom; 14th in giant slalom

• Henry Cunningham: 10th in slalom; 13th in giant slalom


Girls:

• Elisabeth Bocock: First and first in giant slalom; first and second in slalom; first overall

• Madi Dean: First and fifth in slalom; fifth and sixth in giant slalom

• Mary Clancy: 12th in giant slalom; second and fifth in slalom

• Charlotte Morris: 15th in slalom


Western Region U16 Championships, California

Three Rowmark athletes—Elisabeth Bocock, Lili Honey, and Karsten Shillinger—qualified to compete in the exclusive Western Region U16 Championships in Mammoth, California, which consists of the best U16 athletes in the entire Western Region of the United States. Elisabeth Bocock finished first in super-G, first in giant slalom, and second in slalom, securing her the Western Region Overall Championship and a spot in the U16 Nationals, which, unfortunately, was cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols. Lili Honey and Karsten Shillinger both also had some strong top-25 finishes.

FIS Spring Series, California

Some of the FIS Rowmarkers managed to get a spot in the Squaw Spring Series races at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. Post-graduate Madi Dean charged to a fifth and sixth in slalom, and junior Maddie Welling had some standout performances and secured 10th in giant slalom.

FIS Spring Series, Colorado

Mary Bocock won the giant slalom race in Breckenridge, Colorado. With this finish, Mary is now ranked second in the nation and sixth in the world in giant slalom for her age, as well as first and ninth in the world in super-G!

US National Championships, Colorado

Three of our FIS athletes had the outstanding achievement of qualifying to the prestigious US National Championships in Aspen from April 5–16. Harry Hoffman competed in the men’s US Nationals this past week with strong results, while Mary Bocock had an outstanding 12th in super-G and Maddie Welling had two top-30 finishes, with a 24th in the alpine combined and a 29th in super-G.

Western Region FIS Downhills, California

Finally, five Rowmarkers finished the season with downhill races at Mammoth Mountain, California. For the men, Ford Hodgkins led the way with a 13th and 26th, while, for the women, Dagny Brickson was 11th on the first downhill and an impressive eighth place in the final race.

Congratulations to our entire team for a great season despite all the craziness!

Alum News

Rowmark alum and US Ski Team star Breezy Johnson ’13 had a nearly unprecedented series of podium results on the World Cup, with four consecutive third place downhill podium finishes, followed by a fifth! With this streak, Breezy placed fourth in the Overall World Cup downhill standings for the 2021 season. Incredible!

Rowmark alum and emerging US Ski Team member Katie Hensien ’18 scored her first World Cup points, with an 18th in a World Cup slalom in Croatia in March. Katie also won the 2020 National Championship giant slalom and was third in the slalom back in November.

Congratulations to Rowmark alum Alice McKennis Duran ’08 on her retirement from ski racing after an impressive career of 13 years on the US Ski Team, including a World Cup victory, three podiums, 10 top-10 finishes, two Olympic Games (fifth in downhill in 2018), and two National Championships. Rowmark Ski Academy is very proud of your accomplishments, and even more proud of your incredible determination and resilience to return to the top of the sport after several serious injuries. (Read more in this US Ski Team post highlighting Alice's stellar career.)

BACK TO THE FINISH LINE

Rowmark

By Todd Brickson, Rowmark Program Director

As you can imagine, Rowmark’s activities this summer and fall have been heavily impacted by COVID-19 guidelines and mitigation efforts. It’s been a challenging and character-building several months, and we are very proud of the effort and seriousness of the Rowmarkers and staff in following strict protocols to keep each other safe.

To start, our annual June ski camp at Mammoth Mountain, CA, was cancelled outright as the ski area remained closed due to the pandemic. In its place, the Academy shifted gears to a weeklong intense and unique dryland conditioning camp, which culminated in a sunrise hike to the top of Jupiter Peak followed by a team-relay paddleboard, mountain bike, and trail run triathlon race at the Jordanelle Reservoir. The Rowmarkers exhibited strong teamwork, comradery, and effort throughout the week.  

From mid-June to mid-August the focus remained on a long conditioning block before we got the green light to get back on snow August 15–23 at Mt. Hood, OR. It was motivating to finally be back on snow since the mid-March shutdown. The Mt. Hood management enforced the COVID-19 protocols very seriously, and the outdoor setting proved to be a safe environment for all the teams training there. Our Mt. Hood camp included the Academy and Junior programs.

After the Mt. Hood camp, we rolled right into the beginning of school and scrambled to adjust to the hybrid learning program. Physical testing and then a second extended conditioning block ensued each day after school. We had to cancel the U19/FIS Team ski camp in Italy due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, but we were able to replace that camp with a successful camp in Copper Mountain, CO, in late October.

As I write this in mid-November, our Academy team is all in Aspen Highlands, CO, for our final ski camp of the season before we return to Utah for local training and the fast-approaching competition season. The snow conditions in Aspen are great for race training and the Rowmarkers are working hard on their technique and tactics. They also carve out time in the afternoons and evenings to keep up with their schoolwork and Zoom with their teachers, in between conditioning workouts, ski tuning, and video review with their coaches. Busy and challenging days, for sure.

Meanwhile, our Junior program is gearing up to host their fall camp locally at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP). We are all grateful for the early snowfall and the commitment to snowmaking at the UOP. Our athletes will greatly benefit from this preparation period.

It has been a crazy several months as we adapt to social distancing, mask wearing, and disinfecting measures at every turn in our training and conditioning. Our race season is going to look very different also. Virus mitigation is requiring races with small fields, splitting genders, and much less time in lodges in addition to the normal protocols.

As “normal” team travel is not allowed, I want to give a big shout-out to the Rowmark parents who have stepped up to provide all the transportation, lodging, and meals, which are new requirements in this COVID-19 world. Another big shout-out to the tremendous effort and professionalism of the teachers and administration; we are very proud to be part of such a supportive school. The Rowmarkers and staff continue to meet the challenge. We are looking forward to the start of the competition season and any new curveballs we may encounter.

Banner photo: Rowmark Academy team 2019–2020

back to the finish line

Rowmark

By Troy Price, Rowmark Junior Program Director
 
The world of skiing racing came to a halt on March 15. Many Rowmarkers were either en route to their championship events or attending their final training sessions in preparation for champs. I will recognize these athletes later in the article, but first I want to discuss the remarkable community we have in the Rowmark Junior Program.

Our community of athletes, coaches, parents, teachers, and administrators created an incredible environment centered around our core values. The development of the whole athlete is paramount to me, and we were able to find the balance of academics and athletics. More so, we were able to identify the best opportunities for each athlete. The coaching staff and athletes created an environment of high expectations and inclusivity. They practiced the positive characters traits of trust and perseverance. Meanwhile, there was always a balance between team pride and sportsmanship. Our Rowmark parents were supportive of all competitors and thankful for the volunteers at each race. I’m very pleased with our team culture and look forward to building upon our successes moving forward.

I’m so very proud of the hard work that all our student-athletes have applied this season. They were ready to showcase their talents at their given championships across the Western US. Please join me in celebrating the following Rowmark athletes for reaching their championship events.

U14 Regionals | Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth, CA
Kaia Brickson, Morgan Jacquin, Henry Cunningham, Alan Dugan, and Jack Hoffman

U14 Tri-Divisionals | Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana
Lucy Nolan, Joe Lennon, Declan Morasch, and Jack Zipp

U12 IMD Championships | Bogus Basin, Boise, Idaho
Brooke Copinga, Chase Dennis, Andrew Hanrahan, Sophia Hijjawi, Luke Kanarowski, Jameson Moore, Lukas Postnieks, Tallaulah Proulx, Abi Quinn, Eli Rankin, Teo Shamah, Wyatt Williams, and Jett Winkler

U12 IMD Finals | Sundance Resort, Sundance, Utah
Julian Bamberger, Dean Hijjawi, Drew Lipson, Kirsten Mannelin, Milan Mickelson, Kendra Larson, Darshan Pani, Addison August, Andrew Wentz, Asher Williams, Brynn Copinga, Callie Lipson, Dylan Galen, James Steele, Miles Bauer, Niklas Tognina, Paxton Cichos, and William Youngtok

Honorable Mention: Kendall Kanarowski
Kendall tore her ACL in December and has committed her season to her physical therapy. I know she will be ready for next season and I look forward to having her back full time.

2019–2020 will be a season we all remember for a long time. I’m thankful to everyone for making it a successful season.

Top photo: 2019–2020 Rowmark Academy Prep Team

Rowmark

By Todd Brickson, Rowmark Program Director

Despite the fact that our competition season was cut short due to the pandemic, Rowmark Ski Academy had a great season and many successful races regionally and nationally. Most importantly, our teams exhibited tremendous work ethic, camaraderie, and teamwork throughout the season for which the coaches are very proud.
 
New Value Statement
We are very proud of our team for creating and living up to our new Rowmark value statement—Teamwork, Balance, and Determination—throughout the season. This statement was created over a series of team workshops this fall.
 
     Teamwork = Kindness and Sportsmanship
     Balance = Academic and Athletic Excellence
     Determination = Effort and Resilience

Utah Olympic Park
The addition of the Utah Olympic Park (UOP) Alpine Expansion Project as another training venue for our program has been the single most important development in my many years at Rowmark Ski Academy. I want to again extend a huge thank you to our generous donors who helped make this project a reality. We now have a dedicated training arena to extend our season—one that provides quality snow surface and a variance of terrain, while at the same time increasing our training volume. When combined with our longtime venues at Park City Mountain Resort, we now have all the spaces to train at the highest level. It is a game changer for the enjoyment, progression, and security of all of our Rowmark teams, as well as for the growth and prosperity of ski racing in our community for years to come. Rowmark has been very excited to partner with Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation (UOLF), Park City Ski and Snowboard, and the University of Utah on this critical project, and we want to thank Colin Hilton and his UOLF staff for their vision, leadership, and commitment to this initiative.
 
Here is a wrap-up of our competition highlights from each of the winter months.
 
December 2019
Our Rowmark teams completed their first competitions of the year in December with outstanding performances, including several top-10 results and a few very impressive victories. We are equally as proud of the Rowmarkers who are in the first years of their age groups, thereby starting at the back of the pack in these early races and battling their way up the start list as the season progresses.

At the World Cup level, US Ski Team member and Rowmark alum Alice McKennis ’08 completed another successful comeback from major injury to take her ninth top-10 finish in the downhill at Lake Louise, Canada. Recent graduate Katie Hensien ’18, now skiing for the US Ski Team and University of Denver, captured her third NorAm victory and two more top-fives at Nakiska, Canada, in the slalom (SL). At the same races, Madison Hoffman ’18 scored two top-six finishes and two U21 podiums as well.

At the regional FIS level, senior Eliza Hodgkins had her finest FIS race to date, with an eighth at the Western Region FIS races in the first SL at Snow King, Wyoming, while sophomore Mary Bocock was 10th in the second SL and ninth in the third SL. Then Mary topped those results with a sixth place in SL at the Steamboat FIS races the following week.

Mary’s younger sister and freshman Elisabeth Bocock was not to be outdone, with several great races, including a victory and two second-place finishes at the USSA Intermountain Division races at Snow King just before Christmas. Elisabeth also took the Series Overall Award. Eighth grader Molly Friedman had an outstanding series of her own, with a 10th, ninth, fifth, and fourth, while freshman Arden Louchheim skied her way into 9th place in the final SL race. For the boys, sophomore Jack AbuHaidar led the way with a sixth and ninth in giant slalom (GS), while eighth grader Alan Dugan popped into 10th in the final SL race.

In the Western Region U16 Performance Series at Mission Ridge, the highest level of U16 regional racing, sophomore Ford Hodgkins skied onto the GS podium in third, while freshman Harry Hoffman took the victory in GS.
 
January 2020
Rowmark had a great weekend of racing (and powder skiing!) at the Jackson Hole IMD Open Wes Barron Memorial 3 Super-Gs January 10–12. The boys and girls raced to several top-15 finishes, including a rare podium sweep in the last boys race—with Harry Hoffman first, Jack AbuHaidar second, and Ford Hodgkins third! Harry also won the second race and was second in the first race, taking the Overall Series Title for the weekend. Ford was third in all three races. Preston Bolus was fifth in the first race, while Jack added a ninth and 10th, Ian Hanrahan had a 10th and 11th, and U19 Mason Schlopy continued his steady progress with a 14th. For the girls, first-year U16s Elizabeth Bocock skied to a ninth and Molly Friedman earned an impressive 14th.

Our Rowmark U19 team earned many impressive top-15 results against the region’s top SL and GS skiers at the Western Region FIS Elite 2SL/2GS races at Big Sky January 9–14. For the boys, Alessandro Gandini had a fifth, seventh, 10th, and 15th, while Carter Louchheim also clawed his way onto the first page with a seventh and 14th. For the girls, Mary Bocock earned a sixth, eighth, and 13th, while Ellie Nichols skied to an impressive sixth in the final GS and had two other top-20 finishes. Eliza Hodgkins and Bridget Lennon each had a top 20 of their own as well.

The Rowmark U16 Team had their first of three IMD Qualifier races of the season January 24–26, where they went head to head with 150 racers from across the Intermountain Division, all vying to qualify for the Western Region Championships in March.

For the boys, Harry Hoffman dominated the weekend by winning all three races. Also finding the podium was Ford Hodgkins, with a third place in GS. Ian Hanrahan had a great weekend as well, with a seventh in GS and fifth in SL, while Frank Stearns cracked into the top-10 with a ninth in SL, along with Preston Bolus, who was 10th in GS. Skiing with a broken thumb, Jack AbuHaidar clawed his way to 11th in GS, while eighth grader Matt Siegal had a breakthrough race with a 15th in SL.

For the girls, Elisabeth Bocock continued her impressive season with a third place in GS and a victory in the first SL. Molly Friedman had two strong races with an 11th in GS and 12th in SL.

Our teams exhibited tremendous work ethic, camaraderie, and teamwork throughout the season for which the coaches are very proud.

Our Rowmark FIS Team divided and conquered, with two different race trips in late January. Coaches Ker and Graham and seven U19s made the trek to Schweitzer, Idaho, for the Western Region FIS Elite 2DH/2SG series, with several top-10 finishes in challenging snowy conditions. For the girls, Ellie Nichols raced to a fourth and 10th; Eliza Hodgkins earned a fifth, seventh, and eighth; first-year U19 Dagny Brickson had a breakout series with a sixth, eighth, and ninth; and Bridget Lennon skied to a sixth and ninth of her own. For the boys, Carter Louchheim charged to a sixth and eighth in super-G (SG), and Ale Gandini finished the series strong with a ninth in the last SG race. Dagny and Eliza also each won the Hard Charger Award—Dagny in downhill (DH) #1 and Eliza in DH #2—which goes to the competitor with the biggest move up the results sheet compared to their start position each day.

Meanwhile, Coach Lauren and three U19 girls cruised over to the Colorado Ski Cup FIS 2GS in Steamboat, Colorado. Mary Bocock led the way with an eighth and ninth against steep competition, including a handful of the best NCAA college skiers in the country.

February 2020
Our Rowmark Team competed in the IMD U16 Super-G Qualifier/U19 Open Races February 7–9 at Snowbasin with determination, teamwork, and several personal bests. Elizabeth Bocock had a great weekend, with a first, second, and fourth. Arden Louchheim had an excellent race on Saturday with a 10th, and Molly Friedman finished the series strong, coming in 13th in the final race. For the boys, Harry Hoffman continued to show his excellent form with two seconds and a third; Ford Hodgkins also made his way to the podium with a third; Ian Hanrahan was impressive with a fifth, 14th, and 14th; Jack AbuHaidar was very fast and consistent with a seventh, eighth, and 10th; Preston Bolus had a fine weekend with a seventh, 11th, and 14th; while Mason Schlopy cracked onto the first page with a 12th.

Mary Bocock, in her first year of FIS racing, had her first opportunity to compete at the NorAm level in SL and GS February 4–12 in Collingwood, Ontario, and Whiteface, New York, against the top FIS racers in the US and Canada. Mary started near the back of the pack in the 70s–80s and consistently finished in the 30s–40s. Even more impressive is that Mary finished in the top-two twice, top-three twice, and top-four once, for all first-year FIS athletes competing in the races.

At the same time, the rest of our FIS Team raced in the Bryce Astle Memorial WR FIS Elite 2GS/2SL Series at Park City and Snowbird, competing against a deep field from the entire Western Region. Breaking into the top 30 were Ellie Nichols with a 22nd, Mary Clancy with a 24th and 29th, and Eliza Hodgkins with a 25th.

The Rowmark U16s competed in their final qualifier races of the season in Sun Valley, Idaho, February 21–23. Harry Hoffman again led the way with a 1st and 2nd in GS and 1st also in SL, which earned him the Laura Flood Memorial overall series trophy. Jack AbuHaidar skied to a career-best podium finish with a third as well as an eighth in GS. Ian Hanaran was close behind, with a sixth in GS and a sixth in SL. For the girls, Molly Friedman cracked into the top 10 with a ninth in SL.

Qualifying for the U16 Western Region Championships to be held in Schweitzer, Idaho, March 11–14 were Harry Hoffman, Ian Hanrahan, Jack AbuHaidar, Ford Hodgkins, Frank Stearns, Preston Bolus, Matt Siegal, Elisabeth Bocock, Molly Friedman, and Arden Louchheim.

Five of our Rowmark U19s competed in the prestigious US National Junior Alpine Championships February 24–28 at Snowbasin: Ale Gandini, Carter Louchheim, Mary Bocock, Bridget Lennon, and Ellie Nichols. In the super-G, Mary rocketed from the 41st start position onto the podium into third place! After a DNF in GS, Mary also had a great SL race, with a 10th place finish. Bridget and Ale both cracked into the top 30, with Bridget 28th in the super-G and Ale 29th in SL. Carter had two solid races with a 37th in super-G and 42nd in GS.

The Women’s Open FIS 2SL at Snowbird and Men’s FIS GS/SL National Performance Series races at Snowbasin were contested directly after the National Junior Championships. For the women, Eliza Hodgkins had two breakout SL races, with fourth and fifth place finishes! Mary Bocock continued her solid string of races with a sixth and 15th. Ellie Nichols (with a 23rd), Mary Clancy (with a 26th), Dagny Brickson (with a 34th and 38th), and Charlotte Altman (with a 37th) all significantly improved from their start positions in the deep field. At the Men’s NPS GS races, Ale Gandini and Carter Louchheim also moved way up from their start positions, with Ale finishing 24th and Carter in 36th against the best U19–21s from across the US.

March 2020
Due to the pandemic, racing came to a grinding halt in mid-March with the cancellation of the remainder of the ski season nationwide, including many of the championships and all of the spring series races. However, the first half of March was action-packed, with many impressive Rowmark performances.

The U19s raced March 7–11 at Sun Valley FIS Open Series. Eliza Hodgkins kept her momentum going from her previous races, roaring onto the podium into second place in the first slalom race as well as an eighth in GS. Also cracking into the top 20 were Bridget Lennon with a 16th and Dagny Brickson with a 14th, 20th, and 20th. For the boys, Carter Louchheim had a great SL race in fifth, while Ale Gandini stepped up with an eighth and 11th.

It turned out that the last races of the season were the Western Region U16 Championships at Schweitzer, Idaho. Rowmark was proud to qualify 10 athletes to represent the Intermountain Division Team: Elisabeth Bocock, Arden Louchheim, Molly Friedman, Jack AbuHaidar, Harry Hoffman, Ford Hodgkins, Ian Hanrahan, Preston Bolus, Frank Stearns, and Matt Siegal.

For the girls, Elisabeth Bocock led once again, with fourth and sixth in the super-G, and onto the podium with a third place in GS. Arden Louchheim also had standout performances, with a 12th in SG and 21st in GS.

For the boys, Jack AbuHaidar broke through and surprised many by taking the victory in the first super-G! Harry Hoffman skied to sixth and seventh in super-G, and 10th in GS, while Ford Hodgkins was 13th and 14th in super-G and seventh in GS, and Ian Hanrahan was 11th in GS. Unfortunately, as Rowmark has a very strong U16 SL team poised to land on the podium, the SL race was canceled.
 
April 2020
Qualifying out of the Regionals to the prestigious U16 National Championship, which was to be held April 1–5 in Sugarloaf, Maine, before being canceled, were Elisabeth Bocock, Arden Louchheim, Harry Hoffman, and Ford Hodgkins.

The Rowmark Spring Awards Banquet, originally slated for April 30, is postponed (TBA). We are looking forward to honoring deserving Rowmarkers with our annual awards when the time comes.

Rowmark

By Todd Brickson, Rowmark Program Director

Italian born Alessandro (Ale) Gandini joined our school and ski academy team for his senior year. Ale is a strong student and an elite ski racer who has proven very quickly to be a great teammate as well. He is quickly integrating into our team and rapidly increasing his English fluency. Ale was gracious enough to allow me to interview him about his upbringing, his choice to attend our school and ski program, and his experience so far.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Venice, Italy. I grew up in Treviso until I was five years old and then our family moved to Cortina.

Do you have siblings?

I have two brothers: Enrico, who is 16 years old, and Clemente, who is 12 years old. They are both ski racers.

How long have you been skiing?

I have been skiing since I was five years old and ski racing since I was eight as part of the Sci Club Cortina. The ski club is organized by age and is mostly based on having fun and freeskiing at the younger ages with some gate training. Then I joined Sci Club Drusce this past season which gave me a big boost and really helped my technique and tactics to be even more competitive.

Did you play other sports?

Yes, I played ice hockey from five until fourteen years old. When it became too difficult to do both ski racing and hockey, I chose ski racing.

How did you get interested in Rowmark?

I heard about it from a friend of my parents, who described a place in Utah that had a school with a great combination of academics and ski racing, so they looked into it and I applied.

Have you ever been to the United States before your arrived in August?

Yes, once in 2004 at three years old I went to Miami with my family, but I was too young to remember it.

How is Utah different from where you grew up in Italy?

Utah is a place with a big city, but not huge, that also has all the facilities and mountain slopes where you can reach everything so fast and everything is so close. It feels like the center of the US. You can do everything here.

Italy is a wonderful place where everything is also close. Every corner has a particular story and a lot of history everywhere you go. Venice is two hours away from Cortina, Bologna is four and a half hours, and Milan is five hours. Innsbruck, Austria, is also close, about three hours.

How is the food here?

It is so different. Much more variety than where I come from. The burgers are so good here, especially with bacon! In Italy you eat Italian food and maybe sushi sometimes.

How is your school in Italy different from Rowland Hall?

In Italy I went to a public school with no connection between sport and academics. There were some good teachers who really helped, but most didn’t understand the time and commitment to do sport at a high level. At Rowland Hall there is a lot more support, but you still need to do your best and work hard. Then it works well.

Is Rowland Hall difficult for you so far?

It’s harder than my Italian school but the organization is much better. It is tough to stay on time with assignments. I can’t be lazy anymore.

How was it to go back to Italy in late September for the Italy Rowmark ski camp?

It was emotional at first. My good Italian friends were only three hours away and I was able to see them one night. Being with an American team in Italy was a pleasure. My friends realized that I was skiing with Americans and they said that was so cool. They know of Salt Lake City and Park City because of the 2002 Olympics. Many Italians know how good the skiing is in Utah. 

What are your academic goals?

One thing that is very interesting for me is skiing for a US college with strong academics, possibly Williams or Dartmouth. Another possible goal is going back to a college in Switzerland or Italy. At those schools I would be able to enter the University FIS races but it would be on my own. I don’t know yet, but a US college is very interesting to me because I can continue to pursue both academics and ski racing like I can here at Rowmark and Rowland Hall.

What are your skiing goals?

Reaching the World Cup is a dream. The real dream is racing the World Alpine Ski Championships in my home town, Cortina, in 2021, or in the Olympics in Bormio/Cortina in 2026. Even forerunning these events would be amazing. Another goal is being part of the Italian Army ski team. You have to be very good to make this team, between 30–40 FIS points.

What is your best experience so far over the first three months you have been in the United States?

A long weekend in New York three weeks ago was unbelievable. I went there with some Italian friends of my family who live in Sweden and spend a lot of time in New York because of business. It is huge, spinning around, alive. Mountains of buildings. Great to visit but I can’t see myself living there.

How is your host family?

They are lovely. They include me in everything and give me a lot of support. It has been fantastic. I feel like I am part of the family. The bond will last a long time.

Any difficult experiences so far since you have been in the United States?

Nothing yet! One thing is my first CrossFit workout with my host family at 5:45 am and it was overwhelming and really hard. I hadn’t eaten yet; I wasn’t in the best shape. It was a tough experience. Then afterward the Rowland Hall shower before school was cold!

What are you looking forward to this school year experience?

I want to bring from the United States back to Italy something that will last a long time: good values, taking as many good things as possible, and bringing them back to my country, but not to gain too much weight!

ROWMARK

by Troy Price, Rowmark Junior Program Director

Training Update
This fall, our athletes have focused on physical fitness, with daily sessions after school. They have seen significant improvements in balance, agility, coordination, and strength. We have also enjoyed several sessions of in-line skating. Our Academy Prep group had a productive on-snow camp in Winter Park, Colorado, in early November. Our All-Star and Academy Prep groups concluded a prep camp in Sun Valley in late November. The athletes have worked hard and are all looking forward to the racing season ahead.

New Members
We extend a warm welcome to our new members. In the Academy Prep group, we welcome Kendall Kanarowski, Drew Lipson, and Delcan Morasch. In the All-Star group we welcome Luke Kanarowski, Tallaulah Proulx, and Teo Shamah. Plus, we have several new members starting their Rowmark journey with our youngest All-Mountain Ripper program.

Team Advancement
We want to recognize all the athletes who have advanced within our development pipeline this year. Advancing from the All-Mountain Ripper group to the All-Star group is Andrew Hanrahan, Jameson Moore, Eli Rankin, Wyatt Williams, Jett Winkler, Kendra Larson, Darshan Pani, and Abi Quinn. Advancing from All-Star to Academy Prep is Julian Bamberger, Joe Lennon, Milan Mickelson, Lukas Postneiks, Jack Hoffman, Kristen Mannelin, and Dean Hijjawi.

Staffing
We are pleased to have all three head coaches returning this year, with the addition of two new amazing hires. Please welcome Tristian McInnis and Charley Smith. Tristian is a recent college grad and Rowmark/Rowland Hall alumnus. He started coaching our Academy Prep group last June at our summer camp in Mammoth. He has already made a remarkable impact on our program, and we are so happy to have him. Charley will be joining the All-Star staff for our Sun Valley camp. She is a recent college graduate and enjoyed racing at Snowbasin during her youth. Also, a quick shout-out to Carl Noble, who dedicated his summer to expanding his coaching skills all summer in Mt. Hood, Oregon.

The Rowmark Junior program, athletes, and coaches are a very cohesive group, and everyone is actively encouraging and pushing each other to new success. We are fortunate to be part of a rich culture made up of supportive parents and faculty and staff. Our team's success would not be possible without the tremendous support we receive.

We look forward to the season ahead.

ROWMARK