Tahir Hasanov '25 < Back SOLD! Tahir Hasanov '25 Jan 24, 2025 On Friday, January 10, a group of seniors hosted a charity auction in the Simon Student Center to support the local cold weather shelter. “It was for our Entrepreneurship class—Mr. McGuire's B Block class,” said Winston Watkins ‘25, a project leader. “We were just coming up with different fundraiser ideas at first to see what we wanted to do. Eventually, we settled on doing the auction because we felt it could be something the whole community could get involved in.” Another student leader, Reed Warner ‘25, stated, “Starting off, we all had individual roles that we did, like who would manage the finances, advertising, and planning, for example.” English department members and Entrepreneurship teacher Todd McGuire added, “ The plans were to get all aspects of the event planned, from who would do what when to getting and organizing the supplies. The class came up with the plan with some suggestions from me about music and the like. I think Mr. Brown suggested the raffle.” The students obtained auction items from a variety of sources, including students, faculty and even the Office of Student Life, with whom they collaborated to include unique experiences such as room fail passes and dress-down days. Watkins commented, “The faculty members are always willing to help, and a lot of them jumped in, donating items or offering services like Ms. Poacelli who baked a delicious carrot cake or Mr. Beni who offered to do a Rutter's Trip.” The auction was a hit, with many students coming to the Simon Student Center to bid on unique items or just to spectate. At the peak of the auction, the student center was fully packed—a rare occurrence this year. “Overall, it was really fun, because everyone was engaged. People were throwing out fun bids, interested in the prizes, and they liked the raffle tickets too,” Warner said. “My favorite item was probably the pie-in-the-face,” Watkins added. “It’s free for us to do, but people always go for it. Another creative one was the custom lunch table, where someone could pick who they sit with at lunch.” “I think it went amazing,” Mason McConney '25, another one of the organizers, said. “We got a lot of people involved, and everybody seemed really happy with what they got out of the event. That was the cool thing about it—you know, we were raising money, but also everybody got something from it.” Attendees of the auction shared similar sentiments. Taimur Rehman ‘25 said, “I was at the auction and I had a really good time. Bought a few small things, but really I won a lot of stuff on the raffles. I got an insane amount of luck. I thought it was enjoyable and I had a fun time raising prices even when I had no interest in buying it.” The auction was extremely successful; the class raised around $1,500, donating over $1250 to the cold weather shelter after covering costs. “I am glad we raised the money that we did. Even though we didn't hit our goal for $2000, raising almost $1300 for the cold weather shelter is still really good for our team.” Previous Previous Next Next

Susanna Huang '27 < Back Not just mailing it in Susanna Huang '27 May 3, 2024 As students walk out of Ford Hall, a new apparatus awaits them on the patio near the back campus residential quad: the newly-installed installed Amazon lockers. The lockers will serve as a manner for students to pick up their packages regardless of the time of day. “As a school, we receive 50-plus packages daily from Amazon and, during peak times, close to a hundred packages a day,” said John Chepren, Director of Information Technology. Formerly, students need to retrieve all their Amazon packages from the mailroom, causing major inconveniences. Taimur Rehman ’25 said, “There is usually a really long line…. [I]t does take a while, especially at the times after class and after lunch when it is really the only time to pick up.” So the school took steps to improve the mailroom situation. “As a school, we looked at an option for package lockers for our mailroom. A lot of colleges and universities have these already, even on a much bigger scale. We found that Amazon offers it free of charge,” explained Chepren. Chepren went on to explain the directions for sending packages to the lockers: “When you place your Amazon order and pick the delivery location, don’t pick the school; there will be an option below that says [select pickup location.] ” Receiving packages is not the only function of the lockers. “You can return items to Amazon as well through this locker, which if you have ever tried, can be a real challenge; the locker makes it simple and painless,” said Chepren. In addition, if the Amazon lockers prove successful, “the number of lockers may increase in coming years to accommodate the demand, hence the larger concrete pad you currently see,” explained Chepren. Many students have noted the ease of using the Amazon lockers. Annie Wu ‘27 said, “I think it is a good idea. The Amazon lockers can make it really easy. People can just get it anytime, so we don’t have to care about the mailroom hours.” “These lockers will not only make picking up packages more efficient, but they will also reduce the number of people waiting in line at the mailroom,” said Andrew Chang ’26. Longtime mailroom clerk Steve McCombie also expressed his appreciation. “It is going to take a load off of my load, which I am hoping is going to be great.” William Tutt ’25 pointed out, however, “I think it is a good idea that it is open 24/7, but I will miss the mailroom and the human physical aspect of it,” adding, “I am worried about some students who don’t pick up their stuff, so there will probably be some stuff just lying in the lockers." A tip to smooth the transition and make it easier for everyone is that students should pick up their packages as soon as possible and avoid creating traffic for other people within the community. Previous Previous Next Next

Leah Willis '24 < Back Celebrating while we still can! Leah Willis '24 Apr 21, 2023 “What can you do for the planet?” is a question often asked on Earth Day. The day of recognition and awareness began in the spring of 1970, established by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson. At the time, there were no legal mechanisms to protect the environment and awareness of environmental degredation was growing. He wanted to bring the issue into the open, and now Earth Day remains a globally recognized event, even as the environmental conditions continue to deteriorate. Of course, the question arises: How is Mercersburg acknowledging Earth Day? Director of Sustainability and the Green Team faculty adviser Will Willis explained, "On Earth Day, Trini and the SAC will offer several options like birdfeeder making and an outdoor scavenger hunt. The Green Team is also hoping to sell their T-shirts during the week, with the proceeds going to the replacement of a broken water fountain in the Mercersburg Elementary School that has a reusable water bottle-filling station." This is part of a project that Mikey Brannan '23 is conducting with his Community Engagement; he works with the 5th-grade science class at the elementary school. As a part of this, Brannan will be looking for Green Team members and other students to help with a water conservation program in a return to Project EDEN (EDEN stands for Earth Day Education and Networking), a program the Green Team participated in for almost a decade prior to the pandemic. "The proceeds will also go towards, in part, the funding of the trees that are part of Nate Austin '23's reforestation project by the front gate," said Brennan. Austin conceived the idea for the project in the AS Environmental Science class in the spring of 2022 and has been working with Willis and the facilities on campus throughout the academic year to make this happen. He will plant over 400 trees in May. Devin Rotz '25, one of the Green Team leaders, said, "Green Team will have a lot going on for and around Earth Day. We have a fun and educational movie/documentary night coming up. Trini has some fun activities to help us celebrate Earth Day." Grace Carter, 23' added, "We are also thinking about either doing another wildflower planting or a trash pickup event on back campus. As a campus, we are focusing on reducing food waste in our dining hall and reducing single-use plastic on campus." Regarding future environmental plans for the spring term, Willis stated, "The Green Team is also poised and ready to educate the community about food waste when Meriweather Godsey begins to post data on food waste imminently. Also, as the weather transitions from cold to warm, the Green Team would like to politely remind you to please donate any unwanted clothing items to the Goodwill donation bins in every dorm." So, as a campus community, everyone is doing their part to be environmentally conscious. So, what can you do for the planet? Previous Previous Next Next

Amanda Xi '25 < Back When race is the case in the CRC: what to know Amanda Xi '25 Nov 3, 2023 The Mercersburg Conduct Review Committee, or CRC, is a committee made up of faculty and student representatives who review discipline cases and work to recommend the most suitable response based on their understanding of the transgression and the student’s involvement. Cases that come before the CRC are serious, and there is no “one solution fits all.” However, the CRC is dedicated to upholding the values of the Mercersburg community, and that includes addressing issues of racism. “I think it is necessary to address the hurtful speech,” says committee member Sierra Guo, ‘25. “The Mercersburg community comes from all over the world, and while that’s great, we need to make it clear that in our school, insensitive language has consequences.” What is accepted in one culture can have a different meaning and be hurtful in another. So what happens when a student commits racially insensitive actions? Firstly, before any case reaches the CRC, it begins with a meeting between the student and the Dean of Student Life, where the dean investigates the context and details of the situation and decides if it warrants a CRC review. At the CRC, the committee uses the information submitted in the narrative, agreed upon by all parties involved, to question the student. A case involving racially disrespectful language or behavior follows the same detailed process as any other CRC case. “We are very careful in handling them; we know that racism is a very sensitive issue on our campus, and we do our best to address it in confidentiality as we do for all our cases,” says Gabe McGuire, ‘24, student co-chair of the committee. Cases addressing racism fall under a violation of the “mutually respectful relations” category, which is using “discriminatory language or actions in person or online.” explains Justine O’Connell, Chair of the CRC. “As a committee, we try to come up with a recommendation that is going to help the student change behavior. The purpose of the CRC is to give students space to process what they’ve said and understand why they think it is okay to say these things. And helping them move on from there.” Furthermore, to bring awareness to community standards and prevent future cases involving disrespect, the CRC is working with the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion to visit dorms to host discussions about microaggressions and slurs. Dr. Renata J. Williams, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, also a member of the committee, says, “Sometimes people say things they’re aware are racist. And then other times, people are saying things unknowingly. And there’s a way to address that.” Because of her unique experience in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Dr. Williams has worked with the CRC to craft a school response that is constructive to community. As a result of student gossip and friends talking to friends, there seems to be an increase in racially-related CRCs, and while that seems discouraging, O’Connell sees it differently. She says, “There’s a lot of stuff that kids say to each other that we don’t hear, but now, people are feeling they have the ability to speak up.” However, there is still more she hopes the CRC could improve. Despite the emphasis on diversity, there is not a black-identifying student on the CRC. Particularly for the class of 2027, who will have their CRC election soon, O’Connell says, “ I encourage all students who think they would be good in that role to put their name forward. Representation matters, and having those diverse experiences and perspectives matter in something like a Conduct Review Committee.” Previous Previous Next Next

Lucas Chen '27 < Back Tip(pets) Lucas Chen '27 May 10, 2024 Sometimes called the first-ever friends of human beings, pets play an essential role in most people’s lives across cultures. They help combat loneliness, lower stress levels, and improve mental health, even in the Mercersburg community. Tippetts Hall is a pet-friendly dorm, and there are a total of six faculty pets. Among them, Riggie, Grace, and Ren are student favorites. Matthew Jacobs, dorm dean of Tippetts Hall, stated, “Pets definitely make it feel more like home. I know a lot of kids have pets back home, and having that experience here, being away from home, really makes you feel like you are feeling back home, being able to enjoy the pets and the comfort. It really just gives them the sensation of home away from home.” Riggie, a two-year-old Golden Retriever, is one of the two dogs, along with Reese, a mini labradoodle, belonging to the Jacobs family. Jacobs explained the joy he derives from his pets: “I think just having them be goofy together and always in a good mood cheers me up every time I see them coming home from work.” The students share similar feelings as the owners. Preston Zhang ‘27 said, “Riggie really likes to come inside my room a lot. One time, he took a tennis ball I had found in the Hale Field House. He grabbed that from my room, and I couldn’t get it out of his mouth; it was kind of funny.” Riggie is particularly loved for her friendly nature and her willingness to play with every student. The McKevitt family, also of Tippetts Hall, has two pets: a cat, Grace, and a dog, Diego. Both are five years old. Glenn McKevitt noted the students’ love for his pets. “Yeah, especially Grace. She is always outside; students stop all the time to pet her, and she’s really sociable. Sometimes, she ends up somewhere in the dorm, too.” Grant Kurmakov ‘25 agreed and commented, “Grace’s beautiful blue eyes caught me in a trance. Her striking gaze and adorable ‘meow’ took me back to my pets at home. Having her around Tippetts contributes to the dorm culture and she really makes my quality of life better.” Three-year-old, Ren, part Catahoula Leopard, and eleven-month-old May, part Beagle and part Pomeranian, are the two dogs of the Heffron family. Rich Heffron said, “The best memories are of them hanging out with our son, Jude. Particularly the older dog Ren. Whenever Jude gets upset, she will go over to him and put her head in his lap. Those are the wonderful memories, especially watching how the dogs look out for others.” Students are often willing to help out pet owners by walking them to compensate for missing their own pets back home. Clearly, students and faculty members think pets play a key role in creating a dorm culture and bringing positive vibes. Haris Yahaya ‘24 said, “Frankly, I think it has gone pretty well. It’s really nice interacting with the dogs on duty and the faculty, you know. I think it creates a better dorm environment overall.” In sum, these dorm pets in Tippetts Halls contribute to both the well-being of its residents and the dorm culture which ultimately enhances the boarding experience. Previous Previous Next Next

Erika Tso Sowah '24 < Back Green Teens Erika Tso Sowah '24 Oct 28, 2022 Mercersburg Academy’s Green Team is a student club focused on making Mercersburg more eco-friendly and sustainable. Each fall term, members of Green Team brainstorm new environmental initiatives to implement on campus. The club is composed of six co-leaders in charge of important decision-making. Each co-leader runs a committee, focusing on an issue they are passionate about, with student members of Green Team assisting them. Greta Lawler ‘23, co-leader of Green Team, said, “In addition to co-leaders, we also have a super strong group of dorm reps, who are responsible for expanding Green Team’s voice in the dorms and around campus.” Green Team is currently in the process of planning events for the year. Co-leader Andrew Leibowitz ‘24 said, “Right now we have a bunch of initiatives. One is creating a weekly newsletter to get Green Team info out. We feel that the school has historically been disconnected and uninformed with regard to school initiatives, so we want to make the Green Team more transparent. Another group is working on [the] Instagram account to help with that as well. One group is working to outline goals for our school centered around the UN goals for sustainable development.” Green Team has one prime sustainability goal they have decided to focus on this year. “This year, we’re focusing on energy and brainstorming ways to reduce Mercersburg’s energy usage,” said co-leader Cricket Tatone ‘24. The club also has several exciting events planned for the school year to increase school-wide student involvement. Emily Jiang ‘24 said these initiatives include “making Cheap Thrills a more frequent event, hosting a Green Team t-shirt competition, and sponsoring movie nights and gardening events.” Green Team is a club open to anyone who is interested in climate action and making Mercersburg more eco-friendly. Co-leader Devin Rotz ‘25 said, “Keep your eyes out for more activities for you and your friends to get involved with. It’s early in the year, but as the year progresses there will definitely be more activities and opportunities for everyone to get involved.” Not only can you make a genuine impact by getting involved in Green Team, but it’s also easy to join. Lawler explained, “Students can get involved in Green Team by reaching out to Greta Lawler, Grace Carter, Emily Jiang, Andrew Leibowitz, or Devin Rotz. Everyone is welcome at Green Team meetings, so if you’re curious and you hear a friend talk about going to a meeting, feel free to come and join! The Earth needs every one of us!” Previous Previous Next Next

The Blue Storm football team is off to a great start... < Back Teamwork makes the dreamwork Haris Yahaya '24 Mar 14, 2022 The Blue Storm football team is off to a great start. So far they are 3-1 in the season, their only loss coming against Maryland School for the Deaf in an away game. Two weeks ago, during Family and Alumni Weekend, the Storm played their eight-man rival Perkiomen School, winning 38-18. A stand out from that game was senior running back Ryan Maclnnis ’23, who rushed for five touchdowns and four two-point conversions scoring a career high 36 points and setting a school record. Head Coach Andy Brown commented on Maclnnis’ game, saying, “One of the reasons someone can have such a standout or record-breaking game like Ryan is because everyone else shows up and does their job. The linemen do their job, the quarterback makes the right reads, the defense stops the other team and gets the ball back to the offense. While one may get the accolades of a touchdown and stuff, it’s definitely a team effort.” The News sat down with Ma cInnis to ask him about the team and his football career. When did you start playing football? I started playing my sixth grade year going into middle school. I started out playing the safety and running back positions. What enabled you to play so well in the game against Perk? Honestly I don’t really know. My line just played really well. I had blocks and got to see the whole field. All I had to do was run. They opened everything up for me. What was your mindset going into that game? Honestly I was thinking about all the time I missed last year due to injury. I felt like I had a little bit of something to prove, and I felt like I kinda knew the team needed me to play my role to the best of my ability. So I came in with a lot of confidence, so honestly while playing the game, I wasn’t really thinking; I was just having fun. What's your favorite part of football? I think the bus rides back from a win, as well as the bus rides to a game, are so much fun. Everyone kinda just messing around, loud music, especially on the long road trips when it’s dark and everyone’s awake. Just good energy. Where does your passion for the game come from? I always grew up loving sports, always watched football and baseball with my dad, and as I got older, my love only grew. The teammates and coaches I've met have helped me to keep pushing that passion, kept inspiring me and motivating me to keep playing and always do better. Who is your role model? I would say my dad. Me and him are very alike. He kinda tries to push me to do the right thing and tries to make me think things through before I do them. He inspires me to be more like him, and not be as stubborn and as stupid as I can be sometimes. What are some areas of your game that you can improve on? For me a big thing I need to work on is, while playing a good team, just kind of hold back and not try to take over the game and trust that everyone will do their job. I missed making some short plays by jumping the gun when trusting my blocks, that just comes with some film study. Are you looking foward to anything coming up in the season? I enjoy every practice, I enjoy every game. Kind of don’t want the season to end but I look forward to every day, the coaches and players we have. It’s the highlight of my day every day. The Blue Storm is currently in a bye week and plays its next game away at Delaware County Christian School, ending its regular season at home against Valley Forge Military Academy. The Storm is looking to keep its momentum going into the Keystone Football League playoffs starting on November 5. Previous Next

The field hockey season has come to a close, and the Blue Storm put up a good fight... < Back Sweeping up the competition Max Friedman '25 Nov 4, 2022 The field hockey season has come to a close, and the Blue Storm put up a good fight. They accumulated a total record of four wins and nine losses and finished fifth in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League, both improvements on last season’s results,. Some highlights include shutouts against local rival St. James School and M Cup rival Madeira School, as well as a double overtime, shootout victory against MAPL foe Peddie School on senior day. Despite this season being head coach Grace Megaffin’s first at the school, she felt that the team had a “‘work hard, play hard’ mentality.” She said, “They are a cohesive team without divides between class years or positions. They were so fun to coach.” Megaffin also spoke positively about the team’s leadersghip. “Our three captains, Hailey Chepren, Cam Dotson, and Liza Webb, led a team discussion at the start of the season to create goals and expectations for the team. We ended the season fifth in the MAPL, which was better than last year, and I think it shows how strong their leadership was this fall,” said Megaffin. Megaffin noted standout performances by Vienna Horstmann ’23 and Zarreen Sorho ’23, two seniors who “were both thrown into roles on defense, midfield, and forward.” She said, “Their willingness to play positions they hadn't in the past was appreciated and admired by coaches and teammates.” Megaffin noted another standout senior. “It's hard to watch a Mercersburg field hockey game and not be blown away by Zareena Sorho's goaltending. She was new to field hockey and the position of goalkeeper when she started her freshman year, but you'd think she's been playing her whole life.” Zareena Sorho notched three shutouts on the season and credited this to the team’s composition. “We work together really well on the field. We have good chemistry off the field and we are just grinding away right now. It's awesome,” she said. Her favorite game was a close 2-1 loss to Foxcroft School. She said, “There was a lot of good hype and trash-talking emotions towards both teams and it was just really hype and exciting.” Megaffin gave the full summary of the fairy-tale finish of the team’s intense victory over Peddie: “Cameron Dotson scored two goals, but Peddie responded with two in the fourth quarter. We had 13 players, it was a surprising 70 degrees, so they were exhausted by the end of the second overtime period. Hailey Chepren scored the game winning goal in a shootout and Zareena Sorho made the save to make the difference. It was an incredible display of heart and hustle from the senior class.” Zareena Sorho also spoke about the win over Peddie, “It was a nailbiter for sure, but we came out with the win! It was the longest field hockey game ever, that's for sure.” Overall, the season was a resounding success, an improvement over the year prior, and another proud chapter in the Blue Storm annals. Previous Next

Sheily Ramirez < Back MAPL Track & Field Sheily Ramirez At last Saturday’s Mid-Atlantic Prep League track championships at The Lawrenceville School, both the boys and girls indoor track teams earned fourth-place finishes, closing out a season defined by adaptation, resilience, and steady improvement despite unusual training conditions. This winter, the team did not have access to its indoor track as the dining hall was relocated to the Hale Field House while Ford Hall was under renovation, forcing athletes to train outside or find alternative spaces. That lack of a consistent facility shaped much of the season’s preparation. Head coach Betsy Cunningham said, “We did about as well as possible given the circumstances, without having a facility for indoor training and with such a cold and snowy winter.” Bauhinia Chen ’26 added, “The training that we did this season was honestly not ideal because we didn’t have our regular track, and it’s also been the coldest year I’ve experienced here. So, I think given the subpar training we had, I’m glad I’m still able to sustain a good level of performance that I’m happy with.” Several athletes delivered standout performances despite the challenges. The boys 4x400 relay of Eric Cittadie ’26, Arnav Rao ’26, Gustavo Santana ’26, and Imangali Zhakan ’26 broke the school record with a time of 3:33.18, and Zhakan won the 800 meters in a close finish. About the MAPL meet, Cunningham said, “The goal was to score as many points as possible. This often means having a different strategy than you might if you were trying to run a fast time. The field events usually perform as usual, which means jumping or throwing as far as possible to make finals…. [M[any athletes post[ed] personal records across several events.” Zhakan said, “Admittedly, the goal was to win, and I did, but I was unhappy with how the race played out. But overall, I built a lot of grit and resilience this year by training without an indoor facility.” Emily Wallace ’29, who placed fourth in the 55-meter hurdles, set a personal record. “I wasn’t completely satisfied with my MAPLs performance, but I still placed well, so there was improvement,” Wallace said. She added that a memorable moment came late in the meet. “During the last few races, the team was lined up along the banked curve, and everyone was cheering and supporting one another.” Teressa Nyarko ’26 added, “I feel as though my performance at MAPLs was a direct reflection of all my hard work throughout the season,” she said. “Seeing everyone finishing hard and ending with a smile reminded me of the beauty of track.” Looking ahead, Cunningham said the team will shift its focus at the PAISSA meet toward personal records rather than points. After a season shaped by compromise and adjustment, the teams will look to finish strong with a renewed focus on individual progress. Previous Next

Bauhinia Chen ‘26 < Back Mercersburg mogs the competition Bauhinia Chen ‘26 Jan 26, 2024 Last weekend, Director of Global Programs Justine O’Connell led students of the Model UN program to the Columbia Model United Nations Conference and Exposition (CMUNCE). For the past two years, the trip has been used for the professional development of Mercersburg’s Secretariat, the team of student leaders within the school’s PGA. Members were selected after an application and interview process last spring and convened during the early days of fall to prepare for the winter season, during which they led the other student delegates. The primary purpose of the trip to CMUNCE was to foster the leaders’ growth and hone their skills. O’Connell said, “Their charge is to return to campus with more experience, knowledge, and strategies and create at least one PGA session where they lead the training session. This peer-to-peer training is powerful because Model UN is mostly an individual endeavor. Having the Secretariat help the other delegates creates a sense of team which, in my opinion, only makes us stronger.” This year, the Secretariat consists of five members: Secretary General Kevin Hang ‘24, Deputy Secretary General Gabe McGuire ‘24, Director of Finance Zoe Shykind ‘24, Head Delegate Abi Bam ‘24, and Head Delegate Zoe Duffy ‘26. Tahir Hasanov ‘25 traveled with the team as a sixth delegate. O’Connell noted, “He has been a great addition to the delegation.” The trip was a fruitful and enjoyable experience for the students. Duffy said, “My committee was definitely challenging but super fun! I gained a lot of experience doing new things. For example, this year, I sat in a crisis committee on the Hunger Games. This was very different from anything I have ever done before. It was great to talk to current Columbia students about the school, admissions, and their interests, as well as improve our skills.” “The trip was fantastic,” Hasanov said. “Here, hundreds of students from several schools come together. It's a great way to improve your debating skills, meet new people, and have a great time.” McGuire said, “It was tiring because we were always engaged in thought, movement, and our practices. But I think it was a great experience for all of us. It provided the Secretariat with an opportunity to see what it’s like to compete at a high level.” He also commented upon how interesting it was to learn from actual delegates, “I got to hear personal responses from the delegates representing Spain. It was interesting to hear how my perspective differed from a real delegate, which was surprisingly really similar.” At the conference, McGuire won Best Delegate in his committee, while Hasanov won a Verbal Commendation in his. Previous Previous Next Next

Simon Brennan '26 < Back No -i- in team Simon Brennan '26 Nov 15, 2024 This season, Mercersburg’s Blue Storm football team demonstrated its resilience, unity, and unwavering commitment when faced with challenges on and off the field. A brand-new coaching staff, led by Head Coach Jamar Galbreath, and the addition of new players required a period of adjustment. The players pulled together and built a team dynamic centered on resilience, teamwork, and a shared determination. "Despite our record [1-6], the team did incredibly well this year," Galbreath shared. "In a season of a lot of change and adversity, the team did an excellent job of living up to a culture of being excellent community members, embodying a ‘next man up’ mentality, and being ready to play at a moment’s notice." Team members explained that the season was about more than just the score. Germany Johnson ’25 reflected on the team dynamic that developed, noting, “We had good chemistry and energy off the field.” For Johnson, the team’s dedication to helping less experienced players learn and adjust was crucial. “No one ever lost confidence, and everyone played to the best of their ability the whole way through,” Johnson added. For Jacob Bershatsky ’28, the experience of being part of the Blue Storm was quite unique. “I’ve played on a fair bit of sports teams, but none had a dynamic like this. I felt like we were all one big family looking out for each other,” he said, emphasizing the importance of the spirit of family and friendship. Max Friedman ’25 added, “From the freshmen to seniors, everyone came together to make this team awesome.” The team's composition has changed since last year. It now consists mainly of seniors and a few underclassmen. Captain Wyatt Parks ’25 stated, “This interesting dynamic puts a strain on captains to try and raise spirits and push everybody.” Despite the record, Parks expressed pride in his teammates’ progress and accomplishments, stating, “Linebackers like Reed Warner [’25] and running backs like Germany Johnson and Frank Bonsal [’25] had games where they put up crazy numbers. Although football is hard, [we] don’t let scores define how [we] individually played.” Jerry Wei ’25 echoed this sentiment, noting, “Football isn’t about wins and losses; it’s about learning resilience, discipline, and forming connections that can last a lifetime.” The football team, however, was bombarded with injuries across the season. Regardless, Warner appreciated the mentality and strength of his teammates, especially players like Wei, August Parks ’27, and Billy Quick ’25 for stepping up and substituting for their teammates despite having limited experience. Warner added, “Football isn’t an easy sport; everyone who made it to the end of the season, especially for [our] starters, truly worked hard.” Wei's reflections captured the overall sentiment among the players: “This season has been a blur of different challenges and incredible growth for the football team. From the first day of preseason, everyone on the team has shown a commitment to each other that goes way beyond the field.” While the record may not fully reflect the hard work and dedication, the season stands as testament to the team’s growth. In the face of adversity, the players built strong bonds. The team left the season with strengthened values and the relationships they’ve built along the way. Previous Next

Anne Sehon ‘25 < Back OPINION: Physical Education Anne Sehon ‘25 Jan 19, 2024 Mercersburg Academy’s Curriculum and Requirements webpage states, “Mercersburg’s Physical Education program is designed to meet the minimal standards of at least one hour of vigorous activity four days per week.” For those participating in non-athletic PGAs, this is too often not true. According to Mercersburg, its students have to “pass Physical Education each term through engagement in the PGA program and successfully complete all human development and health programs as required by the school.” But do all PGAs really meet the standard of one hour of vigorous physical activity four days per week? Under the Pennsylvania Code of Law, Title 22, Chapter 4, § 4.23(c)(8), Mercersburg Academy seems to be in violation of the Commonwealth’s high school physical education requirements. If the webpage that outlines the Academy’s curriculum to the public eye is accurate, PGAs are supposed to be, if not a place for enough physical activity to meet the law’s education requirements, at least an outlet for physical activity. However, it seems clear that non-athletic PGAs are not in the gym four days a week, as the Academy’s website would lead one to believe. The arguments that typically arise are ones of “lifting equipment is physical” and “the dancing in the musical is enough,” but, to me, the “physical fitness” outlined in Pennsylvania state law can not be met simply by dancing in an ensemble and lifting stage equipment, and it certainly can’t be met by doing neither. Mercersburg needs a physical education class for those who do not participate in athletic PGAs like team sports, dance, gym internships, MOE programs, and strength and conditioning. Building strong habits related to physical activity and wellness are vital for our lives beyond high school, and many, many studies show that working out is beneficial to mental health and academic success, as well. I’m concerned for my peers who can’t complete a once-a-term walk to the barn and back without complaint, and I’m concerned about the facade my school puts up to potentially hide that. If a student does not participate in an athletic PGA at least one term per year, it seems they ought to participate in a term course that meets state physical education requirements – it could be a dance course, something related to being in the gym, or a general intramural physical education course, as many public schools have; it should be something more than what is available at the moment. Because of the amount of time PGAs take up, it’s understandable why non-athletic PGAs can not take the time out of their schedules to go to the gym as a group, which is why course offerings could be a strong alternative. If not solely for the sake of physical wellness, if Mercersburg seeks to be the civically-minded institution that it hopes to be, it can begin with adherence to educational law in entirety. Previous Next