Lucas Chen '27 < Back Spicing things up Lucas Chen '27 Nov 8, 2024 This year Mercersburg Academy’s dining service has undergone changes, with the school’s account with Merriwether Godsey under new executive management. Head of School Quentin McDowell stated, “A s a residential institution, we recognize the importance of the student experience, particularly as it relates to food. We have tried a number of different things this year aimed at enhancing our dining service, ranging from opening the True Blue Cafe more often to expanding options for breakfast.” Students have mixed feelings about the offerings this year. Returning student Konrad Spory ’26 said, “I think the dining food got a bit better to be honest. The variety of the food has definitely improved, and I also noticed that lunches were better this year.” Christian Garcia Rivas ’27, who is new to the school this year, agrees, stating, “I think it is good. There is a great variety — Mexican food, Indian food, Asian food, and more. Especially when going to the dining hall after training, the food is great.” On the other hand, four-year senior Hisano Enomoto ’25 has witnessed numerous years of Mercersburg dining. Enomoto said, “I’m pretty satisfied with the dining hall this year. I especially like that they have tuna salad for most of the lunches, so I can have a consistent lunch every day. But from last year, I don’t think too much has changed.” Other students were less complimentary. William Choi ’26 stated, “I think it fell off, but it was never up to begin with. As long as they don’t give me chicken five days out of seven, I’ll be fine.” Though the school has already made minor changes to the dining experience, even bigger changes are coming. McDowell commented, “ While there have been many improvements to the dining experience that we feel good about, we still believe we can do better. The feedback we continue to ask for is helping guide our future decision making, which includes the school's decision to seek a new dining services provider that will hopefully be onboarded by the end of winter break or soon thereafter.” Chief Financial and Operating Officer Rochelle Hargraves, who oversees the food service contract, added, “In January, we will bring a new dining service provider to campus. Four companies have submitted proposals for dining services, and a selection process is currently underway to evaluate them. The more tangible changes will be seen once we make this change.” Furthermore, Ford Hall itself will also undergo considerable upgrades. “In addition to changing our dining service vendor, we are preparing to renovate the dining center beginning in June 2025. Plenty of planning goes into this, especially since the dining center will be completely shut down during its renovation. Fortunately, this has no impact on this academic year,” Hargraves added. The school community eagerly waits to see how the dining experience–-both the food and the facilities—will evolve and improve in the next several months. Previous Previous Next Next

Adrienne Howard ’26 < Back Strong slalom weekend Adrienne Howard ’26 Jan 16, 2026 Mercersburg Academy’s alpine ski team competed in a two-day slalom event at Seven Springs on January 10-11, delivering strong performances despite a small roster and limited preparation time. Julia Krugh ’26 placed 6th on day one and 10th on day two, Audrey Stambaugh ’27 rebounded from a first-day disqualification to finish 5th on day two, Stewart Allen ’27 skied into the top 20 for the boys before bobbles prevented a finish, and Adrienne Howard ’26 finished 4th-place overall and 1st in the U21 category on Saturday, despite not finishing on Sunday. Krugh said, “For me, the most challenging part was just staying early through the tough conditions and being ready for combinations. The weekend showed the importance of balancing being risky and maintaining control. It affects your decision-making because you have to take a risky line, but you don't want to be super risky. You still need to set up and have time to react to any mistakes that you make.” Stambaugh added, “The most challenging part of the course at Seven Springs is the way that the mountain builds speed and kind of comes together at the end. Inspection and planning are so important and make all the difference.” Even after failing to finish on day one, she remained confident in her skiing. “I was proud of my run that I didn't finish; that aligned with the way I had been training,” she said. Her patience paid off on day two. “I skied a little safely but put together two great runs, which gave me points.” Stambaugh continued, “Going into the season, I am looking forward to locking down the way I ski like the way I did at the beginning of the weekend; I want to make it consistent.” Allen said, “One run that I was especially really proud of was my first run on Saturday. It was my first run back after doing a lot of work over the off-season through working out and then skiing as well.” That effort showed. “It was a really solid first run. During that run, my main goal was simply to finish, but then in the second run I focused on being more fluid while skiing more aggressively.” Head alpine ski coach Dave Holzwarth added, “The team performed surprisingly well, given the fact we had one day of slalom training,” he said. “Ski racing is an individual sport, but they all push each other in training and even competition… healthy competition.” Holzwarth added, “There was some inward focus, but as each of the racers came down, everybody was cheering each other individually through the finish, which creates a supportive atmosphere.” With multiple top finishes and clear signs of technical and mental growth, the Seven Springs weekend marked a positive first step for Mercersburg skiing as the season continues. Previous Next

Michelle Zhang '28 < Back The crucible of the Holloway Tournament Michelle Zhang '28 Dec 13, 2024 Last Saturday, Mercersburg’s wrestling team traveled to the Saint James School to participate in the Admiral Holloway Wrestling Invitational, a prestigious high school tournament in which teams from independent schools across Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, and Pennsylvania compete across respective weight classes. This year’s competition featured intense matchups and outstanding results from Blue Storm wrestlers. Even before stepping foot on the mat, Mercersburg wrestlers made dedicated preparations to perform at their best. “I'm eating right. That's really important as a wrestler,” said Marlo Williams ’25. “You have to be eating right, you know, showering, taking care of yourself, getting more sleep than you need... Even in the classroom, I'm preparing myself mentally. You know, I'm getting my work done. I'm doing my homework, and that gets me in a good headspace to be able to go and do wrestling.” The wrestlers entered their matches with a strong mindset. Brayden Pearson ’27 explained, “I kind of underperformed last time I went to Holloway, so I'm looking to come back, get a little revenge, but I'm ready. I felt good. I've been ready to compete since last year ended.” This sentiment was echoed by Amon Yamamoto ’26. “I feel a lot more confident than last year since I'm in the same weight as last year, But I feel like my technique and my strength has improved a lot along with my mindset, and I definitely feel a lot less nervous,” he said. Mercersburg’s disciplined preparation paid off. The team itself claimed third overall, bringing home a trophy. Captain Gavin Boyd ‘27 and Williams led the charge, both placing first in their respective weight classes. “Yesterday we did pretty good.” Boyd reflected, “We had a good bit of people get in the finals, which was really awesome." Other highlights included podium finishes from Pearson, Ethan Shirk ’27, Will Lavan ’27, Cocona Yamamoto ’25, Nick Rosenberry ’28, Lucy Barker ’28, Michelle Zhang ’28. “I think they've all done a great job,” said head coach Matt Shirk. Assistant coach Justin Lorsen was more critical. “The Mercersburg wrestlers performed well overall at the Admiral Holloway Tournament at St. James, but there are always things to work on.” He added, “It was nice to have so many wrestlers get their feet wet, experienced and novice, to see where we as a team need to work in the future. We look forward to getting back in the room on Monday and being ready to perform in front of our home crowd for the Mercersburg Duals this coming Saturday.” While team and individual successes were celebrated duly, Blue Storm wrestling is already setting its sights on challenges ahead. Ethan Shirk ‘27 said his personal goal is “National Prep, All-American.” This sentiment was echoed across the team. Cocona Yamamoto, who placed second in her division, declared, “I will be first next time.” Jokingly, she added, “I also want to get a six-pack.” As the team looks forward, Coach Shirk holds optimism for the season. “It's exciting this year,” he remarked, “I'm really excited to see where we go, how we progress and you know, keep everybody healthy and you know, just keep developing, working toward that end goal. One weekend or one match, One weekend at a time.” Previous Next

Sophie Han ‘27 < Back Under new management Sophie Han ‘27 Sep 20, 2024 Mercersburg Academy has officially introduced Matt Hurst as the future head swimming coach. With his coaching experience at top Division 1 college swimming programs, Hurst brings a focus on team unity and individual growth. Swimmers are optimistic, noting the advancements and promising commitment to elevate performance. After being introduced to Hurst’s coaching background, veteran swimmer Sierra Guo ’25 said, “Coach Matt has seen the whole range of swimmers to understand what we need as a high school swim team and incorporate what he knows to help us be better.” Teammate Quinn Larkin ’25 added, “Coach Matt was a sprint coach at Penn State, so we’ll likely add speed work and resistance training.” Hurst outlined his goals: “The plan for the program is to continue our progress, and the critical question to this sea- son is whether we can win Easterns for both genders. I want to prepare our swimmers, both from a competitive stand- point and a health and emotional standpoint, to be ready collectively in February and do the best we can.” As the swimmers work towards this goal, they have made observations about what it’s like to train under Hurst. Aman- da Lietchi ’28 and Asher Keim ’28 agreed, “It’s really helpful when Coach Matt explains the sets’ purpose and mechan- ics. It helps me understand what he wants us to focus on each practice.” Regarding Hurst’s prudent purpose in coach- ing, Sophie Koroma ’26 said, “Explaining the set’s insights in detail has been a new and effective approach.” “I’m sure the swimmers have already noticed that Hurst and I are very close as coaches and friends,” said longstanding head coach Glenn Neufeld. “He is an exceptional coach, and an even better person, and he cares about the athletes just as much as I do. The best advice I can give him is to be himself.” After witnessing the team’s enthusiasm, Hurst commented on his impression of the team: “The level of maturity for the swimmers to come into the pool every day, to understand what they need, and be eagerly willing to adapt to their new head coach, it’s making me look forward to putting in my little spin on top of keeping the traditions and cultures we have already.” “It’s been fun—a great team with great culture. We got a couple more people on the team for each grade, and that made the start of the season very exciting,” praised Nick Green ’25. “I like how Coach Matt purposely doesn’t group the swimmers’ lanes by their speed but enables us to be spontaneous with high morale.” Comparing the team dynamic between this year and last year, Antonina Sech ’26 commented, “The team had gray areas that indicated the team bonding was not up to expectation, but this year, with the care and help from our coaches, I feel like the team has much more color and vibrance in it.” Sebastian Tith ’27 empathized, “The team is as connect- ed as ever; if anything, we have become a lot closer.” Tea- gan Mewett ’27 and Elizabeth Young ’27 agreed, “The swim team has felt a lot more like family to me, with more bond- ing through eating dinners together after practice, and a new ‘Goal Wall’ that motivates us every day—it’s great because we all want to be with people who accept and support us.” “So far, I have already seen many good signs when the team engages with Coach Matt to prove that we will have a great year while Matt and I work together this year,” concluded Neufeld. “Fortunately, the biggest beneficiary of this cooperation would be our swimmers.” Previous Next

Ian Kim ‘26 < Back Late lights at Landis Ian Kim ‘26 Oct 20, 2023 As the nerve-racking deadline for early decision creeps ever closer, the class of 2024 needs all the help they can get. The college counselors at Mercersburg play a pivotal role in coaching students through the process, providing invaluable guidance and support. One of the most recent features introduced to assist the senior class in this busy time is the addition of open office hours. Open office hours occur during the evening, with two or more counselors available for students. “So many students have busy schedules during the day,” Senior Associate Director of College Counseling Vicki Thompson states, “so it is important for us to provide additional time to sit with their counselors.” “Extended hours have just really allowed our students to have more access to not only our entire office but also to some peer-to-peer time for kids to work together,” Daniel Hulse, Associate Director of College Counseling, said. “I really noted how well they used the peer-to-peer time productively, and I think our seniors are readily taking advantage of these evening hours. Although not many students have participated in the extra hours, many echo positive feedback and approval of the overall system. “Although I’ve never been to evening college counseling,” Jordan Yuan, ’24 stated, “I like the option of extra hours for us to get extra help during the application process.” Ruby Shang ’24 has attended evening college counseling hours: “Those hours have been really beneficial in helping me get in my applications for those scary early deadlines.” The evening counseling hours are an opportunity for students to brainstorm ideas and have their writing read by their counselors. “This class has done a particularly good job of using their summer to write… and for those who haven’t had a good enough of a start, I hope they use this time to really catch up. “Thompson observed. It’s also a perfect time for students to really research and figure everything out before those quickly approaching deadlines. “My hopes are that our students can continue to see that college is really about fit and they need to put in the time to do deep dives on their schools and ask us as many questions as necessary,” Hulse proclaimed. The first significant college deadline, November 1, is rapidly approaching. Previous Previous Next Next

Devin Rotz '25 < Back MOE fun! Devin Rotz '25 May 5, 2023 Spring is here, and the MOE activities are in full swing, with many trips planned this season. Mercersburg’s Outdoor Education program offers three different tracks in the Spring: Mountain Biking, Climbing, and Rivers and Trails. Climbing develops the technical skills of climbing via indoor and outdoor facilities. The Rivers and Trails program teaches students the necessary skills in backpacking and kayaking on local trails and rivers. Mountain Biking similarly uses the local region to build students’ cycling skills. Each individual program offers a wide range of skills and teaches the fundamentals of outdoor education. The educators and instructors who are part of the MOE program are instrumental to each program’s success and in making the experience enjoyable and inclusive for everyone. Chris Duffy, new Director of MOE, said, “I love teaching and sharing these awesome activities with our students. Whether it is climbing, biking, hiking, paddling, or skiing, I have always loved sharing outdoor activities with students.” If you wonder how athletic you have to be for a MOE program, Pete Gunkleman, Assistant Director of MOE, has your answer: “Our programs include athleticism without the necessity to compete. We’re undefeated, though not untested.” Whether amateur or pro, there is room to grow. MOE instructors work hard to expose students to new terrain, often through overnight trips in Climbing, Rivers and Trails, or Mountain Biking. In the Spring, biking has fun trips ahead, said Carol Ecton, biking instructor, “I am personally looking forward to Schaeffer Farms in Maryland and old favorites like Raystown, Allegrippis trails, and Michaux trails near Chambersburg.” Climbing and Rivers and Trails have some trips around the corner, too. There will be climbing trips to New River Gorge National Park and to the water for kayaking in R&T. Student participation and enthusiasm for the programs help them succeed and make each event enjoyable for all. In the coming weeks, there will be much to learn and many experiences to be had. Often these are first-time experiences. “I’m looking forward to the Seneca trip in May, I’ve never been on an overnight climbing trip,” said Elliot Cole ’24. “We are most looking forward to our trip to Raystown, Pennsylvania at the end of the season though since we will be able to use all of the skills we have been working on all season,” said Reagan Houpt ’25. Of course, there is always pleasure in returning to campus after a long day of the outdoors. “The sense of accomplishment after a hike and the shower,” said Tony Huang ’24, about his favorite part of MOE. Previous Previous Next Next

The Mercersburg boys’ golf program has existed since the early years of the school and recently it experienced more growth and development than in previous years... < Back Boys Golf Reagan Houpt '25 Mar 19, 2023 The Mercersburg boys’ golf program has existed since the early years of the school and recently it experienced more growth and development than in previous years. The team started the 2022 fall season off strong by winning the first match due to the many talented golfers who are performing well, with Argyle Downes ‘24, in particular, having a standout season. Both on and off the green, Downes exhibits exceptional promise and leadership qualities that positively add to the overall atmosphere of the golf team. Although the season is still early, Downes says he feels confident. Downes seems to have an innate ability for golf. “Argyle's game has greatly improved over his time at the school- but let's not kid ourselves into thinking he wasn't a good player upon arrival,” Doug Smith, head varsity golf coach, said. Downes is the driving force of the teams’ success and victories - pun intended. “[Argyle] is always a lock for the best score at any match we play at. We can always count on Argyle to win his match and contribute an under par round,” Arjun Patel ‘23 stated. Downes is currently the top player on the golf team, consistently scoring low in every match. Downes uses his unique talent in golf to assist his teammates and up everybody’s game. “As well as being the top player on the team, you can often see Argyle coaching other players on the team with their swing,” said Billy Quick ‘25. Not only does he guide the new players on the team, but “he also coaches the top players,” said Jason Jones ‘24. Downes is constantly encouraging his teammates and motivating them to improve. “His knowledge of the game of golf and the swing is unmatched, and I can always count on him to help me with my swing or learning a new shot,” said Patel. In addition to acting as a mentor, Downes cultivates especially positive team morale, described as “the heart and soul of our team” by teammates. Despite his extraordinary skill, he remains humble and inspiring. “Argyle is a one-of-a-kind athlete that is pure fun, and that's the best part about him,” said Jones. The team relationship is extremely significant for Downes himself, as he said, “One of the biggest factors to my success is the support I have around me. My teammates both past and present have been crucial in my growth, as they have pushed me and supported me all the way through.” Members of the golf team have described Downes as the “ideal teammate.” Jones said Downes’ impact on the team “will never have the ability to be measured because it is so big.” There is no doubt that he will continue to achieve success throughout the rest of this season, and future seasons. Downes is pleased with the team’s recent performance, and he strives to bring back a state championship this year with his teammates. Previous Next

Michael Zhang ‘26 < Back Golfers look ahead to the spring Michael Zhang ‘26 Nov 1, 2024 The Blue Storm golf team wrapped up its season earlier this week, one of the toughest in a while after “having lost so many key contributors from last year's squad,” according to Head Coach Doug Smith. Cam Geirasch ’26 and Jackson McLear ‘27 concurred. “Last year, we had two Division 1 commits. This year, we're kind of in a rebuilding stage,” said Geirasch. McLear added, “One of the main challenges we’ve faced this year is that our team is so young. A lot of the really good players from last year graduated.” Smith continued, “The season for the boys has been good but we haven't reached the goals we set out for ourselves as individuals yet.” Gierasch offered his perspective. “The season has been [filled with] lots of ups and downs. Golf is a really difficult game; it’s really important when you fall down to just get back up. We've had days where we've played pretty well, but there's also days when we're not playing very well,” he said, adding, “Also, the mental aspect of golf is really difficult… [but] we’ve always gone into matches with positive attitudes.” Stewart Allan '27 shared his teammates’ optimism: “The season has been fairly good. We’ve had some pretty good days of practice and some good tournaments, too.” One aspect of the team that everyone agreed upon was the positive vibes. Smith smiled, “The culture is very strong…. We have a solid team chemistry.” Again, Gierasch and McLean were in accordance. “We’ve gotten to build a lot of team chemistry. And overall, it’s been a fun season,” said Geirasch . McLear added, “Most importantly, each team member really got to know the others better.” On Monday, the Blue Storm boys golf team traveled to Radley Run Golf Course for the Pennsylvania independent schools championship tournament. Gierasch explained his practice regimen leading up to the tourney: “The PAISAA tournament is a season-long process. For me, I've been preparing since the beginning of summer for this; I focused on range work and taking different lessons with coaches.” “Most of our training for the state tournament was very personalized and individualized. We all worked on the shots that needed the most work on, especially on Sunday. For example, the [players] who needed the most work on putting focused on their putting,” elaborated Allan. While the results weren’t as the team had hoped, the team feels they can build on their performance. McLear said, “Golf is a tough sport. Even though we didn’t perform our best on Monday, we gave it our all and tried our best.” Looking ahead to the spring season and to next fall, Smith said, “Our goals for the season are to simply improve and grow our games. We are very young and are in the process of laying our foundation for the [future]. We know what we can do and we are all committed to achieving the best we can.” Smith elaborated on the challenges that face Blue Storm golfers: “This is simply the reality of the sport of golf, unless you have a course on campus you have to drive there. In fact it gives us time to talk and come closer as a team,” adding, “We run a very healthy program. Once we get our simulators into a permanent and accessible home we will be all set.” Senior Ryan Kothari ’26 summed things up: “Obviously as a new team, being in those building phases, we're figuring things out, but it's definitely been an uphill battle. We're doing a good job of making sure everybody's being consistent in our games. But it's been good. I'm excited to see spring term golf.” Previous Next

Last week, Mercersburg’s Communications Office issued a statement: “The school is interested in exploring whether our community would be open to creating a mascot that could accompany our "Blue Storm" terminology. Currently, our unofficial mascot is the lightning bolt. < Back New Sports Mascot Haris Yahaya '24 Sep 30, 2022 Last week, Mercersburg’s Communications Office issued a statement: “The school is interested in exploring whether our community would be open to creating a mascot that could accompany our "Blue Storm" terminology. Currently, our unofficial mascot is the lightning bolt. Do we need an official mascot? Let us know what you think, and, based on your feedback, we will take the conversation to the next level.” To understand both current and past students’ views, we interviewed students to understand their perspectives on the matter. Isonah Dlodlo 23’ is currently in her fifth year at Mercersburg and wants a cool mascot. “I think the Blue Devils would be cool; the merch would be so cool,” they said in an interview. Nina McDowell 25,’ Caroline Wilkinson 23,’ Oscar Su 25,’ Jason Jones 24,’ and Peter Rice 23,’ all shared her sentiments. “First off, I think we should go back to being the Blue Devils because that would be so much cooler [than the lightning bolt],” Jones stated. The Blue Devil was the school’s mascot before it was changed in the late 1990s. Although unspecified within Mercersburg history, the nickname was most likely adopted in 1963 as detailed in a New York Times article. During this time period, Mercersburg used the name for branding and clothing but never created a physical mascot that students were allowed to represent. This mascot was eventually changed in the late 90s to the school’s current Blue Storm but the tradition of the Blue Devils still has appeal among members of the community. To be sure, the Communications questionnaire asked students to create or think of a mascot that would accompany the lightning bolt. As the Blue Devil would replace it, students had to think about other creative options. “If we had to have a mascot, I think I would want it to be like a Greek god that holds a blue lightning bolt; kind of like Zeus,” Jones suggested. “Our mascot should be someone like Thor who can ‘summon the storm,’” Wilkinson added. Both ideas do a great job of mixing the simple lightning logo into a fun and strong school mascot. As we have now heard from a wide variety of current Mercersburg students, how did alumni feel about the mascot during their time here? Jen Smith ‘97, Mercersburg’s Dean of Academics said, “There was not a physical mascot, at least not when I was a student here. No costume, no one dressed up, etc. I think there was a cartoonish blue devil that was painted in some of the athletic areas and on some of the school clothing, but I don't really recall. I can't speak for all students, but it was my impression that the student body would have preferred to keep the Blue Devil mascot rather than change it to something else. I don't think this was due to a particular fondness for the blue devil itself, but rather because it was what we associated with Mercersburg and it connected us to alums from the past,” Smith stated. Smith’s commentary emphasized the importance of reviving traditions that unite alumni and current students. Rice suggested that the return of this mascot would revamp a school tradition in a similar way that the return of Step Songs has. Whether or not Mercersburg reinstates the Blue Devil as its mascot, there will always be a need for someone to play the role of the mascot during school and sporting events. Students offered a mixed array of responses to that idea. “Jerry Wei should be the mascot,” Su said, nominating his fellow lower-middler. Others added their suggestions. “The mascot should be Peter Rice,” McDowell and Wilkinson agreed. Jones noted that the mascot could be anyone as long as they bring energy and spirit to Mercersburg. Rice, on the other hand, took a more unusual, yet creative approach. “Get one of those big, hot mascot costumes, and make kids with guard wear it as a punishment,” he said. This consequence could be a fun replacement for guard and would surely be preferred to walking around a track on weekend mornings. Previous Next

Sophie Han '27 < Back Storm runs victory laps Sophie Han '27 Sep 27, 2024 Girls and boys cross country are off to a strong start this season. Both teams went into their respective meets this past weekend—the Ben Bloser Invitational for the girls, theGeorgetown Prep Classic for the boys—with determination and emerged having achieved great results. Girls captains Anne Sehon ’25 and Linden Wallace ’25 noted, “The team is doing amazing with the culture we’ve built, and our coaches are really supportive of our health and training. It’s inspiring for us to grow as leaders and improve individually — it sets an exemplification for the season!” “We value our runners and understand that they all carry stress as students, which is why regular check-ins within the team practices are encouraged in a setting like this,” said girls coach, Christopher Bright. Ella Blanco ’26 added, “The coaches care about us a lot, and I’m looking forward to seeing how remarkably this season with our athletes and coaches will go.” Both teams competed in the Frankfort High School Invitational the previous week. “Going into the Frankfort meeting last week, I was really nervous,” Gabriella Cechini ’28 said. “But the support from the team helped me gain a less-stressful mindset this weekend, which is a special improvement personally because my goal this season is to have a positive mindset in races.” The Ben Bloser Invitational meet ended on a high note. In a race of over 200 girls, Gabriella Cechini finished first, and Sehon came in sixth. The team also celebrated it’s third place out of 28 teams, twelve personal records, and nine season records. Betsy Cunningham, head coach of the girls’ team, said, “Today, in a huge field, it was great fun and astonishment to watch some of our girls lead in the front, and witness their willingness to do hard work. What was also fun was to watch their teammates screaming and cheering for them — This is a team that is close and supportive, and I couldn’t be prouder.” On the boys’ side, the team has also been putting in the work. “We try to prepare our runners by simulating race conditions, like grass and hills, so they’re ready to push themselves on race day,” said boys coach Rich Heffron. “We finished behind the top two teams last weekend, but placing above the [rest of the teams] is a great indication of a successful start.” Imangali Zhakan ’26, who competed in his first meet last week, agreed: “The team is doing surprisingly well. I’m hoping to improve by working consistently with the team, and everyone is aiming to be in the top five.” Captain Winston Watkins ’25 commented, “Whether new to the school or the sport, we’re helping everyone adapt and get in shape. I’m excited to see what we can do this weekend.” Ryan Du Plessis ’25 added, “Some runners, including myself, are recovering from injuries, but we’re all very prepared for the Georgetown meet.” Before the meet, Joseph Cechini ’28 shared his goal of breaking his personal record. “I’m just six seconds off from 18 minutes, but with support from coaches and teammates, I’m confident I can reach that this weekend.” The Georgetown Prep meet saw the boys securing second place out of eleven teams, with five athletes placing in the top 25. Cechini broke his personal record as well. Head coach David Grady highlighted key performances: “It was great to see Ryan Du Plessis and Joseph Cechini confidently position themselves early and hold strong through the hills in the third mile. It was a solid race for our top two runners.” Will Wallace ’27 commented after the race, “Overall a great day for the team, coaches were proud but we were sad to have lost our fastest runner due to an unexpected illness; nevertheless, this meet was fantastic. We look forward to being on our home course next weekend!” Previous Next

Eric Wang ’27 < Back Storm swings to victory Eric Wang ’27 Oct 10, 2025 On Wednesday, October 1, the varsity girls tennis team traveled to Virginia to compete against Highland School, securing their first victory of the season with a strong 7–2 score. With the graduation of last year’s top three players, the Blue Team has had to adjust to a new lineup and dynamic. Despite the challenges of rebuilding and finding consistency, the victory serves as strong motivation for the matches ahead. Head Coac h Ken Craig noted, “Our team performed very well, and had a really great ethos. While Highland was not the strongest opponent, we were able to play at our own standards and finish the games thoroughly.” Ava Marathe ’26 added, “We were able to effectively communicate throughout our games and apply the strategies we’ve practiced in play.” With a new team dynamic, the players have had to step up. Aneska Pospisilova ’26 said, “There is definitely a significant adjustment with the new team, but our spirits were not low.” Amy Wang ’27 added, “Everyone has a good mindset as a team. We were all willing to come to every practice, and there is a community both inside and outside of the court.” This season young players have had the chance to hone their skills in varsity training. Coach Craig said, “There are many fundamental issues that we need to target this season. We need to make the other team earn the point instead of making unforced errors.” Maddie Gray ’26 said, “ I think we need to focus on our serves since half the match starts with it. A good serve can give us a crucial advantage in half the games.” Beyond technical skills, the team is also focusing on the mental game. Maddie Stonebraker ’27 reflected, “ Something we should work on is our mindset during the games. We should not dwell on the mistakes we made and instead focus on the points we are playing.” Her doubles teammate Karin Sugiyama ’27 said, “ Our team should work on our willingness to win.” Players have also discussed staying calm under pressure and trusting their training when matches get close. Coach Craig plans on addressing the issue development through specific drills and practices. “ We will be continuing to work on our keep-away drills to practice our thinking and placement of balls during games.” Gray added, “ We need to hit the ball deeper so it’s harder to return, attack more aggressively, and focus on placing our shots at sharper angles.” Wang said, “We tend to die out in the second set, pointing to the team’s ongoing focus on improving fitness and endurance. Coach Craig has also emphasized the importance of footwork, ensuring players move efficiently and stay balanced during long rallies. As the season continues, the Blue Storm hopes to build on its momentum, improve its skillset, and strengthen its mindset in preparation for MAPLs. The win against Highland shows progress in adaptin g to a new lineup and building communication on court. Previous Next

Ally Synder & Riley Choi ’28 < Back Light it up! Ally Synder & Riley Choi ’28 Oct 31, 2025 When Mercersburg Academy students returned from summer vacation this year, they found a landmark addition to campus—lights on Regents Field. For the first time in school history, student-athletes can compete at night, bringing the community together and heightening school spirit. The lighted turf field finally became a reality last summer, but the project had been in motion for over a year. “The level of participation in the Annual Fund from our parents and alumni over the last couple of years certainly provided the resources for this project,” said Chief Advancement Officer John Richardson. “It was the collective generosity of those who support Mercersburg through the Annual Fund and the idea of creating a better student experience that helped make this project come to fruition.” Starting construction in the summer created challenges. Athletic Director Lauren Jacobs explained: “We have a really big summer program here, and because they use our facilities and spaces, that created the biggest conflict.” Each summer, Mercersburg Academy hosts a variety of camps, including several athletic programs. “Honestly, trying to rearrange for any of the teams was hard. If there were a soccer camp or a lacrosse camp here, they would [usually] use the turf,” Jacobs continued. As a result, many teams practiced on the grass fields while construction on the lights moved forward. The impact has been immediate for Blue Storm athletes. “Under-the-lights matches have been one of the best experiences I've had so far,” said boys varsity soccer player Trace Russell ’28. “It's a very surreal feeling, and I love the extra bit of pressure and intensity it adds to the games. It gives me the urgency of needing to perform as if I'm under a constant spotlight.” This updated facility has already created a collection of “best memories” for players and spectators. For boys varsity soccer goalie Will Choi ’26, it occurred against Spring Mills High School. “My save within the last ten seconds of the first half was my best moment of this season,” he recalled. “Every time I did something, I could hear the fans' support. The cheer and the positive vibe was getting to me.” Simon Brennan ‘26 agreed, “ During our under-the-lights game against Spring Mills, when we scored, you could hear the crowd cheering for you – it was special.” Lilly Killinger, captain of the girls varsity soccer team, reflected on her team’s white-out game. “It was really cool to see how many people showed up, especially since people don’t usually show up to girls soccer,” she said. Teammate Skye Neme-O'Connell ’29 actually identified her favorite memory as a fan: “When the girls varsity soccer team watched the boys varsity game. Everyone showed so much school spirit, and many spectators had come to watch.” The most significant impact, expressed by athletes and fans alike, is the increased sense of community. “One of the things I think Mercersburg has had room to improve on was supporting each other's athletic events, because so many games and meets have overlapped, hence harming the attendance,” said Choi. “Turf games under the lights are when I can feel the whole community rally behind our team, and it absolutely brings the community together strongly.” Quentin McDowell, Head of School, agreed, stating, “Athletic competitions can provide a rallying point for a school community, but we often schedule competitions for our teams at the same time. Having lights gives us the ability to play after dark, which can invite larger crowds.” The turf lights have illuminated many spectacular moments for students, but there are a few drawbacks. Michaela Singer, head coach of the field hockey team, explained, “A field hockey ball can be difficult to track in the light when lifted into the air. Additionally, night games later in the season are often cold, making it painful to complete a drive on the ball.” These difficulties make games more challenging, but students and coaches still view the lights as a great addition. Skyler Clark, head coach of boys varsity soccer, joked, “I mean, I wouldn’t want a faculty house right next to the turf flights. But no, I think, all in all, it adds a lot to the community.” Beyond just organized sports, the lights are reshaping student life, too. With the turf now open for recreational use on weekend nights, students have a new space to gather, play, and socialize. “Having access to the turf has been very fun,” said Russell. “My friends and I will sometimes go and play football and do other activities on the field, which have made some great times.” Neme-O'Connell mentioned that she has “used the extended boundaries a couple of times, and they provide a little more freedom, which is really nice.” This new freedom offers a simpler, unstructured way for students to decompress and connect outside of dorms or academic buildings. For a school always looking to boost school spirit, the lights are a powerful and visible step. Seren Gibbs ’28, a member of the field hockey team, noted, “I love going up there and watching people play soccer, or playing with my friends.” As Michelle Zhang ’28 agreed. “It gives students an opportunity to have a really good experience, whether you're playing or watching, and it's just cool overall to be able to hang out with friends." Previous Next