Paxton Diana ‘26
Sep 20, 2024
This year, Mercersburg Academy’s soccer program is gearing up for an exciting fall season with the addition of a diverse group of talented recruits. These new players—from countries including the United States, Cana- da, and Brazil—bring vast skills and experiences to the field. Boys soccer head coach Skyler Clark said, “We hope to find motivated students who will thrive in a community that values versatility and a holistic approach to bettering themselves every day. We actively work with the admissions department to make sure the students are kind and caring individuals who will positively benefit Mercersburg in a variety of different ways.”
Girls soccer head coach Kristen Pixler agreed, “We work closely with the admissions office, which provides us with a list of potential athletes based on their athletic inquiry forms and interview process.”
Both coaches also attend regional showcases to scout for talent. The coaches put in hard work to contact the recruits and to introduce them to Mercersburg.
Grace Himes ’28, from the United States, said, “Pixler had reached out and talked about the team and what it would be like at tryouts and how it would go. It sounded like a re- ally good culture to be a part of.”
Pedro Abranches Pederneiras ’26, from Brazil, said, “I used to play for a boarding school agency in Brazil; [they] had kept in contact with Mercersburg. After Clark had contact- ed me and introduced me to [the] Academy, I was hands down for this program.”
The recruits’ experience so far has been positive. Christian Garcia-Rivas ’27, from Canada, said, “The facilities that we have here are incredible. At my old school, we didn’t have anything close to the facilities we have here, which is a big change. I am very happy to be here.”
One of the main features of the teams that struck the new student-athletes is the supportive and enthusiastic team spirit.
“I feel as though the team’s culture helped me settle in faster than I ever thought I would. I feel as though this is not just a team but a family,” said Harper Tilker ’27. Addalyn Arnsparger ’27 added, “The culture is good here and there is a lot of team bonding which I am not too used to; we are all one big group, and we are all best friends: we do everything together.”
Many of the recruits already have personal goals they want to accomplish by the end of the season. Felipe Romeu Pepe Santos ’27 stated: “I want to meet new friends and coaches and want to go as far as I can as a student-athlete”. Pederneiras said, “My goal is to be the best player that I can be for the team and to help my teammates because it’s not about myself; it is about my team; I don’t play alone.”
As the season unfolds, camaraderie and team spirit con- tinue to grow with every game and practice. Each new recruit brings their individual goals and positive energy, adding to the coaches’ anticipation of a successful season. Beyond achieving success on the field, the teams are ready to strengthen their bond further, creating an even more co- hesive and supportive environment for all athletes.