Last month, I updated you on the exciting seasons that were in progress for Wildwood Sports, and in this month’s issue, I will talk about how it finished. So let’s get started!
Cross-Country Team takes 2nd Overall!
How it finished: On November 3rd, league finals took place and Wildwood put on a great performance. The boys’ team took 2nd place overall, beating rival Geffen Academy who Coach George Duryea said was their biggest threat! In league finals, Rhône Demers went on to break the Middle School Record and was the first WW middle schooler to break the 12-minute mark in school history! “I was very happy about how much I broke the record by,” says Rhône. Coach George Duryea also said that Rhône was one of the leaders on the team. “He set a great example and he made everybody do their best,” said Leo Delpy-Streitenfeld. Leo also improved over the course of the season, setting his personal record in league finals and securing a top 20 finish! Of the 6th Graders, Matt D’Oivido and Asher Avishay came in with a 1st and 2nd finish in the finals! Overall, a great season for the boys!
On the girls’ side, Imogen Hayes finished out a fabulous season by placing first, yet again, out of all middle schoolers! Running a 13:04.0 time, she finished 1st in all of her Pacific Basin League races and is the 2nd fastest 6th grader in all of California! Only being a 6th grader, she has a bright future ahead! Savannah Hecker also finished 3rd amongst all the 6th Graders in the race. Savannah consistently finished top 3 in the 6th graders’ standings and Top 15 in all of Middle School! It was an outstanding season for both of them.
Team Spirit: In my interview with Coach George, one thing I consistently heard him speak about was team spirit. The Cross-Country team really bonded, and they were never down on each other. Not only that, but they were determined to get better. This perseverance is evident in a workout that Coach George leads every other Thursday called The Hill Workout. He says it is the hardest workout and is very grueling. But, by the end of the season, kids were asking for the hill workout because of the better runners they became afterward.
6th and 8th Grade Girls’ Volleyball Team Finish on Great Seasons!
How it finished: In the 8th graders’ last season as Middle School volleyball players, their quarterfinal playoff match came down to the last set... and it would be the last set they played as middle schoolers, capping off an otherwise great season. They will go into high school having now played with each other for three years and look to continue their success.
As you may remember from last month’s issue, the 6th graders, in their first year together, made it to the playoffs! Playing in their first playoff game with each other, they faced a tough Calvary Christian team. They battled their way through the entire game but ultimately couldn’t pull out with a victory. It was such a strong season and Coach Jenn Martin sees so much potential in them. We are all hoping they will make it further in future years!
7th Grade Girls’ Volleyball are CHAMPIONS!
Rewind: The girls’ team is midway through an already sensational season, having only lost two games so far and remaining undefeated in league play. Coach Sarah Schemerhorn says, “I think they can do it. I think they can definitely win the league.”
Fast forward to November 5, 2021. Wildwood Volleyball is playing in the championship at Windward after powering through the first few rounds of playoffs. Down 1 set to nothing, Wildwood quickly rallies back to tie it up at 1 apiece. Now they head to a winner-take-all third set. After a neck and neck third set, Wildwood needed just one point to win the match. Charlotte Wenneker was serving. “I was just thinking about me and where I wanted to serve it,” she said. Charlotte smacks the ball in her hand once, twice, throws it up, and serves the game-winning ace! “When the ref pointed to our side I started crying,” she commented after the game.
It was an exceptional season for the girls who went undefeated in league play and played with over 20 girls on their roster! “We really built our team camaraderie and created a ‘family’ like program,” said Coach Sarah. “Everyone had each other’s backs,” added Charlotte who Coach Sarah described as a leader on the team. With great energy, they look to keep growing and improving for next season!
Wildwood Swim Finishes in a Great Season!
How it finished: Both boys and girls Wildwood swim finished fourth overall in league finals, which coach Rada Owen said was “not bad” due to the fact that most other schools had swimmers that swam year-round competitively. Coach Rada also called the team “Very novice,” so introducing them to swim culture was a highlight for her. Koko Bruce broke a 7-year school record in the 100 freestyle, and Coach Rada described her as “inspiring.” The swim team worked “as a cohesive unit,” and really enjoyed their swim season.
Previewing Winter Sports…
What’s next? Next issue, look forward to a peek inside the five winter sports teams! In basketball, there is an 8th-grade boys team (coached by Tony Bowers), a 6/7 grade boys team (coached by David Dunbar), and a girls basketball team (coached by Sarah Schemerhorn). Middle school boys soccer looks to extend their 7+ year playoff streak (coached by Herach Danlyan), and girls soccer is being coached by August Wagener and Manfredo Grellert! All that and more in the next Wildwood Winter Sports Update!
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