2015-2016 Sports Round Up

By Devin Munroe '16

The school year of 2015-2016 has been one of great success for the Severn Admirals. Of the 30 varsity and junior-varsity teams that compete throughout the year, several teams have had tremendous individual and team accolades. The fall started off strong as the varsity men’s soccer team defeated Boys Latin in the championship to win their second MIAA B Conference title in a row. The JV men’s soccer team followed in the varsity’s footsteps as they won their conference as well. The Cross Country team completed their notorious half marathon with three runners, Neel Lakhanpal, Archer Willauer, and Camryn Rosen, taking on the daring task of completing an entire marathon. The varsity women’s tennis second in the very competitive A conference. Even when the Admirals thought that the fall season could not get more exciting, the football team came out on Halloween and beat St. Mary’s for the first time in 9 years. 

The winter season was able to carry on the wave of athletic success in the Severn community. The boy’s varsity basketball team finished with 19-10 record and made it to the semi-finals of their conference for the first time in four years. The varsity girl’s basketball team also had an incredible season as they received the #1 seed in the conference and made it to the championship of their division. Maddie McDaniel made school history as she broke her 1,000^th point and, by the end of the season, held the school record for most points scored and rebounds. The wrestling team also proved to be a major force in their conference as they became the B conference state champs.

Even though the spring season is still in progress, there have already been monumental successes. The varsity men’s lacrosse team started off their season strong with two in-conference wins over Gilman and Mount St. Joe’s. The win over Gilman was the first time in 25 years that the Admirals had come out on top of the Greyhounds. The boy’s team has followed their two in-conference wins with very close games against some of the top-ranked teams in the nation. With the rivalry game against St. Mary’s on May 6, the Admirals are vying for a playoff spot. The girl’s varsity team has had one of their best seasons in decades as they coined the number three title in their division, the highest ranking they have had in nine years. The Lady Admirals will play their first playoff game on Tuesday, May 10. Men’s varsity tennis continues to be a force in their conference as they stand 6-0. The varsity baseball team has also had a strong season, as they remain a dominant opponent in their conference. 

As the year comes to an end, it is incredible to look back on all the success that have been achieved on the field, in the pool, on the wrestling mat, and on the track. Severn athletes have made outstanding impacts in their respective conferences. All this success could not come about without the support and encouragement of the coaches, athletic trainers, and parents. The Admirals have brought a great name to Severn this year, and hopefully the upcoming school year will be filled with the same amount of hard work and accomplishments!

Read More »

Spotlight on Coach "Emac"

By Devin Munroe '16

Seven Questions with Coach "EMac"
In light of the spring season beginning, The Anchor staff interviewed our very own girls varsity lacrosse Coach, Erin McCarthy, as she takes on her first year as head coach. From this interview you will get a window into Ms. McCarthy as a coach, and get her thoughts on the upcoming season.

How long have you been a coach at Severn?
This year will mark my ninth season as a lacrosse coach for Severn.

How would you define your coaching style?
I would say my coaching style is intense, well organized, but fun at the same time. I work to find a balance between intensity and showing the girls how to love the sport.

What qualities do you look for in a player?
The first things I look for in a player is her work ethic, skills, lacrosse IQ, and the ability to be a team player.

The Admirals have come off of two strong seasons the past two years. What do you think will be the strengths of this year’s team?
For starters, we have sixteen returning varsity players and seven new members to the team, so we feature a good mix of experience and youth. In addition, having Coach Domenech as a member of the staff is a great asset due to his defensive expertise and exceptional college coaching experience. On the field, Maddie McDaniel returns as the leading draw controller on the team. Her strength on the draw controls and leadership on the attacking end will be a huge help to the team. We are also lucky to be returning our entire starting midfield line-up: juniors Brooke Robbins, Ally Hall, and Tess Bradshaw. Their experience and speed will help us control the midfield. On the defensive end the anchors of our team return with Rachel Sindler and Devin Munroe controlling the defense, as well as our two phenomenal goalies, Zoe Bennett and Abbey Dengler.

What skills have you learned from your college career in having a successful team?
From my time at Salisbury I learned that in order to be truly successful you have to be willing not only to work hard every day, but also have a true love for the game. You also need your coaches to be there to teach you the fundamentals and your teammates there to push you hard every day in practice. Team chemistry is also a huge component to being successful.  

What are your short-term goals?
My short-term goals are to bring the team together and infuse the returning players with the new players. I also want to be a competitive force within the IAAM-A conference. It is my goal to build upon what Coach Sot established these past twenty years.

How do you plan on improving as a coach from year to year?
I think that improvement as coach will come from putting in the time for Professional Development, and attending coach’s clinics and coach’s conventions.

(Photo by Matthew Cole / Baltimore Sun Media Group,  Courtesy of Capital Gazette)

Read More »

Maddie McDaniel Becomes Severn’s All-Time Leading Scorer

By: Devin Munroe '16 

On Tuesday, February 2nd, our very own Maddie McDaniel clenched the title as Severn basketball’s all-time leading scorer. This record had not been remotely challenged since 2005, when Sarah Meisenburg graduated as the all-time leading scorer with 1,764 points. Maddie McDaniel’s senior season has been one filled with many major accomplishments. Not only is she now the all-time leading scorer, but she also holds the record for most rebounds, tallying a little over a thousand. McDaniel leads the team in both rebounds and points with an impressive record of 21 double-double games this season. Any person who watches the Admirals games knows that McDaniel is the one everyone is out to stop, however, few teams have been able to find an answer for her. This season, Maddie averages 23 points and 15 rebounds per game.

Beyond McDaniel’s success, the Lady Admirals have had a season filled with success. They beat hometown rivals such as Severna Park and St. Mary’s and ended their season with an impressive 13-3 in-conference record. The Admirals are the number one seed of their division for the play-offs and will play Notre Dame Prep on Friday at 5:30! Go Admirals!

Read More »

Celebrating Another Championship

By: Devin Munroe '16

To celebrate the men’s varsity soccer team’s amazing season, it seemed only fitting to interview their senior team captain, Doug Hill. Here are some of his thoughts on the season.

Question:       What words come to mind when you think of your team?

Doug Hill:      Energetic, fun, composed, and hard working.

Question:       What do you think made your team so successful this season?

Hill:                Our team was so successful primarily because we showed up to practice each day ready to compete with one another and work hard. It was clear that this kind of work ethic paid off in each game. Also, everyone had each other’s backs and was always there to support one another on the field. Coach McCarthy’s coaching was great and he always knew where to position us on the field so that we could be successful. Overall, this team was just incredibly talented.

Question:       Who are your team’s unsung heroes?

Hill:                Our unsung hero this year was definitely Henry Creamer. In my opinion, he was the huge reason we had as much success as we did this year. After our first few games it was unclear who our starting defensive four would be.  We wanted to move up Everett Cortez to striker but were unsure about who would fill his place on defense. Henry came in and proved to be a key component on the team and did a tremendous job.

Question:       What is your favorite memory from this season?

Hill:                My personal favorite memory from the season would have to be the championship game versus Boys Latin. We had lost to and tied the Lakers during the regular season and I was thrilled to know that we were playing them again in the championship. Playing Boys Latin is always a bloodbath regardless of the sport; our schools just don’t get along very well on the field. However, it was a great experience to be in the championship game and even better to win it. Our team played well and possessed the ball for most of the game and got plenty of scoring opportunities. The back four defended well and we limited Boys Latin to very few scoring chances. It was a competitive game that I will never forget.

Question:       Most intense game?

Hill:                The most intense game of the year was against Severna Park early in the season. The Severna Park game is always highly competitive mostly due to the fact that both teams know each other so well. I for one knew every single player on their team and their coach used to coach me when I was younger. The rivalry between Severn and Severna Park goes back decades, which adds to the intensity of the game. This year we got the 1-0 win over them for the first time in seven years. The last forty seconds of the game were the most intense seconds that I have ever experienced in a soccer game. They hit our crossbar and then the ball was bouncing around our box. Bodies were bouncing all over the place as they kept shooting the ball and finally we were able to clear the ball out to end the game.

Read More »

Severn Runs

October 17th marked the 14th anniversary of the Baltimore Running Festival. There were over 24,000 participants, whether running the 5k, the relay, the half-marathon, or the full-- and over thirty of them were from Severn. Every year, the Severn Cross Country team trains for and participates in the half-marathon, doing long runs every Friday and building up mileage to get to 13.1.
Training for the half can be difficult. Running is a mental sport-- runners have to push through the pain of injuries like shin splints and tendinitis in order to finish. But it's all worth it. Senior Erica Mott says that running the half-marathon was, "the highlight of my athletic career. It was the most fun I've ever had. People were lined up on the side of the road the whole time, cheering us on."

Although the cross country team has run the half for nine years now, this year was slightly different. Three runners, seniors Archer Willauer and Neel Lakhanpal and junior Camryn Rosen ran the full marathon -- 26.2 miles. To prepare, they increased week by week from fifteen up to eventually twenty-two mile weekend training runs, building up stamina and running for about four hours at a time. "The early Saturday mornings spent training were all worth it. I've never felt so accomplished," says Camryn of her commitment to the extra long runs. Archer Willauer ran the marathon in under four hours-- a hugely significant accomplishment for any marathon runner, let alone for a first-timer.
Whether it's the half or the full, running at that distance is an amazing thing, and Severn congratulates all of the teachers and students who participated.

Read More »

NCAA March Madness: Your Bracket Is Busted.

By: A.J. Gersh '15

If you aren't following the craziness that is circulating around the 2015 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, you are definitely missing out.

The Round of 64 is always home to the wildest upset match-ups and this season's games did not disappoint. Georgia State, a 14 seed led by Kevin Ware (formerly of the Louisville Cardinals...he gruesomely broke his leg in the 2013 Championship Game) and R.J. Hunter (the son of the head coach, Ron), defeated the Baylor Bears, a 3 seed in the West.

In the South, both games played in Louisville were huge upsets. UCLA, a bubble team that all analysts believe did not deserve a tournament berth, defeated a highly regarded SMU team by a final of 60-59. UAB, a 14 seed, took down Iowa State (another 3 seed). ISU was a common pick to make a run to the Final Four in many brackets, so this loss generated plenty of angry fans.

UCLA and UAB met in the Round of 32. The Bruins blew out UAB by a score of 92-75. Only 7.1% of on-line "bracketeers" had either team in the Sweet 16.

After the Round of 64, only one bracket remained perfect on ESPN's Bracket Challenge. That bracket, too, was busted the next day with an Ohio State loss to Arizona.

As we head into the Sweet 16, There are no perfect brackets remaining IN THE WORLD. Only fourteen brackets have correctly predicted all 16 remaining squads, while another 482 have 15 out of 16 teams right.

The questions that are on everyone's minds still loom: Will John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats follow the likes of UCLA and Indiana in the 1970's and go undefeated, or will a surprise cinderella team (Witchita State or NC State) shock the world?

The last rounds leading into Indianapolis for the Final Four will certainly be enticing.

Read More »

Orioles Preseason

AP Photo, 2013

By: A.J. Gersh '15

Orioles fans, get ready...Baseball season is just around the corner! The Birds open their 2015 campaign on Monday, April 6th in Tampa Bay. Buck Showalter's team is looking to repeat their American League East title after winning the division by a whopping twelve games and finishing with a 96-66 record in 2014.

However, this task is more simply said than done. The Orioles have lost some crucial players this offseason. Most notably, Andrew Miller, perhaps the team's most reliable bullpen arm last season, signed a 4-year, $36 million contract with the rival New York Yankees and Nelson Cruz, the AL home run leader of 2014, signed a 4-year $57 million dollar deal with Seattle.

There are also a few big questions heading into the season. Will Matt Wieters be able to stay healthy and produce at a level similar to his first month of last season (>.300 BA)? Can Manny Machado recover from two knee surgeries in two consecutive seasons? Will Steve Pearce be able to replicate his power numbers in 2015 (21 HR)? Is Chris Davis really capable of hitting anywhere near the 53 home runs he slammed in 2013? Is the Orioles pitching rotation actually reliable enough to win the division again, or was last year's squad simply hot at the right time?

All of these questions will begin to be answered on April 6th. So, if you want to see a playoff team compete in the toughest division in baseball, tune into MASN on Opening Day!

Read More »

Severn Varsity Girl’s High Preseason Hopes and Interview with Coach Sot

By: Devin Munroe '16

On February 20^th the Severn Varsity girl’s lacrosse team received some exciting news. According to the USA Today Super 25 Preseason Girls Lacrosse rankings Severn held the rank of number 4. This preseason ranking has been the highest in history and gives hope for a promising season after only losing to the number one ranked team McDonogh by one in the semi-final playoff game last year. The article stated the expected success is due to the return of several key players from last year. Seniors Caroline Steele and Hayley Norris are projected to lead the team this year on both ends of the game. After reading this article I decided to go to Coach Sotiropoulos to get her opinion on the article and her thoughts of the upcoming season.

DM: Do you see a difference in the level of play compared to past preseasons?

SOT: In the sense of basic stick skills I feel we are generally ahead of where we generally have been in the past. I have been impressed with the team’s fitness level so far.

DM: What components do you find most important for a team to be successful?

SOT: I think the most important is unselfishness. Great teams consist of players who love playing as a team and understand that no matter what they contribute as individuals the team is what matters most.

DM: Do you feel this team is capable of living up to their high expectations?

SOT: I feel we are capable of living up to these expectations. Although we should not care of what others expect but focus on exceeding the goals that we set for ourselves. 

DM: What made your team so successful last year?

SOT: Our success last year rooted from unselfish play. Every person out there did their job at practice and on game days. Also, the upperclassmen just loved to play, which made a huge difference.

DML What strengths do you think this years team strengths will have?

SOT: This year our strengths will be our speed in the midfield, quickness on attack, and a strong one-v one defense.

***

Make sure to follow the Severn Varsity girls lacrosse team this season!

Read More »

Patriots Prevail, Exploit Baltimore's Rocky Secondary

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

By: A.J. Gersh '15

It was a game of back-and-forth offensive surges, all culminating in a thrilling battle of "who will make the least mistakes."

The hometown Baltimore Ravens jumped out to an early fourteen point first quarter lead off of Kamar Aiken's first career postseason touchdown reception and an incredible grab by veteran wideout Steve Smith, who separated from All-Pro Patriots DB Derrelle Revis in the end zone.

However, the scoring didn't stop there. Tom Brady and the pass-happy New England Patriots answered with fourteen points of their own, as the three-time champion quarterback scrambled into the end zone to end the first quarter and later found slot receiver Danny Amendola to even the score.

Baltimore came soaring right back, scoring yet another fourteen points-- two more passes from Joe Flacco to TE Owen Daniels and RB Justin Forsett.

Fourteen point surges sure seem to be the story of this game, as the Patriots, yet again, answered the Ravens offensive outburst and marched over Baltimore's secondary (which features an injured ex-superstar in Ladarius Webb, a cut Tampa Bay Buc in Rashaan Melvin, and a safety who seemingly couln't make a tackle in Matt Elam) for two more touchdown passes: the first to Rob Gronkowski, a monstrous target at tight end, and the second on a trick screen to Julian Edelman (an ex-college quarterback at Kent State University), who caught the ball in the backfield and flung a 51 yard bullet to Danny Amendola.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker chipped in a 25 yard field goal to put the Ravens ahead 31-28 early in the fourth quarter, and coach John Harbaugh hoped for a defensive stop on the ensuing drive.

The Ravens defensive line, led by Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, known as one of the stingiest in the league, held their own, but yet again, Tom Brady was able to exploit the Ravens secondary (who were missing Jimmy Smith, their star in the defensive backfield) and connected with Brandon LaFell for a 23 yard touchdown.

Baltimore's next possession sealed their fate, as Joe Flacco was intercepted by Patriots safety Duron Harmon in the end zone with under two minutes remaining on the clock. Following a defensive stop by Baltimore and a punt from New England, Flacco hurled up a last-second desperation throw, which was knocked down by safety Devin McCourty, ending the Baltimore Ravens hopes of a miracle Super Bowl run.

The Patriots will face the Indianapolis Colts (24-13 winners against the Denver Broncos) next week in the AFC Championship.

Read More »

Girl's Varsity Tennis Recap

From Left: Claire Harding '15 and Addie Hinton '16 at the Fall Athletic Awards Assembly

By: Addie Hinton '16

From the 20th to the 24th of October, girls varsity tennis had their end of the year tournament. With only one graduated senior, the team was expected to advance in the A Conference rankings. Finishing top three last year, Coach Cathy Officer was determined to take home the trophy. But with the standout schools of Bryn Mawr and McDonogh, along with Mt. De Sales moving up from the B Conference, there was plenty of competition. 

Under the leadership and motivational pep talks of Julianne Podoley and Claire Harding, the girls were able to pull out a winning season record, only losing twice to the powerhouses of Bryn Mawr and McDonogh. Each player would also end up being seeded top four in their bracket and everyone had the chance to win. 

Number one seed, Addie Hinton, would make it all the way to the semifinals, where she would meet the undefeated Bryn Mawr player, who would eventually go on to take the match and the tournament, only dropping a handful of games throughout the whole season. 

Number two singles, Priya Lakenhpal, would advance all the way to the finals, taking out Bryn Mawr's number two in a intense match along the way. In the finals, she would enter a battle against the player from McDonogh. Despite playing some of her best tennis, the opponent would win the match in straight sets. 

Ana Mann and Hannah Butler, our number one doubles team, had a tremendous win-lose record, earning the third seed in the tournament. Bryn Mawr would eventually take out the Sophomore duo in the quarterfinals. 

Julianne Podoley and Claire Harding were also seeded third in their two doubles bracket. After a three set match against Spalding, the Seniors were given no time to enjoy the win, for another marathon match against Bryn Mawr was awaiting them. Bryn Mawr would take them out in the semifinals, but Julianne and Claire finished their senior season with a fantastic record. 

Last, our third doubles of Christen Morrell and Audrey Cortes would finish the regular season undefeated, storming through every opponent they faced. In the finals, McDonogh would get the best of them and Christen and Audrey would finish second in the league.

Overall, the team had a great season, only losing twice in the regular season and every player being seeded top four in the end of the year tournament. 

McDonogh would lock in their victory with having a team in every one of the finals and Bryn Mawr would later claim second place. After two and a half hours, McDonogh defeated Mt. de Sales in three sets, securing third place for Severn School.

The team had a great record, only losing twice in the regular season. With only two graduating seniors, we hope to keep improving and to move up in the conference rankings. Under coach Officer and JV coach, Coach Clint, girl's Severn Tennis will strive to maintain their good standing in the A Conference rankings.

Read More »

Orioles fans should be proud of unlikely success.

AP Photo

By A.J. Gersh '15

Well, it's the end of the baseball season for us Baltimorons.

Sadly, as the Royals completed a miracle ALCS sweep, the Orioles will be watching the Fall Classic from their couches.

Yes, the team could have and should have performed better offensively in the ALCS, but I am not complaining. Our starting pitching staff held up their end of the deal, keeping the Birds in some games that definitely did not deserve to be competitive. The relief pitching (for the most part) did a fair job getting batters out in key situations. Sadly for the Orioles, the American League's most powerful offense seemed to cool down at the wrong time.

However, this postseason loss does not give fans a reason to shrug and frown. The Orioles were going up against the hottest team in baseball (Kansas City) who seemed to match up perfectly with all of their flaws (an advanced base-running team with pitchers that rarely gave up the long ball). In that situation, there is simply nothing that could have been done. I, certainly, am not mad.

This team faced adversity throughout the entire season, starting and ending the year without Platinum-Glove winning third baseman Manny Machado, while losing All-Stars Matt Wieters and Chris Davis along the way, as well. With the loss of three of their most valuable players, did this team choke and fall to last place (much like half of the baseball "experts" predicted pre-season)?

No.

The "next-man-up" mentality of this team helped Buck Showalter's squad thrive during the midseason and pennant race, eventually leading to the team's first AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP since 1997. 

Guys like Steve Peace, Ryan Flaherty and Caleb Joseph stepped into unlikely starting positions and exceeded expectations, defensively and offensively.

After signing a $50 million dollar deal in the offseason, Ubaldo Jimenez was almost immediately considered a bust. However, Bud Norris, Miguel Gonzalez, and Kevin Gausman "turned on the heat" during the late-season stretch and pitched the Orioles to the best record in the AL in the second half.

It did not matter who was in the starting lineup or which players were performing well. Manager Buck Showalter, throughout the entirety of the season, continually stressed that, "[He likes] our guys."

Even though the incredible season did not culminate in a World Series victory, this team managed to carry a starting lineup of journey-men, rookies, and so-called "washed-up" players to an AL East title and to the AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES.

That, my friends, is quite the accomplishment and is DEFINITELY something to be proud of.

Tip your caps, Orioles fans, to an incredible season... and hopefully another in 2015.

Read More »

Captain's Corner: Quarterback Mike Bucci '15

Severn QB Mike Bucci at Homecoming game vs. Boys Latin

By: Devin Munroe '16

In the first edition of Captain's Corner I had the pleasure of interviewing football captain and quarterback Mike Bucci '15. During the interview I learned the inside scoop of the football team.

Q: What is your team's record (as of 9/24)?

A: 2-2.

Q: Are you a more offensive or defensive minded team?

A: We're more defensive.

Q: Does the team have any pre-game traditions?

A: We huddle up and Coach K says a prayer.

Q: Who is your team's unsung hero?

A: Mark Claycomb (Senior lineman, Class of '15)

Q: If you could describe your team in one word what would it be?

A: Fun.

Q: What is your team’s biggest strength?

A: Our defense and athleticism.

Q: What sets your team apart from the other teams you play?

A: We may not have the best football players, but we definitely have some of the best athletes around.

Q: What is your favorite thing about your team?

A: Everyone gets along really well and supports one another.

Q: How do your coaches influence you and your team?

A: Coach K is so energetic and positive he never fails to boost our moral.

Read More »