Fall 2023 ECS Athletics Recap & Winter 2023/24 ECS Athletics Preview
Fall 2023 Recap
High School
The Girls’ High School Volleyball team finished their 2023 season with their team banquet. The team made history as being the first-ever girls varsity athletic program at ECS. After starting the program in 2022 at
the club level, the program transitioned to interscholastic status this past fall.
The team, coached by Hannah Berg and Amanda McCallen, consisted of 12 girls, competing in the SWPAA Girls Volleyball league. The following girls participated: Meave Mannion, Nevaeh Smith, Ja’Nyah Williams, Gabrielle Villars, Lyra Sanford, Shayla Woods, Angel Wright, Treva Lewis, Cyniah Farmer, Charley Davis, Sara Strother, and Makayla Watkins-Sibley.
Shayla Wood was voted on the SWPAA Girls Volleyball All-Star Team!
The team improved greatly throughout the season, and without having any players graduating in 2024, the team is looking forward to having a great 2024/25 season.
Middle School
Cross Country
The Middle School Cross Country team competed in the East End Cross Country League and was coached by Julia Mericle, assisted by parent volunteer Melissa Baumgartner. The season ended with the championship meet in October. The team consisted of the following runners: Caleb Lindhiem, Michael Mannion, Aiden Rogers, Silas Ward, Asher Ward, Nihon Walker, Devin Kapoor, Miles Taylor Hufford, Kenya Hill, Cupcake Walker, Max Backeris, Anagnostis Bjorndahl, Lidia Baumgartner, Ava Myers.
With only one 8th grader on the team, the team is looking forward to a successful 2024 fall season!
Girls 7 & 8 Grade Flag Football Club
The Middle School also offered a Girls 7 & 8 Grade Flag Football Club. The girls were coached by Coach Traynor, Coach Brown, Coach Maddox, and assisted by Coach Rita Doyle! The girls learned how to play the game as well as the rules during the 6 practice sessions The girls finished the season with an inter-squad scrimmage! Everyone worked hard and had a lot of fun!
Intermediate School
Students at the Intermediate School participated in Dodgeball and Outdoor Soccer at the club level. Thanks to coach Fingers, Papa, and Sebastian for organizing dodgeball and to coach Evans, Berkey, and
Okuma for organizing soccer. The goal is to start a cross-country program at the Intermediate School beginning in the fall of 2024.
Winter 2023/24 Preview
High School
Basketball
The High School Boys Basketball program will begin its 2nd season under the guidance of Coach Jamin Harris and his staff. The team is competing in the SWPAA league for the 2nd consecutive year before transitioning to PIAA/WPIAL competition in 2024/25. The team hopes to build on last year’s success and compete for a league championship. In preparation for the switch to the PIAA/WPIAL, the team will play a number of non-conference games against PIAA/WPIAL schools. Please check out the upcoming schedule and come out and support the Team!
Cheerleading
The 2022/23 HS Cheerleading Club is transitioning to an official varsity program starting this winter. Coached by Tiffany McNary & Erin Knight, the Cheerleading Squad will cheer on the HS Boys Basketball team at their home games for the 2023/24 with the goal to have the Squad attend both home and away league games starting 2024/25. Come and check out the Squad this winter during the Boys’ Basketball games!
Middle School
Basketball
In addition to the High School Boys Varsity basketball team, the Middle School will have their first ever 7 & 8 Grade Boys Basketball team competing in the SWPAA MS league this winter. The team, coached by Michael Brown, will play a total of 10 games with possible additional play-off games. Check out the team’s schedule and come out and support Coach Brown and the team this winter! It was the goal to start a 7 & 8 Grade MS Cheerleading program but because of some unexpected complications, the program most likely will start at the club level in February of 2024 while transitioning into a MS athletic program for the 2024/25 season.
The 3 v 3 MS Basketball program is scheduled for the winter club season. Additional information will be available in the next month.
Intermediate
The Intermediate School will offer a 3 v 3 Basketball Program as well as a Futsal program at the club level during the 2023/24 winter session.
Lots of exciting things are happening within the Athletic program as well as the club program! Any suggestions and or ideas for additional programming? Please contact me at robert.vanrheenen@ecspgh.org!
Go Hawks!