Welcome to Gunston Athletics!
We hope that you find the information on this site helpful as a student-athlete, parent, and especially as a member of our community! By clicking on each sport you will be taken to that sport's Team Page - check throughout the season for rosters, scores, stats, and other info. Go Herons!!!

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Meet Our Team

Erin De Falco	Sara Martin
Director of Athletics	Assistant to Athletics
Email: edefalco@gunston.org	Email: smartin@gunston.org
410-758-0620 Ext. 4100	410-758-0620 Ext. 1101
Aaliyah Hummel LAT, ATC	Eli Bisco-Werner
Athletics Trainer	Waterfront Athletics Coordinator
Email: ahummel@gunston.org	Email: ebiscowerner@gunston.org
410-758-0620 Ext. 2102	410-758-0620 Ext. 5200

 

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Eleanor Owings ’29

Varsity Field Hockey

8/25 Scrimmage at Sussex Central HS
W: 3-1
The girls field hockey team got off to a strong start with a successful scrimmage to open the season. While it took some time to work out the kinks and settle into a rhythm, the Herons found their groove and came away with a 3-1 victory. Leading the way offensively was Gabi Shepherd ’27, who scored two goals, while Mary Gordon ’29 added one goal of her own. 

Kate Zottareli ’27 contributed with two assists to help fuel the team's offensive effort. The team also recognized Eleanor Owings ’29 (pictured) as the MVP of the game, earning Harold for her outstanding performance after seamlessly stepping into the Top Center Mid position. Congratulations to the entire team on a great effort and a fantastic start to the season! We’re excited to see what’s ahead for this group.

Varsity Girls Soccer

8/26 Scrimmage at AACS
WIN 3-1

The girls' soccer team got off to a strong start to the season with an impressive 3-1 victory. The Herons controlled much of the match and created numerous scoring opportunities, though they couldn't convert all their chances. 

Alicia Shanks ’28, Ellie Roberts ’28, and Siroon Topjian ’27 each found the back of the net to lead the team's offensive effort. The coaching staff recognized Reagan Johnson ’27 and Lily Thomas ’28 as Co-MVPs for their outstanding defensive performances. Their excellent cover, transitions, and composure helped lay a strong foundation for the team's success. 

Congratulations to the entire team on a fantastic performance and a well-deserved win! It's a great way to open the season, and we're excited to see what this group can accomplish in the weeks ahead. 
 

Monday, August 31: 

• Crew: Waterfront

• Sailing: Waterfront

• Varsity Field Hockey: vs. Roland Park, 4:00 PM — Sally Field (Clock MGR: Tori, Ava, Mattie)

• Varsity Girls Soccer: Temple

• Varsity Boys Soccer: Sollers

• JV Boys Soccer: Sollers

• Boys Cross Country: Practice

• Girls Cross Country: Practice

• Varsity Girls Volleyball: Field House

• JV Girls Volleyball: YMCA

 

Tuesday, September 1:

• Crew: Waterfront - Make sure Dock is Clean and Clear for Embarkation

• Sailing: Waterfront - Make sure Dock is Clean and Clear for Embarkation

• Varsity Field Hockey: Sally Field

• Varsity Girls Soccer: vs. Key, 4:00 PM — Temple (Clock MGR: Mr. Dachille)

• Varsity Boys Soccer: Sollers

• JV Boys Soccer: Sollers

• Boys Cross Country: Practice

• Girls Cross Country: Practice

• Varsity Girls Volleyball: @ Key, 5:15 PM (Depart 2:15 w/ JV)

• JV Girls Volleyball: @ Key, 4:15 PM (Depart 2:15 w/ V)

 

Wednesday, September 2: First Day of School

• Crew: Waterfront

• Sailing: Waterfront

• Varsity Field Hockey: Sally Field

• Varsity Girls Soccer: Sollers

• Varsity Boys Soccer: Temple

• JV Boys Soccer: Sollers

• Boys Cross Country: Practice

• Girls Cross Country: Practice

• Varsity Girls Volleyball: Field House

• JV Girls Volleyball: YMCA

 

Thursday, September 3

• Crew: Waterfront

• Sailing: Waterfront

• Varsity Field Hockey: @ Severn, 4:15 PM (Depart 2:00 w/ JV VB)

• Varsity Girls Soccer: Sollers with JV

• Varsity Boys Soccer: Temple

• JV Boys Soccer: Sollers - Uniform Distribution Day

• Boys Cross Country: Practice

• Girls Cross Country: Practice

• Varsity Girls Volleyball: @ Severn, 5:15 PM (Depart 3:15)

• JV Girls Volleyball: @ Severn, 4:00 PM (Depart 2:00 w/ FH)

 

Friday, September 4: NO SCHOOL

Varsity Boys and Girls Swimming 
11/18 at Henson YMCA vs. Salisbury Christian School
Girls Lost 69-90
Boys Won 88-61 
Notable Performances for the Girls Team:

• Ali Workman’29 -  2nd in 200 IM and 2nd in 100 Breast
• Bridget Walden ’28 -  2nd in 100 Fly and 1st in 100 Back
• Emma Morris ’26 -  2nd in 100 Free
• Isabel Gerstmyer ’28, Emma, Bridget, Ali  - 1st in 400 free relay!!

Notable Performances for the Boys Team:

• Landon Kelley ’27 1st in 50 free
• Jack Owens ’27 1st in 100 free
• Landon, Jack, Brody Schultz ’29, Preston Allen ’27 - 1st in 200 free relay!!
• Brody, Landon, Jack Houseknecht ’27, Blake Algier ’26 - 1st in 400 free relay!

Varsity Girls Basketball 
11/18 vs. Key School
WON: 40-28
Coach Brian Aikin
The Lady Herons powered past Key School of Annapolis with a strong two-way performance, earning a 40–28 victory. Senior Layla Kent set the tone early, leading the way with 10 first-half points and giving the Herons momentum heading into the break. Eleanor Owings ’29 added 4 points but made her biggest impact on the defensive end, spearheading a relentless effort with 6 steals that continually disrupted Key School’s rhythm. The scoring was balanced behind Kent, with Kate Zottarelli ’27 and Emma Walker ’27 each contributing 8 points, helping the Herons maintain control throughout the second half.
 

We’re proud to share that several of our players have earned 2025 FHCAMD postseason honors!

All Mid Shore First Team: Layla Kent ’26 & Elena Szwaja ’27
All Mid Shore Second Team: Gabi Shepherd ’27& Izzy Labrador ’27
All Eastern Shore Team: Layla Kent ’26

The All Mid Shore Teams include athletes from Queen Anne’s County, Kent Island, Easton, St. Michaels, North Caroline, Kent County, Sts. Peter & Paul, and Gunston. The All Eastern Shore Team expands even further to include Stephen Decatur, Pocomoke, Crisfield, James Bennett, and Parkside in addition to all Mid Shore schools.


Additionally, Layla and Genevieve represented Gunston Field Hockey at this year's Senior All-Star Game! Both athletes were selected to compete in the North vs. South Eastern Shore All-Star Senior Game and Layla was selected for the FHCAMD Susan Pusey Senior Game.

The Gunston School Herons Girls Soccer team has capped its most successful season in program history by defeating Saints Peter and Paul 3-1 to win the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) championship!

This title marks the first ESIAC girls soccer championship for the program, fulfilling a prediction made by fifth-year Head Coach Tony D’Antonio, who compared this 10-2 squad to a past championship team he coached a decade ago.

Game Highlights

• Gunston secured the 3-1 victory last Friday, propelled by a strong first half.
• Ellie Roberts (co-ESIAC Player of the Year) converted an early penalty kick to put the Herons up 1-0.
• Abby Philippon scored the next two goals, the first coming off a through ball from Roberts, and the second sealing the victory late in the second half.
• The team finished the season with a record of 10-2.

Coach D’Antonio praised the team's hard work and unity, noting they finally "realized they deserved to be here" after playing their loosest and most positive soccer in years. This victory follows previous championship appearances in 2023 and 2024, highlighting the successful build of a deep and talented squad.

Click here to read the full story and see all the details in The Star Democrat

 

The Gunston School Girls Volleyball team has achieved a historic milestone, sweeping Saints Peter and Paul (25-11, 25-19, 25-20) to secure the program's first-ever Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) championship!

Capping a dominant season with a final record of 16-1, the Herons showcased poise and control throughout the match, executing the game plan set by Head Coach David Henry. After reaching the final the past two years, the team’s hard work and dedication finally paid off with a title.

Key Highlights

• Final Score: Gunston swept the match 3-0.
• Controlling the Pace: Coach Henry credited the victory to the team's ability to "control their passes, their sets, their hits, their footwork."
• Top Performers: Liv Labrador—who was named ESIAC Co-Player of the Year after the match—was instrumental in the first-game rally and clinched the final point for the championship.
• All-Conference Honors: Labrador, along with teammates Alie Merkle, Scotia Hopper, and Emma Nkanza, were named to the All-Conference First Team. Addison Colwell earned Honorable Mention.

Click here to read the full story and see all the details in The Star Democrat

YOUR HERONS ARE CHAMPIONS! What an incredible fall season for Gunston Athletics:
Girls Soccer – ESIAC CHAMPIONS
Varsity Volleyball – ESIAC CHAMPIONS
Girls Cross Country – ESIAC CHAMPIONS (Back-to-Back!)
Field Hockey – RUNNER-UP, after a hard-fought championship battle!
Proud of every Heron (and Coaches!) who competed with heart, grit, and pride this season!

 

Varsity Girls Soccer

10/17 at Indian Creek
LOSS 0-1
The Girls Varsity Soccer Team traveled to Indian Creek to take on the Eagles during their Homecoming and “Creek-Fest,” battling to a hard-fought 1–0 loss. The match was evenly played, with both teams creating quality scoring chances in the first half, which ended level at 0–0. The second half continued in similar fashion until the 24th minute, when the Eagles capitalized on a pass into the box and toe-poked it into the net for what proved to be the winning goal. The Herons outshot their opponents 6–4 and held a slight edge in corners, 7-6. In today’s game, Brynn Roberts ’27 earned the Henry Heron Award for her gritty, determined play, while Heidi Finn ’28 was named Player of the Match for her outstanding defensive performance.

10/22 vs. Worcester Prep
ESIAC Semifinal: Gunston Herons vs. Worcester Prep Mallards

The Herons returned to Soccer Island to face the Worcester Prep Mallards for the third time this season — and wasted no time setting the tone. Just eight minutes in, Ellie Roberts ’28 buried a shot to give the Herons an early lead. Less than ten minutes later, Abby Philippon ’27 launched a laser from distance to make it 2–0. The Herons carried that momentum into the second half, continuing to apply relentless pressure in Worcester’s defensive third but struggled to convert. With under 20 minutes remaining, the Mallards capitalized on a rare counterattack, sending a cross to the far post where an unmarked player cut the lead to 2–1.

Gunston quickly regrouped, dominating possession down the stretch. With 7:45 left, Ellie struck again from 20 yards out to restore the two-goal cushion, and with just 22 seconds remaining, Teagan Derby ’28 sealed the win with the team’s fourth goal. It was a complete team effort, with standout performances across the field. Ellie earned the Tony’s Chocolonely Bar for her two goals, Reagan Johnson ’28 received the Henry Heron Award for her outstanding defensive play, and Captain Olivia Blusk ’27 was named Player of the Match for her all-around leadership and impact.

With this 4–1 victory, the Herons advance to the ESIAC Championship for the third consecutive year! They’ll face Sts. Peter & Paul on Friday at 6:30 PM in Easton — a rematch of last year’s final and the decisive “rubber match” between the two co–regular season champions. Today’s win marks the Herons’ seventh straight ESIAC victory, improving their league record to 9–1. Good luck Friday, Herons — let’s make history!

Varsity Boys Soccer

10/17 at Cristo Rey
WIN 5-0
Senior Van Topjian #9 scored 3 goals. Senior Ethan Harper #7 Scored 1 goal and had three assists.  Lucas DeGour ’29 #31 scored 1 goal. Juan Andrés Martin Lopez ’28 #2 had an assist.

Photo by Zac Gray '29

JV Boys Soccer

10/17 vs. Palloti
WIN 2-1

The Boys JV team earned a big 2–1 victory over MIAA competitor Pallotti on Friday. Declan Krupka ’29 ignited the offense with a composed penalty kick just before halftime to give the Herons a 1–0 lead. In the second half, Gabe Hanson ’27 extended the advantage to 2–0 with a well-placed finish. Pallotti managed to cut the lead to one, but the Herons’ defense—anchored by senior Amir Williams—held strong to secure the win.

Varsity Volleyball

The Gunston Volleyball (#1 seed) defeated Worcester Prep School (#4 seed) in the ESIAC Semi-finals on Wednesday, Oct 22, in straight sets, 25-5, 25-6, 25-16. The Heron improved to 15-1 overall, and will now face the #3 seed, Saints Peter & Paul HS, for the ESIAC Championship. The Championship match will be played at Gunston on Friday, October 24 @ 4:30 - go Herons!
 

Crew

10/21 vs. Episcopal

Gunston hosted Episcopal High School for a dual on Tuesday afternoon. Episcopal brought two fours and two eights from their boys’ team, while the Herons fielded a strong lineup with two men’s 4+ boats and two men’s 8+ boats competing. The women’s 4+ took advantage of the opportunity to get valuable practice time during the 8s race. It was a great day of racing and an excellent chance for the Herons to sharpen their speed and build momentum heading into the upcoming Head of the Schuylkill Regatta.

Field Hockey

10/22 vs. SSPP
ESIAC Championship
Loss 3-0

Layla Kent ’26: ESIAC Player of the Year

There is no one who makes a bigger impact stepping on the field than senior Captain Layla Kent. Gunston has a 10-3 record on the season (4-2 in the conference). Layla leads the team in scoring this year with 12 goals, and 1 assist within the ESIAC conference. Out of conference, Layla has an additional 12 goals and 6 assists, for a total of 24 goals and 7 assists on the season. This year, Layla achieved her milestone 50th career goal in a 5-1 win over Friends School of Baltimore and has since brought that total to 62 goals for her high school career. This season, Gunston has outscored their opponents 66-15, with Layla scoring 36% of the team's goals.  

Head Coach Yvonne Gazelle said, “More than the numbers, Layla changes the flow of the game as soon as she steps onto the field. No one on the team is more dedicated to the sport and loves the game more than Layla. She leads on the field and in the huddle. Layla is the first player to help less experienced players and is the first player on the field and last player off each practice. Layla's passion and dedication are unmatched, and she's a joy to coach. Layla consistently communicates on the field with her teammates and makes big plays happen during the game.” Layla is committed to play at Salisbury University next year.  

Field Hockey ESIAC All-Conference:

• Layla Kent ’26
• Gabi Shepherd ’27
• Izzy Labrador ’28
• Elena Szwaja ’27
• Genevieve Baughman ’26 - Honorable Mention

Ever wondered what a libero in volleyball does? Junior Scotia Hopper explains and demonstrates the position with Delmarva Sports Network's Tyler Aitken. Great job Scotia!



Watch the full video here! https://www.facebook.com/reel/1470592993997507

Varsity Boys Soccer

10/10 vs. Friends School
Loss 1-5
Gunston goal scored by Senior Ethan Harper #7.

10/14 vs. Jemicy
WIN 3-2
Senior Van Topjian #9 scored 2 goals and sophomore Juan Andrés Martin López #2 scored 1 goal.

Volleyball

10/10 at Mt. Carmel
WIN 3-0 
The Gunston Volleyball team improved to 13-1 (5-0 ESIAC conference) with a 3-set victory Friday night, over Mt. Carmel HS, 24-19, 25-13, 25-20. Gunston has secured the #1 seed in the ESIAC playoffs and will host Worcester Prep School on Oct. 22, 4:00, for a semi-final match. 

10/15 vs SSPP
WIN 3-0
Senior Night
The Gunston School's volleyball team completed their regular season 14-1 (6-0 in ESIAC conference), with a 3-set victory over conference foe Saints Peter and Paul HS, 25-14, 25-11, 25-22. The team celebrated its senior players, Kate Andrews, Emma Nkanza, and Sydney Wilson, along with 2 of their managers, Susannah Clark and Emily Steele. 

Field Hockey

10/15 vs SSPP
LOSS 0-1
In a preview of next week's ESIAC Conference Championship, the Gunston Herons hosted the SSPP Sabres on Wednesday evening. The Herons are peaking at the right time in the season. In a physical matchup marked by aerials, dodges, quick passing and hard shots, the Herons held the Sabres to just one goal in the game. Lorelei DeGour '28 recorded six saves in the net for the Herons, and was awarded Harold the Heron for her defensive leadership and aggressive play. The Herons are looking forward to a rematch next Wednesday, and invite all of our fans to travel with us to the ESIAC championship!

Girls Cross Country

10/15 at Worcester Prep
WIN - 1st Place
Herons finish in first place with 3 top 10 finishers! Phoebe Fritz ’28 placed 3rd overall, Peri Overton ’27 placed 6th overall, and Elea Oehme Torrent ’28 placed 7th overall.

Sailing - T1

10/11 - MDISA Championships
Our T1 sailors competed this weekend at the MDISA Championships, hosted by Tred Avon Yacht Club. This regatta determined which teams would qualify for the upcoming MASSA Championships — and our Herons did it! Congratulations to Kate Doffermyer ’28, Andrew Shingledecker ’27, Ella Von Voss ’28, Preston Allen ’27, and Annabelle Baker ’26 (sub) on qualifying for the MASSA Silver Championship Regatta!

Varsity Girls Soccer 

10/2 vs Worcester Prep 
WIN 2-1
Senior Game & Cancer Awareness Match

The Girls Varsity Soccer Herons welcomed the Worcester Prep Mallards to Soccer Island on Thursday, October 2, for a special Senior Game and Cancer Awareness Match. The Mallards struck first, netting a goal midway through the opening half and holding that 1–0 advantage into halftime. But the Herons came out energized in the second half, and just minutes in, junior Brynn Roberts found the back of the net to even the score at 1–1. With under 15 minutes remaining, the Herons’ relentless pressure in the offensive third paid off. Sophomore Addi Temple capitalized on an opening in the Mallards’ defense to score the go-ahead goal, securing a thrilling 2–1 victory—the team’s fifth consecutive win and improving their overall record to 7–1.

Postgame honors:

• Tony’s Chocolonely Bar: Addi Temple (game-winning goal)
• Henry Heron Warrior: Ellie Roberts
• Player of the Match: Reagan Johnson

10/7 vs The Salisbury School
WIN 2-0

On Tuesday, October 7, the Herons were at home again on Temple Field for a pivotal ESIAC matchup against The Salisbury School Dragons—where a victory would guarantee at least a share of the ESIAC Regular Season Championship. The Herons wasted no time setting the tone. Just 2 minutes and 42 seconds into play, junior Brynn Roberts scored the opening goal off a perfectly placed assist from Captain Olivia Blusk ’27. The team’s strong defensive effort preserved the early lead, and the Herons went into halftime up 1–0. Early in the second half, Gunston’s offense kept the pressure on—rattling the post and crossbar with back-to-back shots from Brynn Roberts and Halle Harper ’29. Moments later, Brynn delivered again—this time with a cross from the right flank to her sister Ellie Roberts ’28, who headed it home for a beautiful insurance goal and a 2–0 final. The win marked the Herons’ fifth shutout (“clean sheet”) of the season. The Herons now turn their focus to a non-conference matchup at Mt. Carmel in Essex, Maryland, as they look to extend their unbeaten streak to seven. Go Herons!

Postgame honors:

• Henry Heron Warrior: Zoey Loveless ’27
• Tony’s Chocolonely Bar: Ellie Roberts ’28 (for her header finish)
• Player of the Match: Brynn Roberts ’27 (goal, assist, and stellar play)

Varsity Volleyball

10/2 vs Worcester Prep

The Gunston Volleyball team improved its record to 12-0 (5-0 in ESIAC conference) with a 3-set victory over conference foe Worcester Prep School Thursday night, 25-8, 25-8, 25-11. The match was played in Centreville.

10/6 @ Rockbridge Academy

The Gunston Volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season, falling in 5 sets to Rockbridge Academy, 23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 18-25, 12-15. The Herons record now sits at 12-1 (5-0 in ESIAC conference).

Field Hockey

10/6 vs. Tome
Senior Night - WIN 7-0

Herons field hockey celebrated Senior Night in style, notching 7 goals in an ESIAC matchup against Tome School. Herons opened the scoring in the second quarter on a goal from Gabi Shepherd ’27, off an assist from Isabel Gerstmyer ’28. Senior Layla Kent scored three goals and had one assist. Lila McDermott ’28, Lia Schut ’26 and Lily May ’26 each scored for Gunston. Genevieve Baughman ’26 had two assists.

10/8 vs. St. Mary’s Ryken
WIN 3-0

Herons field hockey recorded their sixth shut-out of the season in a 3-0 win over visiting St. Mary's Ryken. In a tough physical game, the Herons' skilled passing and strong hits throughout the game provided the competitive edge. Mary Gordon ’29 scored two goals for the winners, and Gabi Shepherd ’27 scored one goal. Izzy Nunan ’29 recorded 3 saves in the match. Lila McDermott '28 was awarded Harold the Heron for her flexibility and dependability, switching from attack to defense during the game.

Boys Cross Country

10/8 vs. Gerstell, Pallotti and Sts. Peter & Paul
Senior Night

The Gunston Cross Country team celebrated their Class of 2026—Blake Algier, Aidan Marketto, Caden Quirion, Lucas Watkins, and Lily Weny—at this week’s home meet. It was a great day to honor our seniors and host three very talented programs. Congratulations to our top five Gunston finishers: Willem Grant ’27, Eli Shenk ’28, Brody Schultz ’29, Ryan Parker ’29, and Jackson Houseknecht ’27, all of whom raced under a seven-minute mile pace.

Photo by Vincent Perez, P'29

Crew

10/5 @ Head of the Christina

On Sunday, October 5, the Gunston Crew team traveled to Wilmington, Delaware, to compete in the annual Head of the Christina Regatta. This early fall race marked one of the first major tests of the season, offering athletes valuable experience on the winding 4,400-meter course that features sharp turns and multiple bridge navigations, a true test of coxswain precision and crew synchronization. In the Varsity 4, the crew of Dylan Chiochetti ’27 as stroke, and Emery Day ’26 as coxswain, led Gunston’s top entry, finishing 7th overall with a time of 15:07.76 and a strong split of 1:17.9.

In the Women’s 2x, Maria Boone ’27 and Ava Augustus ’26 crossed the line with a time of 21:56.87, while Sophie Pierce ’26 and Evelyn Regenhardt ’27 completed their race in 22:38.12, both earning valuable racing experience against a competitive field. Gunston’s JV 4, stroked by Ben Watkins ’28 with Eleanor Hubbert ’26 as cox, secured 9th place in 18:29.67, while the Men’s Novice 4, led by Sam Ellis ’29 (stroke) and Sasha Wilson ’29 (coxswain), earned a 3rd-place finish in 19:28.24, highlighting the depth of talent emerging in the novice ranks. Rounding out the day, the Women’s JV 4, with Ava Augustus ’26 at stroke and Millie Lewis ’29 steering as coxswain, finished 10th overall with a time of 21:19.84. 

Next up: the team heads to Navy Day on October 13th on Philadelphia’s historic Schuylkill River!

Sailing

Gunston hosted its Tier 3 home regatta of the season last Saturday. Competing against 7 teams from 6 opposing schools, the Herons pulled first place overall! The weather conditions started out light but the wind built as the day went on, making for perfect sailing conditions on the Corsica. A special shout out to Connor Joyce, Caroline Thomas, Harrison Lavery, Arlo Badger, Meredith Dalzell, Iza Warot, Liam Friehofer, and MaLou Trinkner for their performance on the water. 

Girls Cross Country 

9/25 @ Delmarva Christian
Gunston earned 1st place out of 4 teams. Phoebe Fritz ‘28 3rd place overall and Elea Oehme Torrent ‘28 5th place overall.

Girls and Boys Cross Country 

10/1 @ Tidewater
Herons had a strong showing at the Tidewater Classic this afternoon! Girls placed 19th out of 29. Boys placed 27th out of 37. Highlights: Herons’ top 5 boys averaged a 20:58 finish — with lots of personal bests! Phoebe Fritz finished 37th out of 276 female runners

Varsity Field Hockey

9/25 @ Delmarva Christian
Despite the game being called in the fourth quarter due to weather, the Herons scored 10 goals in a shutout against Delmarva Christian School. Layla Kent ’26 had four goals. Gabi Shepherd ’27 had three goals. Mary Gordon ’29 had two goals and Eleanor Owings ’29 had one goal. Genevieve Baughman ’26 had two assists. Shepherd, Owings and Ava Goodall ’29 each had an assist as well. Goalie Lorelei DeGour recorded one save in the game.

9/30 @ Sts. Peter and Paul
Varsity Boys Soccer

10/1 @ SJCP
Herons won BIG on the road! Gunston Varsity Boys Soccer took down St. John’s Catholic Prep in an MIAA conference battle. Senior Ethan Harper tied it up with 17 minutes left, and Dylan Kim ’28 sealed the win with a 35-yard rocket at the buzzer! 

Varsity Girls Soccer 

9/25 @ Worcester Prep
The Herons girls’ soccer team earned a strong 3–0 road victory today over Worcester Prep.
Scoring for Gunston were Addi Temple, Ellie Roberts, and Brynn Roberts, with assists from Addi Temple, Siroon Topjian, and Abby Philippon.
Special recognitions went to:

• Addi Temple – Tony Chocolonely Award
• Heidi Finn – Henry Heron Warrior
• Brynn Roberts – Player of the Match Game Ball

On the defensive side, outstanding efforts from Reagan Johnson, Josephine Wood, Lily Thomas, Heidi Finn, and Zoey Loveless anchored the back line, helping secure the Herons’ third clean sheet of the season.

9/30 @ Sts. Peter and Paul
Win 1-0

Varsity Volleyball 

9/25 @ Worcester Prep
The Gunston varsity volleyball team improved to 10-0 on the season (3-0 ESIAC conference) Thursday night as they traveled to Worcester Prep and defeated the Mallards in 3 sets, 25-16, 25-21, 25-21, in ESIAC conference play.

9/30 @ Sts. Peter and Paul
The Gunston Volleyball team pushed their record to 11-0 (4-0 ESIAC conference) with a 3-set victory over Saints Peter and Paul HS on Tuesday night, 25-20, 25-11, 25-15. The match was played in Easton.

The Gunston School is pleased to announce that several Gunston students have been recognized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) for the 2024-2025 school year! The National Academic Squad recognizes juniors and seniors with an unweighted GPA of 3.5-4.0. The following athletes were named to academic squad: Genevieve Baughman ’26, Sydney Kim ’26, Lia Schut ’26, Lily May ’26, Layla Kent ’26, Hanna Weinans ’26, Grace Shepherd ’25, Victoria MacGlashan ’25, and Riley Faff ’26. 

A Scholar of Distinction is achieved through an unweighted GPA of 3.9-4.0. The following athletes have earned scholars of distinction: Hanna Weinans ’26 and Sydney Kim ’26.

The Senior Impact Team Award requires student-athletes to meet three of five character criteria, encompassing aspects such as community service and leadership roles, along with five of ten athletic criteria. On the field, these seniors have not only showcased success but have also exemplified commendable sportsmanship, with many guiding their teams to postseason competitions. This year’s award was given to Grace Shepherd ’25.

Congratulations to Grace Shepherd ’25 (left) and Layla Kent ’26 for being named to the 2024 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Watchlist. The NFHCA Watchlist represents top collegiate and high school student-athletes who are early contenders for this year’s NFHCA All-Region and All-American teams. This list is intended to showcase those field hockey student-athletes with the strongest potential for consideration to the current year’s NFHCA All-Region and All-American teams. Gunston was one of only two Eastern Shore schools with athletes recognized on this list, and the only athletes recognized from the ESIAC conference!

(l-r) Back Row: Head Coach Yvonne Gazelle, Anna Szwaja ’24, Abigail Houseknecht ’24, Drew Tolley ’24. Front Row: Victoria MacGlashan ’25, Grace Shepherd ’25, Sophia Kent ’24, Caitlin Myers ’24 and Assistant Coach Jen Matthews ’05. Inset: Samantha Jayne ’24.

We are pleased to announce that several Gunston juniors and seniors have been recognized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) for the 2023-2024 school year! 

The National Academic Squad recognizes juniors and seniors with an unweighted GPA of 3.5-4.0. The following athletes were named to academic squad:

• Abbie Houseknecht ’24
• Samantha Jayne ’24
• Victoria MacGlashan ’25
• Caitlin Myers ’24
• Grace Shepherd ’25
• Anna Szwaja ’24
• Drew Tolley ’24

A Scholar of Distinction is achieved through an unweighted GPA of 3.9-4.0. The following athletes have earned scholars of distinction. 

• Samantha Jayne ’24
• Caitlin Myers ’24

The Senior Impact Team Award requires student-athletes had to meet three of five character criteria, encompassing aspects such as community service and leadership roles, along with five of ten athletic criteria. On the field, these seniors have not only showcased success but have also exemplified commendable sportsmanship, with many guiding their teams to postseason competitions. Only 180 students were named to this team and they included:

• Sophia Kent ’24
• Caitlin Myers ’24

Dontaye White, our Boys’ Varsity Basketball Head Coach, has been named the ESIAC Coach of the Year for Winter Sports for the 2023/2024 season!
 

Congratulations to Layla Kent ’26 for such an incredible season! With an average of 18.8 points per game, Layla ranks as 5th in the state for prep school sophomores. With an average of 5.3 steals per game, Layla ranks as 3rd in the state for prep school sophomores! Overall, Layla ranks 12th in the state for points per game for prep schools (all grades) and 7th in the state for steals per game for prep schools (all grades)!

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In the last and most important meet of the season, the Gunston Swim Team traveled to Georgetown, Delaware, to take on fellow ESIAC schools in the conference championship on Friday, February 9. The boys put a massive exclamation mark on their season by blowing away Worcester Prep by a score of 387-215!  The girls team needed every point available and relied on several swimmers setting personal best times on their way to winning the conference championship over Salisbury Christian 389-363!

In Spring 2024, The Gunston School will join the premiere rowing conference in the region, the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association (WMIRA). While Gunston has regularly competed against WMIRA teams at national regattas like Head of the Scyulkill, the school is now eligible to compete in the conference championship regatta on May 5th.

“Each year our students and coaches continue to elevate the quality and competitiveness of the program,” shared Head of School John Lewis, “and we’re eager to join the ranks of the best public and private school rowing teams in our area. We’re grateful that the WMIRA expanded its geographical reach to include us, and we look forward to welcoming these teams to home regattas at Gunston.”

The WMIRA includes independent and parochial school teams like Dematha, Georgetown Day School, St. Albans, Gonzaga, Holton Arms, and National Cathedral School, as well as Montgomery County public school powerhouses such as Blair, BCC, Walter Johnson, and Walt Whitman. 

Head Crew Coach and Assistant Athletic Director for Waterfront Athletics Natalie Reading said, “I’m proud of our rowers, and appreciative of the WMIRA. This opportunity not only enhances the competitiveness of Gunston's rowing team but also opens doors to a broader range of experiences and challenges. We aim to continue to build on our 2023 Maryland State Championship performance.”

The Gunston School is pleased to announce that five members of the class of 2024 have signed their letters of intent to play sports at the college level. At a recent signing ceremony this past Thursday, January 17, students and their families along with coaches and faculty gathered in the Alice R. Ryan Family Library to celebrate their accomplishments. Nationwide, a little over 7% of high school athletes (about 1 in 13) go on to play a varsity sport in college and less than 2% of high school athletes (1 in 57) go on to play at NCAA Division I schools.
 
Sophia Kent of Millington, Md., will be playing field hockey for St. Mary’s College of Maryland. 
Jonah Smith of Stevensville, Md., will be playing lacrosse for Flagler College. 
Samantha Keith of Edgewater, Md., will be rowing for Sacred Heart University. 
Kate Porter of Easton, Md., will be rowing for St. Joseph’s University.
Aiden Dunlap of Chestertown, Md., will be playing basketball for Bard College. 

Senior Colin Hallmark (Annapolis) was selected as a 2023 Heisman High School Scholarship recipient this past November. Hallmark and other award winners were selected from thousands of applicants from more than 4,000 schools. This scholarship honors the nation’s most accomplished, community-minded high school senior athletes. 

During his four years at Gunston, Hallmark has participated in cross country, triathlon, crew, sailing, basketball and swimming. He is a three-time Maryland State Champion in triathlon, a seven-time national champion in Taekwondo and third degree blackbelt, and two-time Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference’s (ESIAC) Runner of the Year. Gunston’s boys’ cross country team has won the ESIAC championship three years in a row, as well as the inaugural swimming championship in 2022. 

“I apply the same discipline to academics that I do to athletics. I would like to get into medical school and I hope athletics can help me do so,” says Colin. 

Gunston’s Head of School John Lewis shared, “Colin is the definition of an ‘elite’ student-athlete. While he is perhaps the most accomplished athlete to ever step foot on Gunston’s campus, he’s equally talented in the classroom, and his future is extremely bright.”

Coaches Yvonne Gazelle and Jen Matthews are please to announce Sophia Kent ’24, Grace Shepherd ’25 and Layla Kent ’26 have been selected for the 2023 Field Hockey Coaches Association of Maryland’s All Mid Shore First Team, Caitlin Myers ’24 has been named to the 2023 All Mid Shore Second Team, and additionally, Layla has been named to the 2023 All Eastern Shore Team. Congratulations!

Sophia – 93 saves, 7 shutouts
Layla – 9 goals, 7 assists
Grace – 10 goals, 6 assists

 

The Gunston School is pleased to announce they’ll be joining the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. MIAA is the state’s premier boys’ athletic conference and includes 29 private high schools across eight Maryland counties and Baltimore City. Divided into three tiers based on school size (A, B, & C), MIAA schools have a combined enrollment of 17,000, and it is recognized as one of the country’s most prestigious, competitive, and well-run independent school athletic conferences. 

“Gunston first applied to the MIAA nearly 25 years ago,” explained Gunston Athletic Director Josh Breto, “and while our initial attempts to join were not fruitful, the recent combination of Gunston’s enrollment growth, expanded offerings, improved athletic performance, and facilities upgrades made our most recent application successful.”

Beginning in fall of 2024, Gunston’s boys’ teams which include soccer, cross country, swimming, basketball, lacrosse, tennis and golf will begin full-time MIAA competition in the “C” conference. 

“Let me acknowledge the efforts of our current Athletic Director, Mr. Josh Breto, who coordinated this process, and I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the impact of former athletic directors Jon Mellinger and Anita Gruss, both of whom helped to nurture the steady enhancement of Heron Athletics over the years. I also want to thank our Board of Trustees, whose continued support of our school’s athletic program and leadership, helped make this possible,” said Head of School John Lewis.

The Gunston Herons had 220 student athletes participate in athletics and fitness this fall, which is over 90% of the student body. This includes three team managers across four different teams, with Madi Lutz ’24 managing two teams by herself. There were 11 students participating in independent sports, ranging from equestrian to dance. We had 25 coaches across 12 total teams and finally (and most notably), of those 220 fall student athletes, 56 of them were seniors who completed their final fall season at Gunston. 

Five of our teams earned ESIAC Runner Up for 2023 with one earning the number one spot in their field for the third year in a row. Twenty-two students made ESIAC All-Conference Teams with seven honorable mentions and four ESIAC Players of the Year for volleyball, girls soccer, and boys and girls cross country. 
 

ESIAC Player of the Year for Volleyball: Phoebe Kelly ’25

ESIAC Player of the Year for Girls Soccer: Amber Tormey ’24

ESIAC Runner of the Year for Boys Cross Country: Colin Hallmark ’24

ESIAC Runner of the Year for Girls Cross Country: Zoe Buzzelli ’24

We have the pleasure of announcing that Grace Shepherd’25 has been selected to the Field Hockey Coaches Association of MD All Eastern Shore Field Hockey Team 2022. The players that comprise this team were selected from the following schools - Kent Island HS, Kent County HS, Queen Anne's County HS, St Michaels HS, Easton HS, North Caroline HS, Sts Peter & Paul, Washington HS, Pokomoke HS, Crisfield HS, JM Bennett HS, Parkside HS, Stephen Decatur HS, Holly Grove Christian School and Gunston!

Submitted by Coach Yvonne & Matthews
#gunstonschool #gunstonfieldhockey22 #gunstonfieldhockey
@gunstonschool

Congratulations to Grace Shepherd ’25, Layla Kent ’26, and Sophia Kent ‘24 (pictured), who have been selected for the Field Hockey Coaches Association of Maryland’s All Mid-Shore Field Hockey Team for 2022!! ????
(Sophia - 101 saves, 5 shutouts; and 1 goal assisted by her sister; Layla - 8 goals 4 assists. Grace - 5 goals 1 assist) The players that will comprise this team were selected from the following schools - Kent Island HS, Kent County HS, Queen Anne's County HS, St Michaels HS, Easton HS, North Caroline HS, Sts. Peter & Paul and Gunston.
#gunstonfieldhockey22 #gunstonschool #heronathletics #gunstonathletics @gunstonschool

Great Year to be a Heron!