News

At St. Andrew’s, you learn to share.

Spring sports are just around the corner and five Lion athletic programs – four with boys and girls teams – find ways to co-exist this time of year.

So baseball practice begins about an hour after track practice ends at 4:30 p.m. And the Lions won’t take batting practice until the soccer teams leave their shared field.

“For me, it’s not that difficult because you can work around all of that,” baseball coach Scott Abernathy said at St. Andrew’s Media Day in the school’s field house Thursday afternoon.

Abernathy and boys soccer coach Blake Seale, girls soccer coach Ben Donbroski, boys and girls track and field coach Kevin Prisant, boys and girls tennis coach Andy Frost and boys and girls golf coach Oliver Hubbard each brought a couple of key players to share the cozy, hospitable, one-room setting with local media.

PHOTO (l-r): Coach Blake Seale, Max Iezzi, Rhys Baillie, Matt Licata

There’s enthusiasm for the upcoming seasons. Opportunities abound. School sports information director/girls assistant soccer coach Jeff Wheelock said there are approximately 120 students in Grades 9-12 with 13 overall teams at St. Andrew’s. He estimated 80 percent played multiple sports.

But that doesn’t mean the talent pool is diluted. Sometimes less means more – more opportunity for local athletes who want to play baseball, says Abernathy.

“There are a lot of kids who want to play that are passed over by other schools because of the numbers game,” he said. “It’s really not that hard if the parents want them to continue to play baseball. You just have to be available to answer that call.”

For the enrolled St. Andrew’s student/athletes, choosing between one sport and another rarely comes into play. Freshman Grace Dare played basketball, volleyball (just finishing volleyball for Club Savannah) and went to state in three events in track and field a year ago.

And she competes outside of school as a surfer.

Tripp Jackson, a senior, left the baseball team last spring to concentrate on golf. This year, he’ll do both.

Think a 5-20 baseball team can’t use another arm on the mound.

Senior Gracie Wheeler traded kills for aces when she left volleyball behind for tennis. She’s also a member of the cheer team.

While talking baseball, Abernathy mentioned camaraderie as a key to potential success. A young group, led by freshmen and eighth graders, will push the juniors and seniors. Freshman Jack Kelley hit .389 last season as an eighth grader.

PHOTO (l-r): Jack Kelly, Coach Abernathy, Tripp Jackson

The girls soccer team advanced to the Georgia Independent Athletic Association championship game last season and will be in good hands with all-stater Nadya Doscher returning in goal.

“We’re excited to continue to make  progress,” Donbroski said.

The boys lose nine seniors off a squad that advanced to the semifinals the past two years but have 32 athletes in the program.

In track, Prisant joins the Lions’ staff this season after working as a head coach for nine years, taking Bulloch Academy and Heritage to three state championships.

Dare will be in the spotlight in the girls distance events. She was 10th in both the 1600 and 3200 at state.

PHOTO Credit (l-r): Nick Brown, Coach Prisant, Grace Dare

“To field a track team, you have to take people playing their main sports. I think (track) helps every other sport as well,” Prisant said.

On the golf course, Hubbard will be working with a relatively inexperienced group. St. Andrew’s restarted its program last year after a void since 2015. Hubbard said the boys squad missed going to state by eight strokes.

The girls have just four players. The GIAA held a girls golf state championship for the first time last year.

PHOTO (l-r):  Morris Lane, Coach Hubbard, Maya Salter

In tennis, Frost is optimistic after four Lions made it to state a year ago. His boys captain, Eli Berwitz, is just a freshman. Wheeler leads the girls.

The future looks bright too. The Lions began a middle school program last year.

“I came here to try to build the best tennis program in the area,” Frost said.

PHOTO (l-r): Eli Berwitz, Coach Frost, Gracie Wheeler Loverkovic

For some St. Andrew's athletics can be the best of all worlds.

If money is an object for some parents, Abernathy offers a solution.

“Parents will see a tuition amount and it blows their minds,” he said. “There are all kinds of categories for financial aid, though endowments and need-based financial aid. If you can get the parents to realize if you don’t go to Western Sizzlin four times a month, and you only go twice, you can send your kid to get a private school education.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Maria Dixon - St. Andrew's School Director of Media Arts

FOLLOW the Prep Sports Report on Twitter @PrepSav and Instagram savannahsportsreport. If you have any scores, information, or story ideas to share, please email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com.

Optim Orthopedics is a well-known name in Savannah's high school sports community, providing crucial medical support to local high schools. They have dedicated fellowship-trained Orthopedics Surgeons, including Dr. David Sedory for Benedictine Military, Bradwell Institute, and Liberty County, Dr. David Palmer for Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, and South Effingham, and Dr. Thomas Alexander for Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's. Optim Orthopedics's commitment to local athletes runs deep. They are proud sponsors of the Prep Sports Report, whose motto is, "Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game.