St. Andrew’s School is on an island, but that doesn’t mean it seeks isolation.
Quite the contrary. The small, independent private school on Wilmington Island wants to bring attention to the programs offered for children ages 3 through grade 12, including Lions athletics.
The annual media day for the SAS fall sports teams is one such event that for many years has made the campus on Penn Waller Road a destination for print, broadcast and digital journalists.
They are provided with rosters and schedules; interview opportunities with coaches, student-athletes, staff and administrators; as well as food and beverages at the catered event.
“We want to showcase the kids and the coaches and the school and get (information) out there, make it accessible (to the media),” said Jeff Gonzalez, the director of athletics and operations.
Gonzalez has been part of the St. Andrew’s community for about 20 years as a parent of three sons, a volunteer coach and for the past eight years employed in different roles such as in charge of safety and facilities. This is his second year running the athletic department.
He said following the event Wednesday, Aug. 2, that he wants to establish a relationship with local media members and answer their questions so the first time they’re on campus is not for a game.
Gonzalez talked about bringing recognition to SAS athletics, a sentiment echoed by Maria Dixon, the school’s director of media arts.
St. Andrew's School cheerleading coach Tiffany Phillips, far left, discusses the team with seniors Ella McWhorter, center, and Ellie Rich, right.
“It’s an opportunity to celebrate our athletes, coaches and staff here,” Dixon said. “We celebrate all of the little victories that happen within the season, all of the growth that takes place.”
It’s not all about winning games, she said, but developing young people in mind and body, academics, athletics and more – what she called “the complete student.”
“Athletics goes beyond just the field,” said Dixon, with St. Andrew’s since 2015. “I think it translates into the classroom, and it teaches students how to cooperate, how to work together. There are so many skills learned in athletics. I’m honored to get to help celebrate those achievements with the students and the staff.”
St. Andrew’s School has had success over the years in team sports and in individual athletic accomplishment, such as Gaby Van Brunt (Class of 2023), a dominant high school state champion swimmer and two-time qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
The Lions boys basketball team was 28-1 last season en route to the GIAA Class 3A state championship. Head coach Mel Abrams’ teams have gone 53-5 in claiming two consecutive state crowns.
The school also offers a complement of fall, winter and spring sports despite enrollment of just 510 from youngest to oldest, and about 165 for grades 9-12. That means everybody – and every body – is important in participation numbers, likely in multiple sports, in addition to academic obligations and extracurricular interests in and out of school.
Kevin Prisant, entering his second season as head football coach, surveyed the Savannah prep sports landscape and observed, “There are so many private 
schools and they all have good athletic programs.”
He said Benedictine -- where he was an assistant football coach for seven years (including two state title teams) before crossing the bridge from the mainland in April 2022 -- has the premier all-around athletic program. He then listed several other schools.
“We’re trying to get the athletics to where people know about us,” said Prisant, who has 25 players on the roster. “We just want our name to be out there. We’re out on the island. We’re away from Savannah. I just want people to know we’re here. I don’t want people (potential students) to leave the island to go to other private schools.”
The fall sports media day included Prisant and three football players; volleyball assistant head coach Adam Williams and two players; cheerleader coach Tiffany Phillips and senior cheerleaders Ella McWhorter and Ellie Rich; and athletic trainer Madeline Bills as well as sports department staff.
CROSS COUNTRY
Kristin Peney, who was promoted from assistant to head varsity cross country coach for the upcoming season, was unavailable Wednesday. Sports information director Jeff Wheelock said runners expected to make impacts include sophomore boys Nick Brown and Ryder Small, and sophomore girl Maren Wrieden, a newcomer.
VOLLEYBALL
The Lions, under coach Bobbi Mock, won the Region 2-3A title last season with a senior-heavy squad led by standouts Lizzie Lank and Isabelle Booth.
“Losing nine seniors is not easy,” said middle hitter Claire Fleming, a senior this fall.
But the current Lions are optimistic that they can continue to build on that success this season. Fleming returns along with juniors Addi Yates, Sydney Berkman and Sydney Booth to form a key core.
Yates, a setter, said the graduating group set an example for the younger players to follow.
“I just really like that we’re all super motivated coming off of last season with the region (title),” Yates said. “We didn’t get as far in state (playoffs) as we wanted to, but I think this year we know our potential and we want to push farther. Obviously, we want to win region.”
Fleming said the team has put in the work in the offseason to be ready for this fall.
“Even though we lost those nine seniors, we have a lot of younger players,” Fleming said. “We have a lot of people who weren’t in those leadership positions last year to step up. I think that’s going to be a really key component to this season and our success.”
St. Andrew's assistant volleyball coach Adam Williams, left, with junior setter Addi Yates, center, and senior middle hitter Claire Fleming, right.
FOOTBALL
Quarterback Zayden Edwards and tight end/defensive lineman RaKari Harrison were members of the Lions’ state title basketball team last season, and they said they understand it takes time to build a championship program.
They don’t feel like the football team, which went 5-5 under Prisant despite his relatively late start, is expected to reach that level “tomorrow.” Then again, Edwards isn’t ruling it out.
“We’re right there,” said Edwards, a junior who played on the two state hoops title squads. “Last year, we were five plays from being 7-3. That’s huge.
“It seems like we were far off by missing the playoffs. But five plays, and we’re hosting a playoff game.”
The Lions graduated several key players including Edwards’ brother Zyere, an all-state honorable mention wide receiver/running back.
He called then-senior linebacker Justin Kryder, an Islands High School transfer who missed the first five games recovering from a knee injury, “the heart and soul of our defense.”
Harrison, an all-state selection in his first year at St. Andrew’s, had played basketball but not football at his former school, Benedictine.
Prisant said the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Harrison was rough in terms of technique and made mistakes from time to time reading plays, but he had a motor that didn’t stop.
“He would play as hard as he could play until it was over,” Prisant said. “He never got tired.”
Harrison had 15 sacks in 10 games.
“I didn’t think I was going to be a big impact (player) like I was,” Harrison said. “But (Prisant) kept coaching me and coaching me, and I just kept going up.”
Prisant and Edwards said a key for the junior quarterback is playing relaxed, not forcing throws and letting the game come to him.
“Try not to be a hero,” said the 6-foot, 160-pound Edwards. “I think naturally, as a quarterback, you think it’s on you.”
St. Andrew's football players, from left: senior Matt Licata, junior Zayden Edwards and senior RaKari Harrison.
Senior Matt Licata (5-11, 205) said it’s very much a team sport, and players make individual sacrifices for the team. He is moving over from center to guard as well as playing linebacker.
“This year, especially, we’ve got a lot of seniors, a lot of guys who have bought in to what Coach (Prisant) is really trying to do here and build something, kind of bigger than themselves.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Nathan Dominitz
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