Post Tagged with: "King’s Christian School"

Batters Up! Baseball, Softball Teams Make Strong Season Start

The Varsity Baseball and Softball teams are off to a strong start this spring, with both teams winning their season opener against Pilgrim Academy on April 4, just before Easter break. Since returning from the break, the Varsity Girls Softball team has racked up three more wins — against Calvary Christian, King’s Christian School, and American Christian School — and the Varsity Boys Baseball team has won two and lost one.

Two more games will round out the schedule for April — away at King’s Christian on April 27 and at home on April 28 against Gloucester County Christian School. Come on out and cheer for our Cougars.

The Varsity Girls Softball Team won the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference (TSCAC) title last year and the Varsity Boys Baseball team finished in 2nd place last season, losing to Pilgrim Academy in the TSCAC Championship Game. Both ACS teams are looking to be conference contenders again this year.

The Varsity Girls Softball Team is being led by head coach Dara Kimmerley, in her 10th year as head coach. She is assisted by Lori Pearson, and Terry Vogel.

The 16 members of the Varsity Softball Team are: Isabell Alford, Alexis Andujar, Kaia Barbour, Sophia Costello, Rebecca DiMaio, Vera Huff, Evangelina Kim, Alli Lushina, Ava Nixon, Marley Odell, Paige Noble, Allison Schlundt, Summer Scott, Skyler Shivers, Taylor Sutton, and Kennedy Vasquez.

The Varsity Boys Baseball Team has a new head coach — alumnus Carl Phillips (’17). Phillips was a member of the ACS Varsity Baseball teams in 2016 and 2017 when they won the TSCAC Championship title and he served as an assistant coach in 2018 when the team also won the TSCAC Championship. Phillips is assisted by Brandon Keller.

The 12 members of the Varsity Baseball Team are: Robby Barberio, Logan Benson, John Cook, Charlie Costello, Richie Jackson, Josh Merlino, James Papanikolaou, Carson Payne, Seth Phillips, Adam Schlundt, Malachi Vasquez, and Caleb Vogel.

Pictured here are photos taken at the season opener at home of ACS versus Pilgrim Academy. Please check the Athletic Calendar on the ACS website or ACS App for all upcoming game schedules.

Over 50 Middle, High School Students Participating in Track and Field

The spring track and field season is now underway and ACS 6th-12th grade athletes have one victory under their belt, beating King’s Christian School in an April 19 track meet in Pennsauken.

ACS athletes won in every category — the middle school girls had 54 points versus 12 points for King’s, the middle school boys chalked up 62 points to 9 points for King’s, the high school girls finished with 51 points over 14 points for King’s, and the high school boys scored 39 points to 24 points for King’s. ACS and King’s Christian plan to compete in a second meet later this spring.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner and Boys’ PE teacher Josh Clark are overseeing the development of 51 middle and high school students who are participating this spring.

There are several upcoming track meets. ACS will compete again on Wednesday, April 26 at a multi-school meet sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Christian Schools Association (MACSA). The meet is being held at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

On May 11, ACS will host the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Track Meet and school parents and family members are welcome to come out and cheer for our athletes during this day-long event that will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.

 

 

Fun Activities Planned for Spirit Week — Jan. 27-Feb. 3

A series of fun activities, including themed dress-down days with prizes for the best dressed, are planned for Spirit Week — from Friday, January 27 to Friday, February 3. Students in K-12th grade, staff, school families, and friends are encouraged to participate and show their school spirit as the ACS basketball teams get ready to play several exciting home games.

Spirit Week will kick off with “Green-and-White Day” on Friday, January 27, as ACS hosts King’s Christian School at home, and will culminate with “Whiteout Day” on Friday, February 3, when ACS will face off against The Pilgrim Academy at home. Students dressed in all white at the February 3 games will get free admission.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner said the ACS middle school and high school basketball teams are posting strong, winning records and fans are filling the stands at home games to cheer them on to victory.

The Middle School Boys’ Team, under head coach Josh Clark, is undefeated with a 12-0 record, and the Middle School Girls’ Team, under head coach Dan Vasquez, has a 4-2 record in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League. The Varsity Boys’ Team, under head coach Drew Carney, is 8-5 overall and 3-0 in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference (TSCAC) and the Varsity Girls’ Team is 13-5 overall and 3-0 in the TSCAC.

Athletic Director Hitchner, who has organized Spirit Week, wants to see every student and staff member show their school spirit by participating in the Spirit Week activities. She said students who are best dressed according to each day’s theme will be selected for prizes.

No ripped jeans or leggings or tight or yoga-style pants are allowed on any day. If you have elementary PE class on any of the days, you need to wear sneakers so you can participate in gym class. Any students choosing not to participate should come to school in their regular school uniform.

The chart below lists the lineup of activities planned for Spirit Week:

 

Varsity Soccer Teams Lose Matches in TSCAC Finals Tournament; Ten Players Named Conference All-Stars

The ACS Varsity Soccer Teams fought hard in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Finals Tournament on Saturday, November 5, but victory slipped out of their grasp. The Varsity Boys lost a hard-fought match to King’s Christian School in the Boys’ Championship game and the Varsity Girls lost to Calvary Academy in the Girls’ Consolation Game. At the end of the tournament, which was held at Cairn University, 10 ACS Varsity players were named TSCAC All-Stars and played in the November 8 All-Star Game.

In the Varsity Boys’ Championship Final against King’s Christian School, the game ended in a tie of 2-2, with goals scored by Chase Leach and Malachi Vasquez. The game then went into double overtime, with both teams still tied. King’s Christian won in penalty kicks 4-2. In the regular season, King’s Christian and ACS had finished in first place and 2nd place consecutively.

In the Varsity Girls’ Consolation game, ACS lost to Calvary Academy 6-3. Paige Noble, Kennedy Vasquez, and Eden Wilson scored for the Lady Cougars. The Lady Cougars had finished in 3rd place in the regular season.

Congratulations to the players who were named TSCAC Soccer All-Stars. The Varsity Girls’ All-Stars were: Maddie DeNick, Paige Noble, Alicia O’Donnell, and Eden Wilson (1st team) and Reyna Lewis (2nd team). The Varsity Boys’ All-Stars were: Moges Johnson, David O’Donnell, and Malachi Vasquez (1st team) and Jake DeNick and Manny Johnson (2nd team).

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner said each of the players who were named All-Stars gave 100% on the field and were key players in leading both teams to this year’s TSCAC soccer finals. This was the second consecutive year that the Varsity Boys’ team had advanced to play in the TSCAC Championship game.

“We had a memorable season and we’re proud of the exemplary sportsmanship that our Cougars showed both on and off the field,” Hitchner said.  “We’re also very grateful to our head coaches, Chris Lopez and Carly Witherow — for their hard work and dedication.”

Varsity Boys’ Soccer Team to Play in TSCAC Championship Game Saturday, Varsity Girls to Play in Consolation Game

We’re in the Championship Game! Our Varsity Boys’ Soccer Team is headed to the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Championship Match on Saturday, November 5 and will face King’s Christian School for the Championship Title. The TSCAC Finals are being held at Cairn University in Langhorne, PA. The start time for the Varsity Boys’ Final Match is 4 p.m. Come on out and cheer our Cougars to victory!

The ACS Varsity Boys’ team, seeded #2 at the end of the regular season, won 4-3 in an exciting, hard-fought semi-final playoff match at home against The Pilgrim Academy on Thursday to advance to the Championship Game. This is the second year in a row that the ACS Varsity Boys’ team has advanced to play in the Championship Game.

The #3-seeded Varsity Girls’ team lost their semi-final game to #2-seeded Gloucester County Christian School and will play in the consolation game against Calvary Academy at Cairn University starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Three players on the Varsity Boys’ team scored in Thursday’s semi-final playoff game versus The Pilgrim Academy. From left: Manny Johnson (1 goal), James Papanikolaou (2 goals), and David O’Donnell (1 goal). Goalie Jake DeNick, far right, had 6 saves.

The Varsity Boys’ team, under head coach Chris Lopez, finished the regular season in second place with a 8-2 record in the conference, and overall record of 12-6. In Thursday’s semi-final playoff game against The Pilgrim Academy, three players scored for ACS — 10th grader James Papanikolaou, 2 goals; 11th grader Manny Johnson, 1 goal; and 9th grader David O’Donnell, 1 goal. 12th grade goalie Jake DeNick had six saves. 12th grader Tommy Ellison had two assists and 11th grader Manny Johnson and 10th grader Chase Leach each had one assist.

The Varsity Girls’ team, under head coach Carly Witherow, finished in third place in the regular season with a 7-3 record in the conference, and a 10-4 record overall. In Thursday’s semi-final playoff game, 12th grader Eden Wilson scored the one goal for ACS.

Admission to the games will be $2 per student, $3 per adult, and $10 max per family. Cairn University is located at 200 Manor Avenue in Langhorne, PA.

 

 

 

 

 

Alumni, Students, Families Celebrate Homecoming 2022

Alumni, students, and their families gathered at the ACS campus on Saturday, October 15 for Homecoming 2022, which featured a co-ed Alumni Soccer Game, the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen and presentation of their court, and the Varsity Soccer Teams playing King’s Christian School and winning both games. ACS middle school and high school cross country club members also competed against King’s Christian in races on the ACS campus and took first place in all categories.

The 2022 Homecoming Court was presented between the Varsity Girls’ and Boys’ Soccer Games— Homecoming King Moges Johnson, Homecoming Queen Maddie DeNick, Homecoming Princesses Reyna Lewis and Paige Noble, and Homecoming Princes Sam Glancey and Cruz Lewis. The King and Queen waved to the crowd and shot confetti into the air as they took the traditional ride around the track in a converted jeep, driven by school parents Michael and Kelly Flynn. The ACS Cheer Team marched in front of the jeep as they cheered for the King and Queen.

Two new large ACS Spirit Flags were unveiled at Homecoming — one with the Cougar mascot image and the other with the letters ACS — that were waved throughout the day during the soccer games to get the hundreds of fans fired up.

The Homecoming events began in the morning with a 3-mile cross country race for high school students and a 1.5-mile race for middle school students. Eighteen ACS students are part of the cross country club that meets weekly on Wednesdays to practice and prepare for races, coached by ACS faculty member Joshua Clark. Twelve club members ran in the Homecoming Races, with 10th grader Jayden Sanchez finishing in first place overall and among the high school boys, with a time of 19.18. 6th grader Caleb Wilson won first place for the middle school boys and 8th grader Kalee Tardif won first place for the middle school girls.  No high school girls competed in the race.

The second event of the day was a co-ed Alumni Soccer game. Wearing jerseys representing the school colors, the Green Team beat the White Team 6-1.  For the Green Team, the alumni who participated were Kaylee Breunig (’12), Ben Chapman (’13), Andrew Gregas (’13), Carly Harper Witherow (’08), DJ Hitchner (’17), Carl Phillips (’17), Jon Picking (’13), Rachel Picking (’11), and Dan Vogel (’13). Alumni playing on the White Team were: Ang Eggie (’22), Shelby Einwechter (’21), Cole Lewis (’22), Jacob Rosie (’21), Chloe Vogel (’21), and former student Luke Phillips. ACS soccer team coaches also played in the game.  Dozens of alumni, alumni parents, and school families cheered for their favorite teams from the sidelines.

The Varsity Girls’ Team, under head coach Carly Witherow, faced off against King’s Christian in the afternoon, winning 2-1, and bringing the team’s win-loss record to 8-2. 11th grader Alicia O’Donnell scored the first goal, assisted by 10th grader Isabell Alford. 12th grader Paige Noble scored the second goal, assisted by O’Donnell, and 10th grade goalie Taylor Sutton has 13 saves.

The Varsity Boys’ game against King’s Christian was the final Homecoming event. The team, under head coach Chris Lopez, beat King’s Christian 2-0, bringing the team’s record to 8-5. Scoring for ACS were 10th grader James Papanikolau and 11th grader Malachi Vasquez, with 9th grader David O’Donnell having both assists. Senior goalie Jake DeNick had seven saves.

Throughout the day, students, alumni, and their families enjoyed a variety of activities including ga-ga ball, volleyball, and face painting, and there were plenty of tasty cheeseburgers and snacks serve up by ACS parent volunteers.

Homecoming 2022 – Bring the Family Next Saturday, October 15 for a Fun Day of Soccer, Crowning of King and Queen

Homecoming 2022 will be next Saturday, October 15 and ACS families, alumni, and their families are invited for a fun day of soccer, a cross country run, and the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, who has organized the day’s festivities, is also adding new activities including inflatables, face painting, and games, along with a cook-out.

Hitchner said any alumnus who wants to play in an alumni soccer game needs to contact her to register by Monday, October 10 by text at 609-412-7735.

Homecoming Day on the ACS campus will kick off with a 3-mile cross country run between ACS and King’s Christian School at 9:30 a.m. One or more alumni soccer games will be next on the event schedule, depending on how many alumni register to play. An Alumni Girls’ game is planned for 10 a.m., followed by an Alumni Boys’ game at 11 a.m.

Two Varsity Soccer games between ACS and King’s Christian School will be the featured events in the afternoon, with the ACS Varsity Girls’ Game at 12:30 p.m. and the Varsity Boys’ Game at 2:30 p.m. The crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen and presentation of their Court will be held between the two games at 2:00 p.m.

In the evening, the annual Homecoming Dance will be held in the ACS gym for ACS high school students and their guests from 7:00-10:00 p.m.

Join Us for Homecoming 2022 – Saturday, Oct. 15

The ACS school family, alumni, and friends are invited to Homecoming 2022 on Saturday, October 15, featuring several soccer games, a cross country run, and presentation of the Homecoming Court. ACS will compete against King’s Christian School in two soccer games and a cross country run that will kick off the day’s events. ACS Alumni are invited to participate in friendly competition in soccer games at 10 and 11 a.m. and any alumnus who wants to play in the Homecoming Games needs to contact Athletic Director Pam Hitchner by October 10 by text at 609-412-7735.

“It’s going to be a fun, family day with lots of great food, as well as inflatables, face painting, games, and more,” said Hitchner, who is overseeing the day’s activities.  “We want everyone to come out and cheer for our current and alumni athletes as they compete throughout the day and celebrate the high school students who will be honored as part of our Homecoming Court.”

The Cross Country 3-mile run between ACS and King’s Christian School will be from 9:30-10:00 a.m. The Alumni Girls’ Game will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. and the Alumni Boys’ Game will be from 11:00 a.m.-noon.

The ACS Varsity Girls’ Game against King’s Christian School will kick off at 12:30 p.m. and the Varsity Boys’ Soccer Game will begin at 2:30 p.m. The presentation of the Homecoming Court will be held between the two games at 2:00 p.m.

In the evening, our annual Homecoming Dance will be held in the ACS gym for ACS high school students and their guests from 7:00-10:00 p.m.

 

Varsity Basketball Teams Heading to TSCAC Championship Round Saturday After Winning Semi-Final Playoff Games

Congratulations to our Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Teams for winning their semi-final playoff games on Thursday night to secure a spot in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Championship Games on Saturday, February 26. We are proud of you!

The Thursday night playoff games, played in the ACS gym before a crowd of fired-up fans, got underway with the Lady Cougars facing off against Cumberland Christian School and defeating them 56-13. Jr. Paige Noble led the team on offense with 18 points and four assists, and also pulled down five rebounds. Other key players in the game were Jr. Maddie DeNick, who scored 11 points and had 7 rebounds, and Soph. Evangelina Kim, who had 8 points and 6 steals.

The Varsity Boys’ game followed after, with ACS beating King’s Christian School 46-39 in a hard fought battle.  ACS trailed King’s Christian by 2 at half-time and by as many as 8 to start the 3rd quarter. But ACS went on an 18-0 run from the end of the 3rd quarter through the start of the 4th quarter to seize control of the game. Soph. Noah Gibbs and Jr. Caleb Vogel carried the team down the stretch on offense, scoring 17 of the team’s 24 second half points. Vogel finished with 13 points and Gibbs with 12. Other high scorers were Sr. Devin Tridente with 12 points and Sr. Aaron Glancey with 8 points.

The Lady Cougars, under head coach Kaylee Breunig, finished in first place in the regular season, with a 7-1 record, and are advancing to the TSCAC championship final for the eighth straight year. They will play Gloucester Country Christian School on Saturday at 3 p.m.  The Varsity Boys’ team, under head coach Drew Carney, placed second in the regular season, with an 8-2 record, and will play Pilgrim Academy in the Championship final at 5 p.m. Both games will be played at Gloucester County Christian School, which is located at 151 Golf Club Road in Sewell.

Come on out and cheer our Cougars on to victory! Go Cougars!

 

 

 

ACS Spirit Day at Texas Roadhouse — Thursday, Feb. 3; Precedes Senior Basketball Night at Home Games on Feb. 4

ACS Spirit Day will be on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at Texas Roadhouse in Egg Harbor Township from 4 p.m. to closing.   School families, staff, alumni, alumni parents, and friends of ACS are welcome to come out and enjoy a delicious meal and help raise funds for ACS Athletics. Please mention “Atlantic Christian School” when you order.  The restaurant is located at 6801 E. Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township.

ACS will receive 10% of the sales from family and friends that evening. Texas Roadhouse specializes in hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, made-from-scratch sides, and fresh-baked bread.  Hope to see you there!

The following night, Friday, February 4, everyone is invited to Senior Basketball Night in the ACS Gym, when we will recognize and honor the senior basketball players, managers, and their families. ACS will be hosting King’s Christian School. The JV Boys’ game will tip off at 4:00 p.m., followed by the Varsity Girls’ game at 5:30 p.m. and the Varsity Boys’ game at 7:00 p.m.

Join us for Spirit Day and the following night at our home games to thank our seniors and their families for their dedication to ACS athletics. Go Cougars!  sides, and fresh-baked bread and help raise funds for ACS Athletics.

Varsity Soccer Teams Lose Close Matches in TSCAC Championship Tournament; Nine Players Named Conference All-Stars

The ACS Varsity Soccer Teams fought hard in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Championship tournament on Saturday, November 6, but fell just shy of victory. The Varsity Boys lost 2-1 to Pilgrim Academy in the Boys’ Championship Final, finishing the season in 2nd place. It was the first time since 2012 that the Varsity Boys’ team had advanced to the Championship Game. The Varsity Girls lost their Consolation Game 3-2 to King’s Christian School, ending the season in 4th place.

In the Boys’ Championship game, Pilgrim Academy took an early lead, scoring its two goals in the first 13 minutes of the game. ACS answered in the first half with a goal by 12th grader Aaron Glancey, off an assist from 9th grader Chase Leach. The ACS defense fought hard in the second half, stopping any further goals by Pilgrim. On offense in the second half,  ACS took the upper hand and had numerous shots on goal, but failed to score.

In the Girls’ Consolation Game, ACS was down 3-0 to King’s Christian School at half-time, but came back in the second half to score two goals, by 10th grader Alicia O’Donnell and 11th grader Eden Wilson. Strong defense by ACS in the second half prevented King’s Christian from scoring again, but ACS was unable to score as well.

A large group of enthusiastic fans cheered for our Cougars and showed their appreciation for the hard-working athletes during the tournament closing ceremony. Nine ACS players were named TSCAC All-Stars and received medals for their achievement — Aaron Glancey and Manny Johnson (1st team); Devin Tridente and Chase Leach (2nd team); Maddie DeNick, Paige Noble, and Eden Wilson (1st team); Reyna Lewis and Alicia O’Donnell (2nd team).

We’re proud of every ACS Varsity athlete who competed this fall and for the great memories of an exciting season. Thank you also to Coach Carly Witherow and Coach Andres Tortola for encouraging and training our athletes to do their best and to honor God both on and off the field.

Photo credits: Sue DeNick, Ruby Lewis.

ACS Athletes Excel in Cross Country Competition, Finish Fall Season Undefeated

Thirteen ACS athletes in middle school and high school participated in several cross country meets this fall and finished the season undefeated, in a club program that has been expanding for several years.  The ACS team took first place in two 5K meets against King’s Christian School in October and in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference meet on November 6.

“We are building a cross country program in the hopes of making it a full-fledged team sport in the near future,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “We are very pleased with the success of our athletes this season and look forward to seeing more students participate next year.”  Hitchner said King’s Christian School was the only other school in the TSCAC with a cross country program and hopes to see more schools field teams in the future.

At the TSCAC meet on November 6 held at Pilgrim Academy, 12th grader Shane Schweppenheiser took first place in the high school boys’ division, with a time of 24:01, 9th grader Isabel Alford placed first in the high school girls’ division, with a time of 24:03, and 12th grader Caeli Barbour came in a close second, with a time of 24:18. At the middle school level, 7th grader Kalee Tardif won first place in the girls’ division, with a time of 25:48, and 7th grader Ethan Costello placed third in the boys’ division, with a time of 23:15.

Other top runners on the ACS team included 11th grader Cruz Lewis, who took first place in the 5K meet on October 6 against King’s Christian, with a time of  18:23; 9th grader Jayden Sanchez, who finished second in that race, with a time of 20:17; 7th grader Justice Settles, who placed second among middle school boys, with a time of 21:21; and 7th grader Ashlee Alford, who placed first among middle school girls, with a time of 25:26.

As part of Homecoming 2021, ACS also added a new 5K cross country race. PE Teacher Josh Clark, who helped oversee the club, created the course for the race, which can now be used for future meets.

Congratulations to all the athletes who participated in this memorable season:  Ashlee Alford, Isabell Alford, Liam Aspenberg, Caeli Barbour, Gabe Correa, Ethan Costello, Micah D’Anna, Cruz Lewis, Christian Pineo, Jayden Sanchez, Shane Schweppenheiser, Justice Settles, and Kalee Tardif.

 

 

Varsity Soccer Teams Heading Into League Finals on Saturday — Boys to Play in Championship Game, Girls in Consolation

We’re in the Soccer Tournament Finals! Congratulations to our Varsity Soccer Teams who will be competing in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Finals on Saturday, November 6. The Varsity Boys will be playing in the Championship Game for the first time since 2012 and the Varsity Girls are playing in the Consolation Game. Both games will be held at Pinelands Regional High School. The Varsity Boys advanced to the championship game after beating King’s Christian School 2-1 in an exciting, double overtime semi-final playoff game on November 4.  The Varsity Girls had a tough 4-1 loss in their semi-final playoff game to Gloucester County Christian School.

The Varsity Boys’ team, seeded #2 at the end of the regular season, will face off against #1 seeded Pilgrim Academy in the TSCAC Championship Game at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The 24-member team is led by head coach Andres Tortola. The 14-member Varsity Girls’ team, also seeded #2 at the end of the regular season, will play King’s Christian School in the Consolation Game kicking off at 3 p.m.

Both games will be played at Pinelands Regional High School at 565 Nugentown Road in Little Egg Harbor, NJ. ACS families and friends are encouraged to come out and cheer on our teams to victory! The TSCAC will be charging a gate fee at the games.

In the Varsity Boys’ playoff game held Thursday on the ACS campus, 11th grader Luke Phillips kicked in the first goal, assisted by 10th grader Manny Johnson. The game was tied at half time and at the end of regulation play. The game then went into a double overtime, with 11th grader Moges Johnson kicking in the winning goal. 11th grader Jake DeNick also fought hard in the goal, making 12 saves.

In the Varsity Girls’ playoff game, 11th grader Paige Noble scored the lone goal for ACS, assisted by 11th grader Maddie DeNick.  The Lady Cougars, under head coach Carly Witherow, have made six consecutive appearances in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference (TSCAC) Tournament finals and won five consecutive TSCAC Championships since 2015.

The TSCAC All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday, November 9.  Photo credits: Sue DeNick, Mia Liggins, Ruby Lewis, and Karen Noble.

 

 

ACS Middle School, High School Athletes Sweep TSCAC Track Meet

Congratulations to the 60 ACS middle school and high school students who competed in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Track Meet on Thursday, May 6 and earned medals and top team honors. All four ACS teams — the High School Boys’ and Girls’ teams and the Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ teams — finished in first place with the highest number of points earned among the teams from six other regional Christian schools who participated.

Overall, ACS received 34 first place medals — with the Middle School Girls’ earning 10, the Middle School Boys’ earning 8, the High School Girls with 7, and the High School Boys had 9.

“I’m very grateful for the outstanding efforts of the entire ACS family that all worked together, using their various gifts and talents, to make this track meet a success,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, who organized the meet. This is the 14th year that ACS has hosted the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference track at its campus.  The other schools participating in the meet were: Abundant Life Academy, Ambassador Christian Academy, Cumberland Christian School, Gloucester County Christian School, King’s Christian School, and The Pilgrim Academy.

The day-long event, held under sunny, blue skies, saw several middle school and high school athletes set school and meet records. The track and field athletes and their individual accomplishments will be recognized at the year-end sports awards ceremonies.

Hitchner said that the ACS runners shined particularly bright during the meet, taking first place in all 12 relay races held. Several middle school and high school athletes also made significant contributions to their teams. 7th grader Sophia Costello scored 14 points for her Middle School Girls’ team and 8th grader Isabell Alford scored 12. For the Middle School Boys’ team, 8th grader Jayden Sanchez led all teammates, scoring 13 points. On the High School Girls’ team, 10th graders Paige Noble and Reyna Lewis led their team with 12 and 10 points, respectively.  For the High School Boys, 10th grader Cruz Lewis scored 15 points and his 11th grade brother, Cole, scored 7. Collectively, the three Lewis siblings scored 32 points over the course of the meet.

A large volunteer team of students, alumni, and parents helped manage the 20 track and field events in the meet, serving as timers, working at the scorer’s table, and cooking and serving at the concessions stand. In particular, Hitchner recognized and thanked several individuals for their efforts: PE teacher Ben Chapman, for field preparation of the meet competition areas;  PE teacher Kaylee Breunig, who served as Hitchner’s assistant;  alumni parent Larry Martin, who oversaw the scorer’s table; substitute teacher Mike Bohs, who served as the official starter of all the races; Jeff Wolf, who served as the “Clerk of Course,” assisted by his daughter, Renee; and PTF President Terry Vogel, who headed up the concessions stand that raised funds to support the ACS Athletic Department.

CLICK HERE to view a photo gallery of the Track Meet.

 

 

 

ACS Varsity Basketball Teams Heading into Playoffs Next Week as Pep Rallies Promote School Spirit

The ACS Varsity Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Teams are heading into the playoffs next week in strong positions to advance to the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference championship finals on Saturday, March 6, which will be held in the ACS gym.  At pep rallies on Thursday, February 25, ACS students and staff cheered for the players and showed their school spirit, proudly displaying our school colors of green and white. The students also enjoyed dressing up all week in various, themed costumes for Spirit Week.

The ACS Varsity Girls’ are undefeated and in first place in the TSCAC, with an 8-0 record, and the Varsity Boys’ team has a 6-2 record in the TSCAC and is ready to fight its way into a spot in the championship finals. Both teams won their games at Pilgrim Academy on Thursday, February 25 and have two more conference games to play — on Friday, February 26 against King’s Christian School, and on Monday, March 1, against Cumberland Christian School.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner said the Varsity Girls’ team with its undefeated record has secured its spot in the semi-final playoff game on Thursday, March 4 in the ACS gym. The Varsity Boys’ playoff schedule will not be determined until after Monday’s final regular season game. The quarter-final round of games will be held on Tuesday, March 2, but Hitchner said it is not yet clear which teams will be playing in that round. Please check the High School Athletic Calendar on the ACS Website for more details as they become available next week.

Hitchner also said that attendance at the games in the ACS gym is still limited due to COVID-19 room capacity limitations, but ACS families and supporters can watch the games online as they will be live-streamed on the ACS YouTube Channel.

CLICK HERE for a gallery of photos from Spirit Week and the pep rallies.

 

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Greg Louderback — IT Integration Coach

Greg Louderback first came to ACS as a proud grandparent, excited to watch his grandchildren, Lily and James Boyle, as they performed during the Elementary Christmas Concert in December 2017. Now, just three years later, he is no longer an occasional visitor to ACS but a valuable volunteer, donating his knowledge and expertise as a long-time teacher and IT specialist to benefit our faculty and students.

Three days each week, you can find Louderback in a classroom working with teachers and students as they integrate technology in the classroom. He assists students in the use of their Chromebooks and on independent assignments that they receive through Google Classroom. He also lends a helping hand on projects overseen by Information Technology Director Louis Andujar, including facilitating remote learning.

Louderback came out of retirement to volunteer at ACS as an IT Integration Coach after spending 18 years as an IT specialist in the Camden School District, where he trained and mentored over 200 teachers in the use of technology in the classroom. “I have a passion for education and teaching and it’s something that I wanted to continue doing,” Louderback said.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen said she was thrilled when she first met with Louderback in the fall of 2019 and he offered to volunteer and provide his valuable experience as an IT specialist and trainer at ACS. “We are truly blessed to have a volunteer like Greg who is willing to give of his time and expertise to bless ACS,” Oblen said. “The use of technology in the classroom has become more and more critical, and Greg has been a vital resource, coming to ACS at just the right time.”

Louderback began his career as a 6th grade teacher at King’s Christian School in Haddon Heights, after earning a B.A.Ed. with a concentration in history from the University of Delaware. After four years in the classroom, he decided to change careers and go into Information Technology. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Information Systems from Drexel University, where he also worked as a programmer analyst.

“I see myself as a teacher who knows a lot about computers,” Louderback said. “I just love the energy and enthusiasm that the students bring to school and I especially appreciate the way that prayer is such an integral part of the school day at ACS.” Louderback and his wife, Shelley, live in Haddon Township and have two children and four grandchildren. They worship at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.