High school and middle school students who played on an ACS sports team during the 2022-2023 school year received recognition for their participation, leadership, and athletic abilities at Athletic Awards Programs on June 2 and 5.

At the High School Athletics Awards event on June 2, it was a time to celebrate and reflect on a distinguished year of achievement as Athletic Director Pam Hitchner gave an overview of each team’s accomplishments. Hitchner also took time to thank and recognize ACS parents and volunteer Terry Vogel, and her husband, Paul, for their 28 years of service in support of ACS Athletics. In particular, Mrs. Vogel had overseen concession sales at home athletic games, helping raise thousands of dollars for ACS athletic programs.

The evening culminated with the announcement of special recognition awards. Seniors Cruz Lewis and Paige Noble were chosen by the Athletic Department to be the recipients of the 2023 Billy Robinson Award, which recognizes one high school boy and one high school girl for significant achievement, Christian testimony, and athletic ability. Robby Barberio, Maddie DeNick, and Reyna Lewis received the Cougar Award, which is given to seniors who have demonstrated outstanding Christian character, leadership, responsibility, and commitment in the area of athletics. The five athletes are pictured above.

There was a lot to celebrate in the achievements of the various Varsity teams. In the fall sports season, the Varsity Boys Soccer team, under head coach Chris Lopez, finished the regular season in second place and advanced to play in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Championship match 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 and ACS finished the season in second place.

The Lady Cougars Varsity Soccer Team, under head coach Carly Witherow, finished in 3rd place in the regular season and lost in the conference consolation game to Calvary Academy. Ten ACS soccer players were named TSCAC All-Stars. Witherow, in her 11th year as head coach, was recognized for being the longest serving soccer coach and most winning soccer coach, leading ACS teams to 5 TSCAC Championships and twice being named TSCAC Coach of the Year. She is stepping down as head coach this year.

In winter sports, both the Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball Teams were the TSCAC Champions, winning hard-fought battles in their February 25 championship games held in the ACS gym. The No. 1-seeded Lady Cougars had an undefeated season, and the No. 2-seeded Varsity Boys’ Team pulled off an upset, beating No. 1-seeded Pilgrim Academy 54-45, a team that had been undefeated all season. Eight ACS players were named TSCAC All-Stars, senior Paige Noble received the 2023 TSCAC MVP Varsity Girls’ Basketball Award, and Varsity Girls’ head coach Kaylee Breunig received the 2023 TSCAC Varsity Girls Basketball Coach of the Year Award.

In the spring, the Varsity Girls Softball Team was tied for first place in the regular season, and went on to win the TSCAC Championship Title on June 3, beating Pilgrim Academy. The Varsity Boys Baseball team finished in third place in the regular season and won their TSCAC consolation game, beating Calvary Academy, finishing the seasons in third place. For the second consecutive year, 11th grade shortstop Evangelina Kim received the conference MVP Award in softball and Varsity Girls Softball head coach Dara Kimmerley received the Softball Coach of the Year Award. Ten ACS Varsity Baseball and Softball players were named TSCAC All-Stars.

The Varsity Cheerleading Team, under head coach Morgan Gibson and assistant coach Michelle Wheeler, made history again this year. For the second consecutive year, the Cheer Team was named the  National Champions in The ONE Varsity Intermediate School Cheer Division. The ACS Cheer Team had earlier won first place in its category at The ONE Cheer and Dance Finals held April 1-2 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In both the April and Finals rounds of competition, the scoring was based on execution, technique and degree of difficulty, as well as the ability to inspire a crowd.

The track program continued to grow this year. The Cross Country Club, in its third year, competed in meets with King’s Christian School and at the Homecoming 5K Run. Over 90 middle school and high school students participated in the spring track program, with ACS high school boys’ and girls’ track teams winning first place at the TSCAC Track Meet hosted at ACS on May 11. The teams also competed at the Mid-Atlantic Christian School Association (MACSA) Invitational Track Meet at Messiah University.

During the program, the head coaches of the various teams presented certificates and special awards to their players, including the Coaches Award, Most Valuable Player, and Most Improved Player. The coaches participating in the program were: Girls Soccer — Carly Witherow; Boys Soccer — Chris Lopez; Girls Basketball — Kaylee Breunig and Dara Kimmerley; Boys Basketball — Drew Carney; Girls Softball — Dara Kimmerley; Boys Baseball — Carl Phillips; and Cheer — Morgan Gibson (head coach) and Michelle Wheeler (assistant coach).

The high school award recipients were:

Varsity Girls Soccer: Paige Noble (MVP); Maddie DeNick and Eden Wilson (co-Coaches Award); Alicia O’Donnell (Best All-Around Player)
Varsity Boys Soccer: David O’Donnell (MVP); Malachi Vasquez (Coaches Award); Chase Leach (Best Defensive Player); James Papanikolaou (Best All-Around Player)
Varsity Girls Basketball: Paige Noble and Evangelina Kim (co-MVP); Reyna Lewis (Championship Performance)
JV Girls Basketball: Skyler Shivers (MVP)
Varsity Boys Basketball: Noah Stokes (MVP); Charlie Costello (Coaches Award); Noah Gibbs and Caleb Vogel (Championship Performance)
JV Boys Basketball: Jericho Thomas (MVP); Caden Kim (Coaches Award); and Judah Dawkins (Most Improved)
Softball: Evangelina Kim and Taylor Sutton (co-MVP); Paige Noble (Coaches Award)
Baseball: Charlie Costello (MVP); Robby Barberio (Coaches Award); Josh Merlino (Most Improved)
Cheer: Haven Sanchez (MVP); Mackenzie Flynn (Coaches Award); Tara McCorkle (Most Improved)

Middle School Athletic Awards

At the Middle School Athletic Awards program on June 5, students who participated in soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, and track were recognized and honored. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner thanked the coaches for another outstanding year of competition in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League, of which ACS is a member. The middle school boys’ teams came in first place in soccer, basketball, and baseball and the middle school girls had winning records in soccer and softball. In the spring, the Middle School boys’ and girls’ track teams came in first place in the TSCAC Track Meet.

During the Middle School program, Hitchner also thanked and recognized four new first-year head coaches for their efforts — Becky Pineo (girls soccer), Silas Nixon (boys soccer), Jen Domsic and Sydney Pearson (girls basketball and softball). The other head coaches of Middle School teams, who presented certificates to their players and spoke about their accomplishments, were boys basketball coach Josh Clark and boys baseball coach Charlie Costello.

During his remarks, Middle School Boys Soccer Coach Nixon noted that coaching 25 players at different skill levels was the most difficult task he had ever undertaken, but they worked hard and came together as a team that ended up placing first in the league with an undefeated record. Coach Pineo emphasized the importance of displaying Christian character on the athletic field. “Playing sports doesn’t prove our character, but reveals our true character,” Pineo said.

Coaches Domsic and Pearson praised the athletes on both the Middle School Girls Basketball and Softball Teams for working hard to acquire new skills and abilities. “We started from scratch with some of our players, but we persevered and fought hard, and even in our losses we kept fighting,” Pearson said. She noted that the Middle School Girls Softball Team finished with a winning record of 7-3 with all new players.

The Middle School Boys Basketball Team had a remarkable season, with 23 straight victories and finishing in first place in the league. Coach Clark said the word “perseverance” best described the team. “This was a very special team that I was very proud to coach,” Clark said. “They never gave up and always showed up for every game and every practice.”

The Middle School Boys Baseball Team, under Coach Costello, finished the season tied for first place in the league. Coach Costello noted that while success on the athletic field is something to enjoy and be proud of, that the most important goal is to fear the Lord, quoting Proverbs 9:10 — “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”