With our winter sports season under the belt, let’s take a look at all of the amazing accomplishments of our student-athletes in this recap. We have much to celebrate, and remember to check out the Rams Rewind video at the end!
Girls Varsity Squash
Head Coach: Robyn Williams
US Squash High School Nationals Tournament Division III Champions
The Girls Varsity Squash team, led by co-captains Ria Patil ’22 and Harper Graves ’22, had an incredible ending to their season by winning the School’s first-ever National Championship. After not playing an official US Squash sanctioned match in two years due to the pandemic, the team pulled out all the stops at the Philadelphia US Squash High School Nationals tournament. The first two matches of the tournament saw straightforward wins by the Rams, winning both matches 5-2. The semi-final match was a battle in which four of the seven matches went to five games. The Rams held firm and clinched the win 4-3 to head to the finals for the second time in program history. The final proved to be high drama with MICDS and Berkshire trading wins until it was 3-3 with one match remaining. Rhea Patnana ’23 played calm, cool, and collected squash to secure the victory for the Rams. This was a great team effort with strong performances by each player. Abby Derdeyn ’25, Annabelle Medler ’24, and Patnana ended their season on a high note, going undefeated at Nationals. Throughout the season, the varsity squad showed a high level of team camaraderie, sportsmanship, and determination both at practices and in the few local matches played against mixed, boys, and adult teams. The varsity squad bids farewell to three seniors who have considerably impacted the girls’ squash program: Patil, Graves, and our manager, Cecily Taylor ’22.
Girls Swimming
Head Coach: Chris McCrary
Undefeated in Dual and Tri-Meets This Year
This year, the deeply talented girls’ swimming and diving team went undefeated in dual and tri meets. Led by senior captains Sophie Henriksen ’22, Anna Scott Baur ’22, and Lexie Reeb ’22, the Rams won the Metro League Conference title and capped their season off with a 5th place finish at the Class 2 State Championships. Henriksen rebroke her team records in the 200 Free and 100 Back at State. Juniors Juliette Phillips ’23, Mikaela Mikulec ’23, and Erica Engelhardt ’23, sophomores Isabel Phillips ’24 and Everdine Ferguson ’24, and freshmen Grace Coppel ’25, Lindsay Naber ’25, and Nina Schuerer ’25 raced for that State squad. The girls’ team was bolstered by the first-year diving of sophomore Thisbe Diamond ’24 and freshman Bennett Baur ’25.
Boys Basketball
Head Coach: Travis Wallace
Class 4, District 6 Champions
This year, the Boys Basketball team had a fantastic season with an overall record of 24-4. The team was ranked in the Top 5 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and the St. Louis Post Dispatch. The Rams won the MICDS Holiday Tournament, the Fort Zumwalt North Invitational, and the Class 4 District 6 Championship. The team graduated six seniors: Brandon Mitchell-Day ’22, Colin Koch ’22, Tony Nunn ’22, Jack Hayes ’22, Reagan Andrew ’22, Mark Mintzlaff ’22, and Xavier Asher ’22. Next year we will be returning two starters, Marcus Coleman ’23 and Jayden Banks ’24. Also returning will be Jason Klutho ’23 and Mason Swartz ’24.
Girls Basketball
Head Coach: Scott Small
Holiday Tournament Champions and 2nd Place at Districts
Led by senior captains Zaire Harrell ’22, Alden Small ’22, and Ellie Gira ’22, the MICDS girls basketball team finished the 2021-2022 season with an impressive 20-6 record. Despite being seeded fourth, the Rams won the MICDS Holiday Tournament in December. The team also had an inspiring run to the district championship game, including an upset win against Lutheran Saint Charles in front of an electric crowd in the semi-finals. Harrell, who will continue her basketball career at UMKC next season, was recognized with All-Conference 1st Team status. Gira and Binta Fall ’23 were 2nd Team honorees. Brianna Desai ’23, Chelsey Nwamu ’23, Genesis Starks ’24, Ashley Cooper ’23, Abby Wyckoff ’24, and CeCe Harris ’25 all return along with Fall next year after making significant contributions to the success of the team this year, as will Ava Moore ’24 who missed most of the season due to injury. Newcomers to varsity this year—Ella Etherington ’24 and Julianna Resch ’24—are also poised to support the continued success of the program next season.
Ice Hockey
Head Coach: John Mattingly
Competitive Season Promises a Bright Future
The 2021-22 Rams Ice Hockey Team finished the season with a 9-9-2 record, landing fourth in the eight-team Central Division of the MidStates High School Hockey League. Highlights of the season were breakout years from Harry Kohler ’23 and Holt Tipton ’23; the addition of one of the area’s top young goalies, Miles Jensen ’25; and the always-exciting play of one of the league’s top scorers, Ameer Hajji ’24. The Rams were competitive every game, winning contests against rivals John Burroughs and Clayton and staying within two goals of Ladue (last year’s Wickenhauser Cup Champions) and Priory (this year’s champions). The Rams are very optimistic for the upcoming season, losing no seniors to graduation. The team has paid its dues as one of the youngest teams in the area these past few years leaving them prepared for a long playoff run in 2023.
Dance
Head Coach: Summer Beasley
Performance Featured Original Student Choreography
The 2022 MICDS Dance In Concert featured six Upper School students: Shelly Bhagat ’22, Azael Mayer ’24, Paige Naughton ’22, Angel Pura ’23, Emma Scally ’22, and Meihua Stansberry ’23. The concert showcased 11 dances in various styles, including ballet, Indian, K-Pop, contemporary, and jazz. Nine of the 11 dances were choreographed by students. The dancers enjoyed being back in the studio, creating, and collaborating. This year’s stage lighting was designed by Raina Compton ’23. The season wrapped up with a successful 45-minute performance on the Mary Eliot Chapel stage.
Boys Squash
Head Coach: Nolan Clarke
Promoted to Division III; Exceptional Individual Showings at Nationals
Captains Carson James ’22 and Haadis Amin ’23 led our remarkable Boys Squash team this year. The team hosted matches against John Burroughs School, McCallie School, and JCC. The Boys Varsity team was promoted to Division III and finished the season in Philadelphia at the U.S. Squash High School Nationals, earning 8th place in Division III. James, Amin, and Henry Byrne ’23 had exceptional showings at Nationals. The Boys Varsity Squash team record for the season was 4-3-2. Congratulations to Byrne for earning the top spot in the Men’s U-19 St Louis High School ranking this season. He is the inaugural recipient of the Avery Cup. The varsity squad bids farewell to three seniors: James, Aariz Ahmad ’22, and Baz Cosmopoulos ’22.
Wrestling
Head Coach: Vito Krischke
Three Regular Season Dual Wins
The MICDS Wrestling squad had another competitive season, winning three regular season duals and advancing wrestlers to postseason competition. Multiple wrestlers were able to place in the different tournaments throughout the year. Senior Nat Bilderback ’22 finished his wrestling career at MICDS on a high note, placing 4th in Districts and advancing to the Missouri State Class 2 Championship tournament.
Cheerleading
Head Coaches: Emilee Lemp and Sydney Eisenstein
An Extended Season of Post-Season Cheer; Athlete-Led Choreography
More than 30 cheerleaders participated in the Upper School Cheerleading program, supporting the Boys Varsity Basketball team through the sectional playoffs. The winter squad continued to elevate their stunting skills and choreographed an impressive joint JV and Varsity full-length routine during post-season play. It was a successful season led by team captains Keller Goldstein ’23 and Ella Chamberlain ’23. This summer, the squad looks forward to a live-in cheer experience at a Universal Cheerleaders Association camp and tryouts in August.