Our spring sports program wrapped up an outstanding season in May after strong post-season showings by many teams. Check out all of the incredible accomplishments of our student-athletes in this recap. We have much to celebrate! Go Rams!
Baseball
Michael Kraatz
Upperclassmen drive momentum through the season
The 2023 Rams turned in a 16-7 (8-2 conference) mark on the season, which began with a 2-1-1 showing in Vero Beach, Florida, against state-ranked opponents from both Colorado and Connecticut. Upon returning to Missouri, the momentum continued as the squad leaned on highly anticipated performances from upperclassmen, while also benefitting from countless contributions from several varsity newcomers. For their efforts, the Rams climbed into the state ranking yet again before post-season play began. The Metro Conference honored Eric Podgorny ’23, Henry Cordes ’24, and Brian Gould ’25 to its First Team roster. Second Team roster spots were awarded to Andrew Clifford ’24, Cam Cooper ’25, and LJ Triplett ’26. Jack Mills ’23 received honorable mention for his contributions. In a fitting conclusion to the selection process, captain Jack Rollo ’23 was chosen as the Conference Co-Player of the Year. Rollo and Cordes were also selected by the Missouri High School Coaches Association as First Team All-State honorees.
Cycling
Chris Ludbrook
Strong team emerges after rebuilding year
2023 proved to be the year of surprises for MICDS Cycling. After a rebuilding year in 2022, the team looked to continue to grow incrementally, but instead, the group exploded into the strongest team over the past five years. Sophia Ashley-Martin ’26 burst on the racing scene in early April with a 6th place finish in the first race of her career, dropping most of the adult field early. Other highlights for Ashley-Martin included a win in the Juniors Race at the World Wide Technology Raceway Criterium and a 3rd place finish behind two collegiate riders at the Tilles Park Criterium. Other top performers included Connor Paine ’24 and Sawyer Merlin ’25, who both proved to be tough competitors in the field. Anchoring the team was the continued steady leadership of Ash Aranha ’23 and Amara “Quin” Autry ’23. Aranha and Autry have both been cornerstones of the team over the past four years and leave a legacy of hard work and strong character. The team has committed to support their community by raising funds for cancer research through Pedal the Cause on Merlin’s Magic Riders. Many of the team will take part in PTC summer training rides in preparation for the event and the fall Cyclocross season.
Boys Golf
Changa Bey
All shots count in a comeback year
Boys Golf had a “comeback” year of sorts. The team motto for this season was “All Shots Count.” They enjoyed their first spring break golf trip since the pandemic. The team went to Winter Garden, Florida, for a week during spring break to play and practice at Orange County National Golf Center. The extra play and practice combined with the “All Shots Count” mentality helped MICDS secure its best regular season play in the last four years with a 6-2 conference record and 2nd-place finish in the Metro League Tournament. Newcomer Ritchie Sabalvaro ’24 made great contributions to the team with a top 10 Metro League finish and earning 2nd Team All-Metro League. Sophomore Ben Gelven ’25 had a breakout year with a 2nd-place finish in the Metro League Tournament, 2nd-place finish at the District Tournament, and top-10 finish in the State Championship. He earned All-Metro League, All-District, and All-State Honors with one of the lowest regular season scoring averages in the state. Overall, the Boys Golf team is in great shape and looking ahead to next season and more amazing play.
Girls Lacrosse
Kate Haffenreffer
Perseverance prevails in a tough season
The defending two-time state championship MICDS Girls Lacrosse Team finished the season with a 10-8 record and a 4th-place finish in State. The Rams exceeded expectations, given the loss of seven seniors from the previous season and an injury-riddled roster. The team prevailed in a thrilling elite eight matchup against St. Joseph’s Academy, winning by a goal from Madison Sineff ’24 in the final second of the game. Eventually, the Rams fell to Eureka 7-9 in the semi-final matchup. Individual accolades abounded this season with First Team All-Metro Honors being awarded to five Rams: Kendall Curry ’23, Ava Goldson ’24, Sineff, Caroline Koman ’25, and Amelia Mackin ’26. Ella Etherington ’24 was awarded Second Team All-Metro Honors, and Erica Engelhardt ’23 received Honorable Mention honors. Goalie Curry, Attacker Goldson, and Midfielder Sineff made the All-State Team, comprised of the best 20 players in the state. Goldson was one of seven players in Missouri to be a USA Lacrosse All-American recipient, while Curry and Sineff were awarded USA Lacrosse All-Academic honors. Curry was also named All-Metro Conference Player of the Year. The Rams look forward to a strong and healthy 2024 season!
Boys Lacrosse
Andy Kay
MSLA State Runners-Up; Metro Conference Champions
The Rams Boys Lacrosse team finished the season as the MSLA State runners-up, Metro Conference Champions, and with an overall record of 15-5. Leading the way were senior captains George Herron ’23, Brin Lewis ’23, Mac Stevens ’23, and junior captain Willy Carpenter ’24. Highlights of the season included wins over Indiana power Cathedral Catholic and North Carolina state semifinalist Durham Academy. The future of the program looks bright. The Rams will return seven starters and many players who got significant playing time in the 2023 season. Post-season awards once again featured many Rams. Included on the All-Metro conference list were midfielders Stevens, Carpenter, and Graham Faust ’26, as well as defenders George Pronger ’23, Conference Player of the Year Tyler Petersen ’23, Henry Oliver ’25, Tyler Tschudy ’24, and Herron. All-State honors went to Carpenter, Oliver, Petersen, Herron, and Tschudy. Lastly, Herron earned one of only five All-American spots, and Carpenter picked up Academic All-American.
Girls Soccer
Megan Caulfield
Hard work, dedication, and teamwork needed for challenging schedule
The MICDS Girls Soccer Team showed great promise this season, battling through a challenging schedule. The Rams fought together as a team, demonstrating hard work, dedication, and support of one another. The Rams were led by senior captains Madolyn Mackin ’23, Zara Nourie ’23, and Kate Slone ’23. Alongside the captains, the Rams graduate five more starting seniors whose leadership and devotion to the team will be greatly missed: Penny Chen ’23, Nicole Dai ’23, Rachel Keener ’23, Ali Oak ’23, and Rhea Patnana ’23. Nourie was selected to the All-Region Team and earned First Team All-Conference recognition. Mackin and Chen earned Second-Team All-Conference honors.
Boys Tennis
Patrick Huewe
Second at districts; Niemeyer ’24 picks up first place at Conference Championships
This season the Boys Tennis team completed a successful year both as a team and individually, returning to the championship round of Districts and finishing second to eventual state team champion Ladue. The team had a lot of young talent with sophomores Jai Patel ’25 and Arjun Puri ’25 at #1 and #3, respectively, and freshman Owen Kizer ’26 at the #2 position. Patel and Kizer made it to the finals of the State Doubles Championships before succumbing to Ladue, and Puri won the consolation bracket at State to finish in 5th place in the singles competition. One of the top regular season wins for the team was against Clayton, with a 6-3 result. Another standout performance included a 1st place finish by Louis Niemeyer ’24 in the Metro League Conference Championships at #4 singles. Patel, Puri, and Kizer earned First Team All-Metro League honors, while Niemeyer made Second Team All-Metro League. Looking ahead to next year, the Rams return the top six players on the team, which include rising seniors Armaan Chandak ’24 and Dhruv Krishnan ’24.
Girls Track & Field
Jim Lohr
Anderson ’23 picks up two State Individual Championships
Maya Anderson ’23 won two State Individual Championships, avenging her loss last year in the 100m hurdles by winning over last year’s State Champion, and finished second in the 300m hurdles. She also successfully defended her title in the triple jump, winning for the second time in as many years, and she set a school record of 40’-2-1/2” during the season. Julia Ray ’23 ended her illustrious career at State, finishing third in the 3200m run. Ray completes her high school run as two-time State Champion, 2022 All-Region Honors, 2021 Gatorade Player of the Year, 10-time All-State, a Silver Medalist (Runner Up), a Bronze, and MICDS Record Holder in 5K, two-mile, and one-mile. Nicole Green ’25 was a State qualifier in shot put. Grace Coppel ’25 also made a run in the 800m final and closed for a 10th-place finish. Ray received the Harriet Green Award, and Anderson received the new Greg Foster Award, which recognizes Foster’s mentorship and coaching. The MICDS Girls Track & Field team finished in 5th place in Class 5 this season at the State Championship.
Boys Track & Field
Jim Lohr
Moore ’23 captures 100m title at State, 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams nab wins
At the State Championship, captain Winston Moore ’23 captured the 100m title. He was also the district and sectional champion and ran sub 11:00 in each race this season, finishing with a personal best of 10:53, second on our all-time list. Captain Nate Schuckman ’23 finished his career with an All-State performance in the discus throw on his last trip to the Championship. He finished eighth, earning All-State honors, and is the MICDS record holder in that event. Tristan Williams ’24 had a spectacular season in the 400m, finishing third and breaking the MICDS record set last year. The 4x100m relay team of Steve Hall ’23, Moore, Jeremiah Clay ’24, and Henry Rohan ’26 won the State Championship and set a School record of 41:96 in prelims. The 4x200m relay team of Moore, Clay, Williams, and Rohan were State Champions this season. Rohan qualified in the 100m dash and finished in 10th place. Luke Allgeyer ’25 qualified in the shot put and finished in 15th place. Cole Gipson ’23 set a school record in the javelin, throwing for 144’-6”. Moore earned this season’s Charles Story Gillis ’16 Award. Overall, Boys Track & Field finished in 6th place at State.
Water Polo
Claudio Mermelstein
Key late-season victories spur playoff run
What a season it has been! The team faced tough competition and overcame many challenges, mostly due to hard work and coalescing as a team. Several key victories near the end of the regular season helped the team make it to playoffs, where the boys played with heart and determination before falling just short of their ultimate goal. They played with sportsmanship, integrity, and a never-give-up attitude. Every player gave it his all, and each made progress over the course of the season. Their dedication and commitment to the team serve to inspire younger players coming up, and the team looks to come back stronger next year. Departing seniors Mason Bedell ’23, Mason Boon ’23, Logan Donnelly ’23, Theodore Elfenbien ’23, and Owen Limbrick ’23 served as leaders and will be missed.