Spring 2026 brought another great season of Ram sports, including a State Championship for Boys Lacrosse and two individual State medals for Justyce Sanders ’27 in Track and Field! Check out the hard work and successes of our talented student-athletes, and congratulations on a wonderful season.
Boys Lacrosse
By Head Coach Andy Kay
Led by senior captains Steele Crissman Jr. ’26, Graham Faust ’26, Mikey Gutchewsky ’26, and Ben Williams ’26, the MICDS Boys Lacrosse team capped an undefeated in-state season with an impressive 11–7 victory over Chaminade in the state championship game. The title marks the Rams’ 11th state championship in the past 12 seasons and the 14th overall championship in program history.
The postseason brought numerous individual honors. Crissman, Williams, Gutchewsky, Ben Petersen ’26, Justin Bishop ’28, and Wyatt Giles ’29 were all recognized with All-State selections. Crissman, Williams, and Bishop also earned the distinction of being named All-Americans.
The Rams finished the season ranked 7th in the Midwest, returning to the regional Top 10 for the first time since 2019 and further cementing their place among the premier programs in the region.
Thank you to all of the families, alumni, and supporters whose dedication and commitment continue to make MICDS Lacrosse one of the nation’s most respected programs. Congratulations to our players and coaches on an outstanding season.
Girls Track & Field
By Head Coach Jim Lohr
The 2026 MICDS Track and Field season had many rollercoaster moments, with highs and lows all season long. Justyce Sanders ’27 had an exceptional season, starting with her 7th-place finish in the Invitational 400m at the Arcadia Invitational. There, she took the state performance lead and was never beaten at that distance all season, culminating in the MSHSAA Class 5 Championship. This win avenged last season’s runner-up finish. Sanders followed up her 400m win with the 200m title, which made her a back-to-back champion at that distance. She was called to the starting line just 32 minutes after leaving the 400m award stand and was able to capture the title away from previous district and sectional champions from Ladue and Cardinal Ritter. Sanders was 1m behind at the 100m mark but surged to the lead with 40m to go and separated from the field on her way to the win.
Blaike Borders ’28 managed to continue her fast running this season at the 800m distance. She finished second at the District championship to the eventual State champion from Eureka and finished as the 4th qualifier at sectionals after losing her shoe 300m into the race and finishing the remaining 500m with only one shoe left on her foot. In the State final, Borders opened with a 63-second first lap, right there with the lead group, then followed with a 68 and fought her way to 5th place, as the gap from 2nd to 7th was less than a second. Borders finished with a time of 2:12.83, the fastest of her short career. That time put her second on our all-time performance list behind only Grace Coppel ’25 from a year ago.
The 4x800m relay team included Narya Phatak ’26, who ran an exceptional lead-off leg. Captain Morgan Macam ’26 ran second, handing off to Nika Landrum ’29, who competed hard in her first Championship race, then Borders anchored the team to 11th place at 9:49.35. This team had punched well above its weight all season long in Class 5 and had improved by almost a minute since the beginning of the season.
The 4x400m relay was defending State champions coming into the week, although the team had stepped up in class from 4 to 5 this season. They had competed well and started to gain momentum at the Henle Holms Invitational. They ran some great races leading into the District meet, and the team of Sanders, Macam, Landrum, and Borders had really started to gel. In the District championship, MICDS managed a 3rd place finish, slightly behind Cardinal Ritter and Ladue. At the Sectional championship, the girls finished second, behind Ritter, and lowered their season’s best to 3:55, a three-second improvement from the District meet. At the State Championship, the Rams led off with 400m champ Sanders, who managed to hand off with a lead to Macam, who battled and ran her fastest leg of the season but gave up a couple of places. Landrum took the baton and held fifth place with anchor Borders waiting anxiously at the line. Borders took the stick and immediately moved into 4th place in the first 20m. Borders shot down the backstretch and managed to gobble up Lafayette and then Liberty North. She blazed around the curve, closing ground on rival Ladue. She was able to pull even with the Ladue anchor leg with 50m to go and was passing her to move to second place. As she was going around Ladue, the opposing runner moved out slightly to keep Borders from passing, and as they battled with 30m to go, she was what was called incidentally contacted by the Ladue runner, knocking Borders down on the track. No call was made by an official, making the option to protest moot, although Coach Lohr did give the MSHSAA officiating crew a piece of his mind following the race and blatant no-call down the stretch. The effort made by Borders to catch Ladue will not be forgotten by the MICDS team or staff. It was remarkable. In another scenario where prelims were held, this team would have qualified for the final and still hit the podium for the effort, even after the incident. It would not have made the team feel better, but an All-State finish would have eased the sting a little.
Other outstanding performances from this season were by High Jumper Gerti Habel ’27, who broke the high jump record (5-5) previously held by Alexis Bellamy ’21. Abby Selner ’28 was a sectional pole vault qualifier.
The Harriet Green Award went to Macam.
Baseball
By Head Coach Michael Kraatz
The Rams finished the 2026 season with a 19-7 record and a top 10 ranking in the St. Louis Metro area. The season started with a strong campaign in Florida with the team going 5-1 against out-of-state competition before returning home for their season opener in the newly renovated Werner Stadium. Though the season ended earlier than anticipated, the Rams still outlasted most, and ended up one of the final 16 teams in the state.
Above all else, the program is proud of the nine departing seniors and eager to track the seven of whom have decided to play collegiately:
- Luke Condrin ’26 – University of Notre Dame
- Jake Genin ’26 – Brandeis University
- David Levison ’26 – Coe College
- Cole Levison ’26 – Coe College
- Dunnen McGaughey ’26, Captain – Grinnell College
- James Snyder ’26 – Pepperdine University
- LJ Triplett ’26, Captain – Southern University
We also bid our other departing seniors goodbye and wish them well: Finn Carpenter ’26, Tommy Goodman ’26, and Gabe Sedighi ’26. Thanks as well to our team manager, Grace Powell ’26.
The Rams have a strong core of returning players and look forward to inviting a bright incoming class for the 2027 season.
Cycling
By Head Coach Chris Ludbrook
MICDS Cycling had another strong season, highlighted by strong performances and new events. The team competed in Carondelet Park at the Tuesday Night Worlds. A more casual approach to racing, Tuesday Night Worlds offered an opportunity for newer competitors to get the feel for racing while still challenging the fitness of the more veteran. New to the team’s race calendar, the Route 66 Shakedown series provided an opportunity to race fast. Ash Falk ’27 rounded out the top 10 of the men’s 4-5 race. Newcomers Sawyer Huffman ’29 and Will Kreikemeier ’29 took the top two podium spots in the junior division. In a first, the Cycling team competed with members of the MICDS Cross Country and Track & Field teams in the Eads Bridge Duathlon. Luke McGinnis ’26 and Nolan Jones ’26 teamed up with Falk to take second place in the men’s division of the team relay. Huffman, competing in his first multi-sport event, took second place in the 19u division. The season wrapped up with several of the older riders competing in the Vino Fondo held in Defiance, Missouri. The team battled the rain and the hills of Defiance for 41 miles of fun all while benefiting Pedal the Cause. Under the leadership of Dalton Costick ’26, this fall the team will continue raising funds for the fight against cancer by riding in Pedal to the Medal at Pedal the Cause in September.
Boys Golf
By Head Coach Changa Bey
The Boys Golf team had an impressive regular season, going 8-0 in Metro League play. Following the regular season, the team was victorious in the Metro League Tournament, beating rival John Burroughs by six strokes to capture both regular-season and tournament titles for the first time in a decade. The team received strong play from Chase Segal ’27, who went on to represent MICDS in the Class 3 State Championship. Over the course of the season, there was strong play from Hunter Bouchein ’29 (2nd Team All Metro, All Metro Tournament Team), Shil Penilla ’26 (All Metro Tournament Team), Clyde Siow ’26 (Most Improved Player Award), and Sean Hogan ’26 (Holtman Sportsmanship and Leadership Award). With a strong core of players returning, the Rams are looking forward to next season.
Girls Lacrosse
By Head Coach Lauren Ottensmeyer
I have been beyond blessed to have this team for my first year as a head coach. The team culture and connection were undeniable with this group. From strong leaders to hard workers, there was nothing I couldn’t bring to the table with them. While we faced hardships from close, tough losses, they showed up ready to go every day. The commitment and dedication these girls give to the lacrosse program is like nothing I have ever seen before. They always had positive energy and leaned on each other through everything. The highs were very high and fun, and they controlled the lows very well. The future of this program is bright, and I only see it getting better every single year. Thank you to our team manager, Kennan Miller ‘28. We wish our departing seniors well: Emma Allen ’26, Mia Brauer ’26, Claire Hofer ’26, Georgia Lochhead ’26, Amelia Mackin ’26, Katie Sheehan ’26, and Akira Washington ’26.
Post-Season Honors
First Team All-State:
Josie Ciaramita ’27
Amelia Mackin ’26
Honorable Mention All-State:
Victoria Noble ’28
First Team All-Metro:
Georgia Lochhead ’26
Amelia Mackin ’26
Josie Ciaramita ’27
Katherine Schott ’27
Victoria Noble ’28
Second Team All-Metro:
Katie Sheehan ’26
Lilah Pronger ’27
Tara Sadasivam ’27
All-Metro Honorable Mention:
Lydia Brown ’28
Girls Soccer
By Head Coach Megan Caulfield
The 2026 Girls Varsity Soccer season marked another exciting step forward for a program that continues to build momentum. Finishing with a 15-6 record, this young and energetic team demonstrated remarkable growth, maturity, and resilience throughout the season. Their commitment to one another was evident in every match, as they consistently raised the level of play through hard work, trust, and an unselfish approach to the game. The team’s chemistry became one of its greatest strengths, allowing talented individuals to come together as a cohesive unit capable of competing with anyone on the schedule. What began as a promising season quickly evolved into a statement about the bright future of the program.
The team’s success was reflected in both its attacking flair and defensive discipline. Scoring an impressive 88 goals while allowing just 21, the players showcased an exciting style of soccer built on creativity, relentless effort, and collective determination. LJ Harris ’28 led the team offensively and earned the honor of Metro League All-Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Every line of the field contributed to the team’s success, with players embracing their roles and pushing one another to improve each day. More importantly, this group established a culture of excellence, proving that growth is achieved through commitment, teamwork, and a shared belief in what can be accomplished together. The future is incredibly bright, and this season served as a powerful reminder of what this program is capable of becoming. The Rams were led by seniors Katie Ferris ’26, Aanya Handa ’26, Olivia Hill ’26, Charlotte Medler ’26, Edia O’Basuyi ’26, and Elsie Trilling ’26. Along with Harris, several Rams were recognized with All-Conference Honors: Kathleen Hammer ’27, Lily Brown ’28, Teagan Little ’28, Abby Walsh ’28, Stella Ciaramita ’29, and Vivienne Schwarzen ’29.
Boys Tennis
By Head Coach Patrick Huewe
The 2026 season was an incredible journey for the MICDS Boys Tennis team! While we didn’t capture the state title, we navigated a challenging and highly successful year after our move from Class 2 to Class 3 due to MSHSAA’s championship factor. This realignment put us in the same district as John Burroughs, which ultimately ended our team’s State tournament run, but we showed the entire state exactly what we are made of.
We remained one of the top teams in Missouri, proving our strength by decisively defeating Class 1 State Champion Clayton 9-0 and Class 2 State Champion Ladue 5-4. Class 3 was a major challenge, with our only other two losses coming to State finalist Rockhurst and third-place finisher Marquette. John Burroughs is a formidable team, and even in our hard-fought 5-2 district championship loss, we proved to be their toughest opponent. Ultimately, they went on to defeat Rockhurst 5-1 in the State Final.
Our overall record was an impressive 14-3, but the highlight was our triumphant performance at the Spring Break Tennis High School Invitational in Chattanooga, where we swept all four matches against elite competition from Knoxville, Nashville, Charlotte, and Springfield, Illinois.
The future is incredibly bright! We are returning almost our entire roster next season, with the exception of Owen Kizer ’26. We had spectacular individual performances this year: Kizer and Max Padratzik ’27 were sensational, finishing 2nd in the doubles championship. Our #3 singles player, Evan Gao ’29, had a flawless season, finishing undefeated, and teamed up with Reid Caruthers ’28 to place 4th at individual Districts and secure the Metro League Tournament title. Additionally, Kizer dominated the singles court, winning the Metro League Tournament by defeating the reigning Class 2 state singles champion. I am so proud of how this team battled all season long!
Boys Track & Field
By Head Coach Jim Lohr
The 2026 MICDS Track and Field season had many rollercoaster moments, with highs and lows all season long. Captain Miles Coleman ’26 managed to make the final at State in the shot put (15.72), after having his first throw being contested on Friday in the hardest rain I have ever seen at the Championship. The day was suspended, but Coleman had enough in that first throw to guarantee a spot in the top nine and make the final three throws. Coleman, who will be headed to West Point to play football in the fall, could not improve his position and finished in 9th. Coleman will leave MICDS as the best thrower in the school’s history. He is number 2 on the all-time shot put performance list and number 2 in the discus as well.
Henry Rohan ’26 was the defending 100m champion from last season and was looking to repeat at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately for Rohan, the road to the State Championship got a lot tougher following the meet at Maryville, where he was overcome by a hamstring injury that would leave him sidelined from the 100m until the District meet. Rohan was in rehab for his injury and did not run a 100m before the District meet. He was able to make the fast heat at Districts with the time he limped to at Maryville. He advanced easily, winning the district championship in 10.81. At the Sectional championship, Rohan was able to grab a third-place finish, not knowing that the eventual 100m Champion at state and the third-place finisher were in the same section. Rohan had slowed coming to the finish to save his injured leg, but it cost him in the seeding, with the prelims being washed out. He drew lane 2 of the slow heat as the slower third-place finisher, which meant he needed to run really fast to catch any of the top seeds in the second heat, which was seeded faster. Rohan competed well, and it was a great effort to just qualify for the State meet. He fell short in his heat, finishing second. This time ended up 9th overall, missing the podium by two hundredths of a second.
Muhammed Murphy ’26 qualified for State after a strong season in which he set the school high jump record (6-6 ¾). He broke the record previously held by Harrison Ivie ’18.
Murphy was coming back from a broken hip injury from last season and was able to finish All-District and qualify for State for his first time this year. He was able to jump 6-3 at the State Championships, landing him in 9th place. He will continue his track career next year at McKendree College.
Other outstanding performances from this season included Sebastian Harris ’26, who qualified for Sectionals in both the 110 hurdles and 300 m hurdles and will continue competing at Morehouse in Atlanta. Heru Bey ’27, who is one of the team’s hardest workers and was All-State in Cross Country earlier in the year, had qualified for Sectionals in the 1600m. He was able to achieve a personal goal of running 4:20 in the mile, and Bey checked that off his list by running 4:20.62 at the District Championships. Bey qualified for Sectionals and competed hard for 1200m, but he dropped off the pace set by the eventual State champion in that event.
The captains this season were Rohan, Coleman, and Murphy. The Charles Story Gillis ’16 Award went to Murphy, and the Greg Foster Award went to Rohan.
Water Polo
By Head Coach Claudio Mermelstein
This past water polo season was marked by the growth of a young roster. Excitement around water polo continues to build at MICDS, and that was demonstrated by the biggest varsity roster, 16 student-athletes, that we have had in years, and that was without a senior on the team. The growth of the underclassmen has this program poised to continue moving forward, as it grows alongside the students. During the season, the team secured a big win over Kirkwood and brought home a playoff win versus Clayton in a game played at MICDS. Advancing in the playoffs this year hit one of the team’s goals and was a deserved result for this group of student-athletes for all their hard work.
Several players had standout seasons individually. On the defensive end, Ryan Moore ’28 earned his second straight Defensive Player of the Year Award for MICDS. Moore was instrumental on both sides of the pool, serving as a team leader in goals and assists, underscoring his all-around skills. Keon Manshadi ’28 took home the MICDS Offensive Player of the Year Award, pacing the offensive output alongside Moore. These two sophomores will look to continue to lead the charge forward for our program towards continued growth and success.