Winter 2023 Athletics Highlights

With the Winter Athletics season wrapped up, take a look back at the big news in wrestling and swimming; dive into the highlights gallery; and read the highlights from seven more High School and Middle School teams. 

Back-to-Back Wrestling Champions

In early February, the GDS Men’s Varsity Wrestling Team won the Mid-Atlantic League (MAC) Championships for the second year in a row. This article features a run-down of the championships, achievements since then, and an interview with head coach Grayson Shepperd.

Though the season got off to a “shaky start,” according to captain William Edwards ’23, as several wrestlers stepped away from the team, the core that remained was ready for the stringent commitment needed to build on their 2021-22 season success. They didn’t disappoint.

Read the story

Swimming

The story of GDS swimming this year—perhaps the story of the year in GDS athletics overall—is the runaway record-breaking season of the newly minted DC States MVP Adriano Arioti ’24. At the start of the season, Adriano already held three GDS swimming records. Now, at the end of his junior year, he holds them all, alongside his relay teammates (diving not included).  

Atop the winners’ podium, the heads of Adriano’s rivals in second and third place are level with his despite their position on lower steps. And that’s the only place they can rival him. Off the blocks and especially underwater, Adriano’s been practically unbeatable. Swimming underwater for the maximum-allowed distance of 15 meters, he builds up leads that compound with each turn. After each wall push, he goes full-on dolphin mode for another 15 meters underwater. Read more GDS Swimming highlights and records >>

Read the Washington Post write-up about Adriano’s dominant season.
 

VIEW THE WINTER ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS GALLERY

Highlights from the High School 

Coed Winter Track and Field

In the final week of the season, GDS found success at two important meets. First, at the DC State Athletics Association Championship on February 14, GDS finished 9th in women’s competitions and 5th in men’s competitions. Nate Bazemore ’23 finished third in the 800 meters, Luke Cohen ’23 finished fourth in the 3200 meters, and Shiv Raman ’23 finished 7th in the high jump. In addition to those scoring individuals, the 4x800 team finished second in the city and the other two relay teams placed fourth. Our three relay teams in the women’s events all captured sixth-place results as well! The strength of the school’s relay teams speaks to the depth and teamwork in the program.

At Episcopal High School’s Hoxton Invitational on February 11, GDS finished second among men’s teams and fifth among women. GDS runners delivered a heap of second-place individual finishes: Nathaniel Mintzer ’24 in the 55-meter dash, Zachary Kovner ’24 in the 300-meter dash, Nate Bazemore in both the high jump and the 1,000 meters, Alexandra Solomon ’26 in the 55-meter hurdles, and Christian Freeman ’23 in the 55-meter hurdles as well. The women’s 4x200 meter relay team—Alexandra, Jaya Newingham ’25, Izzie Hsu ’25, and Maggie Locascio ’24—finished second as did the men’s 4x800 meter relay team—Thomas Ogada ’24, Navin Desai ’24, Shiv Raman ’23, and Ethan Wolin ’23. GDS set nearly countless personal bests in those final two meets and the core of the team is well-positioned for a strong showing in the spring outdoor track season!

Women’s Varsity Basketball

Madisyn “Madi” Moore-Nicholson ’24 scored 43 points in an overtime win over Berman Hebrew Academy (70-61), setting the GDS Basketball single-game points record. She also pulled down 11 rebounds. Madi has had an impressive ten double-doubles this season, averaging 25.7 points and 12 rebounds per game.

The team delivered huge wins over Episcopal High School and DC International School on GDS Winter Sports Saturday. 

Cai Roberson had a double-double* of 18 points and 10 rebounds in a win against Madeira. 

Middle School Highlights 

Sports Management

A new Middle School Sports Management class brought new coverage and support to our teams. Last Friday, they presented their work at an assembly. Watch their end-of-season report >>

Girls’ A Team Basketball

• Iris ’28 and Jozi ’28 have led the team in scoring this season.
• Our A team beat Potomac girls A at home for the first time. Iris led all scores with 20 points.
• Jozi scored a game-high 21 points in a convincing win over DCI.
• Madeline ’27 has brought great energy this season in games with her on-court aggression and leadership.
• Shanez ’27 and Alexis ’27 have been our most-improved players this year.
• The A team has made big statements as a program with wins against Flint Hill, Stone Ridge, and Maret.

Boys’ B Team Basketball

• Gavin ’28 has led the team in double-doubles, almost notching a triple-double with blocks against St. Stephens-St. Agnes!
• Rafa ’28 has been the go-to scorer all season, with a game-high 21 points in a big on-the-road win at Flint Hill.
• Asa ’28 leads the team in charges taken, sparking an aggressive defensive front that leads to great transition runs. 
• Raiden ’28 has earned GDS MS Basketball’s “Sixth Man of the Year” title, playing tough defensively and knocking down big shots on offense. (The “Sixth Man” title originates with the NBA’s selection of a best-performing player for his team coming off the bench as a substitute.)

MS Track

• The Middle School Winter Track Team participated in four small track meets. In December, during the first track meet, our three boys' 4x400m relay teams took first, third, and fourth place, while our three girls' teams took first, third, and sixth. 
• Noah ’28 and Eva ’27 won the 800m races with respective times of  2:37.1 and 2:53.9 seconds. James ’27 and Helena ’28 won the 1600m races with respective times of  06:08.37 and 06:36.3 seconds.
• In January, during the second meet of the year, our boys' and girls' 4x200m relay teams both placed second. Noah, Justin ’28, and Caleb ’28 placed in the top three in the 400m race.

MS Wrestling

Congratulations to Blaze ’28, who went undefeated this year!

Boxing Training & Yoga

Middle School boxing and yoga students cross-trained throughout the Winter Sports season. Twice per week, they received boxing lessons at Urban Boxing in Bethesda, where they learned basic terminology and the correct technique to throw various punches and combinations. They practiced both offensive and defensive boxing skills on a heavy bag, with a partner wearing boxing mitts, and in a controlled setting against an instructor in the ring. Each class included fitness components to increase students' endurance, strength, and agility. During yoga sessions, they learned the English and Sanskrit names of yoga poses, practiced meditation and flowing through a sequence of yoga postures, and created sequences of their own which they taught their peers. After this long season, the students in the Boxing & Yoga group should be ready to join a studio or take a class in either activity!

Looking ahead!

Spring Sports Saturday is on Earth Day! On April 22, plan to spend much of the day on campus, cheering our spring sports teams. Go, Hoppers!
 

More Swimming Statistics!

All GDS Men’s Swimming Records are held by Adriano Arioti.

200 Free (1:40.36)
200IM (1:46.36)
50 Free (21.72)
100 Fly (47.32)
100 Free (45.13)
500 Free (4:36.77)
100 Back (47.15)
100 Breast (58.61)
Medley Relay (1:38.05 by John Yuan/Curan Palmer/Adriano/Peter Kumar)
200 Free Relay (1.31.04 by Joseph Stocker/Curan/Adriano/John)
400 Free Relay (3:20.18 by Joseph/Curan/Adriano/John)

DC State Swimming Meet Highlights 
Adriano Arioti MVP won 200IM & 500 Free
Curan Palmer took second place in Breaststroke, third place in 50 Freestyle
Antonio Brooks placed fourth in the 100 Breaststroke
The men’s team finished third and the women’s team finished sixth in the State Championship Meet.

DC Metros Highlights 

Adriano Arioti won the 100 Fly in record time and won the 100 Backstroke.
Curan Palmer made B finals in both the 200 Free and 100 Breaststroke.
Both the Medley and 200 Freestyle Relay teams made the B finals.
GDS finished 15th out of 35 teams.

MAC Championships

The men placed second in MAC.
Adriano won Backstroke and Butterfly, while also setting league and pool records.

ISL Championships 

Antonia Brooks placed in the 100 Breaststroke.