Winter Sports Highlights - 2024-2025

Congratulations to our Middle and Upper School winter team athletes and coaches on a successful winter sports season! From basketball to climbing, swimming to ice hockey, the 'Beests played hard, had fun, and showed SSFS's signature 'Beestly team spirit! See team summaries, below.

BASKETBALL

US Varsity Women's Basketball

Head Coach Haashim Drinkard 
This season, the Varsity Women’s Basketball team finished with a league record of 9-3, which placed them as the third seed in the league. The team used their low post prowess to dominate teams in the paint both on offense and defense. The defense really stood out—one coach called it the “Green Wall.” The team grew stronger as the season went on, scoring a victory over the eventual champion JDS along the way.  The season ended with a tough loss in the semifinals. The cohesion, growth, composure and toughness they showed put the rest of the league on notice that this team is a force to be reckoned with. 

PVAC All Conference Team

• 1st team: Noel M. 
• 2nd team: Julia P.
• 3rd team: Quinlan G-P

US Junior Varsity Men’s Basketball

Head Coach Ronnie Ross
This year's JV Boys Basketball Team finished with a league record of 4-5, good enough for sixth place in the 11-team league. This record also qualified them for the conference tournament. The team averaged 47 points a game while surrendering 51. The team was characterized by their aggressive, pressing style, often forcing teams into mistakes that led to easy, transition buckets on the other end. The team was also marked by its selflessness and camaraderie, perhaps best exemplified by the fact that every single player recorded at least one point this year.
 

US Varsity Men’s Basketball

Head Coach Luis Lopez
This year, the boy’s varsity team had a new structure for the first time ever. Instead of the traditional Varsity and JV team, we had an independent varsity team and a secondary varsity team that played mostly PVAC conference games, with occasional out of conference. The PVAC varsity team finished the season with an overall record of 18-7 and 16-4 in the conference losing in the PVAC championship to a very good Berman team. The team battled a lot of adversity this season with injuries but were still able to be a very strong team that finished as the runner-up. From day one we tried to establish a team of unity and togetherness off the court and a suffocating defense and fast paced- spread the ball around offense on the court. Three of the boys were able to make all conference teams and with a lot of youth on the team, the future is bright. 

As the Head Coach along with an awesome colleague in Coach Frank, we are very proud of these young men and we are thankful for the seniors who will do great things in their lives moving forward and really appreciated their leadership throughout the season. While winning was the goal, winning or losing with good character was more important. I hope these boys learned from me as much as I learned from them. Beest on 3, Family on 6!

PVAC all conference team

• James G. - 1st team
• Josh L-R. - 2nd team
• Dallas C - 3rd team

US Men’s Independent Basketball

Written by Shane Wellman, Member of Men’s Independent team  
The SSFS Men’s Independent team completed a full season and did something no other team here had done before: playing a full independent season without belonging to a conference. They accepted the challenge of trying something new and finished the season with a 19-16 record. Throughout the ups and downs during the season, the team exhibited incredible togetherness and mental fortitude to finish the season strong. Furthermore, the team took some trips during the season, going to Salisbury, MD, for a tournament and also going down to South Carolina, where they were able to win a hard-fought championship against teams from across the nation while proudly representing Sandy Spring.

Apart from the team's success, several individuals on the team also had great achievements. Senior captain Darrion Sardo broke the 1000-point threshold during the season and committed to playing college basketball at Alma College. Additionally, Junior Steve Huan was invited and participated in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders event during NBA All-Star Week in San Francisco. These accomplishments exhibit the program's ability to hone excellence in both athletics and academics to the next level.

MS Girls Basketball

MS Girls Basketball - Green Team

Head Coach David Milord
Although the season didn’t end how we would have wanted it to, I’m so proud of these girls' development as the year progressed. We had a 5-2 season, losing in the semi finals of the playoffs on the road to a tough Berman team. However, we proved a lot, leading by as much as 10 during the game. It came down to the last shot, and makes and misses are part of the game, and this time we were on the misses side of it. 

I had the privilege of watching 4 players make a jump from Gold to Green and face challenges, play big minutes, and contribute to winning basketball - big shout out to Kateri, Sophia, Zoe, and Olivia! Ella, our lone 6th grader on the squad, was big time all year. Cala, returning from an injury last year, came back and led us every single day in practices and games, was mentally and physically tough for us, and set a great tone for our team.

To my 8th graders - Maria, Martha, and Liv, enjoy the last bit of middle school! I wish you 3 nothing but the best going into high school. Remember to have fun, and be people first, and basketball players second. You will have plenty of people telling you what to do, where to go, how to live, and who to be. Always be true to you. 

Once again, I’m proud of our efforts this season and the fact that everyone got a chance to be part of the experience! Go Beests!

MS Girls Basketball - Gold Team

Head Coach Dan Conway
If measured by wins, you might think the MS Gold team was not very successful. But if measured by skill improvement, understanding of the game, willingness to listen and learn, the ability to pick up new drills and concepts, and by the amount of fun we had, this team was wildly successful. 

We started the season practicing the basic drills of dribbling, shooting, and passing. I introduced some fairly mid- to high-level drills, and they picked them up very quickly. Then we progressed to learning the two main defenses - guarding one person, and zone defense. 

Our first game was against a team that was much bigger, but we battled and did our best, and Aderes even hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer. The next game was more evenly matched and we managed to score multiple baskets and a free throw. The zone defense and trapping made things difficult for the opponent. Our last game, unfortunately, was cancelled.

This team was led by co-captains Sophie and Georgie, who were voted in by their peers. I say with utmost confidence that every single player improved their game, some by a quite noticeable amount. I look forward to watching them continue to improve. GO BEESTS!

MS Boys Basketball

MS Boy's Basketball - Green Team

Head Coach Frank Horton
The Middle School Boys Green team started the year with a few close wins and tough losses. It was a challenge to get all 15 players enough playing time to be comfortable with one another and running the offensive set play. After a 4-2 start, we lost two close games, and our record was 4-4. With three games remaining in the season, we won one of three, ending the season at 5-6. We were fortunate that we managed to qualify for the conference playoffs. Prior to the start of the playoffs, the message was: (1) no matter the rankings, any team can be defeated, (2) smart basketball usually wins, and (3) how much do you want to be a part of school history? The last boys middle school team to win the conference championship was in 1996. 

We went on the road to the number 2 team (Milton) and defeated them by three points. The next opponent (on the road) was the number 4 team (JDS) and we defeated them by five points. The championship game was on the home court of the number one team, Berman. It was a very tough game throughout, and we fought all game to keep the lead. We had excellent contributions from Evan (great defense, clutch three pointer), Decklan (great rebounding and scoring), Issac (timely three pointers in the first and second half), Kayden (huge three pointer in the second half and great defense); Damien had a very good all around game on offense and defense. He scored the last basket (on a free throw) that ended the game. The overall best player in the championship game was Nathan G. He was tremendous with his smart play. He was clutch in the fourth quarter by making 7-8 free throws. The final score of the championship game was: SSFS 38 - Berman 31. I am so proud of these boys and happy for them as they accomplished a feat that many never expected. They are in school history forever! It was a complete team effort. To see the joy on their faces as the final buzzer sounded was priceless!! Go Beests!!

MS Boy's Basketball - Gold Team

Head Coach Bryce Williams
The Middle School Boys Gold basketball had a season of growing and learning from our tryouts to our last game. The team worked really hard improving their skills including transition defense to being able to successfully run a 2-3 zone defense and being able to find the open player and make the correct pass. Each of our games were tightly contested, and we always competed and fought hard; we were able to capture several wins. We hope to see them again playing in the future, whether at the middle or high school level, and wish everyone luck for the rest of the school year and going forward. 

MS Boy's Basketball - White Team

Head Coach John Fitzgerald
At the beginning of the season, many of the boys were quite shy and apprehensive about their skills on the court. However, as the season progressed, it was truly rewarding to witness their transformation. Through dedicated practice and focusing on developing their basketball skills, each player began to gain confidence in their abilities. Although the team only participated in two official games this season, the boys consistently challenged themselves by competing against each other in one-on-one, two-on-two, and three-on-three scrimmages. They engaged in various skill-level games that allowed them to compete with one another with great success. These internal competitions were not only fun, but also instrumental in building their skills and teamwork. May they find continued success as they play basketball in the future.

SWIMMING

Varsity Women’s and Men’s Swimming

Head Coach Erin O’Leary
Sandy Spring Friends School competed in their first-ever dual meet this season, competing against DeMatha, St. Mary’s Ryken, Elizabeth Seton, and Visitation. This was an incredible learning experience for us, as we competed in this meet with only 3 practices at the University of Maryland pool. After a few more practices, we had a very busy championship season.  Four students competed at the Washington Metros championships, swimming the 200 freestyle relay, as well as senior Brennan Shaw competing in the 50 freestyle.  This meet is incredibly challenging and requires a qualifying time, attracting the best students from around the DMV. Two days after Metros, we competed in the PVAC championships at The St. James. Our boys finished 3rd (behind 2nd by only one point!) and our girls finished 4th.  We had some incredible individual swims as well:    

PVAC First Team

• Abraham Watts: 50 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke
• Boys 200 Freestyle Relay: Abraham Watts, Owen Grahl, Luke Amberman, and James Edmonds-Moore

PVAC Second Team

• Boys 200 Medley Relay: Abraham Watts, Luke Amberman, Brennan Shaw, and Owen Grahl
• Owen Grahl: 200 Freestyle
• Brennan Shaw: 50 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly
• Luke Amberman: 100 Freestyle
• Rayna Wofford: 500 Freestyle

 

ROCK CLIMBING

Head Coach David Ciamarra
After crowning Sportrock RIO as our newly-found practice facility to begin the season, this team performed tremendously in every opportunity that was placed in front of them all season long. From establishing consistent belay partners, to solving different routes each day, to climbing until the final second, this team displayed resilience and determination in ways that allowed them to seek their full potential as a team each and every day. Most notably, in the championship comp at Movement Crystal City, the men’s team finished 3rd overall with an astounding 279 points, along with Simon Menschik individually placing 3rd overall for males, with 70 points. The women’s team showed a tremendous effort as well, with Corinna Wakefield leading the girls team with 36 points. Overall, the team had shown an immense level of progression and heart, that was just some of the many ways in which made this season one to remember. Congratulations to everyone on the Rock Climbing team on a memorable and fantastic season! 

ICE HOCKEY (Montgomery Co. Co-op Team)

Sandy Spring hockey players continue to play in the Montgomery Hockey Conference, which is part of the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League, as members of a Co-op team. Co-op teams are made up of several schools that combine to make one squad. Since 2010, SSFS players have suited up with the Sherwood HS Warriors.  Although SSFS's contributions to the Sherwood Co-op hockey team have been small in number, their plays on the ice have had a large impact on the team. This year’s team posted a 9-6 record in the regular season.  Noi finished his senior year top of the team in points with 19 goals and 10 assists, and Artin finished second in points with 15 goals and 9 assists.  

 

INTRAMURALS

Yoga

Led by Anthony Perdue
The winter yoga program began in the AC Multipurpose room; however, it was a bit loud and busy. We then tried to do Yoga in Yarnall, the Dance Studio, and then ultimately landed in US 303. Once we got started and had a consistent space, we were able to really learn and practice Yoga. In the Winter season, we practiced Vinyasa Flow Yoga as well as other meditative exercises to strengthen our minds and bodies. We practiced poses like Tree pose, Warrior 1, Warrior 2, Warrior 3, Plank, pigeon pose, and of course our final resting pose, corpse pose. We also practiced other relaxation methods as well like meditation, Om chants, tapping, and breathwork. We also did some weight room exercises to push our bodies once a week before we did the relaxing Yoga practice. We also journaled and reflected on the Yogic Philosophies from the Yoga Sutra to deepen our understanding of Yoga on and off the mat. 

Morley Games

Led by Demetri Orlando
The winter weather was not kind to Morley Games this year. We got off to a great start in December and had fantastic energy on the Frazleerham field. The students truly played as a team, and everyone's full participation created many joyful afternoons playing this game which is an SSFS tradition. Unfortunately, January's sustained cold temperatures prematurely ended our season. We had a few days of indoor card games and bowling in the hallway, but in the end, the winter weather got the best of us. Looking forward to next year, we intend to come back strong, and stock up on winter wear.