Sanford Athletes Enjoy Success at the State Level

“I am incredibly proud of the dedication our swimmers showed from day one. They set out every day to give their best at practice and in competition,” said head coach Jenny Morris, also an Upper School history instructor. “Their hard work allowed them to earn their best times and achieve beyond their expectations.” Her words actually could apply to all of the winter sports teams, as Sanford athletes and their coaches are known for this type of commitment and dedication in every sport.

The girls’ swim team finished fifth in the state meets. Seven girls—Annie Christopher, Bella Warner, Brianna Kung, Gabi Hunt, Katie Correll, Lindsay Colgan, and Lindsay Kalish—qualified for individual events and all three relays. The boys’ team sent five swimmers—Aaron Lafferty, Aaron Wilmore, Jacob Lafferty, Connor Long and Ethan Citro—who qualified for a variety of events and all three relays. The relay teams for both the boys’ and girls’ teams made it back to swim in the finals.

Congratulations to sophomore swimmer Bella Warner for her second consecutive year as first team All-State, as determined by the Delaware High School Swimming Coaches Association. Fellow teammates Lindsay Kalish and Annie Christopher garnered All-State honorable mention for girls, and Aaron Wilmore earned All-State honorable mention for boys.

Four Sanford wrestlers qualified for the state tournament, including two freshmen—Jason Lamey and Wyatt Seder-Burnaford. Kyle McDonough was a state runner-up at 145 lbs., concluding his high school career as a four time All-State wrestler. Andrew Brooks won the state title at 152 lbs., and is also a four-time state placer. Brooks is the first-ever Sanford wrestler to become a two-time state champion.

Additionally, McDonough and Brooks each earned over 100 wins in their wrestling careers at Sanford, with Brooks now holding the school record for most wins ever. Upper School History Teacher and Wrestling Coach Eric Peoples noted, “Kyle and Andrew are two of the most accomplished wrestlers in Sanford School history. They represent what it means to be leaders on and off the mat. While they will be missed by the team next year, they both have bright futures ahead of them.”

The girls’ and boys’ basketball teams are no strangers to state competition. Both of these teams enjoyed first place honors in the Delaware Independent Schools Conference (DISC). Individually, the Lady Warriors were recognized by the DISC coaches as follows: First Team—Allie Kubek, Lauren Park-Lane, Olivia Tucker; Second Team—Samantha Pollich; and Honorable Mention—Kanisa Tucker. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Lady Warriors advanced to the state tournament. At the Bob Carpenter Center on Sunday, March 4th, the Lady Warriors' journey ended in a closely matched game with Ursuline Academy by the score of 51–48 in the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) quarterfinals.

Congratulations to Lauren Park-Lane for being recognized as a First Team All-State player by the Delaware Sports Broadcasters Association (DSBA). Joining Park-Lane are teammates Allie Kubek, Third Team; Olivia Tucker, Third Team; and Samantha Pollich, Honorable Mention.

The boys’ team faced the defending state champion, the Smyrna Eagles, at the Bob Carpenter Center in the tournament semifinals on Thursday, March 8th. In another nail-biter, the Warriors ultimately lost to Smyrna with a score of 47–45.

Representing Sanford on the All-State boys’ team, also as determined by the DSBA, are Jyare Davis, First Team; and Nnanna Njoku and Hassan Perkins, Honorable Mention.

We offer our congratulations and thanks to the coaches, the athletes, and the community for proudly representing Sanford and for giving us another outstanding winter season of excellent sportsmanship and athletic performances.