Tandem Friends School News

This Week in Sports - Week #9

10/19/2024

Banner Day for Badgers on Court and on Fields! - 10/18/24 - MS Boys Soccer, MS VB, JV VB, V VB

The Badgers opened the season scoring seven goals on the road with a massive win (seven goals) at Grymes! That set the tone for what has been an amazing season under the guidance of Coaches Lauren and Tony. The Badgers started with a flurry of goals and wins - and then kept their focus despite a rainy midseason stretch. When they returned to action, the team took on Waldorf and won easily. The signature of this team has been their incredible passing - starting with Levie and Peter's efforts in the goal, the Badgers have moved the ball up the field with great spacing and precision.

This Week in Sports - Week #9

10/18/2024

What a great week in Tandem sports - so many games and so many great team and individual performances. Lots to read below, but it's all inspiring. Go Badgers!

Bringing Home the Hardware: Middle School XC Excels at Grymes! - MS XC - 10/17/24
As he approached the base of the final hill, Ethan found another gear. He had paced himself throughout the race, a very competitive one against Grymes and Fredericksburg Academy on a hilly horse farm. He had already run up several of what Coach Casey described as "VERY intense hills" and this one was the biggest. Still, Ethan went to work - passing runners as he broke the tape with a new PR of 12:38, a 41 second improvement and a second place medal. Congratulations, Ethan! Luke, finishing fourth overall, was hot on his tail in an impressive time of 12:50!

This Week in Sports - Week #8

10/11/2024

It was an exciting week for Tandem Athletics! The Middle School Volleyball team travelled to STAB and won on the road, while the Middle School Soccer team scored seven goals against Waldorf at home! Varsity Volleyball played a tight match in front of a large crowd on Tuesday vs Highland, and Varsity Soccer played an exciting game on the road at RMA. Middle School Cross Country achieved great success at Darden Towe yesterday - Varsity Cross Country returns to Panorama Farms tomorrow. Thanks!

Middle School Cross Country Shines at CCS Invite - 10/11/24 - MS XC

Steep and difficult, the mile mark at the Darden Towe Cross Country Course presents a serious challenge to runners as they approach. That did not stop Tandem from flying at full speed! The Badgers have been training hard with Coaches Melissa and Casey for weeks on significant inclines! As a result, the team was well prepared for the first competition on Thursday afternoon! Over fifteen teams toed the line at the Charlottesville Catholic Cross Country Invitational, and as the whistle sounded to begin the race, it was clear that Tandem was up to the task.

This Week in Tandem Sports - Week 7

10/4/2024

It was a great week for Tandem Athletics! Varsity Cross Country dominated the GPAC XC Meet at Quantico - boys were 1st and girls finished 2nd. Both teams had at least three runners in the top ten! Varsity Volleyball beat Foxcroft 3-0; they've now won 18 consecutive sets! Middle School Volleyball had an exciting game with Charlottesville Day School, winning a set and playing at a high level.

V Volleyball - Eighteen Sets in a Row - 10/2/24

Pushed to their limits, the Badgers trailed for much of the third set. Foxcroft had been getting hammered by vicious Tandem hitters early in the match, so they focused on blocking at the net. Foxcroft had some success with this strategy, leading 11-7, and Tandem called timeout. From then on, the Badgers were in attack mode, focused on closing out today's game with a 3-0 sweep! In need of some magic, down 21-20, Tessa delivered a massive cross court, and the ball was back in Sofia's hands. With a tricky left handed spin, Sofia delivered a sequence of aces, each more difficult than last to return. She was responsible for the last five points, including a massive slam from Mary in the middle of the net. The Badgers clinched the final set, 25-21, their 18th in a row!

This Week in Tandem Sports - Week #6

9/27/2024

While the weather kept our soccer players off their playing surface, the action in the Badger Den was very exciting. Varsity Volleyball has now won 6 straight matches and 12 straight sets, including a 3-0 victory against RMA on their home floor this week. Middle School Volleyball played an exciting match against Charlottesville Day School on Tuesday. They have improved dramatically over the course of the season. Fingers crossed for warm weather and sunshine next week!

Varsity Volleyball Takes Down RMA 3-0 - 9/25/24

The ball was hit so hard it seemed to crack the air itself, rocketing past the stunned defenders like a comet and slamming into the court with such force that the entire gymnasium shook. A week ago, the Badgers played the same team on the road... giving RMA ample time to prepare for Chloe's outside hitting. The truth is though, no amount of practice could brace them for the sheer power and precision she brings to the court everyday. As a result, the defense was constantly scrambling.

This Week in Tandem Sports

8/1/2024

This week featured a big win for MS Volleyball over Covenant, Varsity Volleyball dominated Wakefield Country Day School, and Varsity XC won the GPAC opener at Darden Towe.

Varsity XC Dominates GPAC Season Opener

On Tuesday, September 17, Charlottesville weather called for rain. Yes - perfect Cross Country weather! The Badgers enthusiasm was palpable, but Albemarle Parks had other plans and cancelled the meet. But did we cancel practice? NO! The Tandem Cross Country team took this opportunity to fly through the neighborhoods, crushing a difficult tempo workout, enjoying a downpour of rain - the best Mother Nature had to offer.

On Wednesday, September 18, Mother Nature continued to provide "real" Cross Country weather. So the Badgers ran in the rain again, this time a shake out to prepare for their opening GPAC meet. Every runner was soaking wet only a few minutes in, building toughness and character that will last the entire season. Julia ran like a lightning bolt because she "just wanted it to be over" - her pace and stride length increasing as she flew down Tandem Lane.

On Thursday, September 19 the rain finally stopped. Darn! Replaced with heat and humidity, the Tandem Badgers had another challenge ahead of them as they opened the GPAC season with strength and composure. As soon as the gun went off, Tandem moved into position, prepared to defend their GPAC title.

Tandem Runner Gets National Recognition

5/31/2024

I am pleased to announce that Tandem Athletics has broken through to the NATIONAL LEVEL! 9th grader Hayes B has had a legendary season. At the Dogwood Invitational, he ran a 9:55 3200m and at the VISAA State Championships he ran 4:33 in the mile for a 5th place finish! Hayes’s 9:55 and 4:33 hit the provisional marks for NEW BALANCE NATIONALS in the freshman section and his 4:33 hits the automatic qualifying standard for NIKE NATIONALS for freshmen! Congrats to Hayes B, Coach Jason Farr, and Coach Ned Fischer!!!

Spring All-Conference Honors Announced

5/18/2024

Congratulations to our spring varsity athletes who have been selected as recipients of GPAC All-Conference Honors. In Varsity Girls Soccer: Maggie W , Emma P, and Tessa D received Second Team honors. In Varsity Boys Lacrosse: Matt M, Alden S and Luca R-T received honors. Way to go, Badgers!

Senior Sports Recognition and College Signing

5/16/2024

It was Senior Sports Recognition and Signing Day at Tandem on May 14. Two of our seniors will be playing varsity sports in college - Matt M will play lacrosse at Georgian Court, and De'Angelo Gordon will play soccer at Mary Baldwin. We couldn't be prouder of these Badgers! Tandem teams that won conference season or tournament championships were presented with banners that will hang in the gym (volleyball regular season co-champs, cross country regular season and tourney champs, cross county state champs). Conference Coaches of the Year Scottie Chambers and Megan Pimentel (volleyball) and Jason Farr (Cross Country) were honored. All of our senior athletes were celebrated that day as well. Athletic Director Sarana Hyatt presented each senior athlete with a nice memory of their sports time at Tandem. Finally, this year's Sportspersons of the Year were announced - seniors Alden S and Desteny Reyes-Bonilla, both committed, multi-sport athletes throughout their many years at Tandem. Well done, Badgers! It was a great day celebrating Tandem Athletics!