Last weekend, our Varsity Boys Basketball players (just those not playing a fall sport) competed in Richmond in the Commonwealth Basketball Group's fall showcase series as part of their preseason practice and prep for the upcoming season. They played four games (winning 3 and losing 1) and averaged 76 points a game against some serious high school competition. Way to go, Badgers! Sounds like a great season might be just around the corner.
2024 was an excellent Cross Country season for Dhruvi, but she's a different runner this season. She's 2025 Dhruvi, and she has bigger goals for this season. "I want to break 30:00 and qualify for GPAC Championships," she mentioned on a run last week, a share goal with her Co-Captain, Avery. Dhruvi has been working closely with Avery, whose work ethic is only matched by her leadership ability. For this duo to run under 30:00, they would need run around 9:45 per mile. Last week, at the Tandem Two Mile, Dhruvi ran 18:34 - 9:17 per mile. Avery ran 16:40 - 8:20 per mile. Today, at the Pole Green Invitational, running among seventy other teams, Dhruvi and Avery each ran an even faster pace than last week - despite running a longer distance on a far more difficult course. Dhruvi's time of 28:20 (a GPAC Qualifier!) comes out 9:08 per mile - nine seconds faster than her two mile pace from a week ago! Additionally, Dhruvi dropped over TWO MINUTES off of her PR from 2024! Avery ran 25:58 - almost identical to her pace from the Tandem Two Mile - shattering her old PR of 29:29 by FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES and qualifying her for the GPAC Championships! (They're at Darden Towe on October 29. Don't miss it.)
Middle School Soccer began way back on the first day of school! Since that time, this team has put in the work! These Badgers have focused on passing, trapping, dribbling, shooting, spacing and defensive positioning. Today, as they took the field in uniform for the first time, Tandem worked together as they pushed their opponent to the brink.
With her body entirely horizontal to the ground, Adela's eyes continued to track the ball as it traveled out of bounds. It was 24-23, with Tandem trailing. Eastern Mennonite sent a talented player to the service line... and she fired a fierce serve right into the middle of the court. Aurelia, with quick instincts and strong hands, was able to keep the ball alive, deflecting it towards her teammate. Adela stuck her arms out, maintaining her platform. Miraculously, she was able to make contact with the ball and send it back over the net! Eastern Mennonite could only muster a soft hit back into the net, and Tandem tied the game! Moments later, Aurelia took a deep breath and launched a furious serve - an ace - giving Tandem the lead! Aurelia then closed out the set, with a second ace, this time the ball made its way directly to the ground. Tandem took the first set, 26-24.
As soon as they walked into the gym, the Badgers set up to do their pepper drills and hitting lines. On one side of the floor Retta, Aggie and Annie were setting up their platforms, with slight upward motions, passing the ball to one another. On the other, Cora, Freya, Willa and Clara were working on their hitting, flicking their wrist and focusing on their footwork on the approach. Their skills are growing each day! Inspired by attending a close Tandem Varsity game yesterday as a team, the Middle School Girls truly excelled this afternoon against Covenant.