Harding Athletic Highlights -November 18, 2022

11/16/2022

Jason Embry

2022-2023 Winter Athletic Information

Parents and Athletes:

Please find information below for the Winter Athletic Season at Harding Academy. Questions on any aspects of the programs should be directed to the Head Coach of each sport.

Girls’ Varsity Basketball

Girls’ Varsity Basketball practice will begin on Monday, November 21st. Players should have blue or gray Harding athletic shorts and a Harding t-shirt to wear under their reversible practice jerseys for practice (will be handed out the first day), along with basketball shoes. Please stay connected to CompassNet for the latest game and practice information. Practice will take place in the Harding gym after school from 3:30-5:00pm or 5:05-6:35pm. We will alternate weeks with the varsity boys team in regards to early or late practice. There will be a study hall provided for the girls prior to late practice weeks.

The Girls’ Varsity Basketball Parent Meeting will be held in-person on Monday, Nov. 28 at 5:15PM in the middle school art room.

Any questions can be directed to Head Coach Luke Countryman (countrymanl@hardingacademy.us)

Boys Varsity/JV Basketball

Boys varsity basketball practice will officially begin on Tuesday, November 22. We will practice from 1:35-3:05 that day due to our 11:30 dismissal. Players should have blue or gray Harding athletic shorts and a reversible jersey for practice (will be handed out the first day), along with basketball shoes. Please stay connected to CompassNet for the latest game and practice information. Practice will take place in the Harding gym after school from 3:30-5:00pm or 5:05-6:35pm. We will alternate weeks with the varsity girls' team this year for practice. There will be a study hall provided for the boys on late practice weeks before practice.

The Basketball Parent Meeting will be held in-person on Monday, November 28 at 6:30PM in the gym.

Questions can be directed to Head Coach Jason Embry (embryj@hardingacademy.us).

Girls Developmental Basketball

The developmental girls team will begin practice on Monday, November 28. Practice will alternate weekly with the boys developmental team between the Harding gym in the evening and the JCC after school (3 days per week). For practice, the girls will need shorts, basketball shoes, and a Harding T-shirt. Ideally, each girl should bring her own ball (with her name on it) to practices so we can maximize ball handling drills. Please also make sure they bring sweatpants and sweatshirts to stay warm after practice once the weather turns. There will be a series of intrasquad Blue vs. White games beginning in January. These games will be played as full middle school games with officials in the Roberts Gymnasium.

The Developmental Girls Team Parents' Meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 5:15pm in the MS Art Room.

Please contact Coach Ken Folger with any questions (folgerk@hardingacademy.us).

Boys Developmental Basketball

Boys Developmental basketball practice will begin on Monday, November 28. The boys will need shorts, t-shirts and basketball shoes. Please also make sure the boys bring sweatpants and sweatshirts to stay warm after practice when the weather turns. Practice will alternate weekly with the girls developmental team between the Harding gym in the evening and the JCC after school (3 days per week). We have scheduled a series of intrasquad Blue vs. White games in December, January, and February. These games will be played as full middle school games with officials in the Roberts Gymnasium.

The Developmental Boys Parent Meeting will be in person on Friday, December 2nd at 5:15 in the gym.

Any questions should be directed to Coach Josh Horn (joshuahorn23@gmail.com).

Swimming- Competitive Season

The competitive swim team is open to all middle school students, regardless of swimming ability. Practices will begin on Monday, November 28 and will run from 3:15pm to 4:00pm, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Students will take a bus to Ensworth Natatorium for workouts and will be back at Harding by approximately 4:15pm. On Wednesdays students will be able to participate in Dryland training if they choose. It will be from 3:30-4:15 at Harding.

Note: Middle School students participating in other sports or activities can still join the team; I am happy to work out the details with the other coaches/activity leaders.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Coach Victoria Bahr (bahrv@hardingacademy.us).

Basketball Cheerleading

Basketball cheerleading is open to all students grades 6-8. We cheer for all boys and girls varsity basketball home games. The first practice of the season will be Tuesday, November 29 from 3:30-4:30. More information, season schedule, and uniform information will be given at the parent meeting on Monday, November 28 at 5:00pm via Google Meet.

Google Meet link: Parent Meeting for Basketball Cheer
Monday, November 28 · 5:00 – 5:30pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/orp-wbbc-fra

Cheerleaders should bring workout clothes and a water bottle to the first practice. We will meet in the gym lobby at dismissal time. Pick-up is at the depot.

If this is your child’s first season of cheer and you have not notified Coach Jenkins previously, please email jenkinss@hardingacademy.us as soon as possible so your child can be added to the cheer email list.

Varsity Girls Soccer Falls to BGA in HVAC Semifinals
Harding girls' soccer finished their season last night with a semi-final loss to BGA. BGA opened the scoring midway through the first half to take the 1-0 lead. Harding had multiple second half shots on net but none found the back of the net. BGA sealed the win with breakaway goal to finish the game 2-0. The Hawks final record was 5 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. A big thank you to our 8th graders Greer Bodzy, Lauren Sullivan, and Elliana Galentino, we will miss you next year! Go Hawks!

Wrestling Hawks Defeat BGA
The Harding wrestlers got their last week of the season off to a winning start by defeating the visiting Battle Ground Academy Wildcats, 48-30. Four wrestlers got the match started with victories in exhibition matches. Jackson Swygert '25, Luke Anderson '24, Luke Wallace, and Christian Harris were all able to secure wins to get the momentum rolling in Harding's favor. The varsity matches began at 135 where 8th grader Sammy Boylan continued the Hawks winning ways with a pin. Luke Fields '23 and Jackson Lucas '23 followed with pins to put Harding in front 24-6. Ripley Bickerstaff '25 got a hard fought victory followed by forfeit wins for Ben Lucas '23 and Brody Maddox '23. Lucas and Maddox then proceeded to both get pins in exhibition matches. Radnor Macdonald then won another for the Hawks to put them in front 48-6. BGA won the remaining matches of the dual to set the final score at 48-30.

Wrestling Hawks and Tigers Battle to the End
Harding Academy and Ensworth met in the final regular season dual meet of the 2022 season on Thursday, November 17. It was a back and forth match with Ensworth winning the final two weight classes for a 39-36 victory. Ben Lucas '25 stayed undefeated winning by a defensive pin to start the match. Ensworth took the lead back with two wins in the next two weight classes. Radnor McDonald then won along with Isaac El Gammal to even things back out again. Mac McFarland took a forfeit at 125 and Quinn Taylor '23 kept his hot streak alive with a pin at 145 followed by a Luke Fields '23 forfeit at 160.

It was a great effort and the Hawks have a number of high seeds heading into Saturday's HVAC wrestling tournament at Brentwood Academy Middle School. Come out and catch some of the action on Saturday! Go Hawks!!

Back