April 12, 2013 - The Geneva School

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Dan Harger: Fourteen Years and CountingBy AnnMarie CaloFor a school such as ours that is often noted as being an“academic school,” we have been blessed to have such a successfulsports program over the years. Much of that program’ssuccess and prosperity can be traced back to oneman. Currently in his fourteenth year, Dan Harger, ourAthletic Director, has been at TGS longer than any otherfaculty member.Looking back on the pastfourteen years at the helm ofTGS athletics has surfaced Coaching softball,many memories for Coach spring 2006Harger. To give some perspectiveon just how long hehas been here, back when hebegan his tenure at Genevathe school was still at theRidge Road location. Theupper school then movedto Northland Church beforeeveryone settled intoour current building. Heremembers those early yearsteaching grammar schoolPE as “very rewarding.” “Those arethe kids you see the most improvementin as you’re helping them tolearn fundamentals.”These many years later, Coach Hargerstill loves what he is accomplishinghere at TGS. He’s able to balance thedemands of being the athletic directorwhile teaching PE because of the“great team of coaches around me,and the trust that Bob [Ingram] andthe board put in me to do what I do.”“I feel like we get better every year asan overall program.” Our SunshineState FHSAA school ranking thisyear would support that assessment.We are currently ranked 9th overallamongst the entire state’s 2A schools,and there are about 125 2A schools in the state.When Coach Harger thinks back on his favorite sportsmemories from the past fourteen years, he says, “If you justtake a look at the banners hanging in our gym, every one ofPage 14those has been a huge moment for us and a proud moment,for sure.” However, he does have some personal favorites.“All of our firsts were memorable: the first time we were DistrictChamps and the first time to states.” He recalls MollieJones winning TGS’ first ever individual district championshipin 2007 in cross country, and Mackenzie Wilson winningTGS’ first ever individual regional championship intrack in 2011. This year’s epic boys soccer team win againstTFA in a penalty shoot-outwas another awesome momentfor our program. “Itwas really a David vs. Goliathmoment for us.”All Saints’ DayNovember 20022003 Student vs. FacultyBasketball GameAccording to Harger, “thegreatest moment in TGSsports history” took placein 2009 when our baseballteam won the district championshipby hitting back-toback-to-backhome runs inthe 7th inning.District championships, regionalsuccess, and state academicteam awards aside, when it all comesdown to it, Coach Harger says the realstrength of our TGS sports program isthat “the coaches are able to demanda lot, to demand excellence from thekids,” because that is what our studentshere are accustomed to givingday in and day out in the classroom.“Coaching kids who are so coachableand have such strong character is sorefreshing to everyone involved withour teams. The good Lord has blessedour athletic programs richly withwonderful athletes, coaches, parents,teachers, and fans.” TGS is “a community;everyone working togetherto achieve the same goals.” Even withall of the milestones we have reachedand the goals we have met in the pastyears, Coach Harger predicts that some of the finest momentson the field and on the court are yet to come.Go Knights!
Long-time Coaches: Mike McAvoy and Rick OswaldTwo of The Geneva School’s longest-standingcoaches, Mike McAvoy (boys soccer) andRick Oswald (boys tennis), both of whombegan coaching at Geneva during the2001-2002 school year, share some of theirrefl ections of their years with TGS.Coach McAvoy: In 2001 I started as anassistant coach and noticed right awaythat helping move this program forwardwas going to be a challenge. We held ourpractices in the parking lot of NorthlandChurch with only a couple of balls, cones,and a mixture of uniform articles. WhatI did notice was that all of the players listenedto coaching points and implementedthem quickly and would do whateverwas asked of them. They also set the standardfor all future teams by establishingthe work ethic that has been passed downeach season and continues to drive thepresent teams ... the “Geneva Spirit.”Coach Oswald: When I started coachingthe Geneva [tennis] teams, I ran theboys and girls teams. We played a limitedschedule and were not very competitivein our district. There were some yearswhere we were lucky to field a full team.McAvoy: This past season was the mostsuccessful in school history with the[boys soccer] team advancing to the FH-SAA regional playoffs for the very firsttime. However, it was all of the earliersquads which helped set the foundationfor this to occur.Mike McAvoy Rick OswaldOswald: Some of my favorite memoriesthrough the years involved gettingto know the multiple players who havepassed through TGS and encouragingthem to achieve success on and off thecourt.McAvoy: When we moved the programinto the more competitive winter seasonin 2009, the team started to play schoolswith a larger base, which led to a coupleof rough seasons in the record books forthe team.Oswald: Balancing the athletic and academicchallenges that high school studentsface is a big challenge; many times we bowto the greater call of the classroom.McAvoy: Even during the tough seasons,the players continued to show the“Geneva Spirit,” and that made thosetimes a lot of fun to be a part of. Wecontinued to create memories for theplayers off the field of play as well as on.Oswald: I wouldn’t take the time frommy regular duties as a teaching professionalif it weren’t for the consistentlyamazing students and families I encounterat Geneva. The integrity ofthe students is a constant, and my relationshipwith the administration is outstanding.The best thing is the interactionwith the kids, and it is a privilegeto be coaching for Geneva.McAvoy: I have met so many wonderfulpeople—players, parents, and faculty—during my time as coach, and as I lookback I would not trade it for anything! Ican’t wait for what will come next.Oswald: A strong base has been madefor the tennis program, and I believethere will continue to be quality studentswith strong tennis skills attendingTGS. We have our top three and linefive players returning; the Knights aregoing to wield a mighty racquet nextseason.Athletic Awards CeremonyFriday, May 105:00 pmTGS GymnasiumHonoring JV and VarsityAthletesDrinks and light snackswill be served$5 per personInvitations coming soon toyour email inbox!Join the Team, Share the DreamYouth Sport • 1 Mile Fun RunSaturday, May 119:00 amRed Bug Lake Park, CasselberryProceeds will benefit TGS Youth SportsPre-register by May 9www.genevaschool.org/funrunPage 15
Page 1 and 2: THE COURIERTHE GENEVASCHOOLNEWSLETT
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Page 11 and 12: TGS Youth Sports Relies on Parent V
Page 13: Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game
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April 12, 2013 - The Geneva School

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