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Flint Hill Boys Athletics Ends Year at Top of MAC

Flint Hill's sports program wins the Director's Cup

For the second time in three years, the boys athletics department at Flint Hill School has taken home the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference Director’s Cup, given each year to the MAC school that achieved the most points combined through all of its sports programs.

“To win the award two times in the last three years signifies athletic excellence in the league,” said Steve Spratt, the boys tennis coach. “What this says is that Flint Hill does not only excel in academics, but also does very well on the athletic field.”

Before the 2008-09 school season, Flint Hill had never won this prestigious award, so winning for the second time shows the sports program is heading in the right direction.

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“This means a lot to everyone in our Flint Hill community,” said Flint Hill athletic director Steve Henry. “It signifies the hard work, dedication and commitment that are seen from everyone in the Flint Hill athletic program.”

On May 19, the varsity baseball team finished up their 2011 season with a win over Sidwell Friends in the MAC Championship game, their fifth championship in a row, and the first for Tom Verbanic as a coach at Flint Hill.

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“Two of our teams captured championships; the boys varsity basketball team under Coach [Rico] Reed and boys varsity baseball under Coach Verbanic," Henry said. “That certainly provided a foundation for helping us accumulate the points that we needed to achieve this.”

Other teams were successful as well. The school’s golf program finished second, soccer finished fourth, lacrosse finished second and the tennis team also came in second.

“Everyone wants to have a good season, but we were very fortunate to be able to string together enough wins to be able to finish second,” Spratt said. “Also, for me in particular, this being my first season as tennis coach, finishing second in the MAC and being able to help secure the Director’s Cup for Flint Hill was a big accomplishment for our tennis program.”

The tennis team turned its record around this season, going from 3-13 last year to 14-5-1 this year.

“The Director’s Cup is a big accomplishment for the school. To be an overall great athletic program is always a goal of the coaching staff,” said track coach Doug MacLeod, who watched his team have a winning season. “In my five years here, I have seen our boys dedicate themselves during their season, but even more evident is the extra work they are doing in the offseason.”

Individual athletes also helped fortify the trophy for the school.

In golf, Joey Lane won the MAC individual championship and his team missed coming in first by just a stroke. Junior guard Mo Berchie was an all-conference player for basketball and baseball saw Jared Knoll selected to first team all-state and Michael Palmer selected to the second team all state.

“The Director’s Cup is particularly impressive because we graduated many good seniors last year, and we have three strong classes following the class of 2011,” MacLeod said.

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