Five Prep Stars on the Rise

By: Kyle Knopp

Kasey Mercier
volleyball, senior, Mount de Sales
Mercier had 24 kills in the IAAM A Conference championship game as the Sailors upset St. Paul’s School for Girls. A 5-foot-10 outside hitter who averages four kills a game, Mercier also had eight digs and was 14 of 15 for serving with three aces in the title match. She also had 23 kills and 12 digs in the semifinal win over Archbishop Spalding.

Andrew Nelson
water polo, senior, Gilman
Nelson led the Greyhounds to a title in the B Division of the Eastern Prep Championships in water polo. The senior scored eight goals in the championship game as Gilman beat Pingry, 17-5. Nelson also scored eight goals in the opening round match against Landon and finished the tournament with 19 goals.

Emily Cain
field hockey, junior, Garrison Forest
Cain, a junior goalie, helped the Grizzlies to an 18-1-1 overall record and a second straight IAAM A Conference field hockey championship. She posted a shutout in 18 of the 20 games played this season and only gave up four goals all year.

Zach Sullivan
cross country, senior, Archbishop Spalding
Sullivan ran a tight race with second-place finisher Chris Swisko of Calvert Hall in the MIAA championship, but pulled away with a little over a mile left. With a time of 15 minutes, 55 seconds, Sullivan beat his time from last year by 6 seconds and finished 16 seconds ahead of Swisko. Sullivan had sat out of practice and the final regular season meet the week leading up to the championship because of a heel bruise.

Brittany Lanahan
soccer, sophomore, Towson Catholic
Only a sophomore, Lanahan had a stellar season, notching 23 goals and 23 assists. Unfortunately, she was sidelined at the beginning of the playoffs after rupturing her eardrum. The Owls still made it to the C Conference championship game but clearly missed Lanahan on the field as they were beaten by Annapolis Area Christian Schools.

Issue 1.31: November 2008