Germantown Friends School 2023 Friends School League Champions
BY DAN MCCARTY
PHILA--Going all the way in the Friends School League this 2023 season proved positive for the Germantown Friends School Tigers (GFS) as they secured a 3-2 win over The George School Cougars in the league championship match on Friday, October 27.
“No one expected us to win,” said Germantown Friends head coach Chris Booth. “We came in and did it. We fought hard until the end.”
The top seeded Tigers finished the league with an unblemished record (11-0) their best regular season record in more than seven years.
Getting to the playoff circle is something the Germantown Friends squad did not take for granted. In 2021, The Tigers captured its 7th Friends School League (FSL) title in school history. The team once again made it to the semifinal round last season but dropped a close 3-2 decision to Friends’ Central School. The Tigers were even more determined to get back to the finals this time around.
“The past few weeks, we’ve been working tremendously hard,” said GFS senior tri-captain and second and third doubles player Alexandra McNally.
“We’ve been sprinting down the court, getting so many shots, practicing our serves, getting those aces. All that, plus an amazing team of fans led us to the victory," said McNally.
The Tigers earned their spot in the FSL championship following a 4-1 victory over Friends’ Central in the semifinal round of the FSL playoffs on Tuesday, October 24. The second-seeded Cougars edged The Shipley School, 3-2, in the semifinals.
Germantown Friends vs. George School in FSL Championship Match. (photos/ Dan McCarty)
Germantown Friends School Celebrates after winning FSL Championship. (Video/ Dan Mccarty)
The Tigers came out strong going up 2-0 over George School with wins from First Doubles players freshman Elie Bekelman and sophomore Maggie Ruger and Second Singles player junior Lucy Gerber.
George School did not make the competition easy. Victories by First Singles senior player Leena Kuittinen and second doubles players junior Katharine Coleman and sophomore Christina Makris made it 2-2.
The championship came down to the very last nail-biting minute. Ultimately, Germantown Friends School senior Claire Meyer secured the victory over George School junior Maya Zhitomirsky by scores of 4-6, 6-4 and 6-4 in third singles to secure the victory.
GSF senior Third Singles Player Claire Meyer talks about her Title Winning Match. (Video/ Dan McCarty)
“It really was just about my mindset,” said Meyer. “Once you drown out the voices and you think more about winning for yourself then you’ve got it in the bag.”
GFS junior & second singles player lauds Claire Meyer for the victory and offers words of advice to her team. (Video/ Dan McCarty
GFS senior & 2nd Doubles Player Gabbie Rosenburg didn't hesitate when asked what attributed to the victory. (Video/ Dan McCarty)
The Cougars concluded their season with a 9-4 record.
“It was a great season,” said senior co-captain and first doubles player Sejal Patel. “We all played tremendously. It’s been a blast.”
Patel’s fellow teammate senior co-captain and First Singles player Leena Kuittinen offered words of wisdom to her returning squad.
“It’s a great experience,” said Kuittinen. “Don’t take losses too hard. Really enjoy the wins.”
George School senior captain Sejal Patel gets emotional when describing what it meant to be a part of her team during the past 4 years. (Video/ Dan McCarty)
George School Senior & 1st singles player Leena Kuittinen lauded her teams efforts/gave words of advice for future players. (Video/ Dan McCarty)
Round one of the Pennsylvania Independent Scholastic Athletic Association (PAISAA) playoffs is slated for Friday, November 3. This the first trip to the state tournament for Germantown Friends.
“I don’t know what to expect,” said Meyer. “I’m just going to put my best foot forward and hope for the best.”
The Tigers will be back on the court hosting Mercersburg Academy Friday at 2:30 p.m.