Boys Basketball –
The Pace Academy boys’ basketball team is gearing up for its regional games, which will play a pivotal role in determining its seeding in the state playoffs. Recently, they traveled to Oregon’s own Portland State University to participate in the Les Schwab Invitational. They finished the tournament with a record of two wins and two losses, having played some of America’s elite teams and participated in a highly prestigious high school basketball event. As of now, the team’s overall record is sitting at 7-6 with a three-game win streak in which the Knights dominated region competition like Mays and Drew High School. As the season settles in, the focus shifts from marquee tournaments or invitational events to the weekly region games that dictate their road to the state championship. Currently, the Knights are undefeated in region play and seem to be catching their stride in terms of chemistry and togetherness. As the season progresses, the fan excitement also builds. “The basketball games are awesome to go to, and the atmosphere is electric, especially when we play a rival school like Lovett or Westminster,” says senior Brooks Gerhard. Speaking of Lovett, our boys’ team recently defeated the Lions handily, winning by sixteen points. The support throughout this game was awesome, and we hope to continue cheering on our team as they work towards their state championship aspirations.
Girls Basketball –
Similar to the boys’ varsity basketball team, our girls’ varsity basketball team is also beginning its surge to the state playoffs. The team’s record is 5-6, and they appear to be gaining momentum heading into their crucial games down the stretch. Their record against region competition is 3-2 and is highlighted by their domination of Forest Park, in a game in which they won 69 to two. This season has been phenomenal to watch, and you can see the energy and excitement that this team has. “The Basketball season has been great so far, with strong teamwork and lots of exciting games. The hard work and competitiveness of this team make games so much fun to play,” says senior Britain McGurn. The team also recently defeated our rival, Lovett, by a staggering forty-three points. This is a statement win, and sets our Knights in a perfect spot leading into state and region playoffs.
Wrestling –
The Pace Academy wrestling team is in the middle of its season, and as they strive towards its state championship hopes, the pressure builds. Our boys placed second in their region and are in the midst of the more individually focused part of the season. The team, led by middle school history teacher Jason Miller, has traveled to Oconee and Rome for meets, achieving great success in both locations. Lately, the wrestling team celebrated senior night with a spotlight on the lone senior, Bauer Thomas. In their senior night meet, our team placed first against both Chamblee High and Blessed Trinity. “Beating Chamblee and Blessed Trinity on senior night was awesome, and I’m glad we were able to get a win for our senior Bauer. Hopefully, the remainder of the season will be as great as the beginning of it,” said sophomore J.K. Hasson. This is an awesome result for our team and should be a great momentum boost heading into the individual season.
Swim and Dive –
The Pace Academy boys’ and girls’ swim and dive teams have each had their own successful seasons. Both the boys and the girls have a record of two wins and one loss in their meets. Each team has multiple top-five finishes in meets containing up to 10 high-quality opposing schools. Recently, our swim and dive team celebrated our seniors at their senior night meet against Holy Innocents Episcopal School. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams came out victorious, with scores of 157 to 79 for the girls and 191 to 83 for the boys. Swim and Dive most recently competed in North Georgia at a larger style meet. There were twenty boys’ teams and twenty girls’ teams from all across Georgia. Both teams swam hard and placed in the top three among these twenty elite schools. This meet was also filled with personal bests, including Mila Van Staden, who shattered the school record for the one hundred butterfly event. This season has brought this team closer together and has been filled with success, friendships, and new experiences.“ It’s a great group of people, and although a good portion of the team swims club, everyone was able to come together for the meets and work together seamlessly. I’m really excited to see what things are in store for the program in the next few years, as there is a lot of young talent driving the team forward,” says Senior swimmer John Hardesty. This year has been a massive success, and as John said, this team has a bright future ahead, and their tight-knit relationships have set this team up for a future full of championships.
