Portsmouth Abbey School
Athletics Report 2006-7

The 2006-7 school year proved to be an excellent one for the Portsmouth Abbey Ravens. Many varsity teams recorded winning records, captured SENE Championships and the Girls' Squash team won the New England (NEPSAC) Class C Championship.  In addition, many individual student-athletes were selected to the All-State, All-New England and All-America teams.

The athletics program offers a wide variety of team and individual sports and sub-varsity teams in most sports. The JV program emphasizes participation and skill development and is based on the premise that younger, less-experienced athletes need an opportunity to develop against similar competition before moving to the varsity level.  The varsity program provides opportunities for students in Forms III - VI, and team selection is based on skill, attitude and commitment to the sport.  Playing time at the varsity level is allocated at the coach's discretion and is based primarily on ability.  We presently offer 18 sub-varsity teams and 23 varsity teams.

The ACC (Athletic Competitiveness Committee) was formed by the Athletic Director during the 2006-7 School year. The committee was comprised of the Athletic Director, Assistant Athletic Director, and members of the Admissions, Development, and Communications Offices and faculty coaches. The committee reviewed and addressed strategic plan goals that pertained to athletics.  It was the charge of the committee to develop strategies/plans for achieving these goals.  The committee has submitted a plan to the Headmaster that looks at ways of achieving the following goals from the School's strategic plan:

1. Reach a competitive level in all sports offered.

2. Enroll students with strong academic, athletic, artistic qualities and create a geographically diverse student body.

3. Promote unique opportunities in golf, sailing and squash.

4. Create a plan for the upgrade of existing athletic facilities.

A subcommittee of The SAAB (Student Athletic Advisory Board) was formed by the Athletic Director and chaired by the Assistant Athletic Director to meet and discuss girls' athletics at Portsmouth Abbey.  Becky Swissler met with a group of girls during each of the three seasons to explain, discuss, and hear concerns regarding gender equity in athletics.  Mindy Urick, our new assistant athletic director, also attended the spring meeting and will continue to chair this group during the 2007-08 School year.  Several concerns of the girls have been addressed and a report was submitted to the Headmaster.

• Portsmouth Abbey will move to the prestigious Eastern Independent League (EIL) beginning in the fall of 2007.  The 11-school EIL will provide Portsmouth Abbey student/athletes a larger and more competitive league.

• Portsmouth Abbey hosted three New England (NEPSAC) Championships during the 2006-7 School year. 
• New England Class C Girls' Squash Championship.  Eight Schools competed in a two-day tournament with the Portsmouth Abbey team winning the championship. 
• Pippy O'Connor Independent School Girls Golf Tournament at Carnegie Abbey Club.  One hundred golfers from 27 New England Independent schools participated in the 22^nd annual golf classic.
• Boys' and Girls' Division III Track Championship.  16 Schools (boys and girls) competed in the one-day event.  The Portsmouth Abbey boys placed 3^rd out of 16 teams.

Portsmouth Abbey provided great venues for these events and in return received great exposure for the School.

• Girls' squash won the New England (NEPSAC) Championship

• Seven teams won SENE League Championship:
• Girls' Soccer
• Boys' Swimming
• Baseball
• Boys' Golf
• Tennis (undefeated 11-0)
• Boys' Track
• Girls' Track

• 14 Varsity Teams had winning records:
• Girls' Soccer
• Football
• Boys' Cross Country
• Boys' Ice Hockey
• Boys' Swimming
• Girls' Basketball
• Baseball
• Boys' Golf
• Tennis
• Boys' Lacrosse
• Girls' Lacrosse
• Sailing
• Boys' Track
• Girls' Track

Portsmouth Abbey student-athletes continue to excel and be recognized for their accomplishments throughout New England and on a national level.

Fall 

Rob Turner '07          NEPSAC All-New England Football team

Steve Garner '07       NEPSAC All-New England Cross-Country team

Jesse Estok '07        NEPSAC All-New England Cross-Country team

Raoul Oloa '07          Scored 1,024 career points in boys' basketball

Bryan Kriner '07        NEPSAC All-New England Ice Hockey and RI All-State

Ana Lopez '10           NEPSAC Class C Girls' Squash Champion at the 3^rd position

New School records in swimming were recorded in the 200-yard medley relay, 50-yard freestyle (Mike Reilly '07), 200-yard free relay and 400-yard free relay

Mike Reilly '07                       Won the New England Division III Pole Vault (track and field)

Stephanie Perez '08           Selected by US Lacrosse as Honorable Mention All-American

Stephanie Perez '08             Selected by US Lacrosse as Academic All-Americans

Madison Nunes '08  

Brendan Kinnane '07            Became the all-time leading scorer in Portsmouth's boys' lacrosse

with 200 career points

Ray Klemmer '08                 Selected by US Lacrosse as Academic All-American

The following student/athletes were selected RI All-State by the Providence Journal:

            Maggie McCarthy '08           Girls Track

            Bryan Kriner '07                    Baseball

            Brendan Kinnane '07            Boys Lacrosse

            Chris O'Reilly '07                  Boys Lacrosse

            Stephanie Perez '08 Girls Lacrosse

            Katie Coaty '07                     Girls Lacrosse

            Emily Kerwin '07                   Girls Lacrosse

Spring Trips

Over 100 athletes and coaches in Tennis (Florida), Sailing (Bristol RI), Baseball (Florida), Girls Lacrosse (South Carolina) and Boys Lacrosse (Maryland) attended preseason spring training trips.

Overall

 Varsity teams won 56% of their games and 90% of the VI Formers earned a varsity letter.

Go Ravens,

Al Brown
Athletic Director