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The varsity boys and girls track and field teams capped off their 2022 seasons with outstanding finishes at the GHSA Track & Field State Championships May 12-14. The boys entered the meet as defending state champions and claimed the title once again. The girls, who placed second in the state last year, finished as runner-up.

Individual gold medals went to Caroline Hood (3200 and 1600); Edward Blaha, George Blaha, Robert Mallis and Grant Thompson (4x800 relay - new state and school record); and Laura Arenth, Hood, Olivia Resnick and Jordan White (4x800 relay - new school record). 

State runners-up were Justin Bowick, John Catherman, Mallis and Thompson (4x400 relay); Brooke Fung Chung, Raina Moseley, Madison Williams and Resnick (4x400 relay); E. Blaha (3200 and 1600); Arenth (3200 and 1600); and Catherman (100 and 200).

Other top finishers included Kate Jonas (third in the 1600, fourth in the 3200), Hunter Rocker (third in the discus), Thompson (third in the 800), G. Blaha (fourth in the 3200, fifth in the 1600), Fung Chung (third in long jump, fifth in the high jump), White (sixth in the 800), Mallis (seventh in the 3200) and Resnick (eighth in the 800). 

Both the varsity boys and girls tennis teams defeated Lovett in the GHSA Class AA Tennis State Championship on May 14 at Berry College’s Rome Tennis Center. It was the third consecutive season in which the Knights faced their rivals in the state-championship match. The girls have won all three contests; the boys have won twice.  

The girls took the courts first, and the Knights were quick to establish themselves as the stronger team throughout the singles lineup. Freshman Claire Jiang, junior Caitlyn Pinsker and freshman Caileigh Pinsker clinched the championship with wins. When the match was stopped, both doubles teams—seniors Kate Jonas and Hannah Genser and junior Brooke Brumfield and sophomore Sarah Proctor—were tied at one set a piece. 

The boys had a slower start, finding themselves in a 0-2 hole until the No. 1 doubles team of senior Cole Kaplan and sophomore William McMullan picked up Pace’s first point. Freshman Matthew Hall at No. 2 singles and sophomore Noah Benz at No. 3 singles completed the Knights’ comeback. 

On May 4, in a rematch of the GHSA Class AA 2021 state final, the varsity boys soccer team defeated Lovett 1-0 to claim the state-championship title for the second year in a row. Senior Samuel Bready scored at the 38:43 minute in the second half to clinch the win for the Knights. 

The varsity girls soccer team also faced Lovett—the defending state champion—in the title game on May 4. The Knights tied the game 1-1 late in the second half with a goal from sophomore Adair Smith, but the Lions answered with a goal of their own, and the Knights fell, 2-1, bringing an end to an outstanding season.