Athletics News

The Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA), the professional organization for those who manage outdoor sports fields, has named Walsh Field, located within Pace’s Riverview Sports Complex, the 2019 Football Field of the Year in its schools and parks category. 

Judges scored entries based on playability, appearance of surfaces, utilization of innovative solutions, effective use of budget and implementation of a comprehensive agronomic program. Winners of the award, the STMA’s highest honor, are featured in SportsTurf Magazine, the official monthly publication of the STMA. Congratulations to Sports Complex Facilities Manager Daniel Prince and the entire Pace facilities team! 

The football season has come to a close, and the league’s coaches have selected five members of our varsity football team to the 5-AAA All-Region Team.

Congratulations to junior Jayden Thomas, who was named to the 5-AAA Offense, and to senior Mbiti Williams, 5-AAA Defense. Senior Sam Harris and juniors Christian Bing and Justin Johnson received Honorable Mention honors. 

As basketball season gets underway, juniors Matthew Cleveland, Madison Durr and Cole Middleton have been included on the Atlanta All-Metro High School Boys Watch List, published by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Well done, Knights! 

The varsity boys and girls cross-country teams hit the course at Carrollton High School for the GHSA Class AAA state championship on Nov. 2. The boys raced first and finished in second place overall. Senior George Adams took bronze, while sophomore Edward Blaha finished sixth. 

The girls also had an outstanding race and claimed the team silver. Individually, sophomore Laura Arenth was fourth, while senior Payton Payne was sixth. Following the meet, the Atlanta Track Club named Adams to its 2019 Powerade All-Metro High School Cross Country Team, placing him among the top 21 boys from 28 schools across 11 counties. 

On Nov. 2, the varsity volleyball team made history by defeating Westminster 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 to take its third consecutive GHSA Class AAA state title. “I want to thank all the students, faculty and staff that cheered us on,” said head coach Anna Bush. “Your voice lifted us whenever we needed it, and I am so proud of our class and character! You represent the best of Pace Academy.”

Following the victory, seniors Sasha Ratliff and Lucy Ferry were selected to the Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association Class AAA All-State Team, and Ratliff was named a 2019 Under Armour Second-Team All-American, one of only two players from Georgia to make this year’s team. Congratulations to coaches Bush, Scott McEwan and Taylor Bryan, our outstanding student-athletes, and the ever-spirited and supportive Pace community! 

The Pace Knights dominated at the Region 5-AAA cross-country meet on Oct. 23. The varsity boys placed first with five runners in the top 10, including senior George Adams (pictured), who finished second, and sophomore Edward Blaha, who was fourth. 

The varsity girls claimed third place; sophomore Grant Thompson won the junior varsity boys race; and junior Laura Romig brought home gold as the top junior varsity girl. Both varsity teams now advance to the state meet in Carrollton, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 2. 

The Middle School equestrian club team participated in its first competition of the year on Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers. The Pace team took first place overall, while sixth-grader Virginia Foster and eighth-grader Ellie Aronson won gold in their respective individual classes; sixth-grader Colbie West placed second in her class.

Varsity boys head basketball coach Sharman White and junior Matthew Cleveland (pictured) will participate in the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team October minicamp Oct. 11-13 at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Eighty-two student-athletes from across the country were selected to participate in the elite event, which includes on-court activities and educational programming on topics such as NCAA eligibility, health and safety issues and life skills development. White will serve as one of the camp’s five lead coaches.