Charleston – For several years, the Ashley Hall track and field program was a SCISA state title contender in girls track. The sport has grown significantly in the SCISA ranks of late and powers like Porter-Gaud, Hammond, Heathwood Hall and Ben Lippen have taken most recent championships. Ashley Hall may not be a AAAA state title contender as a team this spring but the team has several athletes doing solid work in the early part of the season. Several individuals may be contenders for state gold in their respective events. The team has a solid group of athletes competing in the sprints, including Mackenzie Kuhn, Payton Rivers, Spencer Henchock, Anna DeHaan and Madison Middleton. DeHaan also is competing in the 100 meter hurdles while Middleton competes in the high jump and long jump. Rivers has thrown the shot put in some meets this season. Working to trim time in the 400 meter run are Eliza Groat, Camille Heyward, and Na’Zyia Jenkins. Heyward also is competing as a long jumper. Top performers this season in the middle distance and distance runs include Natalie Bennett (800, 1600, 3200), Nyla Jenkins (800), Natalie Cina (800, 1600, 3200) and Violet David (1600, 3200). Bennett also is competing in the 400 hurdles. Audrey Fennelly is working in the 100 and 400 meter hurdles while also trying her hand in the triple jump. Sage Henchock competes in the long jump and Aubrey Lee is throwing the javelin. Milani Nakamura and Jocelyn Caufmann also have been working in the javelin. Layla Gramiccioni is throwing the shot put in some early meets. The soccer team had a rough start to the season, losing their first five matches, but have rallied to win four of their last five heading into spring break. The Panthers lost early season contests to Spartanburg (3-1), Southside Christian (2-1), Providence Day (3-0), Bluffton (4-0) and Cane Bay (3-0). Their other loss came to Porter-Gaud just before spring break. Victories came against Palmetto Christian (4-2), Stall (10-0), First Baptist (2-0) and Northside Christian (9-0). The Panthers have a busy schedule during April as the close out the season with nine contests. The Panthers play Northside Christian on Apr. 4, with region games against Northwood (Apr. 9), and Pinewood Prep (Apr. 10, Apr. 16). They play Northwood against on Apr. 23 and face Porter-Gaud for a second time on Apr.25. Their final region game against First Baptist is on May 2. The Panthers have remaining non-region contests against A.C. Reynolds of North Carolina on Apr. 13 and Stratford on Apr. 18.

Charleston – While successful in several sports, the Ashley Hall girls basketball program has struggled in recent years to field competitive teams. As an all-girls school with a wide range of academic and extra-curricular activities and challenges, the student population often has very little basketball experience. But coach Jodie Runner continues to teach the game to whoever wants to learn. Wins are hard to come by but Runner says this year’s team has been more competitive than recent years. Runner, a former star player at West Virginia and former college coach, realizes the hand that she is dealt. The Panthers won’t be state title contenders, especially with state powers Northwood Academy and First Baptist in the same conference. But, learning the game, learning to compete, and having a good time while doing so is Renner’s ultimate goal. Ashley Hall has posted four victories in their first 14 outings this season with Runner have a roster that includes only three seniors and a bevy of underclassmen. “We have a very hard working group of returners and a talented new group of freshmen,” Runner reports. “Unfortunately, we lost one of our starting seniors to an injury in December. We've had a lot of close games with non-region teams and hope to build off of those. “Though we have ended up smaller in numbers this year, this team has the heart of champions and they never give up in the games, or on each other. I'm very happy with our progress and where we're headed.” Runner says with so many freshmen and sophomores, she has pulled down several varsity players to play in junior varsity games. That has given the younger performers more playing time and more experience. The junior varsity team won two of their first three games this season. Junior Gates McCants sets the pace for the varsity as the starting point guard and the team’s leading scorer. “She’s a competitor at heart who gets after it on both ends of the court,” Runner says. Supporting at the guard position are junior Iris Stiegman, freshman Molly Mettler, and sophomore Annie Morrison. Primary workers in the post include junior Faye Bailey, senior Elizabeth Perkins and senior Lavinia Maybank. Runner says the usual starting five include McCants, Stiegman, Mettler, Bailey and Perkins. The only other senior on the team is Mattie Laney, a guard. Rounding out the roster are sophomore Ashley Jackson, and freshmen Liza Hood. Mary Collins, Sally Rowson, Shila Sniderman and Catherine Jenkins. Those five freshman, while seeing time in varsity games, are the players that also have played in junior varsity games.

Charleston – With another successful fall sports season in the books, the Ashley Hall athletic department recently honored the top performers from each of the teams. Athletic director Franny Slay and her staff of coaches handed out awards in varsity and junior varsity competition. Slay also heads up the school’s highly successful volleyball program. Her varsity squad was one of the last four teams playing in the SCISA Class AAAA state tournament. Setter Charlotte Strickland was named the team’s most valuable player this season. Strickland was recognized as the region co-player of the year and was a North-South all-star game participant. Senior Jen Fermo also was an all-star selection as well as an all-region performer. Anna Strickland and Annie Goldstein were all-region picks, Strickland also received the Coach’s award. Spencer Edgerton was named the team’s most improved player. Amelia Finnegan was recognized as the most valuable player for the junior varsity volleyball team. Molly Mettler was named most improved player and Minka Tang received the Coach’s award. The varsity tennis team was recognized as the Class AAAA state runner-up this season. The Panthers lost in the state finals match to Porter-Gaud. Lily Sloan was tabbed as the team’s most valuable player and was an all-region selection. Sloan played number one singles this fall. Grace Taylor received the most improved player award and Emma Tedford received the Coach’s award. Mattie Laney posted the best record this season. Tedford, Martha Rivers and Emorie Stockton were recognized as all-region performers. Elle Webster was the most valuable player on the junior varsity tennis team while Suzanne Groat was most improved player. Shila Sniderman received the Coach’s award. The cross country team finished seventh overall in the state meet. Kate Coker, an all-state runner, was the team’s most valuable runner. Violet David was most improved and Gemma Williams received the Coach’s award. The swim team posted a fourth-place finish in the state meet for class AAAA. Carson Hyder was recognized as the most valuable swimmer and Tatum Elsner was the most improved swimmer. Selena Ruiz-Luna received the Coach’s award. In golf, Ashley Hall posted a 12 th -place finish in the state tournament. Kirsten Marshall was the most valuable player this season. Gabby Anderson received the most improved player honor while Waring Cantey earned the Coach’s award.

Charleston – A storybook finish was not to be for the Ashley Hall tennis team in 2023. For the second straight season, the Panthers were state runner-ups in the SCISA Class AAAA state tournament. Ashley Hall lost to area rival Porter-Gaud, 5-3, in the finals. The Panthers reached the finals with an upset win over Trinity Collegiate, the defending state champions and avenged a loss in the finals. Pulling off another upset would prove to be difficult but coach Charlotte Hartsock was more than pleased with her team’s 2023 season. “We knew it would be a close match but we felt we had a shot,” Hartsock said. “I think our team got better as the season went along. I’m proud of the girls. It was a good accomplishment just to be here with a chance.” Ashley Hall lost twice to Porter-Gaud during the regular season, both by 5-4 scores. Lily Sloan played No. 1 singles for the Panthers, while Emma Tedford played No. 2 singles. Martha Rivers played three singles and Emorie Stockton played No. 4. Grace Taylor played five singles and Mattie Laney played six singles. Taylor and Laney provided singles wins in the finals. Stockton and Laney earned a point at No. 3 doubles. Sloan and Tedford lost in a tie-breaker at No.1 doubles. The golf team participated in the state tournament, finishing 12 th in the team standings. Clara Kirchner was the top finisher, in 42 nd place overall. Tate Erwin finished in a tie for 53 rd and Kirsten Marshall tied for 56 th with teammate Gabby Anderson. The volleyball team posted a 15-20-3 overall record but went 6-2 in region play. Seniors Jen Fermo and Annie Goldstein led the team in kills this season, Fermo posting 238 kills and Goldstein finishing with 202. Sophomore setter Charlotte Strickland recorded 714 assists and finished the season with 1,921 career assists. Senior Anne Strickland recorded 118 defensive digs. The swim team had a solid day at the SCISA state meet with several athletes scoring team points for the Panthers. Audrey Fennelly finished eighth in the 50-yard freestyle while Kennedy Atkins was eighth in the 200 IM and ninth in the 100 free. Reves Sidebottom was fourth in the 200 free and sixth in the 500 free, and Carson Hyder was fourth in both the 500 and the 100 backstroke. Ireland Evans-Langdale was ninth in the 100 breaststroke and 10 th in the 200 IM. Amelia Lennon swam ninth in the 200 IM and 10 th in the butterfly. Tatum Eisner was seventh in the butterfly. Ashley Hall finished fifth in all three relays – the 200 free, the 400 free and the 200 medley. Kate Coker led the cross country team in the region and state meets, finishing fourth in the region finals and ninth in the AAAA state meet. Natalie Cina was 13 th in the region meet and 35 th at state, while Natalie Bennett was 14 th at the region meet and 36 th at the state meet. Eliza Groat ran 16 th at the region meet and 41 st at the state meet, and Gemma Williams was 17 th at the region meet and 42 nd at the state meet.

Charleston – With the start of the SCISA state playoffs just around the corner, the Ashley Hall girls tennis team is setting their sights on a run at the AAAA state title. The Panthers finished as the state runner-up in 2022, losing to Trinity Collegiate in the state finals. Coach Charlotte Hartsock feels her 2023 squad can be a title contender as well. Most of last year’s team returns this fall. “We lost one player from our top six and we gained a key senior back, Mattie Laney, who missed last year with a torn ACL,” Hartsock reports. “All the girls on the team play tennis year-round and play tournament tennis. As a team we have a lot of potential because we are strong from top to bottom.” The SCISA state playoffs begin on Oct. 9 with the finals set for Oct. 14 in Sumter. Hartsock feels there are several title contenders in AAAA and expects a battle through the bracket. Ashley Hall has competed against a tough schedule this Fall and have posted an 8-5 record heading into the last week of September. After contests with Palmetto Christian and Pinewood Prep in the final week of the month, the regular season ends with a match against rival Porter-Gaud on Oct. 3 rd at the Charleston Tennis Center. Sophomores Lily Sloan and Emma Tedford occupy the top two singles positions in the lineup. Senior Martha Rivers plays No. 3 singles and senior Emorie Stockton plays No. 4. Another sophomore, Grace Taylor plays No. 5 singles with Laney playing the final singles slot. Laney has yet to lose in singles or doubles this fall. She teams with Stockton at No. 3 doubles. Sloan and Rivers team up as the No. 1 doubles team, while Tedford and Taylor play No. 2 doubles. Gigi Powell and eighth-grader Charlotte Guffey also see action in doubles. Rounding out the 2023 roster are junior Madeleine Ambrite, sophomore Kate Strenck, and freshmen Lillie Jackson and Elizabeth Brisson.

Charleston – As the all-time winningest coach in SCISA volleyball history, Ashley Hall coach Franny Slay knows a team with potential to win when she sees one. Slay looks at her 2023 team with high expectations as the coach returns a talented and veteran unit this season. Slay enters this season, her 39 th , with an 826-330 record as Ashley Hall’s coach and has won 12 state championships in SCISA. She also has 10 state runner-up finishes and won four state titles when Ashley Hall participated in the Palmetto Athletic Conference before joining SCISA. The 2023 season got underway recently with Ashley Hall participating in a preseason event, the North-South Invitational. The Panthers finished 15 th in a field of 40 teams. “I am really excited to begin our season,” says Slay, a 1980 graduate of Ashley Hall. “I am excited about the potential of this team. This is a seasoned team that has been playing together for years. We’ve added a group of junior varsity players who bring a lot of height to our lineup.” In addition to a few tournaments during the season, Ashley Hall’s schedule includes a competitive slate of games against top teams in SCISA, including Porter-Gaud, First Baptist, Northwood Academy, Pinewood Prep and Cardinal Newman. The Panthers also will compete against many of the top public school programs such as Bishop England, River Bluff and Philip Simmons. The roster includes five seniors, all of who will be in a regular rotation. Those seniors include outside hitter Jen Fermo, right side Annie Goldstein, Libero Anna Strickland, middle Elizabeth Perkins, and outside hitter Riley Street. Slay considers Goldstein, Strickland and Fermo to be the team’s top players and leaders this season. Sophomore setter Charlotte Strickland is a third-year starter and one of the best in the state at her position. Says Slay, “she’s a veteran player who is the key to our success this season.” Junior Spencer Edgerton and junior Sadie Cowan work in the middle of the net, with junior Ellen Lesemann adding strong depth in the middle. Juniors Parker Gragg and Iris Stiegman are defensive specialists, Other juniors on the roster are Elliana Thacker, Faye Bailey and Amanda Nybom. Freshman Liza Hood is in the rotation at outside hitter. Due to youth and a competitive schedule, Ashley Hall’s overall record in the last few seasons has been under .500 but this may be the year for a comeback.

Charleston – Ashley Hall has a long and storied tradition of success in athletics, due in part to coaching stability and very little change. However, in recent years, the coaching roster at Ashley Hall has seen more change as longtime coaches move into retirement. The one constant through nearly four decades is athletic director and volleyball coaching legend Franny Slay . Slay is entering her 39 th season as the volleyball coach and her 31 st as the school’s athletic director. She also attended and played at Ashley Hall, graduating in 1980. In volleyball, the coach has amassed more than 825 career victories. That includes 12 SCISA state championships and 10 state runner-up trophies. She also led the school to four championships (1988. 1989, 1991, 1993) in the Palmetto Athletic Conference prior to the school joining SCISA. But volleyball is far from the only successful sport at Ashley Hall. Under Slay’s guidance, Ashley Hall has won several state titles in cross country, track, and tennis while also competing at a state level in swimming, lacrosse, soccer, golf, sailing, archery and equestrian. A primary role in her duties as athletic director is filling coaching vacancies when they occur. Slay says finding quality varsity coaches has been a fairly easy process. However, she does experience difficulty filling spots on the lower levels. The b-teams, junior varsity and middle school sports arena is vitally important to the future success of the varsity programs. Those levels may miss out on quality coaches due to timing or outside job commitments. “The biggest challenge for me as an athletic director is securing coaches for our lower level teams,” she said. “If they don’t teach on campus, it is difficult for them to match our practice times.” Slay reports a few new coaching hires for the 2023-24 school year. Cassidy Rindge is taking over the swimming program this fall while Samantha Shuster is going to assist with junior varsity tennis. Caroline Owen also returns to the jayvee tennis program while Charlotte Hartsock returns to direct the highly successful girls tennis program. Christian Alcantara is back as Slay’s assistant athletic director while also serving as the soccer coach. Jeff Wood and Grace Cunningham will coach the cross country team while Cyndi Simpson is back as the equestrian coach. Kate O’Donnell returns to coach the sailing team and Mary Fran Blanchard is the golf coach. Jodie Runner heads up the basketball program and Aimie Burgos is the lacrosse coach. Runner is the second-most tenured of the Ashley Hall staff. Anna Ruggiero is the varsity archery coach while Ellen Reiber heads up the junior varsity program. Julia Lener returns as the athletic trainer. Slay says the lone coaching vacancy remains the track and field position.