For the third consecutive year, the girls track team (54-3) won the SCISA 3A State Championship. Ansley Ard won the shot put, placed 2nd in the 200 & 400, and 4th in the 100; she missed earning the highest number of points by just half a point. Cori Stroebel placed 2nd in the long jump, 3rd in the high jump & triple jump, and 4th in the pole vault; she accumulated the 3rd highest number of points at the meet. The following also placed in events: Amy Banghart – 3rd-400 hurdles & 4th-100 hurdles; Kyanna Dawson – 6th-long jump; Claire Estep – 2nd-discus; Cantey Jacocks – 6th-400 hurdles; Anna Crew Kinney – 5th-100 hurdles; Anna Lyles – 6th-1600; Anne-Davis Shaw – 4th-800 (school record) & 5th-1600; and Hayley Smoak – 2nd-100 hurdles. The 4×800 relay team (Nicolette Fisher, Julia Ladson, Anna Lyles, Anne-Davis Shaw) finished 3rd and set a school record. The 4×400 team (Logan Lee Alderman, Mary Paisley Belk, Hayley Smoak, Anne-Davis Shaw) finished 2nd and the 4×100 team (Logan Lee Alderman, Emily Banister, Kyanna Dawson, Hayley Smoak) finished 5th.

Assisting Ms. Stacy Ard in coaching both the boys and girls teams were Dr. Linda Crabbe, Mr. Josh Jennings ‘11, Mr. Brent Chappell ‘08, Mr. Joe Bonnette & Mr. Corey Tomlin.

The boys track team (50-3) finished 2nd in the SCISA 3A state meet. Robert Rohner set state records when he won the 100 & 200, and he also won the 400 & triple jump; he won the medal for earning the highest number of points at the meet. James Lowery finished 3rd in the 100 & 200 and 4th in the pole vault. The following also placed in events: Ken Ballard – 5th-discus; Cody Clark – 5th-3200; Julian Dixon – 2nd-triple jump; Scott Harvin – 4th-800; Gibson Klapthor – 5th-shot put; and Matthew McMillan – 2nd-long jump. The 4×100 relay team (James Lowery, Matthew McMillan, Grant Shadwell, Logan Weiland) and the 4×800 relay team (Brayden Fidler, Scott Harvin, Drake Shadwell, Will Watson) both finished 2nd, and the 4×400 relay team (Scott Harvin, Drake Shadwell, Will Watson, Logan Weiland) finished 4th.

Freshman Bethany Knaff is one of six students from Sumter County accepted for the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities summer programs. Bethany was accepted for the creative writing program. Incoming students from across the state are selected to attend after a rigorous application and review process, and more than 1,000 students applied for the summer programs. The Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities is a public residential high school located in Greenville.

Senior Logan Weiland received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Valued at $432,266, the appointment is fully funded and covers the cost of tuition, fees, room and board and medical and dental care, and it includes an annual salary for living expenses, uniforms, books and a computer. To receive an appointment, students must earn high grades in the most challenging of courses available, such as Advanced Placement courses, excel in athletics, and have a record of demonstrated leadership on campus and in the community.

Senior Mary Bennett Bracalente has been awarded a full Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship valued at $180,000. The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition, room and board, fees, books and uniforms, provides a monthly subsistence allowance, and will fund three summer cruises. The scholarship was awarded based on Mary Bennett’s SAT scores, grade point average, grades in Advanced Placement and honors courses, physical fitness assessment, and interview.

As part of the curriculum, the juniors attended the seventh annual junior class retreat at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, N.C., March 4-6. Coordinated by Mrs. Laura Barr and Mr. Glen Rector, the retreat provided rising seniors with a “beyond the classroom walls” experience with a focus on loyalty, leadership and legacy.

The retreat included group activities, structured discussions, and opportunities for enjoying the facilities of the conference center located in the mountains of North Carolina. Activities included an obstacle course operated by the Mountain Trail Outdoor School, team-building exercises and cooperation games.

Mrs. Ashley Smith Robinson, author of Unlikely Angel, delivered the keynote speech with the topic of “Finding your Purpose.” There were also presentations given by Mr. Fred Moulton, headmaster, as well as from some of the twelve faculty members who attended the retreat. Three alumni, Robin Davis Bonner ‘06, Ann Bynum ‘08 and Mollie Kinney ‘09, spoke about the impact of the retreat.

Every member of the Class of 2013 had the opportunity to enjoy the significant benefits of a time set apart for community building and individual character development in a way that will not only benefit each student individually, but continue Wilson Hall’s strong tradition of effective preparation for college and beyond.

Senior Logan Weiland received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Valued in excess of $225,000, the appointment is fully funded and covers the cost of tuition, fees, room and board and medical and dental care, and it includes an annual salary for living expenses, uniforms, books and a computer. To receive an appointment, students must earn high grades in the most challenging of courses available, such as Advanced Placement courses, excel in athletics, and have a record of demonstrated leadership on campus and in the community.

Wilson Hall students won eight awards, including five first place trophies, at the S.C. Independent School Assoc. State Literary Meet in Holly Hill. Mrs. Stacey Reaves, a high school English and lower school writing teacher, advised the students and accompanied them to the competition. Senior Cody Clark won his division in extemporaneous speaking which had the purpose of informing and persuading an audience. Participants were given broad topic categories prior to the meet but did not learn of their specific topic until arriving at the meet. Once given the topic, participants were given 45 minutes to prepare a speech to defend or support it.

Third-grader Madison DesChamps won her division in the storytelling contest. For this competition students must repeat a story, which they just heard read to them, in four minutes or less. Students are judged on spontaneity, originality and naturalness of delivery.

Seventh-grader Emily DuRant won her division in the oral interpretation contest in which participants gave a verbatim reading of a single selection of literature, poetry or prose after presenting a brief expository statement about the selection. Students are judged on their ability to communicate the author’s meaning through inflection and expression. Junior Gabi Godier placed second and junior Sam Umbaugh fourth in their respective divisions of this competition.

Eighth-grader Anna Lyles won her division in the essay contest. For the competition students are given five topics relating to current events; students are not aware of the topics prior to the competition. Students must choose one of the topics and write an essay that does not exceed 600 words in 60 minutes or less. The essays are judged on content, originality and style.

Fifth-grader Katherine Grace Singleton won her division in the poetry recitation contest. In this competition students recite a poem of their choice and are judged on memorization, diction and interpretation. Fifth-grader Luke Reuwer placed second in this competition.

The boys bowling team won the S.C. Independent School Association Team State Championship, the school’s first championship in the sport, in Columbia on January 26. The team was trailing by 11 pins entering the final game when Mitch Vorpahl bowled a strike in the 9^th frame to bring the Barons within reach of the first place team. In the 10^th frame Alec Hight bowled three strikes to capture the come-from-behind victory for the Barons. Also on the team, which is coached by Mrs. Karen Miles and Mrs. Cynthia Miller, are Scott Harvin, John Eagle Miles and Alex Price.

With welcoming wreaths near the entry gates and on the doors of each building, to the Christmas tree decorated with ornaments made by students in the after school program, it is clear that Wilson Hall enjoys celebrating the Christmas season.

The celebration began with the lower school’s program “Sounds of the Christmas Season” which featured songs ranging from “Feliz Navidad” to “Ready, Set, Christmas!” by students in grades one through five and “English Folk Carol” to “I Love the Snow” by the Afternoon Chorus. Dressed in green, red and white holiday attire, the students performed to a gym full of guests. The program also included choreographed dance numbers, a hand bell performance, and an appearance by Santa Claus.

In decorated classrooms, the lower school students enjoyed class Christmas parties with food, fun and games. On the last day of classes before exams began the high school chorus roamed the halls caroling during the last period of the day, and on their last day of class the lower school students crowded into the corridor for the traditional Singing in the Hall.

As part of the “Why America is Free” curriculum used in their U.S. History class taught by Mrs. Frances James, the fifth graders participated in Colonial Day held on campus on November 17.

“Why America is Free” is a six-week program that offers a hands-on learning experience and covers the events, times and heroes of the American Revolution. Dressed in period costume, the students participated in a wide variety of activities including colonial cooking for the girls and a militia drill for the boys. Students also learned how to make candles, cornhusk dolls, hand-painted floor cloths, string toys, and silhouettes. Boys attended the class “Education of Young Gentlemen” while the girls attended “Lady of Genteel Refinement” where they learned the proper way to serve tea and the etiquette of using a fan.

Also dressed in period costume, parent volunteers and teachers led the ten different activities throughout the day. For Patriot Night, an evening reception held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. David VanPatten, students, faculty and parents also dressed in period costume.