Lower Merion boys soccer sits at 9-0 and sixth in the state rankings, but the district's fall sports story stretches well beyond one unbeaten team.
Across the Lower Merion School District, programs are stacking milestones. Girls tennis is chasing a third consecutive PIAA state championship. Girls volleyball is 12-1 and ranked second in District 1. Girls water polo won the program's first-ever tournament trophy. And at Harriton, the varsity football season ended before it really started.
Records are current through Oct. 1, according to The Merionite.
Harriton football suspended, merger still pending
Harriton played one game this fall. The Rams lost 53-0 to Pottstown on Aug. 28, and three days later the district suspended the varsity season, citing safety concerns, low participation and the challenge of sustaining a competitive program, according to the Harriton Banner.
The roster was thin. Reported player counts differ: the Harriton Banner put the number at 43, while student outlet HarritonTV reported 32, down from 47 the prior year, MontCo.Today reported. The Rams had not beaten a Central League opponent in 10 seasons.
In May, the Lower Merion school board approved merging the Harriton and Lower Merion football programs. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) rejected the proposal, The Merionite reported, forcing the cancellation.
Principal Stu Warshawer wrote in an Aug. 31 letter that "the district remains committed to providing opportunities for football in the future and to identifying a sustainable path forward for our student-athletes and programs." The school said it was exploring a junior varsity season to keep players on the field.
Lower Merion's own football team, meanwhile, opened 0-5 in Central League play.
Boys and girls soccer atop the Central League
The Aces boys soccer team is unbeaten at 9-0, tied for first in the Central League and ranked sixth in the state. The girls stand at 7-2-1, also atop the league, with several multi-goal victories.
Girls tennis eyes a three-peat
After back-to-back PIAA state championships, the girls tennis team has rolled through Central League play with wins over Haverford (5-0), Conestoga (4-1) and Radnor (4-1). Junior Jasmine Taylor, ranked No. 1 in Pennsylvania, anchors the lineup at first singles. The team is projected to earn the top seed in the district playoffs and return to Hershey to defend the title.
Coach Harris Mailman told The Merionite in an Oct. 9 feature that his priority is culture over trophies. "The goal is to maintain the culture/community based around inclusivity that we've established over the last couple years," Mailman said.
Volleyball: Rothberg sets all-time assists mark
The girls volleyball team is 12-1, ranked second in PIAA District 1 and 11th in the state, The Merionite reported in a separate Oct. 9 feature. Senior setter Stevie Rothberg surpassed 1,000 career assists in a match against West Chester East and now holds the program's all-time record with 1,277. Coaches Lauren and Dan Perri are in their 14th season together leading the program.
The Aces' lone loss came to Garnet Valley on Sept. 24, a five-set match that ended 15-12 in the final set. The team is projected to reach the district and state playoffs for a sixth straight year.
Water polo makes history
Lower Merion remains the only Central League school with a structured water polo program. The girls varsity team won three games in one week for the first time in program history, then captured the program's first-ever trophy at the Beast of the East tournament the weekend of Sept. 26. The boys varsity beat Souderton for the first time.
Cross country, golf and field hockey
The girls cross country team, led by Marchelle Else, is ranked fifth in the Central League. The boys, coached by Dallas Alexander, are coming off three straight league titles and have placed in the top 10 at every league meet this fall.
Golf turned its season around after an 0-7 start. Led by Parker Gregg and Grant Ashley, the team won three straight against Ridley, Strath Haven and Upper Darby, with a final regular-season match against Haverford ahead of the Central League tournament.
Field hockey, coached by Kylie Kelce, wraps its regular season against Conestoga, Upper Darby and Strath Haven.
