Best HS for girls, athletics and academic, good mix?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be fooled looking at records. There is a world of difference between the AA division and the A division. There are not many schools, if any, that has all their teams in AA.

Visi has all its teams in ISL AA. Perennial Lewis Cup winner.

Who is the current Lewis Cup holder?
How many Olympic Bold Medals have come out of Visi?

Visi is certainly strong in soccer, basketball and lacrosse but they have neglected several of their programs and are just not competitive.
They will not have all their teams in AA next year..

Judging an entire school's sports program (10+ different teams) by one individual's accomplishments is beyond bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS is slightly better academically but no where near as good athletically. I mean come on. Most sports stink at NCS. They tend to have only one standout athlete per grade. None of the teams in any sport do anything beyond playing in the ISL and a top girl athlete who is smart enough to go to NCS is giving up playing on an outstanding high school team which few want to do.

It's the best crew program in the region. Won the top two prizes at Stotesbury the past three years in a row. That has had an impact on the entire program. A lot of girls who would be strong contributors in other sports choose instead to devote the year to rowing.

I have kids on the close. Yes, NCS has an amazing rowing team but your statement that it takes top athletes away from other sports is just not true. Crew is a Spring sport. The top lax players still play lax (and there is only 1 per grade) they don't row crew. Only other main sport NCS has in Spring is track and field. Crew is an awesome endeavor and a huge boost for admission to a top academic school if you are great (I am not knocking crew in any way here) but its doesn't draw from the same athletic pool as other sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS is slightly better academically but no where near as good athletically. I mean come on. Most sports stink at NCS. They tend to have only one standout athlete per grade. None of the teams in any sport do anything beyond playing in the ISL and a top girl athlete who is smart enough to go to NCS is giving up playing on an outstanding high school team which few want to do.

It's the best crew program in the region. Won the top two prizes at Stotesbury the past three years in a row. That has had an impact on the entire program. A lot of girls who would be strong contributors in other sports choose instead to devote the year to rowing.

I have kids on the close. Yes, NCS has an amazing rowing team but your statement that it takes top athletes away from other sports is just not true. Crew is a Spring sport. The top lax players still play lax (and there is only 1 per grade) they don't row crew. Only other main sport NCS has in Spring is track and field. Crew is an awesome endeavor and a huge boost for admission to a top academic school if you are great (I am not knocking crew in any way here) but its doesn't draw from the same athletic pool as other sports.

Crew conditioning is now a year-round activity, and coaches know which kids don't train in the fall and winter in favor of other sports. Those girls don't typically end up in the top boats. Message received by the all-around athletes, the ones who would elevate an outstanding team -- if they want to row in the spring, they'd better be all-in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be fooled looking at records. There is a world of difference between the AA division and the A division. There are not many schools, if any, that has all their teams in AA.

Visi has all its teams in ISL AA. Perennial Lewis Cup winner.

Who is the current Lewis Cup holder?
How many Olympic Bold Medals have come out of Visi?

Visi is certainly strong in soccer, basketball and lacrosse but they have neglected several of their programs and are just not competitive.
They will not have all their teams in AA next year..

Judging an entire school's sports program (10+ different teams) by one individual's accomplishments is beyond bizarre.

You are quite right, give it a couple of years and they’ll have a boatload more when their star junior cleans up in the pool. I think their swim program is pretty decent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be fooled looking at records. There is a world of difference between the AA division and the A division. There are not many schools, if any, that has all their teams in AA.

Visi has all its teams in ISL AA. Perennial Lewis Cup winner.

Who is the current Lewis Cup holder?
How many Olympic Bold Medals have come out of Visi?

Visi is certainly strong in soccer, basketball and lacrosse but they have neglected several of their programs and are just not competitive.
They will not have all their teams in AA next year..

Judging an entire school's sports program (10+ different teams) by one individual's accomplishments is beyond bizarre.

I’m not sure the PP was saying that - didn’t they win the Lewis Cup for all round athletics excellence in 2018?

[Anonymous]

"Visi is certainly strong in soccer, basketball and lacrosse but they have neglected several of their programs and are just not competitive."

I think Visi just won the championship for field hockey so this isn't true. Crew is a physically demanding sport that's fun to watch, but it's more of a niche sport since kids start later and very few kids are currently rowers. That will likely change in the next few years, but from a numbers and popularity perspective, it will be hard for crew to beat out the other sports. Also from social perspective, there's fewer girls on a crew team compared to field hockey, soccer and lax. Again, I like it, but pointing to crew and suggesting that's why NCS' athletic program isn't as competitive in the other sports doesn't add up. Also, while NCS has indeed graduated some amazing athletes, any Olympic athlete is involved in next level training so their HS team is great, but they're competing at that level because of work outside of school. A school that has competitive programs across the board is much more likely to attract strong athletes and enjoys that benefit across multiple sports. For example, it's not uncommon for a girl whose primary sport is lacrosse, to also play field hockey, tennis or soccer in the Fall and basketball or swim in the Winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

"Visi is certainly strong in soccer, basketball and lacrosse but they have neglected several of their programs and are just not competitive."

I think Visi just won the championship for field hockey so this isn't true. Crew is a physically demanding sport that's fun to watch, but it's more of a niche sport since kids start later and very few kids are currently rowers. That will likely change in the next few years, but from a numbers and popularity perspective, it will be hard for crew to beat out the other sports. Also from social perspective, there's fewer girls on a crew team compared to field hockey, soccer and lax. Again, I like it, but pointing to crew and suggesting that's why NCS' athletic program isn't as competitive in the other sports doesn't add up. Also, while NCS has indeed graduated some amazing athletes, any Olympic athlete is involved in next level training so their HS team is great, but they're competing at that level because of work outside of school. A school that has competitive programs across the board is much more likely to attract strong athletes and enjoys that benefit across multiple sports. For example, it's not uncommon for a girl whose primary sport is lacrosse, to also play field hockey, tennis or soccer in the Fall and basketball or swim in the Winter.

As a former Visi parent, it is sad to see what there volleyball program has become.

[Anonymous]

Visi parents, what's the issue with your volleyball program? Is it coaching? Are girls choosing other schools with stronger teams? Do travel volleyball teams funnel kids into certain schools as basketball and lax clubs? It seems odd since volleyball is currently a popular sport with MS girls and Visi's other teams seem to be thriving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Visi parents, what's the issue with your volleyball program? Is it coaching? Are girls choosing other schools with stronger teams? Do travel volleyball teams funnel kids into certain schools as basketball and lax clubs? It seems odd since volleyball is currently a popular sport with MS girls and Visi's other teams seem to be thriving.

It’s pretty bad, I don’t think they won a set all season...and it’s not like the ISL is strong. Can’t fault the kids effort though - they try hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS is slightly better academically but no where near as good athletically. I mean come on. Most sports stink at NCS. They tend to have only one standout athlete per grade. None of the teams in any sport do anything beyond playing in the ISL and a top girl athlete who is smart enough to go to NCS is giving up playing on an outstanding high school team which few want to do.

It's the best crew program in the region. Won the top two prizes at Stotesbury the past three years in a row. That has had an impact on the entire program. A lot of girls who would be strong contributors in other sports choose instead to devote the year to rowing.

I have kids on the close. Yes, NCS has an amazing rowing team but your statement that it takes top athletes away from other sports is just not true. Crew is a Spring sport. The top lax players still play lax (and there is only 1 per grade) they don't row crew. Only other main sport NCS has in Spring is track and field. Crew is an awesome endeavor and a huge boost for admission to a top academic school if you are great (I am not knocking crew in any way here) but its doesn't draw from the same athletic pool as other sports.

Crew conditioning is now a year-round activity, and coaches know which kids don't train in the fall and winter in favor of other sports. Those girls don't typically end up in the top boats. Message received by the all-around athletes, the ones who would elevate an outstanding team -- if they want to row in the spring, they'd better be all-in.

What everyone is saying (not sure if this is muliple people) is only partially true. Yes, the crew program has had a lot of success. No, this has not come at the expense of the overall sports program. Yes it is true that almost all girls also do winter conditioning but that leaves the fall free for a second sport if they choose (and some do). The only sports offered in winter are basketball and swimming - so maybe 1 - 2 would-be great swimmers and basketball players have been lost to crew.

But the bigger point is that crew is not a particularly large program by design. They only race 4 boats so there is a limit on the overall size of the team. Plenty of girls at the school to field several great teams each season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Visi parents, what's the issue with your volleyball program? Is it coaching? Are girls choosing other schools with stronger teams? Do travel volleyball teams funnel kids into certain schools as basketball and lax clubs? It seems odd since volleyball is currently a popular sport with MS girls and Visi's other teams seem to be thriving.

It’s pretty bad, I don’t think they won a set all season...and it’s not like the ISL is strong. Can’t fault the kids effort though - they try hard.

I am not a Visi parent and don't know about their program but I have a daughter who attends a school in the WCAC and plays volleyball. To address your questions, I believe the answers are yes. Many of the girls who play for the top teams in the WCAC like Holy Cross, Paul VI and SJC play club volleyball and are on travel teams. I would assume Visi is not investing in volleyball in terms of recruiting talent and capable coaches. So, if your girl plays competitive volleyball and wants the opportunity to play with skilled players, then Visi is not the school for the sport of volleyball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Visi parents, what's the issue with your volleyball program? Is it coaching? Are girls choosing other schools with stronger teams? Do travel volleyball teams funnel kids into certain schools as basketball and lax clubs? It seems odd since volleyball is currently a popular sport with MS girls and Visi's other teams seem to be thriving.

It’s pretty bad, I don’t think they won a set all season...and it’s not like the ISL is strong. Can’t fault the kids effort though - they try hard.

I am not a Visi parent and don't know about their program but I have a daughter who attends a school in the WCAC and plays volleyball. To address your questions, I believe the answers are yes. Many of the girls who play for the top teams in the WCAC like Holy Cross, Paul VI and SJC play club volleyball and are on travel teams. I would assume Visi is not investing in volleyball in terms of recruiting talent and capable coaches. So, if your girl plays competitive volleyball and wants the opportunity to play with skilled players, then Visi is not the school for the sport of volleyball.

Flint Hill is leaps and bounds the best HS volleyball team of any private school in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Visi parents, what's the issue with your volleyball program? Is it coaching? Are girls choosing other schools with stronger teams? Do travel volleyball teams funnel kids into certain schools as basketball and lax clubs? It seems odd since volleyball is currently a popular sport with MS girls and Visi's other teams seem to be thriving.

It’s pretty bad, I don’t think they won a set all season...and it’s not like the ISL is strong. Can’t fault the kids effort though - they try hard.

I am not a Visi parent and don't know about their program but I have a daughter who attends a school in the WCAC and plays volleyball. To address your questions, I believe the answers are yes. Many of the girls who play for the top teams in the WCAC like Holy Cross, Paul VI and SJC play club volleyball and are on travel teams. I would assume Visi is not investing in volleyball in terms of recruiting talent and capable coaches. So, if your girl plays competitive volleyball and wants the opportunity to play with skilled players, then Visi is not the school for the sport of volleyball.

Flint Hill is leaps and bounds the best HS volleyball team of any private school in the DC area.

True.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SJC is a good mix but in terms of the sports, it is among the most competitive in the WCAC. What is the sport your DD plays?

Except unfortunately SJC has been focusing on boys sports at the expense of girls sports.

You must not have been following SJC girls in the past few years. Take a look at their cross country, basketball, and track records as of recent. Also, their girl teams are strong in other sports. They have it all --equestrian, ice hockey, field hockey, soccer, swim and I believe crew. What else are you looking for.

Yea. That person has no clue what they are talking about.

You left off volleyball although they can’t seem to get past Holy Cross or Paul VI to win the WCAC championship.

The St. John's volleyball team is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SJC is a good mix but in terms of the sports, it is among the most competitive in the WCAC. What is the sport your DD plays?

Except unfortunately SJC has been focusing on boys sports at the expense of girls sports.

You must not have been following SJC girls in the past few years. Take a look at their cross country, basketball, and track records as of recent. Also, their girl teams are strong in other sports. They have it all --equestrian, ice hockey, field hockey, soccer, swim and I believe crew. What else are you looking for.

Yea. That person has no clue what they are talking about.

You left off volleyball although they can’t seem to get past Holy Cross or Paul VI to win the WCAC championship.

The St. John's volleyball team is a joke.

They’d easily finish second in the ISL AA division