Rewind: Historic Moments in SA Winter & Spring Sports

* As seen in the May 2025 edition of the Bagpiper. Written by Sydney Jacobs ’26.

Saint Andrew’s School is known for its successful athletics with 23 varsity and 10 junior varsity teams, along with a gym full of banners of state and national champion teams and cases filled with trophies earned that hold stories of triumph and determination. Let’s take a look at some of the most historic winter and spring sports moments for the stories behind these successful teams.

 

Girls and Boys Tennis, 1989: State and National Titles

In 1989, the boys tennis team won nationals, and the girls’ team won states under the coaching of John Fogleman. Today, the team is still as successful, with boys' varsity tennis having won a total of six state championships and one national championship, and girls varsity tennis claiming 10 state championships.

Throughout the years, talented players have been coached by experienced coaches, including current head Coach Reid Rafter ’85, former head Coach John Fogleman, and former assistant Coach Beth Gordon ’08.

Despite having separate girls and boys varsity teams, the coaches treat the teams as one group who train and travel together, and their team dynamics have created a supportive environment.

“I think my favorite state championship wins were the ones when both teams won. They would support each other in the finals, so when the girls were playing, the boys would be cheering them on and vice versa,” Mrs. Gordon, now Assistant Dean of Students and Residential Life in the Upper School, said.

When both teams won state championships during the same season, it brought the teams even closer together.

“One year, the girls had already won, and we were watching for the boys to win. [When they] won, our whole team rushed to the court, and it was one of those feelings where they did it, they finally won the match, and the tennis players really came together. Even though it’s individuals on the court, it really felt like the team atmosphere in that moment,” said Mrs. Gordon.

The teams’ success was partly due to their great teamwork, regardless of tennis also being an individual sport, and strong coaching.

Mrs. Gordon said, “You’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for Saint Andrew’s and something bigger than yourself. You’re playing for the school and the pride.”

 

Boys’ Basketball: 1993 First District Championship and 2020 First State Championship

“Saint Andrew's basketball, besides my wife, my son, and my family, is one of the most important things that I've ever been a part of in my life,” said Mickey Zitzman, former basketball player at Saint Andrew’s and Class of 1994.

The 1993 season, in which Zitzman was a part, was historic for being the first team to win districts, defeating Cardinal Newman, the number one team in Florida at the time, on their court. After the win, Zitzman said, “We were able to walk into the gala with the district trophy, and we sang the Alma Mater. It was really just an amazing moment.”

Another historic moment for the boys basketball team was winning a state championship in 2020.

Varsity boys’ basketball head Coach John O’Connell said, “We had by far the toughest road out of anyone in the whole state, so that made everything even more rewarding.”

The boys basketball coaches put in plenty of work to prepare their teams and lead them to victories, and it makes it even easier when their players know the game and have team chemistry.

“That allows for me to kind of sit back and enjoy the game a little bit more rather than having to choreograph the game. Here, I was able to really enjoy a game and kind of be a cheerleader,” said Coach O’Connell.

After spending 40 years coaching at Saint Andrew’s, Coach O’Connell has become a legend who has touched the lives of many athletes who still feel part of the community.

“That might be the biggest thing. How excited my alumni guys are when we're doing well,” he said.

 

Girls’ Soccer 2007: First State Championship

In 2007, the girls varsity soccer team made history as the first and only girls soccer team to win a state championship for Saint Andrew’s.

The team was filled with talented players who worked hard and well together.

Allison Felter, former soccer player at Saint Andrew’s and Class of 2007, said, “We just had that team energy. We had been playing together for a really long time because a lot of the girls played on Team Boca.”

Winning championships is never easy, and the 2007 season was no different. The players believed in their ability to win it all and put in the work to achieve their goals.

“I see the banner hanging there in the gym, and it's kind of crazy because that's the legacy that we got to leave behind,” said Felter.

Just like any other sport, team chemistry is one of the most valuable aspects to succeed.

Felter said, “There's nothing more valuable than understanding how to contribute to a team. I think what was cool about our group is every single person had a role to play and played it well.”

Even though the girls’ team hasn’t won states since 2007, the team has recently made strides, including winning districts in 2024 and advancing to regionals this season for the first time in 15 years under the coaching of alumna Lauren Reiley, also part of the 2007 state championship team.

To win districts in 2024 and advance to regionals this year, the team worked hard every day and created a community just like the one they created in 2007.

“It feels good knowing that we won states, and I'm excited for the school to do it again,” said Felter.

 

Boys’ Lacrosse, 2007: first FHSAA-recognized State Championship

With 22 state championships overall, of which seven are recognized by the Florida High School Athletic Association starting in 2007, the boys’ varsity lacrosse team has been an accomplished program at Saint Andrew’s since 1984, building both strong teams and long-lasting friendships. Their latest state title was earned in 2023 in a close game against Bolles.

Senior Will Caragol has been a part of the varsity lacrosse team since his freshman year and has won two championships. Due to his experience, Caragol knows what it takes to win states and has confidence that the team has the talent and skill to win again this year. To Caragol, the most important thing in winning a title is good teamwork.

“When you're in it for your teammates, not for yourself, not for the stats, but for the love of the game, and for the love of the guys. That's when a team really thrives,” said Caragol.

Growing up watching our school’s prospering lacrosse program, many aspiring athletes, like Caragol as a kid, strive to be as skilled as the varsity athletes are.

“It’s just cool to see myself living what I used to look up to, and it's kind of powerful and something I look at when I don't feel motivated,” said Caragol.

Every championship win is memorable, but for Coach RJ Dawson, the 2021 season was even more special due to the repercussions of COVID-19, which made that season harder than usual, but the team powered through to end up winning States.

Coach Dawson said, “We hadn’t won a state championship since 2012, so that was a big accomplishment for us.”

That year, the lacrosse team also played a spring homecoming game for the community because Covid-19 prevented the football team from hosting a homecoming game that fall of 2020.

“We ended up winning by one, but just the energy of the whole community being there was really fun as well,” said Mr. Dawson.

 

Squash, 2024: First National Championship

The squash program began at Saint Andrew’s four years ago and has proven to be an accomplished team ever since.

In 2024, they took on Brunswick at the national tournament and won by an impressive comeback of 4 to 3, making them national champions. Going into that season, the team was well-prepared and expected to impress the other top schools.

“The chemistry was great. We were training super well and everybody was motivated,” said senior squash player and U19 national champion Alexander Dartnell.

Dartnell has been on the team from the very beginning and, after winning the individual national title last year, is part of a historic sports moment for the squash team and the school.

“A lot of people don't know what squash is. Seeing all of my friends from Florida after winning nationals is kind of two worlds colliding,” said Dartnell.

This year, the team made it to nationals once again, winning third place. The team made a comeback in the last games to continue being nationally ranked.

“For third place, we played Taft. We were down 0-3 and then came back 4-3 with a huge clutch win for [sophomore] Brad Tabot,” said Dartnell.

Dartnell knows what it takes to win championships and what mentality to maintain during the season.

Dartnell said, “You gotta be consistent and you have to know that it’s for a greater cause. Events for squash are usually in individual terms, but when we win, it’s for the whole team, it’s for Saint Andrew’s, and it’s for something bigger than yourself. You gotta keep that in the back of your mind.”