Spring Break Trip Recaps

As students flocked to the Caribbean or spent time catching up on sleep this spring break, several Gilman teams and groups were busy traveling to play and perform all across the country. Over the week-long period, the varsity baseball, lacrosse, and tennis teams journeyed to compete against teams outside of the state, and the choir took a trip across the pond to perform in France and even ventured into Spain. These trips were opportunities not only for teams to face unseen competition, but also to bond as a group in preparation for the MIAA season ahead. In Europe, the choir was able to develop a new appreciation of history and culture while performing in grand cathedrals and near famous works.    

Lacrosse 

On Monday, March 17, the varsity lacrosse team, along with a few JV standouts, left BWI Airport excited for a week in sunny Fort Lauderdale, where they stayed for four days in the Wyndham Hotel. While in Florida, the lacrosse team practiced daily and played two out-of-conference games against St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Andrews, both high caliber teams often featured in the national top-25. Although these games don’t count towards the Hound’s MIAA record, they were a good opportunity for the team to be sharpened by top-tier competition before the outset of their regular season, which began with a win this past Tuesday against John Carroll. The team also took the four-day window as an opportunity to grow closer and develop team chemistry. Jacob Webster, a sophomore defenseman, said, “after practice everyday we would have some beach time…I loved being on the beach with the boys.” John Maloney, a junior midfielder, agreed with Jacob’s claim. John enjoyed playing against great competition, but felt that the best part of the trip was bonding as a team. He mentioned, “The spring break trip was awesome because I got to spend time with people I wouldn’t traditionally be with. It made our whole team closer and helped us gel as a group.” Senior captain Zach Parks also thought the trip was worthwhile and played a big role in preparing the team for the season, saying, “After we got back from the trip, everyone felt like we were much closer and the time in Florida was well spent.” Although the Hounds only played two games in Florida, it’s safe to say that the time off the field was just as important as the time on it. 

Baseball

The Hounds Varsity Baseball team wasted no time this spring break, heading down south to North Carolina and Virginia a few days before break began. Although not headed to a tropical paradise, the boys were excited to get out on the diamond and spend time bonding. The first stop was David F. Couch Ballpark at Wake Forest University for an intense practice led by Coach Sheets. Next, the team travelled to High Point University to take on The Cornerstone Charter School under the lights. After a back and forth game, the Hounds came out on top in an absolute thriller, due to Caleb Lawson’s ’25 and Ronan Wrenn’s ’28 late game heroics sealing the game in overtime. Unfortunately, the Hounds ended the trip with back to back losses to the Somerset School and the Christopher School in a doubleheader. Despite this, the team had unquestionable growth both on and off the field. Some of Senior captain Krish Rangarajan’s highlights from the trip include “the Wake Forest vs Miami baseball game, team meals at Putter’s, hotel room video games, and of course, bus ride karaoke.” The trip was particularly beneficial for some of the less experienced players. Freshman Carson Dodge emphasized the benefits of the outing, saying, “It was good. Everyone got to know each other better and everyone got to play a decent amount.” Overall the trip built the foundations of success, setting the team up for the rest of their MIAA season.  

Tennis

On Wednesday, March 12th, the varsity tennis team left school early and arrived at their destination - California! The team set up basecamp at the Redondo Sunset Beach Hotel, where they enjoyed the sunny weather, warm beaches, and all California had to offer. But this wasn’t just a vacation, the team was preparing for the renowned All American tennis Invitational, which they would compete in on monday. This meant they had three days to work out all the kinks in their backhands and tutor their bodies to be ready to compete. Although their schedule was bombarded by heavy rain, the team still attempted to squeeze in as many practices, and studied as much film as possible before their California debut. The greyhounds fought hard and took one win at the invitational, earning them a 12th place finish on the national stage. The team celebrated their victory with head coach Steve Lightning, capstoning an amazing start to their season.

Performing Arts

On March 10, a headline was published in the French newspaper La Provence, “Gospel: des Choristes Virtuoses Americains.” When translated, the title means “Gospel: American Virtuoso Choristers,” and the choristers in question were none other than the members of the Gilman middle and upper school choirs. Four days later on March 14, several Gilman students along with faculty landed in Nice, France to begin their European choral tour. After a rehearsal over breakfast and an apology to the other hotel guests, the Gilman choir set out on a walking tour of Nice which included a brief stop in the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate de Nice to practice for the group’s first concert of the trip. The concert took place on the 16th in the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate and according to senior Zach Fader ‘25 “[The locals] showed out. It was awesome.” In front of a packed house, the Gilman choir performed a selection of songs under the direction of Mrs. Cyman and Mr. Ford. After a few more days spent in France, including some singing at the Palace of the Popes in Avignon as well as local restaurants, the boys set out into Spain. They spent their time touring beautiful sites in Catalonia, and one their biggest moments came when singing at Santa Maria de Montserrat. The massive chapel is located 4,000 feet above sea level and is home to one of the oldest boy’s choirs in Europe: Escolania d’Montserrat. Along with the members of Escolania d’Montserrat, the Gilman singers performed a series of songs. According to Zach, “It was by far the best place we sang, the massive ceilings made the acoustics unreal.” Thanks to the help of local posters and some street performing, the Gilman choir was able to draw another big crowd for its second official performance of the trip at Parroquia Mare de Déu dels Àngels on March 19th. After a celebratory dinner and a few serenades for locals as well as Eric Cao ‘26, the group had its last performance in the crypt at Sagrada Familia the next morning. After a long week of singing and sightseeing, the Gilman boys couldn’t resist belting along to John Denver’s Country Roads on their bus to the airport. According to senior Derick Su ‘25, “It was an incredible bonding experience. I would recommend it to anyone who gets the chance to take a trip like this.” From the songs and the sites to the members of the upper and middle school choirs, the trip was nothing short of pitch perfect.