Winter Sports

Basketball

Panthers Basketball saw incredible achievements on the court this season, marked by Greta Servitto’s 1000 Career Points and Coach Bruce McCloud’s 100th Career Win. Beyond these monumental accomplishments, the Basketball team had a bounceback season after going a sub .500 record for the 2022-2023 season. With a 13-12 overall record, the team displayed their power in the NJAC Independence Division, going 10-2 against their divisional rivals.

Seniors Riley Wasdyke ‘24, Fiona Farrell ‘24, Grace Gehm ‘24, and Greta Servitto ‘24 were power players on the court, amassing a combined 807 points out of the 1,032 points scored by the team throughout the season. Fiona Farrell ‘24 set the Academy record for most three-pointers in a single season with 62, as well as the most career three-pointers in Academy NJAC history with 91. Juniors Caroline Bodnar ‘25 and Zoe MacWhannell ‘25 also scored 50+ points each this season, setting them up to be integral parts in the future success of the program.

The team recorded major victories against Villa Walsh Academy, Parsippany, Whippany Park, Kittatinny, Veritas Christian, Kinnelon, and more, with some close, single-digit losses that could have gone either way. These major steps forward in the program’s successes, especially within the NJAC Independence Division in 2nd Place, hopefully pave the way for greater successes on the court next year.

List of 1 members.

Bruce McCloud

Head Varsity Basketball Coach

List of 1 members.

Anna Russo

Head JV Basketball Coach

Swimming

The swimming pools rippled with several AquaPanther victories throughout the season, displaying the talent and hard work of the Academy’s returning and more recent members to the team. Coach Greg Yarnall continued his tenure as the team’s head coach, with seniors Caitlin Flanagan ‘24, Julia Riccio ‘24, and Crystal Pisello ‘24 steering the team toward victory.

Julia Riccio ‘24 earned two individual victories in various competitions, including the 100 Backstroke (1:11.46) and 500 Freestyle (6:47.70), along with several relay victories, including in 200 Freestyle Relay (2:04.51, Sophia Formanes ‘25, Crystal Pisello ‘24, Kasey Desiderio ‘25), 200 Medley Relay (2:05.85, Sophia Formanes ‘25, Josie Speace ‘27, Kasey Desiderio ‘25), and 400 Freestyle Relay (4:27.66, Sophia Formanes ‘25, Kasey Desiderio ‘25, Caitlin Flanagan ‘24). Kasey Desiderio ‘25 took home seven individual victories, including in 100 Backstroke (1:09.13), 100 Freestyle (1:03.87), 200 Freestyle (2:12.77), and 50 Freestyle (0:27.91), as well as seven relay victories. In every competition, both individual and relay, newcomer Josie Speace ‘27 achieved either 1st or 2nd Place throughout the season. This included taking 1st Place in five out of six competitions for 100 Butterfly (1:06.52), 1st Place in all three competitions for 200 Individual Medley (2:22.97), two out of three 1st Place finishes in 50 Freestyle (0:27.60), and a victory in 500 Freestyle (5:50.07).

Victories over Pequannock and Roxbury speak to the growing success of both individual swimmers and relay competitors, especially as the team continues to grow in size and power. The AquaPanthers appear set for continued success over the next several years as the program continues to expand.

List of 1 members.

Greg Yarnall

Social Studies Department, Academic Team Leader, Head Varsity Swim Coach

Read Bio
Mr. Yarnall began coaching when he was a high schooler, leading the West Milford Township summer rec swim team to seven division championships in nine years. He swam at the Lakeland Hills YMCA and then at Connecticut College for four years where he served as captain his senior year. After graduating with a History degree, he began teaching at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth and became the head varsity swim coach. Mr. Yarnall has coached the Academy team to two Morris County Championships in 2004 and 2005. The St. Elizabeth's Swim Team won 7 straight Northern Hills Conference titles before the realignment of HS athletics in 2009. In 2005, the Academy team beat Bishop Eustace in the state finals to claim their 2nd Non-Public State Title. In both 2003 and 2005, Mr. Yarnall was named All-Area Swim Coach of the Year. Mr. Yarnall spent several summers working at the Stanford National Swim Camp where he would refine his approach to stroke technique under the guidance of Olympic swim coach Richard Quick.
In 2010 Mr. Yarnall was honored as the NJ Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year. That same year he was able to meet with some of the top Age Group coaches in the country when he attended the National Age Group Coaches Summit at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. In the fall of 2014 Mr. Yarnall became the Head Age Group Coach at the Lakeland Hills YMCA where he has coached many 11-12 year old swimmers to state, zone and national top 10 times. Mr. Yarnall is currently an ASCA Level 3 certified coach.

Ice Hockey

After four seasons playing with the Academy of Saint Elizabeth-Morris Catholic Ice Hockey team, Mia Foer ‘24 skated off the ice, one final time, and officially hung up her skates. In a showcase of grit, determination, and unwavering strength, Mia took to the ice, often against teams with all-male squads.

While it was a difficult season for the Co-Op team, Mia finished her career on the ice with 2 Goals, 8 Assists, and 10 Points, embodying the mentality of never giving up, even when it got tough. For when it got tough, Mia got going. For her years as a trailblazer on the ice, Mia was honored on Senior Night with her proud parents by her side. To add to that pride, Mia’s father, Chris Foer, is also the Head Coach for the team, making this a special moment for a coach and his players, but also between a father and his daughter.

List of 1 members.

Chris Foer

Ice Hockey Coach (co-op with Morris Catholic)

Read Bio
Coach Foer will be entering his third season with the MC/AOSE co-op ice hockey program. During the 2020 – 2021 season, the team won its first ever divisional championship title and continued to be a force in the conference after moving into a different division.