January 2024

Athletics at MacLaren

MacLaren students of all ages have the opportunity to participate in athletics. Whether through in-school activities in the Lower School, or after-school programs in the Upper School, the MacLaren “playing field” is a place where all humans can know truth, create beauty, and practice goodness. 

MacLaren’s athletic offerings are akin to classrooms where students build understanding, develop skills, enjoy multi-age friendships, grow in hard work and leadership, and benefit from a supportive community. 

Lower School Landsharks runners (left) and high school boys' soccer team (right).

Lower School students enjoy exposure to a wide variety of sports and physical skills in daily P.E. classes and are invited to compete in MacLaren's Landsharks after-school running club. 

With intentional investment by MacLaren's Athletic Director and a host of dedicated coaches, MacLaren's Upper School athletics program features soccer, cross-country, volleyball, basketball, and track and field at both the middle school and high school levels, for boys and girls. 

High school cross-country athletes earn accolades (left) and the high school girls' volleyball team highlights breast cancer awareness with custom-made bows (right).

More than learning pacing tactics on a track or defensive strategy on a court, MacLaren athletes learn life skills through athletics. The athletics program develops students who are competitive in their sport and growing in strength, endurance, personal discipline, and character.

Khristine Vadala, parent to two athletes, shares, "Sports participation leads to life skills development. Athletes learn time management – how to manage their homework, their practice schedule, and their social life. It teaches them persistence and commitment to a team."

Girls' volleyball (left), Landsharks runners (middle), and boys' soccer (right).

MacLaren athletes learn respect for themselves, their teammates, opponents, and competition officials. Of her sons' coaches, Vadala says, "They're dedicated and they love those boys. They really care about character development."

Athletic Director Chrissy Steigerwald shares, “Commitment to a sport and to continual improvement are life skills. We’re trying to develop athletes who respect the process, and who respect their opponents and teammates enough to prepare. This means putting forth their best effort in every game and every practice.”

"Big Brother Big Sister" games on the Upper Field

MacLaren's sports field, track, and gym space provide opportunities for multi-age friendships and mentorship.

"Big Brother Big Sister" gatherings connect Upper School students with Lower School students for activities throughout the year. While enjoying growing friendship, younger students learn valuable lessons from their older teammates and older students learn to mentor and encourage younger students.

MacLaren athletic teams accomplish this, too, as students of different ages practice together and find themselves competing on a multi-grade team. Senior Aibrean O’Lear says, “You get to know younger players you’d otherwise not have much overlap with. You talk to them and ask how their classes are going. You’ve been in their boat and can encourage them.” 

MacLaren athletics join athletes of different grades as teammates. Middle school girls' soccer (left) and high school boys' soccer (right).

MacLaren's high school boys' soccer team describes itself as a brotherhood. Team captains match an older player with younger players for intentional investment during the season. But these match-ups go beyond friendship to valuable sport and life lessons.

Soccer captain Sam Montgomery explains, "Younger players have a dedicated friend during the season. There are lots of emotions for younger players trying to earn their spot on a team. Younger players may sometimes get frustrated with themselves and want to quit." As a senior player who has been in their shoes, Montgomery sees the opportunity to build up his younger teammates.

Similarly upperclassmen in MacLaren's cross-country program befriend and mentor new athletes, teaching the team's traditions and how practices are run. It's a student-led effort to welcome new members to the team.

Middle school boys at a cross-country race (left) and tip off at a high school boys' basketball game.

MacLaren athletes balance a rigorous academic course load with competitive athletics. While there is no shortage of natural academic and athletic talent represented at MacLaren, it is the commitment to hard work that produces results.

Steigerwald explains, “Athletic and academic excellence is achieved through self-discipline and care for one’s teammates. Successful teams have this in common: they do the work and they support each other.”

O' Lear agrees, "Sports teach you about yourself and what you can endure. I've learned that I can do something hard and get better at it. You see your teammates working hard and that pushes you."

MacLaren's boys' volleyball team ready for competition (left). Track athletes race to the finish line (right).

While embracing hard work in both their studies and athletic pursuits, MacLaren athletes grow as leaders. Montgomery recognizes that he has benefited from older players who demonstrated dedication, perseverance, and composure under pressure. He shares, "They modeled leadership and helped me become a better leader."

Coaches too help athletes grow in their leadership capacity. Montgomery recalls a coach reminding him of his responsibility as a captain. He said, "Whatever you do, the rest of the team will do. If you lose it, or give up, they will too. The team relies on you." Montgomery wants to use these lessons to relate to his younger team members and set a good example.

Lower School students celebrate an Upper School basketball team's journey to post-season competition (left). The high school girls' soccer team forged friendships in all kinds of weather (right).

What makes MacLaren athletics unique? It's the community. Steigerwald reflects, “We have very supportive families here. Ours is a team and community-oriented culture.” 

O'Lear adds, "The community in the sports program is different. We sometimes play teams who are mad at each other and yelling at each other. MacLaren isn't like that. In every team I've been part of, we care about each other and support each other."

Vadala has observed these supportive relationships in action, particularly after a difficult loss. Of the boys' soccer team, she says, "The team was disappointed. But they surrounded each other and cared for each other. They show grace in winning and grace in losing."

The middle school cross-country team before a run in Monument Valley Park (left). High school boys comfort each other after a difficult soccer game (right).

A supportive athletic community is also built outside of practice and competitions. MacLaren's middle school cross-country team hiked the Manitou Incline together to celebrate their season. Other teams enjoy regular meals and end-of-season gatherings.

Whether forming carpools for away competitions or cheering together on the sidelines, athlete parents often develop friendships. Vadala explains, "You get to know other parents you might not know otherwise. I'm getting to know so many of my sons' friends now through sports."

At MacLaren, teachers, staff, administration, parents, and coaches work together to help students succeed. Steigerwald observes parents jumping in to support the whole team by cheering enthusiastically from the sidelines, serving as line judges, and assisting with the scoreboard.

Steigerwald is grateful for the support, indicating that parent engagement is critical to the success of our athletic programs. She says, "We had a family make dinner for a team that had traveled four hours to play at MacLaren. That shows the community mindset that makes teams want to compete with us. We’re also respectful fans. We work hard to emphasize that we don’t tolerate taunting and poor sportsmanship at games."

Of athletics at MacLaren, senior Montgomery says, "I really do think the sports program is an extension of the MacLaren family. It's a great place to be."

Our Vision

We believe all students should be immersed in the best our tradition has to offer. We believe all students can be active and useful participants in the ongoing and enduring conversation that is a vibrant civilization. We believe all students can be formed in a habitual vision of greatness that makes lifelong learners of the doctor and the mechanic, the homemaker and the professor. Thomas MacLaren School strives to build a lasting community of learners in which each student is the agent of his or her education.



Our Mission

From the seminar to the science lab, from the music room to the playing field, we begin with the conviction that all human beings can know truth, create beauty, and practice goodness. To that end, we expect students to develop basic tools of learning, ordered basic knowledge, moral seriousness, breadth and depth of imagination, artistic ability and sensitivity, and a sense of wonder.

We believe all students can be active and useful participants in the ongoing and enduring conversation that is a vibrant civilization. Jacques Maritain, the French philosopher, described education as a human awakening. The goal of Thomas MacLaren School is to develop young men and women who are fully human and fully awake to the world.