December 05, 2024
Top of Their Game
Elevating student-athletesAndover coaches are doing more than preparing students for competition—they’re shaping leaders, building lifelong bonds, and creating unique opportunities that extend after the final buzzer. Thanks to the generosity of donors, Phillips Academy is redefining how to support student-athletes holistically, not only in their sport, but also in their lives.
“Our program benefits from building team and community,” says Lisa Joel, director of athletics. “It’s purposefully structured so that camaraderie and growth flow through everything we do.”
Aaron ’25 echoes those sentiments when reflecting on his PA education. “Andover soccer has provided me with many strong connections that helped me grow as an athlete and as a person, even after setbacks. Participating in sports has also taught me valuable time management skills, as I balance both my academic and athletic responsibilities.”
Donors help bring these personal stories to life—and that often means exceptional travel opportunities. Whether it’s a trip to California for the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships or to Pennsylvania for the National Prep Wrestling Championship, these off-campus competitions challenge athletes to test their limits in the arena and broaden their perspectives beyond it.
Andover soccer has provided me with many strong connections that helped me grow as an athlete and as a person, even after setbacks. Participating in sports has also taught me valuable time management skills, as I balance both my academic and athletic responsibilities.
”The program also elevates its student-athletes through specialized coaching and equipment that enhance individual and team performance. “For instance, we have the ability to bring in former Olympians and positional coaches, such as goalkeepers, who have played at the top level and can share their expertise and training tips,” says Joel.
“Plus, providing advanced gear—like new rowing shells, pitching machines, and golf simulators—ensures our kids have all they need to succeed,” she notes. “As technology rapidly evolves, these investments are essential.” Such resources, funded by Andover benefactors, position students to excel and deepen their enthusiasm and knowledge.
This commitment resonates with donors like Nat Furman ’91, P’25. Furman, a former football player and rower who created a scholarship to honor his former coach, Leon Modeste, shares, “Andover athletics means competing at a high level while also trying new things. It’s the ultimate liberal arts approach, fostering kids at the right moment in their journey.”
Importantly, Andover’s “Athletics for All” philosophy champions the program’s overarching goal to meet the needs of high-performing athletes as well as students who want to try a new sport or be a part of their first team. Through dance, intramural, and L.I.F.E. sports offerings, PA provides students the opportunity to participate in physical exercise no matter where their athletic interests lie. “The magic is that our program is for everyone,” says Joel.
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