Mark Gardner led the varsity soccer team to an impressive 3-2 win over St. Mark's on Tuesday night, earning him his 300th career varsity soccer win at ESD. Gardner, who started coaching at ESD in 1993, holds the record for most wins in a single varsity sport at the school. Last season, his team defeated Cistercian, 2-0, for the SPC Division I title. 

"It really makes me think about all the students and families I've coached over the years," Gardner said. "I enjoy every season I coach - from soccer to field hockey. I have to give credit to the kids though - they are the ones who win the game. If I can say I've only had one losing season out of 22, that's pretty fortunate."

"It's a real honor and privilege to have helped 15 years ago as a player, and now to stand alongside Coach Gardner as a coach for his 300th career win," Ryan Kneipper '99 said. "He deserves to take a moment and appreciate this unbelievable accomplishment. It has happened because of all his hard work, persistence, and passion to coach the student athletes that have come through the school over the last 22 years."

Gardner will go for his 301st win on Thursday, December 11 against HSAA at ESD at 7:30 p.m.

Three other coaches have achieved 200 or more wins during their tenure at ESD; two others in a single varsity sport. Head volleyball coach Laura Gomez recorded her 200th varsity win in 2011 following the team's win against St. Mary’s Hall in a tournament hosted by St. Stephen’s Episcopal in Austin. Retired women’s varsity soccer coach Rusty “Sir” Trenary posted 272-120-17 in 16 seasons. Mike Schneider, ESD's Physical Education Department Chair, recorded his 500th win across multiple teams at ESD in January 2013 when the Middle School boys’ maroon basketball team beat Parish by a score of 33-24 on the road.

Thank you to Alaina Van Pelt '15, Eagle Edition, for sharing her photograph.