Ashley Hall Athletics Community Day
October 14, 2026
On a vibrant fall morning, campus was filled with energy, laughter, and high-fives as Ashley Hall Athletics welcomed students from Pinehurst Elementary School—a Title I school in North Charleston—for the third annual Community Day Clinic. Marking the completion of a full three-season rotation across fall, winter, and spring sports since launching in 2024, the partnership has grown into an impactful part of our program.
More than 50 Pinehurst students in third through fifth grade joined 21 Ashley Hall varsity student-athletes for an action-packed morning centered on mentorship, athletic discovery, and community connection. Participating Pinehurst students rotated through three 30-minute sessions in golf, tennis, and volleyball—all completely planned and led by the Upper School athletes.
Rather than just introducing young athletes to new sports, the clinic offered Ashley Hall students an opportunity to step directly into leadership roles, putting the School’s core values into practice. On the courts and fields, varsity players demonstrated patience, confidence, compassion, and leadership while sharing their passion for athletic competition.
"Community Day provides a unique opportunity for our student-athletes to showcase their skills, hard work, and talent to a different community," explained Christian Alcantara, Athletic Director for Strategic Program Development. "We bring in these amazing third- through fifth-graders from Pinehurst Elementary to be coached by our varsity athletes. It puts them in a spot where they can be the experts, transfer knowledge, and provide hopefully a spark for these kids to want to continue playing the sport."
For many of the young visitors from Pinehurst, the morning offered an inspiring introduction to sports they had never experienced before. "It opens the doors to all of the amazing opportunities and experiences that our students have, but then transfers that to these kids that might not have that opportunity or have never been exposed to these sports," Alcantara noted. "For our student-athletes to have the opportunity to be that spark is so worthwhile. It's so important for them to see their impact on these little kids, and it prepares them for leaving Ashley Hall and hopefully trying to be a spark in the rest of the world."
The sentiment was warmly echoed by the student-athletes themselves, who found the morning just as rewarding to lead as the younger girls found it to attend.
"Seeing their positive attitudes during the activities, and their anticipation before—all of that will stick with me," shared senior varsity volleyball player Liza Hood ’27. "I think how happy they were to have a connection with older girls in playing a sport, whether they like the sport or not—it was really sweet. I hope I did spark passion to do any other sport or activity and reach beyond what they think they're capable of, because a lot of them proved to be capable of a lot more than they thought today."
As the day wrapped up, the lasting impact of the event extended far beyond the scoreboards. In just a few hours, unfamiliar faces turned into teammates, coaches became mentors, and two distinct school communities joined together as one—leaving both the visiting students and Ashley Hall athletes inspired for seasons to come.