Conway, SC - Welcome to the inaugural edition of From the Armada Quarterdeck! This column serves as a regular editorial home for ACA Athletics – a central, flexible space where we unpack game results, share departmental updates, highlight student-athlete achievements, preview upcoming matchups, and offer broader insights into our athletic philosophy and vision.

I arrived here less than 10 days ago and, what a whirlwind, exciting week it has been! I'm coming here from Orlando, and I was looking forward to the cooler weather, but it appears I brought the Florida heat and humidity right along with me!

There was no time for a shakedown cruise; we stepped onto the quarterdeck at full steam, and it has been all hands on deck from minute one. From stepping straight into meetings to connecting with our coaches, teachers, and athletes, the energy surrounding Atlantic Collegiate Academy is incredible.

The Deck Log: Inside Armada Athletics

• Football Jamboree & Parent Connections: Attended Monday's football jamboree! It was outstanding to watch our student-athletes compete on the field and connect informally with so many passionate parents in the stands as our fall season sets sail. We are looking forward to a great football season ahead.

• Girls Volleyball on the Rise: Had the opportunity to watch our girls volleyball team practice! Coach Church does an excellent job leading the program, and this is a talented group poised to make plenty of noise on the court this season.

• Girls Golf Schedule Update: This upcoming Monday and Tuesday's matches were canceled due to extreme heat forecasts. Coach Hawkinberry is working to reschedule these dates, and we look forward to getting the team on the course soon.

• Spirited Cheer Tryouts: The Flight Deck hosted cheer tryouts on Wednesday and Thursday under the leadership of Coach Bailey. We had a remarkably passionate and enthusiastic group step up, setting the stage for incredible sideline energy this year.

• Coaching Leadership & One-on-Ones: I conducted informal 1-on-1 meetings with the head coaches steering our programs throughout the week as we prepare for a more formalized department-wide coaches meeting. I am deeply encouraged by their passion, vision, and dedication to their specific sports and to ACA as a whole.

• McLeod Athletic Training Partnership: I interacted directly with our athletic trainers from McLeod and observed them in action firsthand. We are enthusiastic about this partnership – our student-athletes are in terrific hands to stay healthy and shipshape.

• Classroom & Culture Synergy: Walked the halls to meet with teachers and gather their feedback on what makes ACA such a great place for students. Aligning our athletic goals with classroom culture ensures the entire ship is sailing in sync toward our core values.

• Student-Athlete Council (SAC): As a key department initiative, we have finalized the framework for our new Student-Athlete Council. The blueprint is set, and we will officially launch in the coming weeks to give our student-athletes a direct helm for leadership, advocacy and community impact.
• New Athlete Recognition Framework: As part of our overall department initiatives, we are rolling out two recurring awards to celebrate student-athlete excellence across the fleet.
  • Athlete of the Month: We will kick things off by recognizing our inaugural Athlete of the Month for August.
  • Athlete of the Week: Starting in September, we will roll out our Athlete of the Week honors, celebrating top performers on a weekly basis alongside our monthly recognition.

• New Sports Interest Questionnaire: We have launched an interest questionnaire on our athletics website to gather feedback regarding potential future sport offerings. We encourage our families and student-athletes to participate as we evaluate expanding our athletic fleet.

• Tennis Program Update: Unfortunately, we will not be fielding a boys or girls tennis team this season. However, we remain committed to growing our offerings and look forward to adding a tennis program in the near future.

• Athlete Recovery Program: Partnering with Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Santuan to emphasize post-workout nutrition by offering high-quality protein bars and shakes at cost right in the weight room. We are excited about this program – stay tuned for an official launch with complete details coming in the near future!

• Armada Baseball Leadership Search: Hosted top baseball coaching candidates on campus this past week and will continue on-campus interviews with additional candidates this upcoming week. We are taking a deliberate, thorough approach to selecting who will steer the helm while ensuring our student-athletes receive a full, high-caliber baseball experience this coming year – including fall ball and complete team programming.

• Official Social Media Launch: Anchoring Armada Athletics directly to our community! Follow our official accounts on Instagram (aca.armada) and X (@Atlantic_Armada) for live game coverage, real-time scores, behind-the-scenes action, special interest stories, personal spotlights, and student-athlete features.

The foundation is set, the standard is clear, and the momentum across our entire department is palpable. Let's gear up for an incredible year!

#GoArmada #AnchorDown

Douglas Leichner
Director of Athletics

About Atlantic Collegiate Academy: Atlantic Collegiate Academy (ACA), located in Conway, S.C., serves high school students in a safe, small and family-centered setting. Our students seek the opportunity and challenge of rigorous curriculum, high academic standards and elite athletics while also earning up to two years of college credit. ACA serves students in grades 9-12 using an honors curriculum in 9th and 10th grades with a dual enrollment curriculum in 11th and 12th grades.