From college fields to the professional stage, Germantown Friends School alumni are already making their presence felt this fall. With the season still young, several former Tigers have found their way into recent headlines through big moments, leadership, and continued success in their respective sports.
Ned Spaniel ’26 | Swarthmore Men’s Soccer
Former GFS Boys Soccer captain Ned Spaniel ’26 (above) has wasted little time making an impact at Swarthmore College. In a recent matchup with Johns Hopkins, Spaniel found the back of the net in the first half, rising for a header in tight that forced the goalkeeper to leap and punch the ball away before it found the upper half of the goal.
For Spaniel, it is an early glimpse of the same presence that made him indispensable for the Tigers during their 2025 championship season.
Dean Yao ’24 | Cal Tech Men’s Soccer
On the other side of the country, Dean Yao ’24 (above) recorded his first goal of the season for Cal Tech Men’s Soccer. Yao found the back of the net in the 59th minute against Elmhurst, providing another early-season highlight as the former Tiger continues his collegiate career in Pasadena.
Sarah Goldberg ’26 | Amherst Lacrosse
Sarah Goldberg ’26 (above) is making an impression at Amherst before her first collegiate lacrosse season even begins.
A three-sport athlete and captain at GFS in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, Goldberg joined the Amherst Women’s Lacrosse program while also continuing to compete on the soccer field through club soccer this fall. Recently, Sarah was named USCCS (US College Club Soccer) East conference player of the week as well as Amherst Lacrosse’s “Culture Builder of the Week,” Goldberg is already being recognized for qualities that GFS teammates and coaches came to know well: leadership, energy, and a commitment to those around her.
Olivia (Fiechter) Weaver ’14 | U.S. Squash
Olivia (Fiechter) Weaver ’14 (pictured above with GFS P.E. Teacher and Track & Field Coach Tom Myran) returned to the Philadelphia spotlight on September 22, trading the squash court for the pitcher’s mound at Citizens Bank Park.
Weaver, currently the No. 1-ranked American woman in squash, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Phillies took on the Milwaukee Brewers. Wearing a blue Trea Turner jersey, Weaver took the mound and peered in at a target from none other than the Phillie Phanatic. Calm, cool, and collected in front of her hometown Philadelphia crowd, she delivered an easy strike over the plate like it was business as usual.
Maybe she brought a little luck with her, too. Phillies starter Zack Wheeler followed by striking out the first seven batters he faced, and Philadelphia eventually staged a late-game comeback to earn the win.
Whether making an immediate impact at the collegiate level, establishing themselves as leaders in a new community, or representing Philadelphia on one of sports’ biggest stages, these former Tigers continue to give the GFS community plenty to follow and plenty to celebrate.