On a perfect spring afternoon at Gratwick Field, generations of Germantown Friends School athletes, families, coaches, and alumni gathered to celebrate seven individuals whose impact on GFS Baseball and Softball extends far beyond statistics, awards, or records.

Before the personalized plaques were displayed and the framed jerseys handed out, before speeches echoed across the ballpark, and before alumni once again took the field together under the afternoon sun, there was a feeling shared by everyone in attendance: this day was about community.

The ceremony honored seven former Tigers: baseball players Nate Kunkel ’79, Henry Steinberg ’93, Chris Hamilton ’01, and Jesse Biddle ’10, and softball players Aisha Franke Bryant ’00, Rachel Allison ’14, and Lizzie Becker ’16. This group is now referred to as the “Super Seven.”

Representing generations of excellence across both baseball and softball, the honorees returned to the place where their journeys began for a celebration that reflected not only their accomplishments, but the values that shaped them during their time at GFS.

Adding to the significance of the event was the presence of Harry Gratwick himself, whose unwavering support and leadership in GFS athletics helped make Gratwick Field a special home for future generations of Tiger athletes. Throughout the afternoon, alumni from different eras shared stories, reconnected with former teammates and coaches, and participated in an alumni game that perfectly reflected the spirit of the day: joyful, competitive, and deeply connected.

While each honoree brought an impressive athletic résumé back to campus, the ceremony consistently returned to something bigger than wins, championships, or professional success. Speaker after speaker emphasized the relationships, mentorship, and culture that define GFS Athletics.

Head of Schools Dana Weeks (above) spoke about the intentionality behind the growth of the athletics program and the values that continue to guide it forward.

 “We continue to build our program with the greatest leadership, coaches, and trainers here,” Weeks said. “They do so with our athletes well-being in mind, a deep sense of competition, and a firm root in Quaker values.”

That balance between competitive excellence and care for students was a recurring theme throughout the afternoon. Athletic Director Katie Bergstrom Mark (below) spoke passionately about the department’s commitment to integrity and inclusion, while still striving for excellence at the highest levels of competition.

“I’m incredibly proud of our commitment to compete with integrity,” Bergstrom Mark said. “Every single time a Germantown Friends student-athlete competes, our standard is that they compete with integrity.”

She also acknowledged the challenge, and importance, of creating an athletics program where every student feels welcomed while teams continue to pursue championships and elite performance.

“We are trying to do the most difficult thing in sports,” Bergstrom Mark said. “We are trying to deliver a program, each and every day, where we can welcome students into athletics, no matter their skill level, while striving to be as competitive as possible.”

Perhaps no story embodied the spirit of the day more than Jesse Biddle’s reflection on his senior year at GFS. Already committed to the University of Oregon and considered one of the nation’s top pitching prospects, Biddle recalled being approached about transferring schools for his final season. Despite the opportunity, leaving GFS was never truly an option.

“My teammates, teachers, and community made it impossible to leave,” Biddle shared. “We had to see it through.”

His words perfectly captured what made the ceremony feel so meaningful. The “Super Seven” may have represented different eras, different teams, and different athletic journeys, but they were all shaped by the same culture of support, connection, integrity, and belonging.

As the ceremony concluded and the crowd lingered around the field long after the final speeches ended, one thing became clear: the plaques that will hang at Gratwick Field are not simply symbols of athletic greatness. They are reminders of the type of community GFS Athletics continues to build; one rooted in excellence, character, and love for one another.

Explore the full photo album from the jersey retirement event!