myUS

Rocketry Team Soars

5/11/2022

Our own rocketry team, who named themselves The US Space Program also made a name for themselves in and on the air this year. As the only school team in Ohio to qualify for the 2022 American Rocketry Challenge Finals, they were featured on two popular Cleveland news programs.

The team spent three hours kickin’ it with Kenny Crumpton from FOX 8, broadcasting five live segments, plus short teasers, direct from the Hunting Valley Campus.

Watch all of the Kickin’ It With Kenny segments here, including two picture-perfect launches.

The very next day, Jon Rudder from News 5 Cleveland came to interview the team and capture more rocket launches. Watch the News 5 report here.

The team also qualified for the national competition in 2019 (and finished 88th nationally). They finished 48th nationally this year, a great improvement. Congratulations to all the team members and Jim Seibyl ‘83, their coach on their successes in the air and on the air!

The members of The US Space Program that traveled to the American Rocketry Challenge Finals in Virginia are:

Ted Applebaum ‘22

Ben Daye ‘22

Alex Kmetko ‘22

Jae Smith ‘22

Will Garceau ‘23

Gavin Ippolito ‘23

Raaghav Lele ‘23

Isaac Duncan ‘24

Henry Laye ‘24

Tommy McGowan ‘24

Liam Monaghan ‘24

Back

- Kenny Crumpton from Fox 8 with the team.
- Live on the air.
- Kenny was very interested in the rocket design and everyone enjoyed the breaks between live segments.
- Jae Smith '22 warming up for his television appearance.
- Ben Daye '22 preparing a rocket for launch.
- T-minus five minutes and counting.
- Donuts provided the fuel for the team after their 6:15 a.m. arrival at school for the FOX 8 live broadcasts.
- Jon Rudder of News 5 getting an extreme close-up.
- Alex Kmetko '22 eloquently representing the Rocketry Team.
- Heading out to the launch pad.

Shaker Heights Campus

20701 Brantley Road
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
JUNIOR K – GRADE 8
Phone: 216-321-8260

Hunting Valley Campus

2785 SOM Center Road
Hunting Valley, Ohio 44022
GRADES 9 – 12
Phone: 216-831-2200

University School serves over 850 boys in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 on two campuses in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. The School’s mission is to inspire boys of promise to become young men of character who lead and serve. Dedicated faculty, rigorous curriculum, and experiential programs foster intellectual, physical, creative, and moral excellence. University School is a diverse and inclusive community where each boy is known and loved.