April Halftime Report: Mac Spear '24

Perhaps it is unsurprising that someone with a bright academic mind and strong appreciation for numbers would gravitate towards playing tennis. One of the few sports without a clock, wins and losses are instead determined by the numbers. To win a match, a player must win a certain number of games and sets. In other words, tennis is the perfect sport for Mac Spear ’24.

 

Mac was introduced to tennis by his parents, both former tennis players, when he was five or six years old. While he has tried a number of other sports – soccer, ice hockey, sailing, skiing, sport climbing, archery, golf, lacrosse, and swimming – tennis was always a constant.

 

Mac grew up in Newport, Rhode Island, home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He fondly recalls his first memories of tennis, including his first racquet, which was Sponge Bob Square Pants themed. He started hitting balls at home with his parents, and before long, was participating in junior clinics at the Hall of Fame.

 

After his family moved to Greenville, Mac started attending CCES in the 3rd grade and describes his experiences here as “an amazing journey.” He points to many aspects of the school that stand out – the high quality academic programming, the teachers, and “fantastic” arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities. However, above all, he says “What makes CCES special is the tremendous sense of community and support for all members of the school.”

 

Mac credits CCES with giving him the opportunity to grow, both athletically and academically. He has been a member of the Varsity Boys Tennis team since his freshman year, serving as a captain for the past three years. Mac has played in a number of USTA (United States Tennis Association) tournaments, but he says, “Representing CCES has given me a sense of pride and responsibility that I didn’t get from competing as an individual.”  

 

One of Mac’s favorite aspects of the team is how “tight” the group is – because it’s a smaller group compared to other sports, they know each other well and are “quick to support one another, on and off the courts.” The team has had a number of exciting playoff runs, including one Mac will always cherish – beating St. Joseph’s in the semifinals to advance to the 2022 State Championship. In addition to on-court achievements, Mac has enjoyed all the time spent with his teammates and Head Coach Jimmy Burford (US History Instructor), during practices and matches, especially all the road trips.

 

Coach Burford describes Mac as a “consistent rock in the foundation of Cavalier Tennis,” and as a quiet, servant leader whose impact has been undeniable on the team. Burford says, “It has been a distinct pleasure to have Mac’s talents and character on our team these past four years.”

 

Tennis has taught Mac a lot over the years, emphasizing the importance of physical and mental resilience and determination. Mac says, “As a player, you always have the opportunity to come back and win, no matter how far down you are. It creates and continually reinforces an attitude of never quitting or giving up, no matter what the score is.”

 

When Mac is not playing tennis, he is an extremely dedicated student, building quite an impressive resume during these past four years of high school. He has always been interested in remote-controlled (RC) cars and aerial vehicles, but two years ago, he decided to take his interest to the next level. Guinness is the “recognized authority” on a number of world records for RC cars. So naturally, he founded a club at CCES – the RC Club – to focus specifically on the goal of breaking the record for the longest distance traveled by a RC car in 24 hours.  

 

Two years later, the group is prepared to put all their work into action. Guinness has officially accepted the RC Club’s challenge, with the 24-hour event to take place in the next few weeks. Mac says, “The members of the RC Club are talented, innovative, and determined. I believe that collectively we have the right team to bring the record home to CCES after two full years of preparation and practice.”

Chris Lipp, US Technology Instructor and the faculty advisor of the RC Club, made the suggestion for Mac to integrate the campaign for the Guinness World Record with his Senior Capstone. The result - his project, titled “Raising the Benchmark: The Journey to a World Record,” with assistance from Chris, also serving as his capstone advisor. 

Mr. Lipp’s experience teaching Mac in the classroom and working with him on these various RC projects has echoed that of others. He says, “Mac Spear is an outstanding overall student, who continues to grow in his knowledge and abilities in Computer Science and technical disciplines, but it is in his ability to lead that Mac stands head and shoulders above the rest.” 

 

After graduating (hopefully with a RC car world record), Mac will return to New England to attend Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dartmouth was the perfect combination of a multidisciplinary academic program and a large number of clubs to choose from. Mac plans to pursue a dual degree program, which will allow him to earn both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Engineering degrees. Outside of his studies, Mac is looking forward to taking advantage of all the extracurricular opportunities at Dartmouth, including all the outdoor recreational activities and the Formula Hybrid-Electric Racing team.

 

While Mac’s time at CCES is coming to a close in the next month, he is grateful for all that CCES has given him – a community of strong friendships and a number of opportunities that have grown him as a student and an athlete. Mac says, “While I’m definitely looking forward to starting the next chapter of my life in college, I will never forget CCES and all the school did in launching me forward.”

 

There is no doubt Mac will accomplish great things in this next phase of life – whether it's breaking world records, leading quietly, or taking on the engineering world by storm. CCES will always be rooting for Mac and we look forward to seeing what he sets his mind to next.