What's Your M.O.? A Conversation with Midland Athletic Director Reggie Stovell

Fall 2026

At Midland, athletics is about more than wins and losses. It’s about showing up, working hard, supporting teammates, and sometimes discovering a passion you never knew you had.

As the fall season draws to a close and winter sports approach, we sat down with Athletic Director Reggie Stovell to reflect on the moments that made him proud, the students who stepped up, and what makes athletics at Midland a little different.

A former professional basketball player and experienced coach, Reggie brings a competitive spirit to his work, along with a deep appreciation for the lessons students learn through sports. His philosophy is simple: athletic success isn’t measured by the scoreboard alone. It’s measured by the effort you put in and the person you become along the way.

Looking Back: A Fall Season to Celebrate

As you look back on fall athletics, what stands out to you most?

I think it’s the excitement and the drive I’ve seen from our students. Our cross-country runners have shown a real commitment to improving, and the level of volleyball has increased significantly.

One of the biggest highlights was our volleyball team’s win against Providence. That’s a team that had been beating Midland for years, so to come away with that victory was a big moment. We also came within two points of a potential CIF playoff opportunity against a very experienced Oak Grove team.

What I appreciate most is how our students competed. They worked hard, stayed humble, and represented Midland well.

We’ve also introduced competitive Ultimate Frisbee this fall, which has been exciting. It’s a completely new experience for many students, and while we’ve had some tough games, they’ve been willing to get out there, take on the challenge, and learn. That’s what I like to see.

Cross-country had some impressive performances this fall. Who deserves a special shout-out?

Levi deserves a lot of credit for his leadership as captain. He’s very serious about how he approaches racing, and I think that’s influenced the whole team. He’s encouraged other runners to think about their preparation, their strategy, and the mental side of competing.

At the Santa Barbara County Championships, several of our runners improved their personal bests, some by a minute or more. That’s a tremendous accomplishment.

I’ve also been impressed with Hunter, who’s a ninth grader. His first race was difficult, but what stood out to me was how he responded. I started seeing him in the gym, putting in extra work and taking every training session seriously. He didn’t let one difficult race define him.

Mika has shown that same dedication, and Avery has been joining me for early morning runs, especially when the afternoons were too hot for training.

I notice those things. It’s not just about the performance on race day. It’s about the effort students are willing to put in when nobody’s watching.

Beyond individual accomplishments, what have you seen students learn through athletics this fall?

Collaboration. That’s one of the biggest things.

In my experience as both a player and a coach, I’ve learned that one of the most important parts of a successful team is the ability to get along, to be friends, and to care about each other.

I’ve seen that with our Lower Yard volleyball players. They’re friends, and they support one another. I’ve seen it with cross-country, too, where students from different grade levels have built strong relationships.

Even with Ultimate Frisbee, where some of the games have been challenging, I’ve watched students laughing together and enjoying themselves.

That matters. When teammates care about each other outside their sport, it changes how they work together during competition.

Ultimate Frisbee is a new competitive offering this year. How did that come about?

Dan Susman and Taylor Replane both have experience playing Ultimate Frisbee, and they thought it would be something worth trying at Midland.

There are other schools in the region with teams, so we’ve been able to arrange games against schools like Dunn and Cate.

It’s been a learning experience, and that’s okay. We’re figuring out what it takes to compete and how we can prepare for next year.

I think the important thing is that students were willing to try something new. They’re taking on a challenge, learning together, and having fun along the way.

What’s Your M.O.?

You introduced some new Midland athletics shirts this fall featuring the question “What’s Your M.O.?” What’s the meaning behind that?

I worked with a designer friend of mine from Savannah to create the shirts, and I wanted the message to be something students could think about.

M.O. stands for Midland Oaks, of course. But it also stands for Mission and Objective.

I’ve been asking students, “What’s your mission and objective every day? What’s your purpose? What are you getting up for?”

Sometimes they look at me like, “What do you mean?” But I want them to think about that question.

On the back of the shirts, we have the words “Hard Work and Dedication.” Those are principles that have motivated me throughout my life.

I want students to start thinking about what motivates them. What are they working toward? What’s important to them? And are they willing to put in the effort to achieve it?

That’s something that goes well beyond athletics.

Looking Ahead: Winter Athletics

Winter sports are right around the corner, and Midland has a pretty unique lineup. What can students look forward to?

Basketball is our primary competitive sport this winter, and I’m really excited about that. We have a lot of students interested, and we’ve already started some early morning training.

Having played professional basketball overseas, I enjoy working with students on the game and helping them develop their skills.

But basketball is only one of our winter options. We also have rock climbing, yoga, Farm Sport, Horse Sport, and FRSH—Fitness, Running, Surfing & Hiking.

That’s one of the things that makes Midland different. Some students love traditional team sports, while others might discover that they enjoy climbing, working with horses, or being outdoors.

Rock climbing is something I’m especially interested in learning more about. We’re exploring whether there might be a competitive component, although there are logistics to work through.

Farm Sport will be a hard-working group, and Horse Sport gives students the opportunity to develop their riding and horsemanship skills.

Yoga is important, too. I want students to understand recovery and how to take care of their bodies. We had some injuries last year, and I think there’s an opportunity for our athletic programs to work together on injury prevention and recovery.

There’s a lot for students to explore.

What are you most excited about for the upcoming basketball season?

We’re planning to participate in a junior varsity tournament in Carpinteria, and I think that’s going to be a great challenge for our students.

One thing I’ve been telling them is that you can’t count yourself out before you even play. I don’t want to hear, “We’re going to lose,” before we’ve stepped onto the court.

Look at what happened with cross-country. Our runners competed against athletes from much larger schools at the county championships, and they went out there and gave everything they had.

You never know what’s going to happen until you compete. Even if you lose, there’s something to learn from how you approached the challenge. I want students to prepare seriously, stay positive, and believe they belong in the competition.

That mentality applies to every sport.

The Midland Difference

Midland’s athletic program looks different from what families might find at a more traditional high school. What do you think makes it special?

I think it makes sense because of where we are and who we are as a school. We have nearly 3,000 acres, an incredible outdoor environment, and a philosophy built around learning by doing.

We don’t offer every traditional sport that a larger school might have, but we offer activities that fit this place. We have basketball and volleyball, but we also have horsemanship, rock climbing, outdoor leadership, and farm activities.

Those are all ways to engage your body and mind athletically.

I also think being outside in this environment is naturally humbling. You’re surrounded by this landscape, and you learn to respect it.

Midland emphasizes collaboration, hard work, humility, and respect. When coaches bring those principles into athletics, and students are willing to embrace them, it can be a great experience.

It’s not a traditional athletic program, but that’s part of what makes it special.

Some families wonder whether choosing Midland might limit opportunities for students who want to pursue athletics in college. What would you say to them?

I understand that concern. I’ve been involved in high-level athletics, and I’ve helped students pursue opportunities to play sports in college.

I know how important athletics can be to a student who has a particular goal. But I also think there’s value in having more than one way to define yourself.

At some schools, so much attention is focused on athletic performance that students might not have the same opportunity to explore everything else around them.

At Midland, you can be serious about athletics while also experiencing outdoor leadership, experiential learning, academics, and all the other things that make this school different.

I don’t think those things have to compete with one another. If a student has a particular athletic pathway in mind, we can work to help them pursue it. But they’re also going to have opportunities here that they might not find somewhere else.

I think that’s important.

Beyond Wins and Losses

When you think about a successful athletic season, what matters most to you? And what do you hope students carry with them long after they leave Midland?

That’s a big question, because it’s easy to talk about winning. And of course, winning matters. People are always going to look at wins and losses. But for me, what matters is what you put into it. Whatever comes out of it is a reflection of what you put into it.

Whether you’re competing at a high level or trying something for the first time, I want you to approach it in a way that’s true to yourself, true to the school, and respectful of the environment you’re in. I want students to understand why it’s important to give their maximum effort and what that says about who they are as a person.

Athletics has a physical component, obviously, but there’s a mental component, too. It’s about character. We have a strong academic program at Midland, but athletics can help develop the whole person.

That’s what I hope students take away from their experiences here.

At Midland, every season brings new opportunities to challenge ourselves, support one another, and discover what we’re capable of. Whether on the court, on the trail, in the barn, or on the climbing wall, the Mighty Oaks are finding their own answers to Reggie’s question: What’s your M.O.?

A conversation with Reggie Stovell, Midland Athletic Director, facilitated by Jasmine Fullman, Senior Advancement Associate.