After constant weather-related disruptions forced cancellations of practices and games earlier in the season, St. Ed’s football and cross country teams have been aided by recent dry conditions through their respective postseasons.
The volleyball team ended its fall campaign on an upbeat note, while the boys golf team acquitted itself well by making the regional tournament on the heels of a regular season loaded with very formidable competition at just about every turn.
The football team continued its quest for the championship of the Sunshine State Athletic Conference by surviving a fourth-quarter scare vs. Orlando Christian Prep and advancing with a 30-28 win. The reward was a rematch with Windermere Prep. The Pirates came out on the short end of a 36-32 loss at home to Windermere in a regular-season game in September. St. Ed’s will host the Coastal League title game this Saturday night. The SSAC championship will be determined Nov. 19.
St. Ed’s varsity boys golf team hosted the district tournament at Bent Pine Golf Club on Oct. 11 and finished third behind Jupiter Christian and Pine School. Trey Meadows shot a 1-under-par 71, which was the second-best score in the tournament. Anthony Chiarenza came in at 77, GP Battista 82 and Anirudh Mysore 84.
The team total of 314 was good enough to qualify for the regionals on Oct. 17, where the Pirate foursome shot a collective 325. The fourth-place finish was 19 strokes over a state qualifying bid. Mysore closed with a season best 76, Chiarenza carded 82, Meadows 83 and Battista 84. All four are eligible to return in 2017.
St. Ed’s boys cross country team advanced to the state finals in Tallahassee last Saturday. That was a first in school history for a program that at one point in the recent past had only four students running cross country. This year 25 boys and 17 girls participated.
“This has been a very good year for cross country at St. Ed’s,” head coach Greg Garzon said. “Allan Ross qualified to go to the state meet as an individual. The advancement of the boys team to the state meet for the first time ever is a time of pride for me and for the entire St. Ed’s community.”
Allan Ross, Will Sternberg, Kyle Marshall, Zach Alerte, Aidan Taylor, Nathan Zamerski and Ben Oakes were slated to participate in the state race for St. Ed’s. (Sternberg was scratched due to injury.) Tomas Botero, described by Garzon as the No. 2 runner on the team, did not make the event. He opted instead to compete in the regional swim meet.
St. Ed’s finished a very respectable 23rd at states. Ross posted the best time for the Pirates with a 17:33.72. Individually that was good for 35th place in the entire field.
First year head coach Sid Parker saw many positives develop during the course of the volleyball season – for the program and for himself.
“It is a time for reflection and planning,” Parker told us at the conclusion of a 6-8 season. “I have probably learned as much as I have taught. I cannot imagine a more positive experience for a coach than to observe such improvement and camaraderie.
“Looking at the performances of Angela Schwerer (85 kills, 43 aces) and Emily Hudson (98 assists, 31 aces) is the realization of a positive season regardless of wins and losses. Without a doubt libero Victoria Bradford (33 digs, 15 aces) contributed to such a positive experience.
“As the seniors were racking up those totals, you better believe the underclasswomen were not sitting idly by. Catherine Campione (35 kills, 31 blocks, 29 aces) proved to be possibly the most well-rounded player on the front line. Maya Jenkins (25 kills, 15 blocks, 20 aces) was certainly no slouch. Trisha Tee (29 kills, 20 aces) was invaluable in both the front and back court.
“As we look forward to next season, we can certainly build on the successes of this year. … The future of St. Ed’s volleyball looks very bright indeed.”
