Lion Sports Update (March 4)

Marksmen varsity rowers traveled to Austin this past weekend to compete in the first regatta of the season, the Heart of Texas Regatta. While past performance does not guarantee future success, the team gave every indication that this season will be a good one. The crew team entered 15 boats in eight events over two days of racing.

In Saturday's races, the Marksmen had six entries advance from heats to finals, and two boats competed in direct-to-final events. The 1st Varsity 2x of Eli Kraus and Ian McGowan claimed the gold medal with a first-place finish. The 1st Varsity 4x of Ian McGowan, Hewes Lance, Eli Kraus, and Andrew Hofmann also finished decisively in first place.

Sunday's races focused on small boats—2x’s and 1x’s. Five of six entries advanced to finals across three events. Eli Kraus earned a bronze medal with a third-place finish in the 1x. Jack Shepro and Andrew Hofmann took first place in the 2nd Varsity 2x, while Jack Wilson and Harlan Smith finished fifth in that event. In the Novice 2x, Nate Saenz and Shep Lance placed fourth.

If the weather allows this weekend, the team will compete in the Dallas Rowing Club Scrimmage Series. The series pits teams that practice together every day on Bachman Lake against one another for fun and bragging rights.

The varsity lacrosse team opened week two of the season with back-to-back home victories over SPC opponents, showcasing defensive discipline and toughness, offensive cohesion and balance, and a growing team identity.

On Friday against Kinkaid, St. Mark’s gave up an early goal, but sophomore Charlie Aisner (two goals) answered with the equalizer, and junior captain Mac Saye (3G, 2A) buried a clutch goal with nine seconds left in the first quarter to tie the game 2–2. Sophomore netminders Luke S. Nguyen (four saves) and Graham Smith (five saves) anchored a dominant defensive effort, fueling a four-goal second-half run sparked by junior JT Teinert’s (1G, 2A) assist to Saye. Freshman Jacob Santosuosso capped the night with his first varsity goal, sealing an 8–3 win and the Lions’ first victory of the season.

On Saturday against Houston Christian, the Lions responded to an early deficit with an explosive offensive display, winning 17–2. Jacob Santosuosso (4G, 4A) led the charge, while Jax Blalock netted his first varsity goals. At the faceoff X, sophomore Gabe Masino (15/16) and junior Blaine Henley (6/8) controlled possession, creating a “make-it-take-it” tempo that overwhelmed the Mustangs. Fifteen of the Lions’ 17 goals were assisted, clear evidence of unselfish, connected play.

The performance reflects a group beginning to find its rhythm and identity, playing fast, connected, and for one another as momentum builds heading into week three. This week, the Lions carry that momentum into home matchups with McKinney (Tuesday) and Austin High (Saturday at 1:30 p.m.).

The St. Mark’s varsity track and field team opened the season at the Greenhill Relays, hosted by Hockaday due to ongoing construction on Greenhill’s campus.

In the sprints, freshman Anderson Love led the way with personal bests in the 100m (11.65) and 200m (23.84), while fellow freshman Bryce Jones-Quaidoo (11.76) and sophomore Donnell Dickson (11.89) added personal bests in the 100m. Jones-Quaidoo also set a personal best in the 300m hurdles with a time of 44.18. In the 400m, senior Hugh Feferman ran 55.62 for a new personal best.

In the distance events, freshman William Cho led the 800m in 2:14.76, with multiple teammates close behind. Junior Jackson Bailey ran a personal best in the 3200m (10:08.24). Underclassmen Ward Beasley (4:58), George Brown (5:06), Josh Nunez (5:08), Preston Bailey (5:17), and Charles Shea (5:19), among others, added a wave of personal bests in the 1600m.

In the field events, junior Julian Gerstle (21’0”), junior Braden Scott (20’10”), and Anderson Love (19’10”) recorded personal bests in the long jump. Freshman Pete DeVoss cleared 7’6” for a new personal best in the pole vault, while Hugh Feferman vaulted 7’0”. Omar Jenkins (121’8”) and Dillon Kennedy (115’9”) set personal bests in the discus. In shot put, Dillon Kennedy (39’8”), Austin Wagner (33’4”), Abram Knight (32’2”), Caleb Cathey (31’4”), and others threw personal bests.

In the relays, the 4x100 team of Max Bean, Bryce Jones-Quaidoo, Braden Scott, and Riggs Bean placed second with a time of 44.21, while the 4x200 squad of Max Bean, Braden Scott, Tripp Schoellkopf, and Riggs Bean took first place in 1:32.96. The 4x400 team of Max Bean, Riggs Bean, Julian Gerstle, and Tripp Schoellkopf closed the meet with a winning time of 3:33.93.

It was a strong first meet filled with personal bests. This week, the Lions return to Hockaday for the Split H Relays.

The varsity tennis team traveled to Austin this past weekend for a pair of SPC matches to open the 2026 counter schedule.

On Friday, the team swept 2025 SPC runner-up St. Stephen’s, 5–0, powered by a dominant win at line 1 singles by sophomore captain Bryan Li and debut SPC wins for freshmen Caden Lim and Lucas Gong at Nos. 2 and 3 singles, respectively.

On Saturday, the team faced St. Andrew’s and emerged with a 4–1 victory. The Lions relied on strong veteran play, as five seniors—Aryaman Lahoti at No. 2 singles; Dilan Koganti and Nathaniel Hochman at No. 1 doubles; and Kian Foshee and Tejas Allada at No. 2 doubles—factored in three of the team’s four wins.

The team’s focus now turns to a number of DFW-area opponents, beginning with a home match on March 3 against Anna.

The St. Mark’s varsity baseball team could not keep its winning streak alive this past week, moving from a two-game winning streak to a three-game losing streak.

The Lions fell to Texas Alliance of Christian Athletes Black, 7–3, on Tuesday. Sophomore left-hander Dylan Barnes went one and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out two and walking four. Sophomore Nolan Driesse, senior Hudson Da Rosa, and sophomore Thomas Zielenski each collected two hits for St. Mark’s, while Driesse and Zielenski each drove in one run.

On Friday, the Lions fought with resilience. Despite allowing a four-run deficit in the second inning, St. Mark’s nearly clawed all the way back but eventually fell 4–3 to St. Stephen’s. Senior Spenser New started the game for the Lions. The right-hander allowed four hits and four runs (two earned) over three and one-third innings, striking out five and walking one. Seniors Alex Dahlander, Jake DeBoever, and Jackson Ostella each drove in a run. DeBoever led St. Mark’s with two hits in three at-bats.

On Saturday, St. Mark’s collected eight hits to St. Andrew’s five. However, the offense was not enough, as the Lions lost 6–4. Da Rosa and Zielenski each collected two hits. Barnes pitched three and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits while striking out four and walking three. Junior Eli Thorne and Zielenski each drove in a run.

This week, the Lions play at home Tuesday against Texas Alliance of Christian Athletes Gold.

At the St. John’s Invitational held at Lost Pines Golf Club in Bastrop, the St. Mark’s varsity golf team—led by seniors Duff McKay and Jonathan Lobel, along with juniors Brooks Main, Sam Merryman, and James Hoak—competed Sunday and Monday.

Despite a five-under performance from McKay on day one that featured brilliant scrambling, the team trailed the first-place squad by six strokes. However, the Lions regrouped and demonstrated tremendous grit on day two, seemingly unfazed by the fatigue of walking a long, hilly course on consecutive days (three days for some players who traveled early to play a Saturday practice round).

With blisters mounting and heat and wind testing the team’s hydration and mental toughness, the Lions outscored the day-one leader by 14 strokes, finishing with a two-day total of 602 to claim the tournament title.

Sam Merryman’s rounds of 77 and 74 were strong enough for third place among all individuals, and Duff McKay’s 67 and 69 earned him first place as well as a place in tournament history with the lowest individual score ever recorded.