Lions Win SPC

LACROSSE
Last week, the varsity lacrosse team dropped a tough SPC counter matchup at Episcopal School of Dallas, 5–16. Senior captains Michael Jimenez and Weston Chance each scored twice in the loss. The Lions then traveled to Houston for the SPC Conference Championship, where they opened with a dominant semifinal win over St. John's — Mac Saye led the way with five goals and an assist, Charlie Aisner added five assists and a goal, Chance contributed four goals and an assist, Matthew Weir scored three, and Jimenez chipped in two goals and two assists. In the championship game against Kinkaid, freshman Warren Wier scored just 90 seconds in, sophomore Graham Smith anchored the cage with a series of key saves, and Gabe Masino added a highlight-reel faceoff goal late in the first quarter. The Lions surged with six unanswered goals before a thunderstorm called the game with St. Mark's leading 10–3, delivering the program's first SPC Championship since 2013. The Lions have two games remaining this week — Thursday at home (senior night) vs. Frisco and Friday at Rockwall — before turning their attention to the THSLL playoffs in May.

BASEBALL
St. Mark's varsity baseball went 2–1 on the week. The Lions fell to SPC North Zone first-place Fort Worth Country Day 4–0 on Tuesday, with Whit Turner starting and going four innings and Jake DeBoever reaching base twice and stealing two bases. On Thursday, St. Mark's celebrated Senior Night with an 8–3 win over the Dallas Lions Club team. Peter Rubi earned the win over six and two-thirds innings, Alex Dahlander closed and led the offense with three hits, and the Lions stole five bases and turned two double plays. On Friday, the Lions defeated Cistercian 13–1 behind Dylan Barnes's complete-game gem — the sophomore allowed only two hits and one run over seven innings with seven strikeouts. Jake DeBoever went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, and Nolan Driesse and Thomas Zielenski each drove in four runs. St. Mark's is scheduled to host Greenhill on Friday in the final SPC counter game of the regular season.

TENNIS
Varsity tennis went 2–0 on the road last week. At Fort Worth Country Day on Tuesday, the Lions swept 5–0, with Dom Liaw, Caden Lim, and Bryan Li each winning in singles. At Cistercian on Thursday, the Lions won 4–1, with Li taking the top spot again and both doubles teams playing solidly. Seniors Aryaman Lahoti and Nathaniel Hochman continue to lead at the No. 1 doubles position. This Thursday, Lions Tennis hosts Greenhill in the final counter match of the regular season.

TRACK
The varsity track and field team had a strong weekend at the Nick Finnegan Invitational in Houston at AWTY International School, amassing 21 PRs. Tripp Schoellkopf finished third in the 400m with a PR of 49.34 — third on the all-time school list — and also took third in the 200m with a PR of 21.95. The 4x100 relay team of Riggs Bean, Schoellkopf, Braden Scott, and Max Bean won the event in 42.56, just missing the top-five all-time list. Omar Jenkins finished second in the shot put with a PR of 46' 4", Anderson Love and Braden Scott debuted in the triple jump with second and third-place finishes, and Leo Hughes took third in the pole vault with a PR of 9' 6". Freshmen Austin Wagner and Bryce Jones-Quaidoo also stood out — Wagner PRed in both the shot put and discus, and Jones-Quaidoo qualified for the SPC Championships in his 110 hurdles debut. The team travels to Fort Worth Country Day on Friday for a Last Chance Meet.

GOLF
At Brookhaven Country Club last week, junior Peter Clark edged sophomore Callan McCormick for a 1–2 Lions finish. The two then led the team at Coyote Ridge, where freshman Pierce Tevis had a breakout performance, sophomore Jake Pinnell impressed in his first varsity outing, and freshman Charles Lang turned in one of his strongest performances of the season. The Lions will look to defend their SPC championship at the Golf Club of Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 21–22.