Lion Sports Update (March 13)

Last weekend, the varsity track & field team competed at the Split H Relays hosted by Hockaday. Originally scheduled as a two-day meet, the event was condensed to Friday due to forecasted weather, featuring all field events and a limited slate of running events. The Lions delivered an impressive day across both disciplines.

The shot put highlighted the field events as Omar Jenkins captured first place, recording three consecutive personal records and finishing with a throw of 46' 3½". Dillon Kennedy followed with a strong performance, throwing a personal best of 41' 2" to place third. In total, eleven Lions recorded personal bests in the shot put competition.

The momentum continued in the discus, where ten athletes posted personal bests. Kennedy again placed third with a throw of 124' 5". Max Bean and Anderson Love also turned in strong performances in the long jump, recording personal bests of 20' 5½" and 20' ½", respectively.

On the track, Max Bean, Braden Scott, and Eugene Wang each recorded personal bests in the 100 meters, finishing in 11.14, 11.64, and 11.83. Tripp Schoellkopf won the 400 meters in a season-best 51.29, just shy of his personal record, while High Feferman posted a personal best of 54.93.

The 4x100 relay team of Riggs Bean, Schoellkopf, Anderson Love, and Max Bean finished second by just one hundredth of a second in 43.96 — their fastest time of the season. The 4x400 relay team of Riggs Bean, Max Bean, Anderson Love, and Schoellkopf closed the day with a victory in 3:35.15.

The Lions return to action Saturday, March 14, at the Rogers Relays hosted by First Baptist Academy.

The varsity baseball team hosted two games last week.

On Tuesday, the Lions faced TACA Gold. Seniors Jake DeBoever and Jackson Ostella each collected two hits, while Marshall Sudbury, Dylan Barnes, and Ostella each drove in a run. Despite the offensive effort, the Lions fell 11–3.

On Thursday, St. Mark’s battled THESA in a competitive matchup that remained close until the final innings before THESA secured an 8–6 victory.

Sophomore Nolan Driesse started on the mound, allowing three runs on five hits over three innings while striking out four. Spenser New provided three innings of relief, recording two strikeouts.

Offensively, Ostella led the lineup with a two-for-three performance. Driesse, Eli Thorne, Ostella, and Thomas Zielenski each drove in a run. The Lions also showed strong plate discipline, drawing six walks, including two by DeBoever. Zielenski added three stolen bases.

A potential late rally ended in dramatic fashion when Hudson Da Rosa lined a ball that was caught by the THESA second baseman, who doubled off the runner at second to close the game.

Following spring break, the Lions travel to Nolan Catholic on Saturday, March 14, before hosting Pantego Christian on Monday, March 16.

Last week, Anna High School traveled to campus to compete against the St. Mark’s varsity tennis team in a modified format featuring one singles line and three doubles lines.

Before play was halted due to darkness, line three doubles — Dom Liaw and Dilan Koganti — secured the first win of the match. Line one doubles was nearing victory, and line two doubles had already taken the first set.

The match provided valuable experience for the Lions against a new opponent. St. Mark’s looks ahead to additional SPC counter matches following spring break.

The Lions delivered an exciting week on the lacrosse field, earning two impressive victories.

On Tuesday evening, St. Mark’s hosted the McKinney Jays. McKinney scored late in the first quarter, but freshman Warren Weir answered with a goal in the final seconds of the period to even the score and spark the Lions. From that point forward, St. Mark’s took control, scoring 11 unanswered goals in a dominant stretch fueled by crisp ball movement and five assisted scores.

The momentum continued Saturday as the Lions hosted Austin High in a fast-paced contest that followed a brief rain delay. Austin High scored within the opening minute, but Weir again responded quickly to settle the Lions.

Senior captain Michael Jimenez finished off an assist from Mac Saye, and Charlie Aisner added a solo goal to give St. Mark’s a 3–1 lead. The Lions continued to build their advantage in the second quarter with goals from Jimenez, Rocco Renda, Saye, and Aisner to take a 7–3 lead into halftime.

St. Mark’s opened the second half with three quick goals to take full control of the match. Austin High managed one final score, but the Lions’ pace and defensive pressure proved decisive.

Mac Saye and Charlie Aisner each recorded four goals and two assists, while Michael Jimenez and Rocco Renda added two goals apiece. Freshman Jacob Santosuosso and junior captain Jax Blalock also contributed to the scoring effort as the Lions secured a 15–4 victory.

St. Mark’s next faces Highland Park on Wednesday before departing for the team’s spring break trip to Arizona.