Lion Sports Update (Jan. 24)

BASKETBALL
The varsity basketball team hosted three games last week. Against Cistercian on Wednesday night, the Marksmen grinded their way to a 13-13 first quarter tie before senior Jake Bond broke the game open with 4 first-half 3-point makes. Bond would finish the game with a team-high 24 to go along with a team-high 7 rebounds (junior CJ Ness matched that total). Following that double-digit win, the Lions played their final non-SPC game of the season, a Friday night tilt in a packed Spencer Gym against Trinity Christian Academy. SM’s attack was extremely balanced with seniors showing out especially well on senior night: George Genender, Arjun Khatti, Jake Bond and Rapha Mitterer-Claudette started the game with manager Jack Gordy receiving recognition as well. Bond and Khatti knocked down several 3’s, while Genender and Mitterer-Claudette controlled the lane. Junior Ethan Singleton turned in one of his very best performances in a Lions’ uniform as an offensive spark who also shut down TCA’s leading scorer. Final score, 53-50 in favor of the Lions.

The next day, the Lions won their sixth consecutive game in the final matchup with Casady. The two programs have enjoyed a storied rivalry over the years, but St. Mark’s has certainly had the upper hand recently, winning 16 of the last 18 contests. Sophomore Luke Laczkowski came out firing with 17 first-half points. He finished the game with 26 to go along with ten rebounds. Junior Lucas Blumenthal also looked unstoppable at times, turning in a near triple-double (13 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists). This week, the Lions play at Greenhill Friday night at 6:30 p.m.

WRESTLING 
The varsity wrestling team competed in the Prep State Dual Tournament at St. John’s High School in Houston this past Saturday. In the first pool, the Lions lost to Houston’s St. Thomas 45 to 31 and then beat Trinity Christian Academy 48 to 24. The team then went to the Silver Pool and were matched up against Kinkaid (51-33 loss), Episcopal Houston (49-21 loss) and Cornerstone Christian Academy (45-28 win). The Lions won two out of the five matches in the tournament earning a seventh place finish out of twelve teams. This Wednesday, Jan. 25, the Lion Wrestlers host the Episcopal School of Dallas for our Senior Night at 5:30 p.m. in Spencer Gymnasium. 

SWIMMING 
The varsity swim team was at cross-town rival Greenhill last week and the good swims after the Southlake meet kept on coming. Winning 8 of the 11 events, the Lions went on to defeat Greenhill 172 to 116. In the final event of the evening, the 400 Freestyle Relay, the Lions went 1,2,3. New Personal Bests were set by the following swimmers: Aadi Khasgiwala – 200 Freestyle & 100 Free, Leo Scheiner – 500 Freestyle, Andrew Ye – 50 Freestyle, William Kozoman – 50 Free, Bryce Smith – 50 Free, Reagan Brower – 50 Free, Baker Lipscomb – 50 Free & 100 Free, Oliver Geheb – 100 Fly & 100 Back, Michael Gao – 100 Fly, Howard Zhang – 100 Fly, Ethan Gao – 100 Free, Matthew Gomez – 100 Free, Daniel Deng – 100 Back, Andrew Liu – 100 Back and Asher Babilla – 100 Breast. St. Mark’s will host FWCD this Friday for Senior Night. 

SOCCER 
Amidst their most challenging week of the season, the varsity soccer team hosted Cistercian and Casady, rescuing a single point from a possible six. Wednesday evening saw the Lions concede to the Hawks midway through the first half, and despite numerous chances and the run of play throughout the second half, the Lions were unable to equalize. It was the first time since February of the pandemic laden season of 2020-21 that the Lions had allowed a goal in a counter match, an unprecedented streak of ten consecutive counter matches.

On Saturday at Hunt Stadium, Hockaday and St. Mark’s hosted Casady for what appears to be the last time as Casady will be leaving the SPC at year’s end. A short ceremony between matches celebrated the seventy years of SPC soccer between St. Mark’s and Casady as they first played each other in 1953, the year Hockaday and Casady joined the conference and one year after St. Mark’s was one of the founding members. Both the Daisies and the Lions celebrated their seniors as well, and their noteworthy contributions to their respective programs on Senior Day. The Lions honored Pierre Martinez, Adam Alfalahi, John Charest, Jacob Weinstein, Keats Leffel, Akash Munshi, Murphy Paul and Nat Fisher. The Lions looked to take control of the match early with when junior captain John Ma converted a penalty kick. Soon afterwards, Ayden Sumer separated from his mark and finished emphatically from close range. The Lions looked to be in control and were unlucky not to score again before halftime. The second half started with the Cyclones applying greater pressure, but the Lions were still in control of the match. A moment of miscommunication and foolishness in the defensive fourth saw St. Mark’s carelessly turn over the ball and Casady was quick to capitalize. St. Mark’s saw the match move from the sublime to the ridiculous when junior Reed Sussman was sent off for a dubious second yellow card offense and the Cyclone equalizer soon followed. A staid match turned frantic, and the Lions were unlucky not to score the winner when junior Temi Balogun found himself in a one-on-one situation with the Casady keeper, but he was betrayed by an errant shot. The Lions must now prepare for their most important match of the season on Friday at Greenhill at 7 p.m.
 

ALUMNI ATHLETE NEWS
Harrison Ingram ’21 and the Stanford Cardinal Men’s Basketball team are on a two game win streak and barely lost a third by one point. In that stretch, Harrison is averaging 11 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists to go along with some highlight reel dunks and ball handling.