Lion Sports Update 01/29

Soccer
For the varsity soccer team, the week began with Senior Night. St. Mark’s hosted John Paull II on a blustery, cold Tuesday evening. The weather did not dampen the spirits of the Lions who prevailed 3-0, capping off a wonderful celebration of the seniors and their families: Emmett Berger, Mateo Guevara, William Haga, Shane Ndeda, Lyle Ochs, Jack Rocchio, Blake Rogers, and Seth Weprin. St. Mark’s took advantage of a strong wind to score all three goals in the first half and then withstood a Cardinal onslaught to preserve the shutout. Junior William Holtby opened the scoring with an assist from sophomore Knobel Hunt in the fourth minute. Hunt scored twenty-nine minutes later when his perfectly-timed run converted senior Blake Rogers’ through ball into a goal. Senior Seth Weprin finished the scoring seven minutes from the interval when Hunt turned provider. The Lions resumed SPC North Zone play when they hosted a resurgent Trinity Valley team. Three first-half goals from Holtby, sophomore Henry McElhaney, and Weprin gave the Lions the advantage. The Trojans were able to penetrate the Lion defense for a goal in the 2nd half of the game. A second TVS goal seemed eminent until junior goalkeeper Billy Lockhart made his best save of the season. Weprin allayed Lion fears when he recorded a brace in the sixty-ninth minute. St. Mark’s had little time to celebrate as they faced undefeated Casady the following afternoon on a sunny, windless day with optimal conditions for a soccer match. In perhaps the most exciting match of the season thus far, it was the combination of Holtby and Hunt that opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Eight minutes later, Weprin doubled the St. Mark’s lead when he converted senior Shane Ndeda’s service. Having halved the lead eight minutes into the second half on a penalty kick, the Cyclones pushed the Lions to their breaking point near the midway point of the second half. It looked as if St. Mark’s would succumb to the Casady pressure before Holtby headed in McElhaney’s corner kick in the 69th minute to preserve a two-goal victory. The victory moved the Lions into first place in the North Zone, ahead of Cistercian on goal difference, whom they will host on Friday with first place in zone play on the line.

Swimming
The varsity swim team hosted Cistercian last Thursday. The Lions won 10 of the 11 events and won the meet by a score of 136-25. The team takes the pool again on Thursday, February 7, at 5:45 p.m. for Senior Night vs. All Saints and Ft. Worth Country Day.

Basketball
The varsity basketball team earned 3 wins at home last week. On Tuesday evening, the Lions squared off against Prestonwood Christian Academy. Sophomore Harrison Ingram started quickly, notching 10 points and 4 rebounds in the first half, and junior Andrew Laczkowski blew up late with a 15-point fourth quarter as the team came away with a 17-point victory. On Friday and Saturday, a pair of SPC North Zone opponents visited Hicks Gym. Trinity Valley brought out the best in SM’s freshmen trio: Chase Martin, Noah Shelby, and Colin Smith, who combined for 21 points and 9 rebounds in the first half, and Smith finished the game as the high-point scorer with 20. On Saturday, the Lions started their contest with Casady on fire from 3-point range, knocking down 8 of 9 in the first quarter (4 by Shelby) and 12 of 17 in the first half. Senior Dylan Osimetha and sophomore Jake Laufenberg combined for 5 made threes, as both tallied season-highs in terms of individual scoring with 13 each. Senior Kyle Smith and junior Aaron Thorne both played key roles in a 22-12 fourth quarter that gave the Marksmen their second 30-point win in as many days. Harrison Ingram finished the game with a rare triple-double – 13 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists. This week, St. Mark’s will play their final non-conference game of the season at Dallas Christian on Tuesday before hosting Cistercian (3-1 in SPC play) Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Wrestling
The varsity wrestling team competed in the 3rd Annual Bowie Invitational hosted by Arlington Bowie High School on January 25 & 26. This tournament had some of the best UIL 6A and Prep Schools in the area. The Lions only had three varsity wrestlers and one JV wrestler compete due to illnesses, injuries, Orchestra State, State Choir, and Model United Nations participation. The highlight was junior foreign exchange student Lachezar “Lucho” Hadzhigenov’s stunning third-place finish overcoming a Haltom High School wrestler he had lost to in the first round. This weekend the Lions host the Prep State Tournament on Saturday, February 2nd. The top three wrestlers in each weight class qualify for Prep Nationals in Lehigh, Pennsylvania.
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    • Senior Varsity Soccer Players

St. Mark’s School of Texas

10600 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000

About Us

St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.

St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.