Lion Sports Update 12/05
Soccer
The second match of the season began well for the varsity soccer team when Eric Yoo ’21 emphatically finished intrepid combination play with his classmate, Knobel Hunt ’21, in the second minute of the game against HSAA. Within two minutes, the Lions doubled their lead over Home School when Yoo earned a brace from Lars Ochs’ ’22 service. The up-tempo pace of the match began to slow as both teams settled into their respective rhythms. HSAA did penetrate the hosts’ defense for a goal of their own; however, the second half saw St. Mark’s add two more goals. In the sixty-second minute, Henry McElhaney ’21 scored his second goal in as many games with an assist from Christian Shadle ’21. Hunt finished the scoring for St. Mark’s when McElhaney set him up in the sixty-ninth minute. Because of the Senior Leadership Dinner that same evening, the varsity soccer squad played the match without their seniors. On Tuesday, St. Mark’s was tested often by a talented Bishop Lynch side on the second night of a back-to-back. The Lions, who were not at full strength, fought valiantly throughout the first half only to concede in injury time of the first half. The energy expended in the first half took its toll on St. Mark’s, who would go on to concede twice more for a final score of 0-3. St. Mark’s then hosted Kinkaid on a Saturday that was picture-perfect for a soccer match. The Lions pressed early and squandered several first-rate chances that may have put the match out of reach early. Instead, a resilient Falcon team scored in the nineteenth minute against the run of play to take an early lead. Henry McElhaney quickly drew the Lions level from Eric Yoo’s assist within in two minutes. Kinkaid scored again just beyond the half-hour mark to lead at halftime by a goal. In the second half, both teams created chances as play began to ebb and flow. The Falcons’ defense stymied several Lion attacks and then exploited a porous St. Mark’s defense who was pushing for the equalizer in the final quarter-hour. Three minutes from fulltime Kinkaid increased their lead with a fourth goal that dashed any hopes for the Lions an earned the Falcons victory by a comfortable margin. This week, the Lions will host Casady (from Oklahoma City) on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
Wrestling
The varsity wrestling team competed in the 11th Annual Heath Invitational at Rockwall-Heath High School on November 22 & 23. As a team, the Lions took 15th out of 23 teams. In this tough tournament, St. Mark’s had two place winners, co-captain Cooper Ribman ‘21 won 3rd Place and Elijah Ellis ’22 won 4thPlace. Wrestling and placing during the Junior Varsity side of the tournament were junior Reid Fundis winning 4th Place and freshman Hayward Metcalf winning 1st Place. This Saturday, December 7, the Lions will wrestle in the Liberty Throwdown Duals hosted by Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas.
Basketball
The varsity basketball team enjoyed a fun but hectic week of hoops during the Thanksgiving break. On Friday, November 22, the team traveled to Little Elm, hoping to avenge a loss from a year ago. The Marksmen jumped out to an early lead, thanks to hot first half shooting from sophomore Tate Laczkowski, who made the most of his first career varsity start. All five starters finished the game in double figures, enabling the Lions to secure a 80-67 win. On Monday-Wednesday over the break, the team accepted an invitation to compete in the top bracket of the Mavs Fall Classic. The event, held in Frisco, featured 16 talented programs across the DFW metroplex. St. Mark’s first-round game against Southlake Carroll started extremely well with senior Andrew Laczkowskinotching 16 first-half points. However, the early lead quickly dissipated, and the Lions were forced into a slowed-down game that was tight throughout the fourth quarter. Thankfully, SM hung on for a 65-57 victory. In the second round, the Lions squared off against perennial power South Oak Cliff. Sophomore Colin Smith posted 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists in the first half to help the Lions explode for a 17-point advantage at the break. Youngsters Caleb Vanzant and Isaac Bird controlled the game late with some offensive exploits of their own, as the Lions earned an 82-59 win and a spot in the semi-finals later that night against Frisco Memorial. Colin Smith once again brought his “A” game with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Senior Andrew Laczkowski poured in an impressive 23 point, 11 rebound effort. Sophomore Noah Shelby also got hot from the three-point line and dished out several assists of his own, and junior Harrison Ingram was one assist shy of a triple-double, as St. Mark’s controlled the action and forged an 85-56 win. The championship round the following day was held at the Comerica Center, a beautiful arena that plays home to the Mavericks G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. Poor shooting in the first quarter put the Lions in a bit of a hole against Prestonwood Christian Academy, but it was all St. Mark’s from there. Harrison Ingram led all scorers with 19 points, and his 8 rebound and 5 assist effort earned him tournament MVP honors. Andrew Laczkowski also received recognition as a member of the all-tournament team. Having lost in the championship at the buzzer a year ago, hoisting the trophy made for a sweet story and a tremendous start to the season! Following Thanksgiving, the Lions prepared for an exciting game at the American Airlines Center. Three of the highest-regarded boys basketball programs in the state - defending UIL 6A state champs, Duncanville High School, perennial powerhouse Houston - Yates, and #1 ranked large private school St. Mark’s - competed against three of the best boys programs from around the nation. NBA players were on-hand, along with multitudes of college recruiters to watch one of the most elite events in recent high school basketball history. This was the 11th year of the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, but when LeBron James’ and Dwyane Wade’s sons’ programs were announced as participants, the website crashed with extraordinary ticket demand. To make room for the thousands of interested fans, part of the event was moved to the AAC. St. Mark’s had the privilege of competing against Prolific Prep, the 4th-ranked team in the country out of California. It was surreal to walk into the arena and see the St. Mark’s crest on the scoreboard where fans typically root for their favorite NBA team. Impressively, the boys representing the navy & gold didn’t allow their VIP privileges to affect their laser-like focus. The team turned in a fabulous first-half defensive performance, limiting one of the nation’s most explosive attacks to a mere 20 points. Harrison Ingram, the top-ranked junior in Texas, gave the fans something to talk about with a dominant offensive performance that helped extend the Lions’ 2-point halftime lead to 8 points partway through the third quarter. Unfortunately, though, St. Mark’s lost momentum in the third quarter and relinquished the lead for good, ultimately falling 44-57. The strong showing, however, proved that this squad belongs in the conversation alongside the most elite teams in the country. The fan support from Marksman families across the community electrified the atmosphere and made for a spectacular experience that won’t soon be forgotten as one of the more special evenings in the rich narrative of SM sports. This Friday, the Lions play at Highland Park at 6:00 p.m.
Alumni Athlete News
Will Ingram ’17, a guard for the Middlebury Men’s Basketball team and big brother to current St. Mark’s basketball player Harrison Ingram ‘21, scored 7 points (3 for 3 from the field) and added three rebounds and an assist in a game over the Thanksgiving break. Will and the Panthers are off to a great start this season with a 7-0 record and a scoring margin of +13 per game.
Back
The second match of the season began well for the varsity soccer team when Eric Yoo ’21 emphatically finished intrepid combination play with his classmate, Knobel Hunt ’21, in the second minute of the game against HSAA. Within two minutes, the Lions doubled their lead over Home School when Yoo earned a brace from Lars Ochs’ ’22 service. The up-tempo pace of the match began to slow as both teams settled into their respective rhythms. HSAA did penetrate the hosts’ defense for a goal of their own; however, the second half saw St. Mark’s add two more goals. In the sixty-second minute, Henry McElhaney ’21 scored his second goal in as many games with an assist from Christian Shadle ’21. Hunt finished the scoring for St. Mark’s when McElhaney set him up in the sixty-ninth minute. Because of the Senior Leadership Dinner that same evening, the varsity soccer squad played the match without their seniors. On Tuesday, St. Mark’s was tested often by a talented Bishop Lynch side on the second night of a back-to-back. The Lions, who were not at full strength, fought valiantly throughout the first half only to concede in injury time of the first half. The energy expended in the first half took its toll on St. Mark’s, who would go on to concede twice more for a final score of 0-3. St. Mark’s then hosted Kinkaid on a Saturday that was picture-perfect for a soccer match. The Lions pressed early and squandered several first-rate chances that may have put the match out of reach early. Instead, a resilient Falcon team scored in the nineteenth minute against the run of play to take an early lead. Henry McElhaney quickly drew the Lions level from Eric Yoo’s assist within in two minutes. Kinkaid scored again just beyond the half-hour mark to lead at halftime by a goal. In the second half, both teams created chances as play began to ebb and flow. The Falcons’ defense stymied several Lion attacks and then exploited a porous St. Mark’s defense who was pushing for the equalizer in the final quarter-hour. Three minutes from fulltime Kinkaid increased their lead with a fourth goal that dashed any hopes for the Lions an earned the Falcons victory by a comfortable margin. This week, the Lions will host Casady (from Oklahoma City) on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
Wrestling
The varsity wrestling team competed in the 11th Annual Heath Invitational at Rockwall-Heath High School on November 22 & 23. As a team, the Lions took 15th out of 23 teams. In this tough tournament, St. Mark’s had two place winners, co-captain Cooper Ribman ‘21 won 3rd Place and Elijah Ellis ’22 won 4thPlace. Wrestling and placing during the Junior Varsity side of the tournament were junior Reid Fundis winning 4th Place and freshman Hayward Metcalf winning 1st Place. This Saturday, December 7, the Lions will wrestle in the Liberty Throwdown Duals hosted by Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas.
Basketball
The varsity basketball team enjoyed a fun but hectic week of hoops during the Thanksgiving break. On Friday, November 22, the team traveled to Little Elm, hoping to avenge a loss from a year ago. The Marksmen jumped out to an early lead, thanks to hot first half shooting from sophomore Tate Laczkowski, who made the most of his first career varsity start. All five starters finished the game in double figures, enabling the Lions to secure a 80-67 win. On Monday-Wednesday over the break, the team accepted an invitation to compete in the top bracket of the Mavs Fall Classic. The event, held in Frisco, featured 16 talented programs across the DFW metroplex. St. Mark’s first-round game against Southlake Carroll started extremely well with senior Andrew Laczkowskinotching 16 first-half points. However, the early lead quickly dissipated, and the Lions were forced into a slowed-down game that was tight throughout the fourth quarter. Thankfully, SM hung on for a 65-57 victory. In the second round, the Lions squared off against perennial power South Oak Cliff. Sophomore Colin Smith posted 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists in the first half to help the Lions explode for a 17-point advantage at the break. Youngsters Caleb Vanzant and Isaac Bird controlled the game late with some offensive exploits of their own, as the Lions earned an 82-59 win and a spot in the semi-finals later that night against Frisco Memorial. Colin Smith once again brought his “A” game with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Senior Andrew Laczkowski poured in an impressive 23 point, 11 rebound effort. Sophomore Noah Shelby also got hot from the three-point line and dished out several assists of his own, and junior Harrison Ingram was one assist shy of a triple-double, as St. Mark’s controlled the action and forged an 85-56 win. The championship round the following day was held at the Comerica Center, a beautiful arena that plays home to the Mavericks G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. Poor shooting in the first quarter put the Lions in a bit of a hole against Prestonwood Christian Academy, but it was all St. Mark’s from there. Harrison Ingram led all scorers with 19 points, and his 8 rebound and 5 assist effort earned him tournament MVP honors. Andrew Laczkowski also received recognition as a member of the all-tournament team. Having lost in the championship at the buzzer a year ago, hoisting the trophy made for a sweet story and a tremendous start to the season! Following Thanksgiving, the Lions prepared for an exciting game at the American Airlines Center. Three of the highest-regarded boys basketball programs in the state - defending UIL 6A state champs, Duncanville High School, perennial powerhouse Houston - Yates, and #1 ranked large private school St. Mark’s - competed against three of the best boys programs from around the nation. NBA players were on-hand, along with multitudes of college recruiters to watch one of the most elite events in recent high school basketball history. This was the 11th year of the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, but when LeBron James’ and Dwyane Wade’s sons’ programs were announced as participants, the website crashed with extraordinary ticket demand. To make room for the thousands of interested fans, part of the event was moved to the AAC. St. Mark’s had the privilege of competing against Prolific Prep, the 4th-ranked team in the country out of California. It was surreal to walk into the arena and see the St. Mark’s crest on the scoreboard where fans typically root for their favorite NBA team. Impressively, the boys representing the navy & gold didn’t allow their VIP privileges to affect their laser-like focus. The team turned in a fabulous first-half defensive performance, limiting one of the nation’s most explosive attacks to a mere 20 points. Harrison Ingram, the top-ranked junior in Texas, gave the fans something to talk about with a dominant offensive performance that helped extend the Lions’ 2-point halftime lead to 8 points partway through the third quarter. Unfortunately, though, St. Mark’s lost momentum in the third quarter and relinquished the lead for good, ultimately falling 44-57. The strong showing, however, proved that this squad belongs in the conversation alongside the most elite teams in the country. The fan support from Marksman families across the community electrified the atmosphere and made for a spectacular experience that won’t soon be forgotten as one of the more special evenings in the rich narrative of SM sports. This Friday, the Lions play at Highland Park at 6:00 p.m.
Alumni Athlete News
Will Ingram ’17, a guard for the Middlebury Men’s Basketball team and big brother to current St. Mark’s basketball player Harrison Ingram ‘21, scored 7 points (3 for 3 from the field) and added three rebounds and an assist in a game over the Thanksgiving break. Will and the Panthers are off to a great start this season with a 7-0 record and a scoring margin of +13 per game.
St. Mark’s School of Texas
10600 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
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.
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.
