Wrestler Wins State

Soccer
After a challenging week that resulted in dropped points to Cistercian and Casady, the varsity soccer team welcomed the opportunity to regroup and regain positive momentum with the end of the season in sight. The week began very positively with a 2-0, Senior Night, victory against Trinity Christian Academy. Both goals were scored just before and just after the halftime whistle. After making a well-timed run to the far post, Junior Eric Yoo scored on a decisive header, courtesy of near-perfect service from senior captain Colin Campbell. Senior Alex Piccagli scored his first goal of the season when he emphatically converted the penalty kick he earned. Senior goalkeeper Billy Lockhart earned a shutout as the entire St. Mark’s defense stiffened throughout the match. While the results were important to the team, the evening was a celebration in honor of the seniors and their families for their dedication to the program: Christian Duessel, Benjamin Hao, Romil Mathur, Alex Piccagli, Russell Wilner, Reid Goldsmith, Billy Lockhart, and captains Colin Campbell and William Holtby. Winter spirit on Friday night was especially meaningful to the sixth-place Lions as they hosted rival Greenhill, who was in third place in the SPC North Zone. The match did not disappoint as it proved to be entertaining, spirited, competitive, and highly emotional thanks to a huge show of support from the St. Mark’s student body and community. The difference in the match would be a goal that lived up to the moment. A driven cross from junior Cristian Pereira on the right flank was deftly touched by senior William Holtby in the center of the Hornet penalty area. The ball fell to the feet of junior Henry McElhaney, who unselfishly returned it first time to Holtby. The quality of the combination penetrated a very stingy Greenhill defense, and Holtby finished resoundingly from point-blank range. The Lions’ character would be further tested after an ejection that required the last quarter of the match to be played with ten men. The Lions recorded the victory and another shutout thanks to an outstanding effort with significant contributions from Billy Lockhart, and seniors Colin Campbell, Reid Goldsmith, Alex Piccagli, and juniors Knobel Hunt and Robert Pou, and sophomore Noah Soliz. The Lions had little time to celebrate as they had to host a rescheduled match with Ft. Worth Country Day the next afternoon. An inauspicious start for the Lions was punctuated by a Falcon goal within four minutes of kickoff. St. Mark’s found itself down a goal with a depleted bench that saw eight players missing, and heavy legs from the starters after a physically and emotionally draining match on the previous evening. St. Mark’s found their focus and slowly began to control the momentum of the match. Their perseverance was rewarded when Holtby headed Pereira’s well-struck corner kick into the back of the Falcon net in the thirty-second minute. Seven minutes later, Campbell redirected McElhaney’s service past the Country Day keeper from close range, and the Lions led at halftime. Both teams created chances in the second half, and St. Mark’s sophomore goalkeeper, Stefan Moreno, was required to make a couple of timely saves to preserve the lead. With Country Day pushing for the equalizer in the last two minutes of the match, St. Mark’s sealed the victory when McElhaney smoothly struck a ball from just inside the penalty area that gave the Country Day keeper no chance. The weekend’s success propelled the Lions to third place in the north zone, keeping alive their slim hopes for a bye at the SPC tournament.

Swimming
The varsity swim team hosted Senior Night on Thursday, January 30. Trinity Valley, Ft. Worth Country Day, All Saints, and ESD were also in attendance and their seniors were also honored. The Lions posted some great performances and the seniors had a terrific last home meet accentuated by the team singing the St. Mark’s Alma Mater together from the middle of the pool. The meet was not scored. The Lions will take the pool again in the SPC Championships on Thursday, February 13, at the Lewisville ISD Westside Aquatics Center, starting at 10 a.m.

Basketball
The varsity basketball team played a pair of games at the end of last week. On Friday, Spencer Gym was packed for a bout featuring the only two undefeated teams remaining in the SPC. Neither team shot the ball well early, but St. Mark’s defensive pressure smothered the Hornets en route to a 15-3 lead after one quarter. That margin expanded to 18 at halftime and remained 18 at the final buzzer. Sophomore Colin Smith had 15 points and six rebounds. Junior Harrison Ingram also made it to double digits in limited playing time, scoring 11 to go along with five rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Tate Laczkowski connected on 3-3 shooting from behind the arc and added six rebounds and four steals to his 11-point effort. Sophomore Caleb Vanzant came off the bench to score 4 points and collect three rebounds, as well as a pair of steals. On Saturday, The Lions hosted Fort Worth country Day. Sophomores Noah Shelby and Corvin Oprea each scored 12 first-half points, and senior Andrew Laczkowski, in his first weekend back from an injury, posted 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists. A host of others joined the barrage, including freshman Isaac Bird (7 points), juniors Jake Laufenberg (7 points), and Luke Annett (5 points), and seniors Camp Collins and Taylor Hopkin (5 points each). The aforementioned Caleb Vanzant led the team in rebounding (9), and Hopkin & fellow senior, Aaron Thorne, gathered 7 & 5 rebounds, respectively, to move the squad to 5-0 in SPC play. This week, the basketball team travels to Oakridge on Tuesday, where a win would secure the North Zone’s #1 seed. On Friday, the Marksmen host ESD at 7:30 p.m.