Lion Sports Update (01/21)
Basketball
Last week, the St. Mark’s varsity basketball team opened SPC North Zone counterplay with a pair of wins. On Tuesday, the Lions traveled to Ft. Worth Country Day. Playing in their first game in more than three weeks, the Marksmen started a little rusty and only shot 23% from behind the 3-point line. However, four juniors sparked the team’s scoring effort by reaching double figures – Corvin Oprea (22), Colin Smith (20), Caleb Vanzant (11), and Tate Laczkowski (10, as well as a team-high 11 rebounds and 4 assists). Full-court pressure from freshman Nathan Davis (who contributed a season-high 9 points) and senior Connor Gaffney broke the game open in the second half. Senior Luke Annett and junior Miller Trubey put the finishing touches on a convincing 82-32 victory. On Friday, the Lions hosted Trinity Valley. Colin Smith was active early and shot the ball well from the 3-point line. He finished the game with a season-high 36 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Tate Laczkowski also turned in a double-double performance with 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Luke Annett led the team with 4 assists. Caleb Vanzant, making his second consecutive start, posted 7 rebounds and 3 assists, and Corvin Oprea turned in his second 22-point scoring effort in as many games. The strong team effort earned the Marksmen their second lopsided win of the week, 83-51.
Soccer
The varsity soccer team kicked off the SPC North Zone counter season with decisive victories over Ft. Worth Country Day (6-0) and Trinity Valley (6-0). Junior goalkeeper Stefan Moreno recorded two clean sheets, aided by strong defensive play from seniors Michael Anderson, Luis Garcia-Ojeda, Christian Shadle, juniors Matthew Shen and Noah Soliz, sophomore Nat Fisher, and freshman John Ma. The offense continued to demonstrate solid finishing with Shadle, and fellow seniors Henry McElhaney and Eric Yoo, along with junior Lars Ochs recording a brace in one of the two matches. Senior Cristian Pereira scored a goal and two assists, while freshman Alex Soliz earned the first points of his career with a goal and an assist. McElhaney’s four assists in the TVS match increased his season total to double digits for the third consecutive year. This week, the Lions face their most daunting challenge of the season thus far, traveling to Cistercian on Friday night before hosting Casady on Saturday afternoon.
Swimming
The varsity swim team was back in action for the first time in 2021, and the Lions were out of the gate with a bang. Currently in the middle of the season, one would expect to see victories without top times. However, this would not be the case this season as the Lions are battling adversity with a smile and grinding every day toward the goal of a repeat showing at SPC’s on February 11. On Tuesday, January 12, the Lions faced off against cross-town rival Highland Park and were victorious in epic fashion, winning 10 of the 11 events. Off with a bang, the 200 Medley Relay saw its fastest time of the season by sophomore Jerry Fox, senior Jack Palmer, junior Nic Gomez, and senior Leo Ohannessian. With less than 3 minutes of rest, Ohannessian was at it again, winning the 200 Freestyle and junior Brett Honaker was right behind him, coming in second for the Lions with a personal best time. Sophomore Sam Larkin threw down a personal best of 1:58.90, bettering his time by more than 2 seconds. Next up, the 200 IM was again 1,2 for the Lions as seniors Daniel Wu and David Yang finished with top 3 times of the season for both. Jerry Fox took the 50 Freestyle home, and Nic Gomez won the 100 Butterfly. Fox was at it again, winning the 100 Freestyle and freshman Adam Kappelman had a personal best 55.24. In the 500 Free, Larkin pulled out a decisive victory with a personal best 5:17. The 200 Free Relay saw Honaker, Mason Westkaemper, Palmer, and Ohannessian in the top spot, and Gomez brought home his second victory with the top spot in the 100 Back. In the only loss of the meet for the Jack Palmer had his top time of the season in the 100 Breast with a time of 1:03.50, a time he would beat two days later at Southlake Carroll to bring home the top spot there. Finally, in the 400 Free Relay Lions Ohannessian, Honaker, Gomez, and Fox came in first with a very smooth 3:16.43 for the win.
On Thursday, the team were handed their first loss of the season against the Southlake Carroll Dragons. Still, the meet was a hard-fought battle, with the Lions winning 7 of the 11 events, having multiple personal bests from all grade levels, and setting the team up for a successful SPC North Zone meet. In the 200 Medley Relay, Fox, Palmer, Gomez, and Ohannessian ended 3rd overall, just .56 seconds behind the first-place finish. Ohannessian took the block again and delivered a decisive victory in the 200 free, with Junior Honaker coming in 3rd. Despite an early lead in the 200 IM, Wu and Yang finished 3 and 4 against the Dragons. In the 50 Freestyle, Fox brought home the top spot, while Westkaemper got a season-best. Junior Samuel Reitich and freshman Adam Kappleman also saw personal bests in the 50 Free, setting themselves up for a good showing at SPC. In the 100 Butterfly, Gomez was at it again, taking the top spot, while Palmer and fellow senior James Carr had season bests, with Carr going a personal best. The 100 Free was taken by Fox, with teammate Ohannessian finishing right behind him. This would be the Lions' top-scoring event, with Honaker and Westkaemper coming 5th and 6th with their top times of the season and a personal best for Westkaemper. Kappleman and freshman Anderson Selinger also dropped personal bests in the 100 Free. After battling a knee injury all summer and fall, Aayan Khasigwala put his personal best on display in the 100 Free. The 500 Freestyle saw Larking and freshman Adrian Lutgen giving a valiant effort, but the Dragons were too much to handle going 1,2 in this event. The 200 Freestyle Relay again saw the Dragons going 1,2. Gomez took home the 100 Backstroke, and Selinger had a personal best in this event. In the 100 Breast, Jack Palmer beat the next-fastest swimmer by over 3 seconds to win the top spot, while Yang came in 3rd. Freshman Dawson Yao also made his mark, dropping a personal best in his first meet of the season. Finally, the Lions finished 1st in the final event, the 4x100 Free Relay. Up next for the Lions is SPC North Zone Championships, which will occur on February 11 at the Westside Aquatics Center in Lewisville.
ALUMNI ATHLETE NEWS
Ty Montgomery ’11 and the New Orleans Saints fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL Playoffs Divisional Round this past Sunday. Ty contributed 4 carries for 14 yards and caught 1 pass for 13 yards for the Saints offense in what was likely future Hall of Famer Drew Brees’ last 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.
