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SportzBuzz - April 2017

Todd
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St. John’s Mavericks wrestling

MAVERICKS WIN The St. John’s Mavericks wrestling team became the first SPC school to win the prestigious Texas State Prep Wrestling Championship. The Mavericks also defended their SPC wrestling championship this season.

It was a historic season for the St. John’s boys wrestling team, which became the first Southwest Preparatory School from Houston to win the Texas State Prep Wrestling Championship. The Mavericks defeated 23 teams to claim the title.

“I’m so proud of the kids and what they’ve accomplished,” said Mavericks wrestling coach Alan Paul. “It’s incredibly difficult to win state with so many great wrestling programs competing. This year’s field was especially tough.”

Toughing it out for St. John’s were several wrestlers, including Layo Laniyan, who won gold in the 138 lb. weight class. In addition, Peter Chen (170 lb.) and Josh Thomas (285 lb.) were each a state runner-up. Will Skinner (132 lb.) and Dani Yan (160 lb.) captured third place, while Thomas Grannen (120 lb.), Malcolm Sturgis (152 lb.), Matthew Mercado (182 lb.) and Michael Meaux (195 lb.) were all fourth-place finishers. 

St. John’s then capped off the season by winning its fourth SPC Championship in the last five years. “We’ve really created a sense of community throughout our entire wrestling program,” said Paul. “A lot of our success comes from the boys caring and helping each other.”

St. Agnes Academy Tigers

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS The St. Agnes Academy Tigers put forth a dominant performance to defend their TAPPS Division 1 state swim championship. The Tigers have also won three of the last four state titles in TAPPS Division 1.

In swimming, St. Agnes Academy defended its TAPPS Division 1 State Swimming Championship, while also winning the title for the third time in the last four years. “We had a lot of swimmers back from last year’s state champs, so, we knew had a chance to do great things,” said Tigers coach Kaitlin Kelley. “Our girls simply rose to the occasion.”

St. Agnes was especially strong in the relays, with the foursome of Lilli Metts, Bridget Hibbler, Rachel Wright and Anastasia Kontrimas breaking a school record to win gold in the 4x50 medley relay. Plus, Hibbler and Kontrimas teamed with Lilli Storemski and Delaney Wolfe to break a school record while winning the 4x50 freestyle relay. “We have a really strong and deep program,” said Kelley. “The girls worked together and really went after the title.”

James Finley

FAST FINLEY With his victory in the 100-yard breaststroke, senior James Finley helped lead Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School to a strong second-place finish at the TAPPS Division 3 boys state swim meet.

In TAPPS Division 3, chalk up eight state championships for the powerful Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School swim program, with the STE girls winning this year’s state title and the STE boys finishing a strong second. “The girls were simply dominant,” said STE coach Helena Finley.

Freshman Kathryn Schwartz led the way with four gold medals, including wins in both of her freestyle events. Schwartz, Celia Houston, Sophie Close and Olivia Lane broke a school record in winning the 200-yard medley relay, while the foursome of Schwartz, Close, Lucy McLean and Katie Flato won gold in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Close also broke a school record in winning the 100-yard butterfly.

With a spectacular come-from-behind win in the 400-yard freestyle relay, the STE boys finished second overall at the state meet. James Finley, Sebastian Ortiz, Alexander Halsey and freshman Patrick Close, who made up a 10-second deficit on the final leg, pulled out the thrilling victory in the meet’s final race. Finley also won the 100 breastroke and finished fifth in the 200 individual medley.

Clayton Bobo

SPECTACULAR SPARTAN Stratford Spartan junior Clayton Bobo put forth a pair of magnificent gold-medal victories in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races at the UIL 6A state swimming and diving meet. (Photo: R. Scott Jackson Photography)

A sensational performance from junior Clayton Bobo propelled the Stratford Spartans to a seventh-place finish at the UIL 6A State Swimming and Diving Meet. Bobo, who was named the swimmer of the meet, finished first in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races. In the 50 freestyle, Bobo became the third swimmer ever to break the 20-second mark at the state meet, while in the 100 freestyle, he swam the second fastest time in the history of the UIL state meet.

“It was pretty amazing,” said Stratford coach Mike Hoskovec. “Clayton is actually so good that he doesn’t consistently get close competition. It’s really fun to watch him go when he has guys to push him. He’s also taken a lot of steps forward in his daily workouts to swim fast consistently.”

Bobo also teamed with Dean Rathgeb, Peyton Moak and Jim Nantz to win the consolation final in the medley relay, while Kyle Storemski, Bobo, Rathgeb and Nantz won the consolation race in the 200 freestyle relay.

The Stratford girls were led by sophomore Emma Stephenson, who finished fifth in the 50 freestyle and seventh in the 100 butterfly. Prior to state at regionals, Stephenson, Sloane Pyle, Brittany Baerg and Morgen Reyna broke a 22-year-old school record in winning the medley relay.

Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Award-winning co-host and producer of the KUBE SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email [email protected].

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