SportzBuzz - December 2024 | The Buzz Magazines

By Todd Freed, Staff writer | November 27, 2024

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MAKING A SPLASH For the second straight season, the Strake Jesuit Crusaders advanced to the regional finals in UIL water polo. Pictured, taking a shot for the Crusaders, is junior Mark Hanrahan. (Photo: Latrease Beasley)

Despite graduating all of its starters from last season’s regional finalist team, it was another great season in water polo for the Strake Jesuit Crusaders. The Crusaders came within one win of a berth to the UIL state tournament before losing to Clear Creek 15-10 in the regional finals. The Crusaders ultimately finished the season with a number seven state ranking among all UIL schools.

“We had a lot of talent and it was just a matter of putting it all together with a whole new lineup,” said Crusaders head coach Tim Keogh. “It was pretty fantastic to make the regional final again despite so much changeover. We had a bunch of guys who rose to the occasion throughout the season.”

Among those rising to the occasion was junior center Joseph Johnson who was named the district MVP. In addition, the Crusaders were led by a trio of seniors in Jason Butz, Eric Mosher, and Elias Al-Ramahi. “All three of those guys were fast, savvy, and strong shooters. They really lifted our team to the level of last year’s squad,” said Keogh.

Defensively, Keogh said the team was led by senior goalie Joaquin Shields-Sanchez, senior Max Mallay, and junior Mark Hanrahan. “We’ve gone three straight years of knocking on the door to get to state. Our goal is to definitely make it to state next year.”

ANOTHER GREAT RUN The St. Thomas Eagles put forth another outstanding effort in cross country by coming within a two-point margin of winning a second straight TAPPS 6A State Championship.

It was a valiant run for the St. Thomas Eagles who came within a mere two points of winning a second straight TAPPS 6A State Cross Country Championship. The Eagles were edged for the title by Antonian High School out of San Antonio.

“Two of our top runners were ill and out for a full week leading up to the state meet, but we had other guys step up and pick up the slack,” said Eagles head coach Nathan Labus. “Senior James Glenn and sophomore Shaun Benesch ran personal best times in helping make up ground for the guys who weren’t 100 percent.”

As was the case all season, St. Thomas was led by sophomore Isaac Knape, who finished fifth overall at the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco. Knape ran the 5K course in 16:42. Two places behind Knape in seventh place overall was Eagles sophomore Jaden Stephenson. In addition, yet another Eagles sophomore, Bryce Farrell, came in 11th place with Glenn and Benesch finishing 13th and 14th respectively.

“I was impressed with the way all our guys ran. It’s a super young team. Out of our seven athletes who ran at the state meet, five of them will be back next year. I expect them to do really well and definitely excited about the future,” added Labus.

SUPER SOPHOMORE Kinkaid Falcons sophomore running back Wayne Shanks, Jr. scored five touchdowns while accounting for 238 total yards in the Falcons 49-10 SPC final victory over Episcopal. (Photo: David Shutts Photography)

In football, the Kinkaid Falcons captured the SPC 4A Championship with a decisive 49-10 victory over rival Episcopal in the SPC title game. The victory also marked the Falcons seventh SPC championship in the last 11 seasons under head coach Nathan Larned.

“It’s almost a sense of relief,” said Larned. “I told our guys heading into the season that we were the best team in the league, and they took it seriously in the way they prepared and worked all year. I’m especially happy for our seniors. They’re a really great group of high character kids.”

One of those “high character kids” includes senior standout quarterback David Capobianco. “David has sensational arm talent, but he really came on strong when we got him more involved in our ground game. He’s a tremendous all-around team player and great kid who played especially well down the deciding stretch of the season,” said Larned.

Other standouts on offense included sophomore running back Wayne Shanks, Jr., who scored five touchdowns in the SPC final. In addition, senior wide receiver and defensive back Jordan Manuel was sensational all season for the Falcons. “Jordan was big-time for us,” said Larned. “In our must-win game against St. John’s to get to the SPC final, he not only made a great game-winning touchdown catch, but then turned around and preserved the victory with a game-saving interception on defense.”

As for the SPC final victory, other major contributors included Jackson Staley, who had several key receptions and runs, while on defense Cooper Chambers hauled in one of the Falcons three interceptions while also returning a punt for a touchdown.

“Our defense has been really strong all year,” added Larned. “Other than our season opener, I don’t think we gave up more than two scores in a game all season. They were pretty impressive.”

Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on CW39 and Monday-Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email [email protected].