Athletic News
Alumna Fran Dowell, SSUSA Exec. Director, Elected to the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Fran (Jaksich) Dowell, a 1971 graduate of St. Francis, was inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas on September 28. Her election was in her first year of eligibility and was in the category of “Director”. Fran is a former recipient of the prestigious SFHS Lifetime Achievement Award for her career in Senior Softball.
The Code Runner: Cross Country’s Gabrielle Dyer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior cross country runner Gabrielle Dyer will run on Saturday with a chance to extend her career to the CIF State Championships for the second consecutive season.
“I have been running since the sixth grade and after seeing my sister run all four years, it is so weird to me that (my career) is ending,” said Dyer. “It is really sad but it is making me more excited for track and having a better bond with the senior class this year.”
Volleyball Season Ends in Section Quarters
GRANITE BAY, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball season ended Thursday night in a tough five-set match at No. 2 seed Granite Bay in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II quarterfinals. St. Francis, the No. 7 seed, finishes the season with a 20-16 record.
“I am very proud of the girls for their battle,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright, who completed her 27th season at the helm of the program. “They played with a tremendous amount of heart and played tonight as a team.
Water Polo Advances to Section Finals
MODESTO, Calif. – Seniors Sam Reinl and Jenna Barthels each scored three goals to help St. Francis advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section finals with a 10-3 win over Lodi in a semifinal on Tuesday.
Seniors Kira Chavez, Ally Tambornini, Julie Zanobini and Maggie Oys all scored goals in the contest.
Junior Sally Ferguson led the team with four assists and Elle Minor and Maddy Vine combined to allow just three goals on the afternoon.
St. Francis will play Davis, a 13-1 winner over Lincoln of Stockton, at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Woodcreek High School.
Tennis Season Ends with 6-3 Loss to Rocklin
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis tennis teams lost in the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals to Rocklin 6-3 Wednesday, ending their bid for the first section title since 2011.
“The girls played as hard as they could,” said Head Coach Kristi Spector. “After the win emotional yesterday, it was tough to turn around and do it again. Rocklin played a great match. Everyone fought their hardest and I am really proud of the team.”
2015 Fall Signing Day
Thirteen St. Francis Troubadours participated in the National Letter-of-Intent and College Commitment Celebration at St. Francs on Wednesday.
Thirteen Seniors Make College Commitments
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Thirteen St. Francis Troubadours participated in the National Letter-of-Intent and College Commitment Celebration at St. Francis on Wednesday.
Senior Ariane Arndt, who will attend UC-Berkeley out of the Pac-12 Conference, headlined a class representing seven sports committing to 12 different schools, including five out-of-state school. The schools for the Troubie signees include Brown, Cal, Cal-State Northridge, Colorado State, Fordham, Loyola Marymount, Michigan State, San Jose State, Santa Clara, UCLA, UC San Diego and Yale.
Tennis Advances to Section Semifinals
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis got two doubles wins after splitting six singles matches to defeat Del Oro on Tuesday in the Sac-Joaquin Section quarterfinals 5-4 at Del Oro Racquet Club. The Troubadours advance to host Rocklin on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Volleyball Advances in Section Playoffs
Troubies Face No. 2 Granite Bay in Second Round
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team posted a straight-set 25-18, 26-24, 25-22 win over No. 10 seed Roseville to advance to the second round of the Division II Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
“I thought we did play well,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “I thought we played aggressive and I was really happy with the defense. It was some of the best defense we have played and I thought Kelsey (Grover) did a good job involving lots of hitters that kept them off balance with holes and blocks we were able to hit through.”
Countdown to Signing Day: Arndt Commits to Cal for Track
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Ariane Arndt has committed to run track at Cal next season and will sign a National Letter-of-Intent with the Golden Bears program on Wednesday at the St. Francis College Commitment Celebration.
Countdown to Signing Day: Lilly Enes to Run Track for Yale
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Lilly Enes will run for Ivy League school Yale next year.
“I am very, very excited,” said Enes.
Enes will join a Bulldog program coached by David Shoehalter, who led the program since 2011 and spent over 20 years on the Yale staff. He has coached multiple Bulldog student-athletes to All-Ivy, All-East and All-American honors, including Yale’s first IC4A champion in the hurdles since the 1970s and All-American Jihad Beauchman ’06 in the high jump.
Baccay to Play Softball at Michigan State
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – After committing as a sophomore, St. Francis senior Mel Baccay will sign a National Letter-of-Intent to play at Michigan State on National Signing Day on Wednesday.
“They have a family aspect to the program,” said Baccay. “I’ve built a really strong relationship not only with the girls on the team but with my coaches.”
Baccay will play for Jacquie Joseph, who has led the Spartan program since 1994 and amassed over 700 career wins and made four NCAA regional appearances.
Countdown to Signing Day: Jenna Barthels to Sign with Cal-State Northridge
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Jenna Barthels will sign with Cal-State Northridge on Wednesday to play water polo for the Matador program next fall.
“The team was amazing,” said Barthels of joining the CSUN program. “They do things together and work well together. They are such a fun group of people. I did not want to leave and I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.”
Barthels will play for Head Coach Marty Matthies, who is in his second season. He led the program to a second-place finish in the Big West Conference last season.
Countdown to Signing Day: Julianna Qvistgaard to Join Nationally-Ranked Cal Crew
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Julianna Qvistgaard found her calling, literally. She will join the Cal Crew program next year as a coxswain.
“I chose Cal because they are No. 2 in the nation, which is absolutely amazing,” said Qvistgaard. “I went to visit. I love their coaches. They remind me of my coaches now. I felt at home when I went there. They included everybody and were so excited to have me there.”
Oys Commits to Play Water Polo at Santa Clara
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Maggie Oys committed to play water polo at Santa Clara next year and will sign a National Letter-of-Intent with the Broncos on Wednesday.
“I am very excited to commit to Santa Clara,” said Oys. “It feels really good because I not only do I get to play college water polo, which was a goal and dream of mine, but I get to play in the environment that I wanted.”
Diver Tiffany Wong to Compete for UC San Diego
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior diver Tiffany Wong will join the UC San Diego diving team next fall.
“I really loved the city of San Diego,” said Wong. “I loved how together the team was and it reminded me of St. Francis and my club team. It really felt like a family. I like that togetherness.”
Wong is the second Troubadour to join the Triton program, joining Patty Sullivan ’14 on the roster.
The dive and swim team is super nice and friendly,” said Wong.
Samantha Gallia: Miss Congeniality Hits the Course
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Samantha Gallia is not afraid to try something new. Whether it is cross country or one of her many extra-curricular activities, she toes the line and gives it her all. When it came to the Miss Teen Placer County competition, she was in it for the experience. She got that and much more.
Senior Caroline Coyle to Join UCLA Crew
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Caroline Coyle knows how to play a role, whether it is on stage or in a boat. She will take her skills to Los Angeles and the UCLA Crew team next fall as a coxswain after competing for Capital Crew in Sacramento.
“I definitely chose UCLA because it is a growing program,” said Coyle. “They have recruited really fast girls for my class so I am super excited. I think I can make a different on the team.”
Coyle was drawn to the sport by her brother, Scotty, who competes for Cal.
Water Polo Advances to Section Semifinals
CARMICHAEL, Calif. – St. Francis water polo advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals with a 21-3 win over Enochs Thursday night at Jesuit High School.
St. Francis, the No. 2 seed, out-scored the Eagles 8-0 in the first quarter and 14-1 over the first half to easily cruise to the win. The Troubadours will face Lodi, an 8-7 winner over Woodcreek in one semifinal on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in Modesto.
Jenna Barthels scored a game-high five goals for the Troubadours.
Spector and Jackson Sisters Represent Well at First Day of Individuals
ROSEVILLE, Calif. – Senior Avery Spector lost in the quarterfinals to a nationally-ranked player from Lodi and Kiya and Kyla Jackson advanced to the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I individual singles and doubles championships Friday at Johnsen Ranch Racquet Club.