Athletic News
Water Polo Splits Four Games at St. Francis Invite
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – The St. Francis water polo team went 2-2 at the St. Francis Invitational in Mountain View to open the 2013 season.
The Troubadours split two matches Saturday. After an overtime loss to Leland in the first game 9-8, the Troubadours closed the tournament with a 12-5 win over Los Altos. Brinnley Barthels and Emily Reinl each scored four times in the win. Jenna Bellinger added two goals and Elieen Walsh and Samantha Reinl also scored.
Cross Country Wins Ed Sias Behind 1-2-3 Finish
MARTINEZ, Calif. – The St. Francis cross country team won the team title for the second consecutive meet winning the large school girls title at the Ed Sias Invitational held at Hidden Valley Lakes Park in Martinez Saturday. The Troubadours crossed the line 1-2-3 and placed each of their top five runners in the first 22 finishers in the race.
Volleyball Falls in Mitty Invitational Final
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team lost in the championship match to Archbishop Mitty 2-1 Saturday afternoon at the Mitty Invitational, reaching the final with three straight-set wins earlier in the day.
“The kids played pretty consistent throughout the day,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “We had good play and a lot of moments by everyone. I think we will see Mitty again in the Presentation Tournament and we learned some things today.”
Cross Country Remains in Top 10; Defends Ed Sias Title Saturday
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis cross country team is listed in the top 10 of two state-wide rankings released this week. The Troubadours are a season-high second behind Simi Valley in the DyeStatCAL Cross Country Ranking after starting at No. 3 overall and are No. 7 in PrepCalTrack’s Super 25 Girls Teams and No. 1 in the Sac-Joaquin section.
The Troudadours opened the season by winning the Oakmont Invitational. They return to action this Saturday at the Ed Sias Invitational in Martinez., Calif. The meet will be held at Hidden Lakes Park.
Senior Emily Laskin Shares Medalist Honors, Troubies Win First DRL
ROSEVILLE, Calif. – Senior golfer Emily Laskin tied for medalist honors with Sarah Debnekoff of Pleasant Grove with a two-over par 74 to lead the Troubadours to a four-stroke victory in the first Delta River League match. The 18-hole event was held at the Morgan Creek Golf Club.
St. Francis shot a 417 team score behind Laskin’s top performance to top Pleasant Grove by four shots. Oak Ridge, Folsom and Ponderosa rounded out the top five teams. Sheldon only started four players and did not post a team score.
Golf Wins Delta River League Opener over Ponderosa
CAMERON PARK, Calif. – The St. Francis golf team opened the 2013 season with a Delta River League win over Ponderosa Wednesday at Cameron Park Country Club. The Troubadours posted a 217 team score, while the Bruins had a 280.
Senior Emily Laskin led St. Francis with a three-over par 39 over nine holes.
“The outcome came out alright,” said Laskin. “The team won so that is what is important.”
Seniors Ileana MacDonald and Victoria Vardanega both carded six-over par 42, while sophomore Kate Swanson recorded a 45.
Volleyball Drops Foundation Game at Granite Bay
GRANITE BAY, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team dropped its Foundation Game Tuesday night 3-1 at Granite Bay in a rematch of the Sac-Joaquin Section Championship in 2012.
“Our opening tournament and this game shows us what we need to work on,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “My kids don’t like losing. Even though it is a Foundation Game and it does not count, it is pride. But I saw a lot of really good things out of them tonight.”
Golf Opens Season Wednesday at Cameron Park CC vs. Ponderosa
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis golf team opens the 2013 season Wednesday with the first of five Delta River League matches when they tee up against Ponderosa at the Cameron Park Country Club Wednesday at 3 p.m.
“It is going to be a great tune-up for the season,” said Head Coach Cindy Mah-Lyford. “It will give some of the girls that have not played in a match a chance to get some experience. It will help build their experience and that will be beneficial as we approach the postseason.”
St. Francis Volleyball Wins High Sierra Invitational
RENO, Nev. – The St. Francis volleyball team won the High Sierra Invitational Saturday, defeating Nevada Union for the tournament title 25-15, 25-15.
“They pretty much grew up in front of our eyes this weekend as a team,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “We had contributions from everyone. They all played and contributed. It was a great team tournament.”
The Troubadours reached the finals with a straight-set win over Roseville 25-17, 25-13, avenging a loss earlier in the day. Seniors Lea Felton and Ali Koumelis were named to the all-tournament team.
Cross Country Wins Oakmont Invitational; LaRocco Defends Title
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis cross country program had a strong opening meet, taking a pair of team and individual titles at the Oakmont Invitational at Maidu Park.
Senior Lauren LaRocco won the individual title for the second consecutive season with a career-best 14:02 over the 4-kilometer course.
“I am glad I have improved since last year,” said LaRocco. “The course felt short and that is good because we will be moving up to 5K. It was still a lot flatter than most of the courses we will run so it was good to ease into some of the hills.”
Cross Country Garners Second National Ranking
SACRMAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis cross country team is ranked 15th in the nation in the DyeStat.com Preseason National Girls Cross Country Top 120 released on Friday. The Troubadours were also highlighted by the NHSCA with a No. 11 ranking in their national preseason poll released earlier in August.
St. Francis Volleyball Travels to High Sierra Invitational
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team opens the 2013 season at the High Sierra Invitational Friday and Saturday in Reno, Nev.
“I am looking forward to seeing how they mesh and gel together,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright, who is starting her 25th season at the helm of the Troubadour program. “I want to see the chemistry on the court and the bench. Everyone is going to get some opportunities so I am excited to see what they do in competition.”
Former Water Polo Standouts Named to All-America Team
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Former St. Francis water polo standouts Kaitlyn Cozens and Marisa Kolokotronis were both named to the 2012-13 NISCA/Speedo Girls All-America Water Polo team. Cozens was named to the first team, while Kolokotronis was a third-team selection.
St. Francis Cross Country Opens Season at Oakmont Invitational
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The nationally-ranked St. Francis cross country team will open the 2013 season at the Oakmont Invitational held at Maidu Park in Roseville on Saturday, Aug. 30.
The Troubadours will field three teams in the event, including varsity, junior varsity and freshmen/sophomore squads. The freshmen/sophomore race begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the varsity girls at 9:30 a.m. and junior varsity girls at 10:30 a.m.
Q&A with St. Francis High School Water Polo Coach Heather Moody
What attracted you to the position at St. Francis High School?
“I look at the position as a great opportunity. Rachel Ruano, who runs the American River Water Polo Club, has wanted to get me involved with the club. After London, it was a time of reflection about what I wanted to do. Did I want to stick with it and the traveling or have a change of pace with less traveling and having time to spend with family and friends? Everything seemed to line up perfectly.”
Olympian Moody Named St. Francis High School Water Polo Coach
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Two-time Olympic medalist and two-time Olympic medal-winning assistant coach Heather Moody was named the head coach of the St. Francis High School Water Polo program, Athletic Director Mark McGreevy announced.
Senior Golfer Emily Laskin: My Summer on the Course
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior golfer Emily Laskin has been trying to qualify for the U.S. Girls’ hosted by the United States Golf Association for four years. She accomplished her goal earlier this summer but not before some tense moments down the stretch.
St. Francis Cross Country Earns National Preseason Ranking
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis High School cross country
team led by Head Coach John DuCray is ranked 11th in the 2013
National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Girls Pre-Season
Cross Country Team Rankings announced by XCNation.com.
“We are thrilled to be ranked in the NHSCA preseason poll,” said
DuCray, who has coached at St. Francis for 37 years. “It is a
tribute to our student-athletes. We are going to try to be the
best in California and it is a nice recognition for a program on
the rise.”
St. Francis wins first D-I title
Trust, cohesion, fundamentals, effort. Roll them into one, and you have the makings of a champion.
Dabbling in the large-school basketball realm this postseason for the first time after years of good living in Divisions II and III, the St. Francis Troubadours on Saturday night relied on the ingredients that have made this one of the dominant programs in Northern California since the mid-1980s, and the celebration continues.