Saints Move to 16th Nationally
Saint Thomas Aquinas moved up the ESR National Poll from 19th to 16th -- they probably will end up about 14th in the country.

Saints Girls 4-Peat
Saints Girls Soccer claimed a 5-0 win over previously unbeaten Valley Center Saturday to claim the program's 13th state soccer title since 1993.

Saints Advance to State Finals to Play Undefeated Valley Center
The Saints girls' soccer team will have the opportunity to win its 4th straight state title, but to do it, they will have to give the Valley Center Hornets their first loss. They are 20-0.

5 Things to Know About State Soccer
Saint Thomas Aquinas plays in the State Semi-finals tonight at 7:00 against one-loss Bishop Carroll.

Aquinas blitzes BV Southwest early, easily moves into Kansas quarterfinals
The Saints scored three goals in the first 8:05 to grab a 3-0 lead.

Saints Girls' Soccer Returns to Top 25
The final week of regular season was big at STA as the Saints downed previously unbeaten, #6 in the country, Blue Valley, and then they added a 10-0 win over Gardner to not only go undefeated in the EKL but also to vault back into the Top 25.

Tournament of Champions National Soccer Tourney
Saints could face PreSeason #6 in the country, Jenks of Oklahoma.

High school girls all-conference basketball teams


Aquinas girls eke out a win over Mill Valley for Kansas 5A CHAMPIONSHIP


5A Girls Basketball State Tournament


Girls Basketball Substate game vs Harmon has been forfeited by Harmon and will not be played


Congratulations to Sophomore Ben Ewing for winning State Wrestling at 220 lbs. The Saints team took 3rd place.


Elite Soccer Report's Preseason Top 50!
Aquinas had five seniors sign two weeks ago, but key players to watch include junior Mary Disidore, who is committed to Missouri State, and sophomore Jaimie Kutey, who recently participated in the National ODP camp.

Elite Soccer Report only Mentions Two Kansas Teams
The spring high school season is just days away in a few states, therefore EliteSoccerReport.com is giving an early look at preseason favorites in girls soccer today.

The preseason ESR Top 50s for boys and girls will be released Monday.

Aquinas runs away from BV Northwest to win EKL wrestling meet
Say this about the Saint Thomas Aquinas wrestling team: The Saints know how to finish.

Aquinas had only a 19-point lead going into the first-place bouts at the East Kansas League Tournament on Saturday at Blue Valley West, but the Saints ran away with the team title. Aquinas finished with 243 points to 180 for second place BV Northwest.

JOCO WRESTLING NOTES: Aquinas champs at SM South

Saint Thomas Aquinas won the Shawnee Mission SouthWrestling Invitational on Saturday with 213 team points, edging runner-up Washburn Rural by 3.5 points for the crown.

But it wasn’t just the Saints who shined at the meet.

2013 KC STAR All METRO Boys' Soccer
STA's seniors, Kyle Gress and Kyle Lickteig, named to ALL METRO squad.

Senior Tyler Clement is the Hy-Vee/ Metro Sports Holiday Shoot-out Scholar Athlete Award winner


Four KC-area soccer players picked for prep All-America game
During the last few years, the Saint Thomas Aquinas boys soccer team stopped referring to games with zero goals allowed as “shutouts.”

Instead, such games became “Gressouts” — an homage to senior goalkeeper Kyle Gress, who posted eight shutouts last season with a 0.94 goals-against average.

Kansas high school girls basketball preview
The Saints have made it to state 18 straight seasons. Last season, coach Rick Hetzel’s squad finishing 16-9 and claiming third in Kansas 5A. It won’t be easy, though, for a team with only two seniors. Of course, Aquinas does return four starters — including junior guards Tia Weledji, who averaged 9.0 points and 4.3 rebounds, and Allie Dierks (5.9 ppg) along with two interior players senior Haleigh Cindrich, who signed with Rockhurst, and sophomore Claire Ferguson.

Girls Cross Country Wins State Title. Boys Finish Second.


Huddlestun a (girl's tennis) champ


Aquinas (girl's golf) makes it six in a row
Saint Thomas Aquinas insists that it wasn’t chalking up a sixth straight Kansas 5A girls golf state championship before teeing off Monday at Emporia Municipal Golf Course, but the rest of the field knew the deck was stacked in the Saints’ favor.

Led by senior Jordan Chael, who fired a 2-over par 74 to claim Aquinas’ sixth consecutive individual gold as well, the rest of the field was right to feel overmatched.

The Saints March in Cross Country
The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls cross-country team is loaded with talent with six seniors and a junior making up the varsity squad.

The Saints finished second at the Class 5A state meet last fall, but are looking to grab the first-place trophy when the state meet unfolds Oct. 27 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.

Congratulations to Brittany Thomas as the Metro Sports Athlete of the Week


Miller & Thomas honored by Alma Mater
St. Thomas Alums, Kyle Miller and Michael Thomas, were honored at half time of the 25th Anniversary Celebration of STA and STA soccer this past Friday night.

AVCA National Phenom List
Congratulations to Brittany Thomas and Carlyle Nusbaum for making the AVCA National Phenom list!  Way to go girls!

Girls Cross Country starts season ranked #1 in all classes
Link:
http://ks.milesplit.com/articles/90710-team-rankings-girls

STA Grad Kyle Miller Make His Sporting Debut
Kyle Miller, STA 2007 graduate, debuts with Sporting with a game-tying goal against Stoke City.

Overland Park:Top Soccer City in US
According to Livability, Overland Park, KS is the top soccer community in the United States, and one of the reasons is St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

Michael Thomas Makes MLA Debut
In addition to Kamara and Sapong, midfielder Graham Zusi, who is tied for the MLS lead in assists with eight; and defender Seth Sinovic did not start, though Zusi subbed for Peterson Joseph in the 50th minute. Saad, Joseph and Michael Thomas of Aquinas High School made their first MLS starts, and for Thomas, it was his first MLS appearance.



Former Aquinas student (Joseph Winslow) excels as Iowa freshman


Joseph Winslow’s first year of college ended much better than it began. The former Saint Thomas Aquinas three-time 5A state golf champion placed 13th overall in the NCAA men’s golf championships over the weekend as a freshmen representing the University of Iowa.

It was an excellent finish for Winslow, who will earn All-America Honorable Mention status because of it. But to Winslow the finish means so much more after spending the first part of the school year sick with pneumonia.

Saints Girls Soccer Finishes 24th in the Country
Season complete. Kansas Class 5A state champion. St. Thomas Aquinas received goals from a freshman, a sophomore and a junior en route to a 4-1 victory over Mill Valley in the state final. The result marked Aquinas' third straight state title and 12th overall. During the regular season, Aquinas pinned a loss on eventual Missouri state runner-up Lee's Summit North.

Saints Win 3rd Soccer Title in a Row--12th Overall
Saint Thomas Aquinas downed Milly Valley 4-1 for the soccer State Title Saturday.

Saints Girls Soccer Advances to the Finals
In its second meeting with Bishop Carroll in less than 3 weeks, the Saints put another 1-0 Ellen Loughman shutout on them to advance to the State Title game tomorrow at 2:00 against Mill Valley.

3 Things to Watch for at State Soccer.
Saints girls seek 12th girls soccer state title for Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Aquinas can’t repeat as champs in Kansas 5A golf


Saint Girls Soccer Returns to the ESPN Top 50
BIG MOVER: St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.). Three of Aquinas' losses are to teams in the top 20 and it has a win over No. 31 Lee's Summit North (Lee's Summit, Mo.). Therefore, St. Thomas Aquinas checks in at No. 30 this week and needs a perfect playoff run to stay in the FAB 50.


AQUINAS TAKES KANSAS 5A BOYS TENNIS TITLE, Lansing freshman wins singles


Aquinas takes regional tennis title but Lansing dominates singles


Undefeated Bishop Carroll Falls to Aquinas
12-0 Bishop Carroll put its undefeated girls' soccer record on the line last night in Wichita.

PINKOUT Saturday Night, April 28th at 6:30
St. Thomas Aquinas will host St. James Academy.

Aquinas Edges Falcons, Move to Mo-Kan Finals
Saints sneak past Olathe South 1-0 on a goal from Hannah Kwapiszeski

Saint Thomas Aquinas Girls Soccer Get Protective Head Gear


Class Act- Christian's Special Serve
Saint Thomas Aquinas (STA) senior Christian Boschert lobs a shot over the net to an opponent, he may interrupt the game to offer a bit of gentle coaching advice. That’s because the 18-year-old honors student and innovator in giving back to the community has a unique partnership with some very special athletes—a relationship he’s forged through his foundation, KC Tennis Buddies. Inspired last year by a nonprofit he encountered in Omaha, Neb., the avid tennis player decided to launch a similar organization in Johnson County. The focus? Athletes with Special Olympics Kansas (SOKS) and Blue Valley Special Olympics.

Will of a Champion: Craig Ewing

Craig Ewing has led the Saint Thomas Aquinas High School Boy’s Soccer Team to the 2009 National Championship and 13 Kansas High School 5A State Championships. He has also coached the Saint Thomas Aquinas Girl’s Soccer team to 11 Kansas High School 5A State Championships

Will of a Champion: Ryan Best
Ryan Best has guided the Saint Thomas Aquinas Girls and Boys Golf Teams to eleven Kansas High School Division 5A State Championships since 2002

Five things to watch at Kansas high school wrestling regionals
Saint Thomas Aquinas is ranked second in Kansas 5A as a team. The Saints boast five ranked wrestlers, including reigning heavyweight state champion Eric Mason, 32-1, but it will take more than five wrestlers to wage a legitimate battle for the team title. Like Mason, sophomore 106-pounder Luke Henes, 36-1, and freshman 120-pounder Isaac Dulgarian, 35-1, are ranked No. 1. Senior 138-pounder Tommy Williams, 38-3, is ranked No. 2 and should threaten for the state crown. But Aquinas, which hosts its regional, needs a strong showing from the rest of its lineup to set itself up well heading to Wichita next weekend.

In Rare Company: Allison Mayfield
Four-year volleyball standout Allison Mayfield’s switch to track and field this year has put her among a select few when it comes to two-sport athletes at Kansas

The name Wilt Chamberlain is held in high regard throughout Kansas Athletics. So few have accomplished what the nationally-known figure had done in his lifetime.

Blue Valley West wins barn burner over Aquinas
With overtime looming in Friday’s East Kansas League matchup between Blue Valley West and Saint Thomas Aquinas, Jaguars reserve forward Brett McMakin took matters into his ow hands.

Michael Thomas Comes Home
Saint Thomas Aquinas grad, Michael Thomas, comes back to play soccer in the city where he won 3 high school state titles.

Sporting KC Acquires Rights to Two Saints Soccer Greats
Sporting KC now has the rights to both Michael Thomas (2006) and Kyle Miller (2007).

ALL METRO BOYS Soccer
3 Saints soccer players named in ALL METRO awards: Andrew Brown, Kyle Gress and Tyler Heying.

Saint Thomas Aquinas comes on in second half, beats Blue Valley Southwest
In the early going it looked as if Blue Valley Southwest might pull off a big upset at Saint Thomas Aquinas.

But the Saints mounted a comeback in the second half and beat BV Southwest 48-32 in a matchup of East Kansas League teams.

Aquinas’ Winslow is the All-Metro girls golfer of the year
When Baile Winslow finally put it all together, she clobbered the field at the Kansas Class 5A state golf tournament.

Winslow, a junior at Saint Thomas Aquinas, had come close to breaking through with a tournament victory several times over the course of the season, but everything didn’t come together until Oct. 17 at Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays, Kan.

Aquinas wins Johnson County Wrestling Classic

Saint Thomas Aquinas won four of its five championship bouts in capturing the Johnson County Classic Wrestling title Saturday at Blue Valley.

The Saints won the title for the first time since 2006 and the sixth time in the 18-year history of the meet.

Awards Roll in for Cross Country Teams
Numerous cross country team members earn post season awards

Aquinas run of State Titles is Over
The streak is over for the St. Thomas Aquinas boys soccer team.

The Saints’ run of eight consecutive state titles ended Tuesday night with a shootout loss to Blue Valley in a Kansas 5A quarterfinal match at Aquinas.



Read more

Soccer State Quarterfinals Tonight
The other 5A quarterfinal matches Blue Valley, 9-6-3, against perennial power St. Thomas Aquinas, 12-5-1.

Read more:

Boys and Girls Cross Country 2nd at State


Congrats to Boys and Girls Cross Country for winning Regionals


Winslow leads Saints (to the 5A State Title)
Only one golfer shot in the 70s during the Kansas 5A state meet at Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays, where Saint Thomas Aquinas junior Baile Winslow led the Saints to a fifth consecutive state championship.

Saints Ewing Racks Up 400th
St. Thomas Aquinas coach Craig Ewing notched his 400th career boys soccer victory last Saturday in the Saints’ 2-1 win over Notre Dame (Ill.) at the Gateway Classic in St. Louis.



Hornung makes historic debut at Greg Wilson Classic


Saints junior Kyle Lickteig is the KC Star's Athlete of the Week
Saints Soccer's junior centerback becomes the KC STAR's first male high school Athlete of the Week for Fall of 2011.

Kyle Lickteig

• SCHOOL: St. Thomas Aquinas

• YEAR: Junior

• SPORT: Soccer

Lickteig, a 6-foot-1 junior, had the biggest play in the Saints’ 1-0 victory over St. James last Friday. He scored off a throw-in from 25 yards on a header with a little more than 7 minutes left, giving the Saints their fifth consecutive season-opening win over the Thunder in front of a crowd of 3400. “He’s the key on all of our set pieces,” Saints coach Craig Ewing said. “He’s the center of the defense for us, and on all throws we look for his head for a flick. That’s basically how we scored. He’s an integral part of everything we do, really.”



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/01/3115708/athletes-of-the-week-for-sept.html#ixzz1Wn46UjLW

Saints Edge St. James in Troop Out
With a little over 7 minutes to play Kyle Lickteig flicked in Wade Parks' long throw-in.

An Opening Night Soccer Palooza
Football doesn’t begin in Kansas until next Friday, but that doesn’t mean today isn’t a Futbol Friday west of State Line Road.


Andrew Brown Orally Commits in Soccer to Bradley
Saints star centerback commits to Bradley for 2012.

ESPN RISE 2011 National PreSeason Poll
2011 Boys' Preseason National Poll Offers Up Plenty of Saints Talk!

Ryan Best is selected as the NHSCA Girls Golf Coach of the Year
The National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) today announced its selections as National High School Coaches of the Year for 2011.

All Metro Girls Soccer Names STA's Molly Khoury to First Team
Senior, Nicky Alfonsin, on second team, with senior, Jordyn Beck, as Honorable Mention, both will join senior Molly Khoury as being recognized by the KC STAR.

The Star’s All-Metro girls soccer team

Source: The Star

FIRST TEAM

Emily Lillard, Blue Valley Northwest, senior. Lillard was the East Kansas League goalkeeper of the year and led the Huskies to the Kansas Class 6A state title. A goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s national team, she was first-team all-league, all-region and all-state. Lillard finished with nine shutouts — three in the playoffs — and a 0.72 goals-against average. Signed with Arkansas.

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SECOND TEAM: Caroline Stanley, Lee’s Summit North, senior.

HONORABLE MENTION: Jenny Allin, Shawnee Mission West, senior; Morgan Hartzler, Kearney, junior.

FORWARDS FIRST TEAM

Hannah Chadick, Blue Valley Northwest, senior. The East Kansas League offensive player of the year and the Kansas Gatorade girls soccer player of the year, Chadick set a Huskies record with 19 goals and added three assists. She also set records for most points in a season (41) and most career points (79).

Shea Groom, Liberty, senior. An offensive dynamo who scored the winning goal in Liberty’s Missouri Class 3 state championship overtime thriller. Groom finished with 52 goals and 23 assists on her way to becoming the two-time Missouri Gatorade player of the year, Missouri Class 3 player of the year and Suburban Gold Conference offensive player of the year. She will play at Texas A&M.

Jaycie Johnson, Lee’s Summit West, sophomore. Johnson was a revelation for the LS West Titans, 22-6. She scored 50 goals and added 15 assists — recording a point in all but four games this season. The Suburban Big 6 Conference player of the year, Johnson also made first team all-state.

Sydney Miramontez, Shawnee Mission West, sophomore. Selected as the Sunflower League player of the year, Miramontez was first-team all-state. She scored 23 goals for the Kansas Class 6A state runners-up.

SECOND TEAM: Kaitlyn Atkins, Olathe East, senior; Becca Ferguson, Piper, senior; Jessica Herrman, Raytown, junior; Ashley Licata, Lee’s Summit North, junior

HONORABLE MENTION: Camille Christie, Pembroke Hill, junior; Amanda Creason, Blue Valley Southwest, freshman; Yesinia Hernandez, Bonner Springs, junior; Anna Holden, Harrisonville, junior; Alex Massey, Kearney, senior; Erin Robinson, Smithville, senior; Bethany Smith, St. James Academy, senior; Addison Steiner, Shawnee Mission East, sophomore

MIDFIELD FIRST TEAM

Kaysie Clark, Liberty, senior. Described as Liberty’s “most technical player,” Clark posted 22 goals and 21 assists in helping the Blue Jays to their second consecutive Missouri Class 3 state title. Clark, a first team all-state selection, will continue her career at Missouri.

Molly Rappold, Shawnee Mission East, senior. Rappold helped the Lancers win the Sunflower League title as the midfield leader and captain. She had 11 goals and eight assists, winning first-team all-league and all-region honors for the third straight year and all-state for the second straight season. Signed with Nebraska.

Allie Stephenson, Lee’s Summit North, junior. The LS North Bronco captain led the team with 28 goals and 10 assists. Stephenson showed up in the biggest games — scoring against St. Thomas Aquinas in the penalty-kick shootout and in two regular-season victories over Liberty. Stephenson swept first-team honors in state, district and conference.

SECOND TEAM: Carly Cassidy, Shawnee Mission West, senior; Caroline Gray, St. Teresa’s Academy, senior; Nicky Alfonsin, St. Thomas Aquinas, senior

HONORABLE MENTION: Katie Sloan, Barstow, sophomore; Maggie Hair, Bishop Miege, senior; Ellie Chadick, Blue Valley Northwest, senior; Kaitlyn Clark, Liberty, freshman; Kayla Hamner, Mill Valley, sophomore; Lauren Sullivan, Staley, sophomore

DEFENDERS FIRST TEAM

Mary Boos, Notre Dame de Sion, senior. Boos, one half of Sion’s standout first-team defenders, was a key reason for the team’s 13 shutouts in 16 victories. Selected as the Missouri Western Region defensive player of the year, Boos also contributed three goals. She now looks forward to a career at Benedictine.

Haley Fritzlen, Notre Dame de Sion, senior. The Missouri Class 2 defender of the year captained Sion to an appearance in the state title match. Although she missed five games, Fritzlen anchored the back and produced eight goals and 11 assists. She was chosen the Missouri Western Region player of the year and will continue her career at Marquette.

Molly Khoury, St. Thomas Aquinas, senior. The East Kansas League defensive player of the year, Khoury played center back for a Saints defense that allowed only 12 goals in 21 games. Khoury was first-team all-state, all-region and all-league. Signed with Creighton.

SECOND TEAM: Madison Aiman, Blue Valley West, junior; Erin Bax, Barstow, senior; Shelby Schiraldi, Shawnee Mission West, senior

HONORABLE MENTION: Kaitlynn Barnes, Lee’s Summit West, freshman; Jordyn Beck, St. Thomas Aquinas, senior; Kristina Buchanan, Shawnee Mission Northwest, senior; Karson Kuhlmann, St. Teresa’s Academy, senior; Delaney Kiely, Liberty, junior; Sarah Todd, Blue Valley, senior

@ Go to KansasCity.com for other All-Metro teams and high school news.



Read more: http://varsity.kansascity.com/custom/article&news_id=5092#ixzz1RVov64o6

Saints Girls Soccer: Layers of Success
It's no real wonder, not really, that the winning formula for the vaunted St. Thomas Aquinas High School girls soccer program under Coach Craig Ewing actually does rhyme.

5A champ: Aquinas
Success and St. Thomas Aquinas soccer have become synonymous.



Five Things to Watch in Kansas State Soccer
3. Aquinas has been on a roll


Joseph Winslow leads Saint Thomas Aquinas to 5A golf title.
Joseph Winslow of Saint Thomas Aquinas had two thoughts in mind at the Class 5A state golf tournament: Be aggressive and make a lot of birdies. Mission accomplished.

Graduate eager to take the next step
Soccer standout, Molly Khoury, returns from near-death experience with life calling confirmed


Aquinas (boys tennis) wins 5A singles, team championships
Saint Thomas Aquinas boys tennis squad entered this year's Kansas 5A state tournament at McPherson High School on a mission. After finishing second last year, the Saints were determined to win their school's first boys team state tennis title.

EKL players sweep into 5A singles semis

The Kansas 5A boys tennis state tournament singles champion will come from the Kansas City area.

That much was assured Friday, the opening day of state competition at McPherson High School, where the top four seeds from last week’s Gardner Edgerton regional closed out the state semifinals.

Saints (tennis) are on the march to state
Led by Christian Boschert, Saint Thomas Aquinas eased to a regional title on Friday in Kansas 5A boys tennis action at Gardner Edgerton.


DaShawn Harden is the All-Metro Girls Basketball Player of the Year
DaShawn Harden already had the juice as one of the best players in the city.

She had started for the tradition-rich St. Thomas Aquinas Saints since her freshman season. The words “all state” had appeared next to her name. She even had state-championship game experience.

Aquinas’ Hetzel is The Star’s All-Metro Girls Basketball Coach of the Year


It’s hard to know which is more impressive: the fact that Saint Thomas Aquinas didn’t lose a game all season or that the Saints girls reached the Kansas state tournament for a record 17th straight time.

Saint Thomas Aquinas girls basketball win 5A STATE TITLE

TOPEKA | Saint Thomas Aquinas used a 9-0 run at the end of the third quarter in taking control of the game and captured its first 5A state girls basketball title with a 48-37 victory Saturday over East Kansas League rival Blue Valley.

McPherson over Saints boys 58-43

Saint Thomas Aquinas trailed only by three at 23-20 at halftime against top-seeded McPherson but was held scoreless for almost 4 minutes at the start of the second half.

The Bullpups, 23-1, had a 10-point lead at that point and went on to beat the Saints in the first boys semifinal game.

Saints (girls), Tigers to meet for title
It will be an all-East Kansas League final for the girls Class 5A state title.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, behind a strong second half, beat Topeka Shawnee Heights 50-31 in the second semifinal Friday and will take on Blue Valley in today’s championship game.

Aquinas (boys) wins at the buzzer

TOPEKA | Saint Thomas Aquinas senior Shane Nachbar didn’t want his season to end Thursday in the Kansas 5A quarterfinals.

Nachbar, a 5-foot-10 guard, drove the lane, banking in a layup at the buzzer as his Saints beat Andover Central 55-53 to advance to the semifinals today.

Aquinas (girls basketball) stay perfect
The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls basketball team is still undefeated, but it wasn’t easy against eighth-seeded Topeka Highland Park.

The Saints trailed at the start of the game but could never pull away from the Scots in a 61-53 win in the Class 5A state quarterfinals.

Saints Girls Soccer Opens 30th in the Country on ESPN
KC Metro area came out large in the opening ESPN Girls Soccer Rankings with Liberty, #1, Lee's Summit North, #12; Saints: #30 and Blue Valley West #42.

Aquinas girls stay perfect with 44-36 win over Gardner Edgerton

Nearly 20 minutes after the St. Thomas Aquinas girls’ 44-36 victory against Gardner Edgerton on Friday night, Saints coach Rick Hetzel stood nonchalantly in a corner of the Gardner Edgerton gym.

The Saints’ contingent had taken over this little sliver of rival hardwood, and as the home crowd honored Gardner Edgerton’s seniors, Hetzel took a few moments to recognize some veterans on his own roster.

Aquinas (boys basketball) edges Blue Valley in final minutes

Saint Thomas Aquinas missed five of six free throws in the last 33.3 seconds Friday but still edged Blue Valley 47-44 in an East Kansas League game at Aquinas.

The victory gave the Saints a sweep of the Tigers. Aquinas won the game at Blue Valley 39-37 on Jan. 4.

A Little Late, But ALL SUN Soccer Highlights Saints
Andrew Brown garnered yet another Defensive Player of the Year Award, but five Saints make first team and Coach Ewing gets the nod for Sun Coach of the Year.

Aquinas girls stay perfect with win over Miege

During this undefeated season for the Saint Thomas Aquinas girls basketball team, the Saints have faced their share of rough patches. Certainly on a night like Monday, when they faced fired-up rival Bishop Miege, the Saints would expect more challenging moments.

(Girls Basketball) capture tourney
Harden scores 30 points as the Aquinas girls win SM South championship.

(Boys basketball) beats Grandview in semifinal of Aquinas tournament

For Saint Thomas Aquinas coach Sean Reilly, the difference between the way his team played in a closely fought first half and the way it played to pull away after halftime was pretty simple.

Against an aggressive and speedy Grandview team intent on pressuring its opponents into mistakes, Aquinas started to spread the floor and quickly pass the ball around.

ALL METRO SOCCER FIRST TEAM Includes 3 Saints!
Seniors Thomas Schermoly and Kyle Whigham, junior Andrew Brown and sophomore Kyle Gress are recognized by the KC Star on its ALL METRO SOCCER TEAM.

Alyssa Bellinder ('06) wins NCAA's top honor for academics in cross country
http://www.kstatesports.com/sports/c-xc/spec-rel/112110aaa.html


Aquinas Defense Shines
•In Emporia, the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints continued the tradition by taking their 14th 5A boys soccer state championship.

Read more: http://varsity.kansascity.com/custom/article&news_id=4366&search=Aquinas#ixzz14sosp2L1

Still Stacking 'Em Up
This year’s incantation of the Saints will not exit with a pair of national championships in tow, as this storied program did following the 2009 season, but no matter.

St. Thomas Aquinas Takes 8th Straight Soccer Title
EMPORIA, Kan. | The soccer trophy case at St. Thomas Aquinas has become quite crowded over the last decade — and there’s no reason to believe it won’t continue to fill.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/06/2402039/st-thomas-aquinas-takes-eighth.html#ixzz14b9lSViP

State Cross Country Roundup
State Cross Country Round up


Five Things to Watch in Kansas Soccer

1 Another Kansas City sweep?

Saints Soccer Heads Back to the Final Four
St. Thomas Aquinas’ boys soccer team could not have been hotter entering its Kansas 5A state quarterfinal game against Bishop Miege on Tuesday.

Meet Saints Soccer Player Thomas Schermoly

There simply is no missing St. Thomas Aquinas senior forward Thomas Schermoly on the soccer pitch, and for reasons that extend well beyond his 6-4 height.

At the same time, this standout senior’s general height advantage is not a bad place to start.

STA rolls over the competition on way to the Kansas 5A golf title
Saint Thomas Aquinas played on a higher level than its competition in the Class 5A girls golf championship Monday. The team shot an astounding 303 at Willowbend Golf Club, a full 66 shots ahead of second place Bishop Carroll.

Chael leads Aquinas to regional title


Saints Cross Country sweeps all races in 5A/6A showdown in El Dorado.
http://www.catchitkansas.com/schools/cik-el-dorado-xc-invite-2010-cp,0,4695642.story


SLUH Downs National Power Aquinas in Finals
Junior Billikens win their bracket in the event ; O'Fallon falls 4-0 to Peoria Notre Dame in another title game

ESPN 2nd Day Coverage of Gateway Classic
Saints land two more on the Super 11 of the day: Kyle Whigham and Thomas Schermoly as Saints down undfeated Cherry Creek of Colorado.

Friends indeed: Aquinas' center and quarterback formed a mighty bond

Richard Davila, the starting quarterback for St. Thomas Aquinas, at birth weighed 9 pounds, 6 ounces — a healthy baby boy who would take his first wobbly steps nine months later.

Dennis James Lynn, Davila’s starting center this season and a good friend who has long played in front of him, weighed in at 7 pounds at birth — with two crooked legs and upside-down feet.

CBC Falls in the Opening Round of the Gateway Classic
TOWN AND COUNTRY • A showdown of returning state soccer champions Thursday evening did not go so well for the local squad.

ESPN Coverage of the First Day of Gateway Classic
ESPN names two Saints in the Super 11 of the first day of the Gateway Classic: Thomas Skevington and Andrew Brown.

Let's the Games Begin in Boys Soccer
Three significant boys’ soccer events play out over the next eight days, ones that could dramatically effect the POWERADE FAB 50 rankings.

High School Notebook: Aquinas Soccer
The boys soccer players at St. Thomas Aquinas High School have been there, done that when it comes to national rankings and playing in big games. But even the experienced Saints will be in awe tonight when they play in one of the Kansas City area’s biggest matches of the season.




Heady stuff: Sun takes capsule look at boys' soccer

Time was when state titles were the lasting measurement by which all high school boys soccer teams were defined.

Oh, and Sun Country has them, too, in reigning Class 5A state-champion St. Thomas Aquinas and reigning 4A-1A state-champion St. James Academy.

Fall High School Sports: A to Z
Saints get a couple of letters. "Q" and "N"

Air Force Academy - David Baska and Jake Morin Sign with Falcons
College Signings - Saint Thomas Aquinas Sends Two to Air Force Academy - February 2009

University of Nebraska - Kyler Reed - 2010 Outlook
2010 Outlook
Sophomore Kyler Reed is one of the most explosive athletes on the Nebraska roster and a key part of a talented group of tight ends. The 6-3, 230-pound Reed is one of five returning letterwinners at tight end. He adds an explosive receiving threat to the Nebraska offense and has the ability to create mismatches for opposing defenses

Northwestern University - Drake Dunsmore - PreSeason NFL WatchList
The 2010 Scouting Report: One of the top returning tight ends and one of the most dynamic multi-skill players in the Big Ten ... Named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list ... Tabbed a preseason second-team All-Big Ten tight end by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele's ... Possesses a terrific skill set: good route runner, great hands, excellent ball skills, and with his added strength and weight, a solid blocker ... Talented all-around athlete ... Sat out the 2010 spring season to rehab from shoulder/rib surgery ... Adds another dimension to NU's passing game

University of Notre Dame - Brian Smith Begins Senior Year
Notre Dame Career:  An emotional player for Irish who has started more games than any other player on Irish roster ... has played in 34 games at Notre Dame and started 24 contests ... has started all but two of last 26 games he has played ... started his career as outside linebacker in 3-4 defense and moved to inside linebacker as sophomore and junior ... moved back to outside linebacker during 2010 spring drills ... enters final year as active leader in career tackles on Irish roster with 150 ... has totaled 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, forced two fumbles and broken up two passes ... tallied two touchdowns in his career, returning interception against Boston College's Matt Ryan 25 yards for score as freshman and rumbled 35 yards for touchdown against Michigan in 2008 following fumble recovery.

Duke University - Nick Maggio Begins Senior Season
2010: Second string placekicker ... also offers depth at punter ... owns a great deal of experience ... enters final season having made 15-of-23 (.652) field goals and 50-of-50 (1.000) PATs for 95 career points ... Duke’s career leader in PAT percentage ... on the school’s career charts, ranks 10th in PATs made and tied for 11th in field goals made ... active streak of 50 consecutive successful PATs is tops among active kickers in the ACC and ranks third in school history behind Sims Lenhardt (62) and Randy Gardner (59) ... has appeared in 26 career games (21 starts) ... has four career punts for 106 yards (26.5 avg.) ... on the ACC’s lists for active players, ranks fourth in career PATs, ninth in career field goals and 10th in career points.


University of Nebraska - Lance Brandenburg - Career Highlights
2007 (Senior)
Lance Brandenburgh was a versatile member of Nebraska’s linebacking corps throughout his career, earning four letters while lining up at all three linebacker spots. The 6-1, 230-pound Brandenburgh played in 41 games during his Husker career, and while he started only six games, he was regarded as a first-teamer during his final three seasons.

Girls Cross Country starts the season ranked 1st in 5A, Boys ranked 2nd.
Kansas Coaches Association Pre-Season Poll

Girls:
1) St. Thomas Aquinas
2) Bishop Carroll
3) Gardner-Edgerton
4) Lansing
5) Newton
6) Kapaun Mt. Carmel
7) Great Bend
8) Hutchinson

Boys:
1) Bishop Carroll
2) St. Thomas Aquinas
3) Hutchinson
4) McPherson
5) Kapaun Mt. Carmel
6) Liberal
7) Newton
8) Mill Valley

Saints Soccer Starts the Season As ESPN's #15 Team

But there is good news.

All of the preseason uncertainty could lead to an exciting high school season, where the final No. 1 might be hiding much lower in the preseason rankings -- or even outside the POWERADE FAB 50 -- to start the year.

The next three and a half months of high school play will determine the final POWERADE FAB 50, but for now, here are the top projected teams from around the country.

Saints Land 2 of the 11 on the Pre-Season ESPN MIDWEST SOCCER TEAM
Seniors Kyle Whigham and Emilio Quezada both named to the ESPN Preseason ALL MiDWEST REGiON Team.

Alex Weitkamp and George Skevington honored as ALL SUN for Track and Field


Saints Boys Soccer Featured Friday, July 16 on Channel 9
Summer Camp shots with interviews of senior captains, Thomas Schermoly, Emilio Quezada and Kyle Whigham, along with Coach Ewing

America remains of two minds about soccer

Not since the 2008 presidential election has this country appeared so divided.

With the World Cup now down to the final six teams — and with Team USA not among them — many of America’s sports fans have gleefully changed the channel. Now can we stop pretending we care?

Nikki Fontana, First Team ALL METRO
Three Saints Girls' Soccer players received mention today on the KC Star ALL METRO SOCCER TEAM: The STAR named senior,  Nikki Fontana first team, senior,  Ashley Washburn, second team and freshman, Hannah Pyle, Honorable Mention.

Players from FAB 50 No. 1 teams predict World Cup winners, surprise teams
In my opinion, Spain has the most weapons and experience heading into the World Cup.  From Casillas to Torres, Spain's depth will prove to be a problem for many teams.

Saints Girls Soccer Finishes Back In the ESPN Top 50
Saint Thomas Aquinas Girls Soccer ends up #49 in the Country, #2 overall in Kansas!

Saints Girls Soccer Claims Aquinas 10th Girls Soccer Title
TOPEKA | The last seconds had finally ticked off the clock, and the bench had emptied into a celebratory mob, and now St. Thomas Aquinas was taking turns hoisting the state championship trophy on the sun-baked turf at Hummer Sports Park.

Saints Will Battle Kapaun's Crusaders in the Soccer State Final
A slow start doomed Salina Central in the Sate Soccer Semi-finals.

Saint Soccer Heads To Final Four For 7th Straight Year
With 5 second half goals, the Saints Girls Soccer team posted a State Quarter Final 6-0 victory over Bishop Miege. They will play Salina Central at 7:00 this Friday night at the Hummer Sports Complex in Topeka.

Cross Country Summer Conditioning begins Monday, May 31st.

Summer Conditioning 2010

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How Good Do You Really Want To Be?

 

When: Monday through Friday at 7:00 A.M. from May 31^st through August 13^th.

 

Where: Behind the gym on the east side of the building.

 

Why: So you can come together to build a base for the upcoming season. In order to reach your full potential as an individual and as a team you must put in the miles this summer.  If you want to see how good you can be, you need to get in shape first. Successful distance running is all about consistency!  

 

Physical: You need to have your physical turned in to the activities office by the first practice of the season (Aug. 17^th).  Ask your doctor to test for feretin levels. This is critical in distance runners, especially females!

 

Shoes: This is your main line of defense against injuries. Running shoes last anywhere from 300 to 500 miles. If you want to stay healthy you will need a pair for the summer and another pair for the season. 

 

Recruit: We want to continue to be one of the largest teams in Kansas.  Talk to your friends and invite them to join us and be a part of our tradition.

 

The Holistic Approach:  Character, nutrition, endurance, strength, flexibility, confidence, speed, rest, recovery, consistency and progression are all factors in being a successful athlete. Attend to as many as possible.

 

Even average teams run in the summer time.

The good teams run consistently.

Only the great teams run together consistently.

What type of team do you want have?

 

 

Why should you run cross country? 

Aquinas’ Boschert finishes second at 5A state tennis

EMPORIA, Kan. | Christian Boschert had all weekend to think about his semifinal match against Winfield senior Adam Lawrence at the Kansas 5A state boys tennis tournament at Emporia High School, which was postponed from Saturday morning to Monday afternoon because of rain.

Blue Valley West Tops Saint Thomas Aquinas
As the pass sliced through the defense and up the field into the clear, Blue Valley West senior Ashley Catrell found herself all alone charging toward St. Thomas Aquinas goalkeeper Maggie Harrison.



KC Star Female Athlete of the Week for April 9th
Amanda Nelson, right defender, girls' soccer for Saint Thomas Aquinas

Saints Overcome underdog Role in Mo-Kan
It is not often that the Saints Girls' Soccer Team heads into a game as an underdog!

Liberty ready to test No. 7 national ranking against St. Thomas Aquinas
The most "ballyhooed girls soccer team in Kansas City" takes one "of the most accomplished Saturday afternoon.

ESPN Rise National Soccer Game of the Week
The Mo-Kan Finals in Overland Park Ks at 3:00.

A to Z in High School Spring Sports
"H" is for high expectations for Saints Girls Soccer.

Andover Central girls beat Aquinas, claim 5A championship
It took until the last game of the season, the Kansas 5A girls state finals, for the Saint Thomas Aquinas girls to suffer their first loss to an in-state opponent.

It took 24 points from Andover Central star Tiffany Bias, one of the state’s top players, and second-half foul trouble for the Saints’ own standout, junior DaShawn Harden.

Girls Basketball State Semis: Aquinas 48-Topeka Seaman 32
Statistically speaking, Saint Thomas Aquinas junior DaShawn Harden wasn’t the same omnipresent force in the first half Thursday – four points on five shots – that she so often is for the Saints.

Girls Basketball: Saints 57-Miege 49
Will play for the state championship tomorrow at 4 pm vs #1 seed Andover Central

Andy Hurla, '06, & Jacob Nowak, '09, wrestling for NAIA titles
Ten members of the Baker University wrestling team competed at the NAIA Central Regional Championships in Oskaloosa, Iowa, at William Penn University Saturday.

“I thought we wrestled very well,” head coach Jimmy May said. “There were a lot of good performances.”

Chris Ronan ('92) makes a splash as The Flash for The Special Olympics.


Saints Claim Multiple Spots on ALL SUN Soccer Team
Meanwhile, we also welcome back a repeat honoree as our Defensive Player of the Year in St. Thomas Aquinas senior and Drake University commitment Sean Latz.

Aquinas girls take 1st game of the season against rival Bishop Miege
The gym was busy last night at Saint Thomas Aquinas. Both the Saints and the Stags, ranked in the top 5, were playing for first place in the EKL. The crowd was in it from the beginning as the Saints went ahead quickly 4-0 with baskets from Melanie Siscos and Katie Brown.

Aquinas batters Miege by 22 in top-five showdown
Not even the Saint Thomas Aquinas girls would have predicted how Monday night’s game unfolded against rival Bishop Miege.

The Saints, ranked second in The Star’s big-class girls poll, expected the usual nail-biting battle from the fourth-ranked Stags. But Aquinas rolled to a 55-33 victory at home for its ninth victory in a row.

Aquinas girls beat O’Hara in KA-MO Classic final
Twenty minutes after Saint Thomas Aquinas’ latest victory, a 46-36 win Friday night over O’Hara, Saints junior DaShawn Harden could still hear the voice of Aquinas coach Rick Hetzel in the back of her mind.

Sun Athlete of the Week: Michael Thomas of the San Jose Earthquakes
Michael Thomas, chosen by the San Jose Earthquakes with the third pick in the second round of the Jan. 14 Major League Soccer SuperDraft and the 19th pick overall, is The Sun’s Athlete of the Week.

Former Saint Michael Thomas Goes 19th Overall in the Draft
After a production freshman season at Notre Dame in 2006, Olathe native Michael Thomas realized he might be good enough one day to play soccer professionally.

Five Saints Earn Academic All-State Cross Country Honors
Academic All-State Cross Country Teams Announced


Sean Latz Named Metro Soccer Player of the Year for 2009
Sean Latz, Colby Martin, George Skevington, and Emilio Quezada receive All Metro recognition!

That Was One Fine '09
No. 1 national rankings, the continuation of some long state title runs, an end to some other long state title runs, a legendary area coach moving on ...

Washburn leads trio of Saints with KC Star All Metro Cross Country Honors
Ashley Washburn, Morgan Commodore and Libby Reazin honored by the Kansas City Star as All Metro cross country performers.


Saints Grad Michael Thomas Invited to MLS Camp
Saint Thomas Aquinas soccer grad and Notre Dame’s Michael Thomas is invited to MLS Camp.

KC Pipeline Fuels Drakes Success
Drake makes it to the final 8 in Men's Soccer, one win away from the Final Four. Two key members are Saint Thomas Aquinas grads Calvin Clark and Luke Gorczyca!

Aquinas Wraps Up Undefeated Season
The story of the 2009 St. Thomas Aquinas boys soccer team will surely be retold over the years for future classes of players, coach Craig Ewing says.
And what a story it is.

ESPN Declares Saints 2009 National Champs in Boys' Soccer
Speaking of national titles, St. Ignatius' loss allows St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.) to inherit the FAB 50 No. 1 ranking, a position it will not relinquish since the season is complete.

Junior Emilio Quezada is KC Star Athlete of the Week
The junior who scored both goals in the Saints Boys Soccer final against Bishop Miege nabs the award this week.

Emilio Quezada Sun Publications Athlete of the Week
Quezada, a junior midfielder, scored all three goals in the final weekend of the season for the Saints, who reeled off their seventh consecutive state championship victory Saturday with a 2-0 win over rival Bishop Miege at the Hummer Sports Park Soccer Complex in Topeka.

A few days later, Aquinas’ soccer state title is still sweet

On the heels of winning itsseventh straight state championship and completing its first undefeated seasonsince 1994, the St. Thomas Aquinas High School boys soccer team moved to No. 2in the ESPN Rise national rankings.

Aquinas Soccer Adds to Its Legacy

There was no prolific scorer.

There was no major college prospect.

Yet, most importantly, there was not a single loss.

Seven for the Stack

TOPEKA – Star power? Not so much. But staple power? You bet your latest state championship plaque.

And your stapler.

Saints Boys Soccer Moves To #2 In The Country
St. Ignatius (Ohio) is No. 1 heading into this week's state semifinals. Two wins will result in the program's second FAB 50 crown this decade. Anything less than that will result in St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.) being named FAB 50 champion for the first time.

Misenhelter, Saints make it three straight
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School golf standout Gianna Misenhelter saw her team’s veteran coach, Ryan Best, approaching as the senior got set to embark on the 17^th hole during Monday’s Class 5A girls state golf championship at Brookridge Country Club in Overland Park.

Misenhelter Captures State Title and Athlete of the Week


Aquinas’ Misenhelter wins her third straight state title in golf

Saint Thomas Aquinas senior Gianna Misenhelter spoke Monday evening of how she had wanted to leave a legacy — a reason to be remembered — after her four years in the Saints’ golf program.

The truth is, she had already accomplished that well before teeing off at Brookridge Golf & Country Club in her final varsity tournament. But Monday, she certainly cemented it.

St. Thomas Aquinas Soccer Team Finishes Perfect Season
TOPEKA | Before the St. Thomas Aquinas boys soccer team left for Topeka on Saturday morning, assistant coach Chuck Hammons led the players on a tour of the school’s gymnasium and pointed out the banners from past soccer seasons.

Aquinas Gets By Emporia and into the State Finals

TOPEKA | St. Thomas Aquinas coach Craig Ewing has seen enough soccer games over a long career to know that simply dominating possession and scoring opportunities isn’t always enough. Eventually, one of those chances has to go in.

Five Things To Watch For At State Soccer This Weekend
St. Thomas Aquinas has had its share of dominant teams, state championship teams and nationally ranked teams. But only once in program history — 1994 — have the Saints finished a season undefeated. 

Girls Cross Country runs for each other, wins state title together

Saints girls get repeat: All seven Aquinas girls place among top 26 at 5A state cross country meet

Written by Mark Dewar

Tuesday, 03 November 2009 23:00

LAWRENCE - Anyone with a soft spot for storybook endings could not help but be pulled in immediately by those numbers, the ones surrounding Ashley Washburn’s final trip to Saturday’s Class 5A state cross country meet at Rim Rock Farm. Edmee Rodriguez/Sun photo CRUCIAL STEPS: St. Thomas Aquinas High School senior Ashley Washburn (308) pushes hard during the Class 5A girls state cross country championships Saturday at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence. Led by Washburn’s third-place finish individually, the Saints captured their third state team championship in the space of four seasons. The Saints senior, after all, had placed second individually at state in each of her first three high school seasons and captured her regional four straight years. But by the same token, there is a reason why her Washburn-led Saints teams have captured state titles in 2006, 2008 … and now, 2009. That reason? Runners teamwide who sport, if not the talent of a Washburn, certainly the selflessness and drive necessary to perform at one’s peak while appreciating the bigger picture that is this team’s pursuit. Easy to pay lip service, harder to do. No, Washburn did not get first – she would finish third Saturday – but in so doing, know that it took somewhere between a second and nanosecond for the senior to switch gears from any individual aspirations to things Aquinas. “It (hopes for an individual crown) got away in the first mile,” Washburn offered candidly. “But I knew that even though I wasn’t going to get first, I knew that I had to stay in it for the team and get the best place I could to help out our team score. That’s all I was trying to do.” Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel’s MacKenzie Maki successfully defended her individual crown. The junior won the four-kilometer race in 15:01.52. Washburn finished third in 16:09.88. But now, back to the full puzzle, of which Washburn represented the Saints’ most critical piece. She led her seven-member team with her third-place finish in a race where all seven Saints who competed cracked the top 26 and three – Washburn, senior Morgan Commodore (seventh) and freshman Libby Reazin (10th) – the top 10 individually. All five scoring runners toward the team score proved among the top 17 finishers. So good were the collective Saints, who won over runner-up Wichita Bishop Carroll 44 to 54, that afterward Aquinas coach Justin Wrigley marveled over the Bishop Carroll score. “If you score 54 points like Bishop Carroll did, you should win the state meet,” Wrigley said. “I’m thrilled for our girls, but my hat is off to Bishop Carroll. That was an unbelievable race, and I don’t know if you get to see too many races that are that close with scores that low. It’s rare.” As for his own team, “There is a real competitive nature about this team,” Wrigley noted, “that really drives them.” The Saints’ Commodore agreed. “I think what’s made us stronger than anything is that ... everyone on this team could have been here running. “We had about 20 girls, that were fighting for seven spots, and we owe it all to the rest of the team. I don’t think any of us would want to take credit. I can’t talk enough about how much none of us wanted it for ourselves. We want it for each other. So when it comes down to it, it’s about doing it for each other more than anything.” Those team thoughts began with Washburn, noted Commodore, who saved perhaps the highest compliment one can bestow upon her classmate and top Saints running mate. “She’s never acted like a frontrunner,” Commodore said of Washburn. “People would not know that unless they actually looked at her times.”

Aquinas Soccer Spurns Upset Bid
OVERLAND PARK -- There wasn't much celebrating or even a lot of smiles on the T-Birds faces as they jogged off for halftime Tuesday night.

Washburn leads Saints to repeat victory in cross country

Senior’s hopes dashed, but she leads Saints to 5A championship

St. Thomas Aquinas senior Ashley Washburn had high hopes entering the Kansas 5A state cross country meet last Saturday at Rim Rock Farm near Lawrence.

After finishing second at state the last two years, it’s hard to blame her. She also was realistic, however, because Kapaun Mount Carmel’s MacKenzie Maki, who had finished ahead of her last season, was back. In addition, Kaelyn Balch of Bishop Carroll had been challenging Maki all season.

“I knew it would be tough,” Washburn said. “I was just hoping for the best and not doubting myself.”

Turns out Maki and Balch finished 1-2. But Washburn, who took third, was just fine with the final result, considering the Saints won the team competition with a score of 44.

“The most important thing for everyone here was to win state as a team, which is what we did,” Washburn said. “I would take that over winning it individually.”

The Saints had five other girls finish in the top 20. Senior Morgan Commodore (seventh), freshman Libby Reazin (10th), senior Meagan Wilderson (11th) and freshman Jennifer Angles (17th) all medaled. Junior Betsy Donahue (25th) and senior Amanda Pigott (26th) also ran for the Saints.

submitted by TEREZ A. PAYLOR - 2009-11-03 13:59:02

Saints Soccer Stays in National Title Hunt
It's now crunch time for the top four-ranked teams in this week's ESPN RISE FAB 50.

Girls Cross Country Wins 2nd Consecutive State Title


State Cross Country Preview

Five things to watch: Kansas state cross country

1 Washburn, Saints aim to lead way in 5A

St. Thomas Aquinas senior Ashley Washburn has been the 5A state runner-up each of the last three years, and — coming off her fourth straight regional championship — she will chase that elusive state title at Rim Rock Farm near Lawrence. Saints coach Justin Wrigley said Washburn’s main focus, though, is to lead Aquinas to another team championship. In 2006 and 2008, Aquinas swept the 5A boys and girls state titles. Both Saints’ squads convincingly won their regional meets last week and should be top contenders on Saturday.

2 Wedge seeks to lead Lawrence to another 6A title

Lawrence senior Roy Wedge has turned in quite a season, winning Sunflower League and regional championships — among other highlights. Last season, he finished second at the 6A state meet — less than a second out of the lead — and he should be considered a favorite Saturday at Rim Rock Farm. More important to him is what the team does. Last year, the Lawrence boys ended Shawnee Mission Northwest’s run of 14 consecutive state titles and won their first state championship. This year, the Lions can’t sneak up on anybody. Lawrence’s Joseph Springer and Calvin Morgan also return after top-20 state finishes last year.

3 Seasoned Hawks girls seek second state crown

Olathe East’s girls team hasn’t finished worse than fifth at the 6A state cross country meet in the last six seasons, an impressive feat, but the Hawks’ deep and seasoned group would love to add the program’s second 6A crown. Senior Darci Miller, whose sister Amanda was a standout for Olathe East’s 2006 state champs, is part of an experienced group that includes three former state medalists. Miller finished 13th as a freshman and sixth as a sophomore. The Ellis sisters, senior Brenda and sophomore Brooklyn, placed 19th and eighth, respectively, at state last year. Despite all that experience, it’s freshman Brenna McDannold leading the charge.

4 SM Northwest teammates push each other to state

When it comes to Shawnee Mission Northwest cross country, the boys’ program gets most of the attention, thanks to a streak of 14 straight state titles (snapped last year). But two SM Northwest girls have stolen a share of the spotlight this season. Senior teammates and offseason training partners Lisa Imgrund and Christine Nelson placed first and second, respectively, at the Sunflower League and 6A regional meets. Imgrund was the top local 6A state finisher last year, placing fourth.

5 Kansas City area is well-represented

The Kansas City area boasts several top contenders in 6A and 5A, but keep an eye on these teams and individuals in the small-class state meets at Wamego Country Club: St. James Academy’s Bridgette McCormick won her regional meet and will try to contend in 4A. De Soto’s boys and girls teams (both top five at state last year) each advanced. The Kansas City Christian boys and girls both won their regional meets and will compete at 3A state. The reigning 2A state girls champion, Maranatha Academy, will try to defend its state title.

Saints Cross Country Dominates Regional Meet

Washburn’s quest

by Ryan Young, KC Star

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St. Thomas Aquinas senior Ashley Washburn is a three-time runner-up at the 5A state cross country meet, and she’ll try one more time Saturday for that elusive state championship.

Though, Saints coach Justin Wrigley says that isn’t necessarily what is driving Washburn in her final varsity race.

“We haven’t talked a whole lot about individual honors with her or anybody. We talk about each person doing the best they can … to help the team,” he said. “That’s really been Ashley’s focus. … As a three-time runner up, you’d think it would be all about getting the individual title. But she just wants to help the team win, and I really respect that.”

The Aquinas girls, looking to repeat as 5A state champs, were especially impressive in regional competition Saturday at Wyandotte County Park. Washburn won in a 4K time of 15:27.36, while Libby Reazin (second), Meagan Wilderson (third), Jennifer Angles (fourth), Morgan Commodore (fifth), Amanda Pigott (sixth) and Betsy Donahue (seventh) completed a sweep of the top spots for the Saints.

The Aquinas boys also won their regional and will look to defend their 5A state title from last year. Senior Andrew Hanson led the Saints with a second-place finish at regionals (17:05.26).

Saint Thomas Aquinas Boys Soccer Holds on to #3 in ESPN National Poll
Emilio Quezada, George Skevington and Mike Hermansen scored goals as St. Thomas Aquinas capped a perfect regular season with a 3-1 victory over Blue Valley West.

State Cross Country and Spirit Bus Information


Aquinas captures 5A tennis title

Saint Thomas Aquinas coach Amy Person wanted to sit back and enjoy the Kansas 5A state tournament singles final Saturday between her senior Nicole Jara and sophomore Natalie Looney.

Some intense moments during the match kept that from happening. But that intensity also helped the Saints win their second consecutive 5A title.

Big Win for Aquinas Soccer, But More to Come
St. Thomas Aquinas coach Craig Ewing says this is the toughest schedule his boy soccer program has ever played – and, yet, the Saints enter the final week of the regular season still undefeated.

Showdown at the Slip N' Slide
Geoffrey Calvert blogs some on his interesting time at the Washburn Rural/Aquinas Match.

Saints Nip Washburn Rural 1-0

Battle of unbeaten Kansas powers comes down to one play

Aquinas beats Miege in four games to win EKL volleyball title

Memories of the last time the Saint Thomas Aquinas volleyball team played host to Bishop Miege on Senior Night danced in the heads of Kelsey Sullivan, Megan Baska and Liz Gohde during the build-up to Tuesday’s showdown between the top two teams in Kansas 5A.

It hadn’t ended well for the Saints, who are currently ranked No. 2 behind Miege by the Kansas Volleyball Association.

Aquinas girls golf coasts through regional


STATE'S TOP SOCCER TEAMS CLASH
It doesn't get any bigger than Tuesday's Washburn Rural-Aquinas boys soccer match ... in the regular season anyway.

Saint Soccer Eyes Undefeated Season

St. Thomas aquinas has won six consecutive boys soccer state championships and has been the state’s premier program for many years.

But not since 1994 — and only that year — have the Saints finished a season undefeated, coach Craig Ewing said.

Sun's Athlete of the Week: Colby Martin
St. Thomas Aquinas High School senior soccer goalkeeper Colby Martin is The Sun’s Athlete of the Week.

Aquinas Finds Winning Touch in ESPN Rise Final
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- A few seconds of brilliance led St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.) to its third tournament title this fall and keeps the boys' team very much in the national title chase.

Thomas Schermoly, Finalist for National Soccer Player of the Week
Thomas Schermoly, St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.): Schermoly became the first person to score twice against a stingy Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.) defense in more than a year when he netted a pair of goals in the Saints' 3-2 victory. Rockhurst was riding a 21-match shutout streak until that result.

Saints Soccer Moves To 7th Nationally in ESPN Poll
Thomas Schermoly scored twice as St. Thomas Aquinas defeated defending Missouri large-school champion and FAB 50-ranked Rockhurst 3-2. Aquinas' ranking will be put to the test this week at the Gateway City Soccer Classic. The Saints open tournament play against FAB 50-ranked St. John the Baptist (N.Y.). A rematch with Rockhurst could be possible on Saturday.

Senior Misenhelter leads Aquinas to victory at Lawrence Invitational
LAWRENCE | While most of her peers were sitting in class Thursday, St. Thomas Aquinas senior Gianna Misenhelter was dancing on the 17th fairway of the Alvamar Golf Course during the Lawrence Invitational, also the second round of the Eastern Kansas League tournament.

Saints First To Score On and Defeat Rockhurst in 23 Matches
St. Thomas Aquinas accomplished something that no other soccer team has done in almost a year — it defeated and scored on Rockhurst.

Michael Thomas, 06, is a candidate for the Men's Soccer Senior CLASS Award


(Overland Park, KS) – Sixty NCAA® men’s and women’s soccer student-athletes who excel both on and off the field were tabbed as candidates today for the 2009 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the two soccer divisions. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – classroom, character, community and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release.

cont'd

Saint Soccer Stays Unbeaten
The St. Thomas Aquinas boys soccer team returned the bulk of its starting lineup after winning the Kansas 5A state championship last season and opened the season with a nifty No. 18 national ranking, according to ESPN RISE.

Aquinas senior Gianna Misenhelter play in Walmart First Tee Open

9/4 - SENIOR GIANNA MISENHELTER BEGAN HER DAY PRESENTING MR. TOM WATSON WITH A BIRTHDAY CAKE AT THE WALMART- FIRST TEE OPEN!  PLAYING THE DEL MONTE COURSE 9/4 AND PEBBLE BEACH 9/5, AND BEING PAIRED WITH TOM WATSON, SHE IS REPRESENTING ST. THOMAS AQUINAS AND THE GREATER KANSAS CITY FIRST TEE PROGRAM WITH PRIDE! 
LIVE SCORING http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s616/

Megan Baska commits to Arkansas State
Senior libero Megan Baska commits to Arkansas State University.  Congratulations to Megan and her family.

Saints Boys Soccer Opens 18th in the US for ESPN!
Like Germantown Academy, Aquinas also plays an important part in the FAB 50 rankings every year. The team's schedule includes set contests against teams from three states. Its play in the Gateway Classic will help shape the FAB 50 rankings. Aquinas returns 14 players from last year's 17-win squad, led by Drake commit Sean Latz.

Girls Cross Country earns pre-season accolades
Girls cross country starts the season ranked #1 by MileSplit Kansas.

Link to Kansas Runners Website



Aquinas Volleyball Girls Receive Honors
Congrats to Sophomore Megan Spencer for being selected to the AAU all tournament team and to Sophomore Abby Hill for being selected to the national all tournament team.

Margaret Clark commits to Auburn University
Setter/Hitter Margaret Clark commits to the Tigers of Auburn University!! Congratulations to Margaret and her family.

Saints Ashley Washburn Named First Team Girls Soccer ALL METRO
Saints junior Ashley Washburn is first team KC STAR ALL METRO; senior defender Katie Allin and senior goalkeeper, Kelsey Butler are second team with sophomore, Nikki Alfonsin named as Honorable Mention.

Saints Ashley Washburn finishes 5th in All American Voting
Blue Valley West senior, Jordan Jackson, is named by the NSCAAA as the All American for Kansas for 2009.

Aquinas’ Winslow wins Kansas 5A state golf tournament
EMPORIA, Kan. | Saint Thomas Aquinas sophomore Joe Winslow looked on as Andover Central senior Alex Carney pumped his fist for the cheering crowd.

Carney had just made a 105-foot chip shot for eagle on the 17th hole of the Kansas 5A state golf tournament on Tuesday, and although Winslow went on to par the hole and maintain his hold on first place, that shot vaulted Carney into second and put him only 1 stroke behind Winslow.

Aquinas clinches East Kansas League softball title

The Kansas Class 5A defending state champions pushed their winning streak to 10 games with 8-1 and 9-1 victories over Blue Valley West, the defending East Kansas League champions, on Monday. However, the wins took on even more significance because the Saints clinched the EKL crown with a perfect 10-0 league record. 
The Kansas City Star
submitted by TEREZ A. PAYLOR

STA Softball Wraps Up League Title
HOVPEN.COM (RIVALS.COM)
May 12, 2009

The Saints softball team celebrated Senior Night on Monday with a convincing double header sweep of EKL rival Blue Valley West. 

Kelsey Sullivan commits to Pitt State
Middle hitter Kelsey Sullivan commits to the Gorillas of Pittsburg State University!!  Congratulations to Kelsey and her family.......

JOHNSON COUNTY SPRING SPORTS NOTEBOOK

Saints off and running

St. Thomas Aquinas’ softball team has started its title defense on a positive note.

The Saints, Class 5A defending state champions, were 6-0 entering the Saints Classic on Friday. However, coach Christine Orel says their 1-0 and 4-2 victories against BV Northwest on April 15 were the toughest wins they’ve had during this young season.

“In the first game, BV Northwest had a lot of big hits but junior pitcher Kellie White was able to get out of some innings without letting them cross the plate,” Orel said. “In the second game, the two runs they got were unearned, but we were able to come away with the win.”

Orel says a big reason for the fast start has been the combination of solid pitching and hitting. White and junior Katelyn Nill have teamed up to form a solid duo on the mound, while senior outfielder Janessa Swinney was hitting .444 and junior outfielder Andrea Piezuch was hitting .435 through six games.

Now, Orel hopes the team used the Saints Classic — they played four games in one day on Friday — as springboard toward success in East Kansas League play, which heats up next week for the Saints with games against Blue Valley North and Blue Valley.

“Our tournament is always a good test for our team, endurance-wise,” Orel said. “It’s a good measuring stick for the rest of the season.”

Saints Softball Pitcher, Kellie White is SUN Athlete of the Week
St. Thomas Aquinas High School softball pitcher Kellie White is The Sun’s Athlete of the Week.

Kansas Softball Team Previews
By Terez Paylor
The Kansas City Star

Saint Thomas Aquinas
The defending 5A state champions are back, and they've got plenty of ammunition to make another run at a title.

Saints trio highlights Eastern All-Star team for Shrine Bowl 5k.
A trio of Saints, PJ Greer, Kyle Hanson and Ben Grace, highlight the Eastern All Star team for the July 25th Kansas Shrine Bowl 5k event.  Story

Girls Tennis All Sun Teams


Two Saints girls honored on "All Sun Country" Cross Country Team


Three Saints boys honored on "All Sun Country" Cross Country Team


Curtain call
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School junior Gianna Misenhelter merely continued her rise along the Sun Country prep girls continuum in the 2008 campaign, leaving even those closest to her game to marvel at its progress.

Misenhelter wins Kenneth Smith golf award
Saint Thomas Aquinas golfer Gianna Misenhelter has won two Kansas state titles. She’s won three East Kansas League and three regional championships.

And on Monday, she received another accolade — this one, a first.

Greater KC Cross Country Coaches Association to honor All-Metro Team
This Sunday, at Raytown South High School, the Greater Kansas City Cross Country Coaches Association will honor the 2008 All-Metro teams at their annual banquet.  Dinner starts and 6:00 PM and is followed with the awards presentation.


State Cross Country recap
From the Sun Newspaper

BOYS & GIRLS WIN CROSS COUNTRY STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS


Bishop Miege beats Aquinas, wins 5A state volleyball title
TOPEKA | Bishop Miege coach Gwenn Pike insists that this year’s team is no more talented than the ones that lost to Saint Thomas Aquinas in the 5A state championship the past two seasons.

Miege bullied Aquinas 25-17, 25-13 to win the state championship Saturday at the Kansas Expocentre and end two straight years of heartbreak.

Volleyball wins, goes to state semifinals
Saint Thomas Aquinas and Bishop Miege again established themselves as the class of the 5A state tournament.

Girl's Got Game - 4th consecutive All- Academic Team
NFCA Announces girls got game Team Academic Awards
09/29/08 - NFCA Release

Complete listing of 2008 girls got game Top-Ten All-Academic Teams

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is pleased to announce the girls got game Top Ten All-Academic Teams, based on GPAs submitted for the 2007-2008 school year. Through this program, the NFCA honors high school and collegiate softball teams for their success in the classroom.

Saint Thomas Aquinas was 2nd highest team overall (non-weighted GPA) and the top Kansas Team.

MISENHELTER WINS TITLE, LEADS AQUINAS TO 5A STATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

SALINA, Kan. | Once the ball landed safely in the fairway, Saint Thomas Aquinas junior Gianna Misenhelter turned around and smiled as her teammates cheered. She knew she had just won her second straight state championship.

Yes, it was only her second shot on the 18th hole of the Kansas 5A golf tournament Monday at Salina Municipal Golf Course. And yes, you could argue that she knew she had it won heading into the hole, when she held a 3-stroke lead over Salina South senior Hannah Martin.

AQUINAS SWEEPS 5A TENNIS TITLES

EMPORIA, Kan. | The former doubles state champion suddenly cast as a solo act. The senior and freshman duo, friends for years, who would have only this one varsity season to play together.

The coach who returned after the birth of her baby in late August, because she didn’t want to miss this. And the rest of the team members who made it this far, aligned in the same pursuit.

Aquinas’ gamble puts it in the hunt for a state tennis title

EMPORIA, Kan. | The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls had a Kansas 5A state doubles champion last year. This season, the Saints want an overall team championship.

So Aquinas coach Amy Person plotted the squad’s postseason strategy with that mind, and that meant taking a risk: splitting up that reigning state champion doubles tandem to boost the Saints’ singles lineup.

Gianna Misenhelter named KC Star Golfer of the Week
GOLFER OF WEEK
•Gianna Misenhelter, Saint Thomas Aquinas, junior: Misenhelter won the East Kansas League championship and her regional tournament with a 5-under 66 at Overland Park Golf Course.

Aquinas tennis makes some changes and successfully defends its reg title
Nicole Jara admits her opportunity to win a state title in singles has come sooner than even she expected.

But at practice Wednesday, Saints co-coaches Amy Person and David Shriver dropped a bombshell on the team. In an effort to gain more points at state, they decided to split up Jara and Brouwer de Koning and put them in singles for Thursday’s regional at Gardner Edgerton.

Ashley Washburn named KC Star's Runner of the Week
The Saints pulled off their best performance of the season at the KC Metro Championships this weekend led by Ashley Washburn and PJ Greer...

Greer leads the way at Rim Rock
The Saints boy's cross country team ran well at the Rim Rock Classic thanks to the big help they got up front from Seniors PJ Greer and Kyle Hanson who both finished in the top ten of the highly competitive gold division.

Aquinas golf takes team title at Lawrence Invitational

LAWRENCE | Blue Valley West golfer Whitney Pyle was frustrated with the way her senior season had started. Her scores were up. Her short game was off.

But after 18 holes on Thursday, she’s very much back on track.

Pyle shot a 1-over-par 73 to win the Lawrence High School Invitational at Alvamar Golf Course, while St. Thomas Aquinas won the team competition with a score of 332.

Saints stand out at one of the nation's largest cross country meets.
Amid timing and scoring errors, the Saints cross country teams stood out at the Southern Stampede in Joplin Missouri this weekend. The Stampede has grown into one of the largest and most competitive meets in the nation with close to 50 schools and over 500 athletes in the division I races. Both squads held their own with many of the finest teams in the midwest, south and heartland states.

Misenhelter leads Aquinas to the Mo-Kan Golf Invitational title
Gianna Misenhelter had a simple goal heading into the Mo-Kan Golf Invitational on Monday.

All Misenhelter, a Saint Thomas Aquinas golfer, wanted to do was improve her score from last year. She did just that, shooting a 7-over-par 79 and winning the individual title at the tournament at Blue Hills Country Club.

Good week for Saints volleyball
All things considered, it was a pretty good week for Saint Thomas Aquinas' volleyball team.

The Saints, who return only three varsity players from last year's state championship team, beat Blue Valley West - last year's 6A state runners-up - twice and made it to the semifinals of the super-competitive Mo-Kan Invitational on Saturday at Lee's Summit West.

Sam Conde shines as both marching band drum major and cross country captain
Sam Conde shines as both marching band drum major and cross country captain.

Boys Cross Country Ranked 6th in Heartland Region
Prior to this season, the highest the Saints have ever been ranked is 10th. This is only the 3rd time the Saints have ever made the top ten and the first time they have stayed in for two consecutive weeks.



Area schools well-represented on 5A all-state softball teams

First-team pitcher Kellie White led Aquinas to the state title, pitching every inning of the Saints' state-tournament games and surrendering just one run in the process.  Teammates joining White on the first team are catcher Maegan Mathiasmeier and outfielder Janessa Swinney. Outfielder Molly Macan made the second team.

Aquinas scores late to wear the 5A softball crown
St. Thomas Aquinas softball coach Chris Orel stood there, soaking wet.  Just moments after the Saints’ 3-0 victory over Bishop Carroll in the Kansas 5A state championship softball game Saturday, Orel had been the recipient of an ice water bath.   “I was so emotionally drained at that point that I couldn’t even stand to run away from them,” Orel said, laughing. “So I decided to stand there and take it like a good sport.”

Saints conquer 5A state softball
St. Thomas Aquinas scored three runs in the top of the seventh and went on to defeat Wichita Carroll 3-0 in the championship game of the Class 5A state softball tournament Saturday in Wichita.


AQUINAS FRESHMAN, TEAM WIN 5A STATE GOLF TITLE

It sure didn’t take long for St. Thomas Aquinas’ Joe Winslow to establish himself as one of the top varsity golfers in the state.

Only a freshman, Winslow won the 5A state golf championship Monday with a 2-under-par 68 at Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson, while leading the Saints to their second consecutive 5A team championship.

Softball: Errors Salina South's undoing in opener against Aquinas
Aquinas had no errors and sterling play from shortstop Ellen Drummond and Ashley Dobbie at third.  "That shortstop had a day," Waldman said. "She was very good. They came out and were loose and we seemed a little timid."

Blue Valley, Aquinas gear for state softball
This will mark the ninth trip to state in this, the 20th year for the school at its present location in Overland Park. The Saints won the 5A state championship in 1997.


5A State Softball
HOVPEN.RIVALS.COM
...  The best matchup of the day will be the final game which puts Sarah Wedel from Salina South on the mound against a Saint Thomas Aquinas team that simply mashes the ball. STA will more than likely put sophomore Kellie White on the mound. Megan Mathismeir and Cayce Jaquinot will be a pair to pitch around for South to advance as either, with one swing of the bat, can change the outcome of a game.

Mathiasmeier Named Sun Athlete of the week
Saint Thomas Aquinas senior softball catcher Maegan Mathiasmeier named Sun Athlete of the Week.

Allison Mayfield selected The Star’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year


The kitchen table in Allison Mayfield’s Overland Park home is, for the time being, covered with ceramic tiles, bowls and other such designs Wednesday afternoon.

The clay creations have come from atop shelves, from her bedroom and the other areas they normally adorn. They come from as far back as the sixth grade and as recently as this week.

Former Saint Highlighted at Iowa State
AMES, Iowa - This week's featured student-athlete is Courtney Wray, a sophomore from Overland Park, Kan. Wray is second on the team with a .368 average and is two hits shy of 100 for her career.

Saints Softball Sweeps Crusaders
4/15/08
Rivals.com - Hovpen Sports.com
One team each from the Kansas City and Wichita area squared off Monday afternoon at Two Rivers Youth Complex in Wichita on the small diamond with Saint Thomas Aquinas junior catcher / DH Cayce Jacquinot ripping a pair of home runs in the twin bill helping her team to the win. The bombs were her third and fourth in as many games having hit two against Emporia last DH.

2008 Johnson County high school softball previews
•ST. THOMAS AQUINAS:
Senior catcher Maegan Mathiasmeier and senior center fielder Molly Macan will be counted on to lead a team that went 14-6 last year. Coach Christine Orel is expecting a little more production from her lineup, which she says has some speed.

KC duo ending time at K-State on a high note


Kansas State senior Carolyn McCullough is making her first career start in the NCAA Tournament.

Every March, basketball careers that started in childhood come to an end. Kansas State seniors Carolyn McCullough and Shana Wheeler know that will be the case for them this spring.

They just hope to make their time on the court last a little longer.

Henes triumphs
Saint Thomas Aquinas senior Phillip Henes’ typical mindset was tested a little bit in the 5A 140-pound state finals Saturday in Hutchinson.

“I try to go into every match knowing I’m going to win,” Henes said.

(Aquinas alum) McCullough made the most of opportunities

Odds are Carolyn McCullough will never take that game-winning shot or even be on the court when somebody else does.

She barely makes a dent in the box score some nights, but that's OK according to the K-State senior forward who will be playing in one of her last home games as a Wildcat today when the women host Nebraska at 7 p.m.

Aquinas’ Henes wins 140-pound state title
Saint Thomas Aquinas senior Phillip Henes had lost to Gardner Edgerton rival Aldon Isenberg three times already this season. He had lost to Isenberg in the state finals last year, as well.

Wrestling - Make it four in a row

The Saints won the East Kansas League championships for the fourth consecutive year on Saturday, winning all five of their duals in convincing fashion. Aquinas had five wrestlers win their weight class: Phillip Henes at 140 pounds, Tom Greer at 145, Eric Nachbar at 160, E.J. Walter at 215 and Jacob Nowak at 285.

Aquinas coach Lorne Parks knows his team will need an even better effort if the Saints hope to win their regional on Saturday at Mill Valley because Gardner Edgerton, which has beat the Saints multiple times this season, will be there.

Johnson County wrestling notebook
Just one week after finishing second at the Blue Valley Northwest Husky Invitational, Saint Thomas Aquinas found itself at the top of the leader board once again on Saturday.

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Saint wins in return
Saint Thomas Aquinas senior Connor McCarthy found himself in a familiar position at the Blue Valley Northwest Husky Invitational on Saturday.

Aquinas wrestlers step up
While wrestlers at other schools are simply worried about trying to get better, Saint Thomas Aquinas coach Lorne Parks said his team is trying to do that and get healthy at the same time.

Three Saints on the All-EKL Volleyball Team

2007 all-league volleyball teams

Saints wrestling team is center of bull’s eye
It’s a new season, but the Saint Thomas Aquinas wrestling team entered the Johnson County Classic in a familiar position — with a big, red bull’s- eye on its back.

“If you want to call it a target or whatever, we know it’s there,” said Saints coach Lorne Parks, whose team went undefeated on the way to a 5A state championship last season.

3 Saints make All-Metro Tennis teams


AnneMarie Slaven makes Second Team All-Metro golf team


Aquinas golfer Misenhelter wins The Star’s All-Metro award
There is a trophy case Saint Thomas Aquinas golfer Gianna Misenhelter keeps in her bedroom to store medals, trophies and other golf-related awards. It is, however, full.

So there are three rows of shelves her father built to accommodate the overflow. Those, however, are full, too.

“We have some (trophies) in the basement,” Misenhelter said, explaining what has become a rather welcomed dilemma.

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Five STA golfers make 2007 All-Sun Girls Golf teams
Player of the Year: Gianna Misenhelter
Coach of the Year: Ryan Best

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Saints' Misenhelter grabs top honor
Gianna Misenhelter has been floating on cloud nine ever since capturing medalist honors at the Class 6A-5A state girls golf tournament in October.

“I have gotten so much out of it,” the Saint Thomas Aquinas High School sophomore said. “A lot of people in the golf world have congratulated me. A lot of people know about me winning state.”

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The Fantastic Four

In a pivotal scene in the movie “Hoosiers,” Gene Hackman’s character, Coach Normal Dale, tells his players what competition is really about.

“If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be,” he says, “I don’t care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game. In my book, we’re gonna be winners.”

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Split Decisions
A fourth straight win over rival Saint Thomas Aquinas proved to be too much for East Kansas League champion Bishop Miege in the championship match of the Class 5A state volleyball tournament Saturday morning at the Kansas Expocentre.

Saint Thomas Aquinas won the fourth meeting between the two schools in the match that matters most – the state championship match.

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SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS WINS THE 5A STATE VOLLEYBALL TITLE


It’s one thing to beat a team in the state championship match after losing to it all season long.

But doing it two years in a row? You almost couldn’t make that up.

However, that’s exactly what St. Thomas Aquinas did when it fended off a determined Bishop Miege team 2-0 (25-22, 25-22) in the Kansas 5A championship match on Saturday at the Kansas Expocentre.

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Saint Thomas Aquinas, Bishop Miege advance to 5A semifinals
Friday’s showdown between St. Thomas Aquinas and Bishop Miege was exactly what a rivalry match should be — bitter, emotional, and most of all, competitive.

Although it was the final pool-play match of the 5A state tournament for both teams, there wasn’t much on the line. Both teams had already rolled through their pool-play bracket and locked up spots in today’s semifinals.

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For volleyball coach, MS is part of the plan

Brian Schenck sits on the end of the Saint Thomas Aquinas bench, hands together, trying to keep his composure.

It’s a late September night, and his Saints volleyball team trails rival Bishop Miege 13-5 in the first set. Schenck, who shares the Saints’ head coaching duties with Kim Bogart, is starting to get upset.

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Volleyball - Saints improve to 33-2
The Saint Thomas Aquinas volleyball team continued its march toward the state tournament, going 5-0 in the super-competitive Saints Invitational on Saturday and beating Park Hill south and Olathe South in a triangular on Tuesday.

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AQUINAS TAKES GIRLS STATE GOLF TITLE IN 6A-5A


The final foursome made the turn about four hours after they teed off Monday.

The staggeringly slow pace of play combined with an overcast sky and cool winds to make conditions less than optimal for the Kansas 6A-5A girls state tournament at Auburn Hills Golf Course.

Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Misenhelter good at golf

Gianna Misenhelter tried it all when she was younger.

There was basketball and soccer. But, she said, “I never liked to run.” There had also been dance. But, “I just didn’t like tutus, so that wasn’t for me either.” There was softball, which she stuck with until the fifth grade.

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Aquinas doubles team makes history with state title
Lujan Brouwer De Koning and Nicole Jara knew what was at stake Saturday afternoon as they took the court for the final time this season.

Cool winds gusted through the Kossover Tennis Center, and the chance at school history loomed within their grasp — again.

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Saint Thomas Aquinas girls win regional golf

The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls golfers crowded around their regional championship plaque and scoresheet Tuesday. Five cameras took turns flashing from different angles, requiring multiple takes and a lot of extended smiling.

Deciding which lens to grin at may have been the Saints’ only struggle of the afternoon.

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Saints Respond Well Despite Loss to Miege
While the disappointment was evident after Saint Thomas Aquinas' 2-0 loss (25-15, 25-18) to Bishop Miege last week, the Saints had to rebound quickly because they had a match against St. Teresa's Academy immediately afterwards.

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Saints Win Regionals


Bishop Miege comes up big against Aquinas in volleyball
t was a big-game atmosphere, and the Bishop Miege volleyball team made sure it brought its “A” game.

Thanks to a relentless offensive attack and some terrific defense play, the Stags seized control of the East Kansas League with a 2-0 victory (25-15, 25-18) at St. Thomas Aquinas on Thursday.

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Tennis takes priority
Nikki Heilman's first love is soccer, but in a recent match she proved she has a pretty big heart when it comes to tennis, too.

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Aquinas golfer wins third first-place finish in a tournament
A sophomore slump? St. Thomas Aquinas golfer Gianna Misenhelter has other ideas.

Misenhelter shot a 3-over-par 75 at Eagle Bend Golf Course on Tuesday and beat a field of 84 competitors in the Lawrence Free State Invitational. That makes three first-place finishes in three tournaments this season for the Saints’ standout.

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Aquinas rallies past Lee’s Summit West in the MO/KAN volleyball tournament