Spartan Scoreboard: March 18-22

The Spartans kicked off their Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) campaign with an impressive weekend, securing notable victories. With this strong start, the Spartans have set a promising tone for the rest of the season!

The Boys Varsity Lacrosse team secured back-to-back victories on their home turf, showcasing their skills and teamwork on the field. Their first matchup against Trinity Valley School on Friday proved to be a thrilling matchup, with the Spartans narrowly edging out their opponent with a final score of 13-12. They executed crucial plays to clinch the hard-fought victory. Building on this momentum, the team faced Ft. Worth Country Day School on Saturday. Led by stellar performances from goalkeeper John Wells ’26 who made pivotal saves throughout the game, and the offensive prowess of Will Walters ’26 who delivered a hat trick to bring the Spartans on top, they secured a decisive 6-4 win. 

Head Coach Noah Fink was proud of the team’s performance. “The team goal for the weekend was to progress and improve, and ideally sneak out two wins. Overall we achieved our goal for the weekend and learned that our boys love to compete. I don’t think we played our best lacrosse and the two week spring break layoff was really apparent, but in the end we earned two important wins and learned that our guys love to play!”

 

The Track and Field team had a great performance at the Spartan Invitational held at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas on Saturday. The girls' team particularly excelled, dominating the competition to secure a victory in the girls' division. Meanwhile, on the boys' side, Graham Boles ’25 delivered a personal best in the 800-meter race, clinching the win, with Ben Oehler ’26 closely following in second place. Many more athletes excelled in their events giving the team momentum for future meets. 

Program Head and Varsity Track and Field Coach Sandra Patrick was proud of her team’s success over the weekend. “St. Stephen's hosted its first home Track & Field meet at Southwestern University in Georgetown, showcasing the school's dedication in cultivating athletic excellence,” she stated. “This meet featured qualifiers across many events for the upcoming SPC Championships, with many athletes achieving personal best performances. Our coaching staff gained valuable insights from these performances on our athletes progress and preparation. We are extremely proud of our athlete’s hard work, motivation, and commitment as they prepare for the Nick Finnegan Meet and the SPC Championships in April and May.”

This past weekend, St. Stephen’s hosted the St. Stephen’s Invitational Tennis Tournament on campus. The event proved to be a success. Among the highlights of the tournament were the outstanding performances of our very own players, Daniel Zhuo ’26 and Pranav Kandhaadai ’26’, who emerged victorious as the doubles champions. Assistant Tennis Coach Bob Haugen was excited about the team’s performances. “Our team competed well this past weekend in the SPC Single and Doubles Tournament,” he said. “Everyone won at least one match and we had seven players still in the draws on Saturday. Julia Hurtado ’24 made it  to the finals of the girls’ singles consolation, and Kieran Desireddi ’25 earned a spot in the boys’ singles semifinals. Emma Eggelston ’25 and Thomas Groff ’24 reached the semifinals of mixed doubles before bowing out to the eventual champions. The Spartans’ best performance came from our boys’ doubles team of Pranav Kandhaadai and Daniel Zhuo who won the doubles draw. “Both Daniel and Pranav played extremely well throughout the tournament. They were able to apply pressure on their opponents by hitting a high percentage of their first serves in and returning their opponents serves with great consistency. They also closed into the net well where they were able to finish points. Their doubles play was truly top shelf.”

Varsity Baseball encountered a formidable opponent in Episcopal Houston ultimately succumbing to a 9-4 defeat against the Knights. Despite the setback, the experience serves as a valuable learning opportunity for the team, giving them a chance to refine their skills and come back stronger in future matchups. 

Head Baseball Coach Steven Elder said, “The Varsity baseball team gave it everything they had versus powerhouse Episcopal. The game was a tight 4 to 2 [scoring] ball game entering the 6th inning. The team came up short in the end but played a competitive game versus a very stout team. The Spartans look to carry some momentum into their next match up this Thursday at Foster Field!”

Despite facing challenges, the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team demonstrated resilience and determination over the weekend. Despite encountering tough competition, the team exhibited character and perseverance, showcasing their potential for growth and improvement. Despite the outcomes, the weekend's experiences have served as valuable lessons, fueling the team's drive to elevate their game in the matches to come. 

Program Head Emily Walling is hopeful these games will propel the team in the coming weeks. “I’m looking forward to turning the page this week for our team and getting into practice. I’m excited for the competitive games coming up.”