Spartan Athletes of the Week: Kayla Fink, Donnica Armstrong and Austin Ross, Levi Skaistis, Tristan McCain and Watt Wilkinson

2/15/2024

Congratulations to Varsity Soccer player Kayla Fink ’24, Varsity Basketball Player Donnica Armstrong ’25 and The Boys 200 medley relay swimmers Austin Ross ’26’, Levi Skaistis ’26, Tristan McCain ’26 and Watt Wilkinson ’26 for earning Spartan Athlete of the Week honors!

Kayla Fink is an all-around athlete who is both selfless and hard-working. She is a consummate leader and teammate, and over the past four years she and her midfield partner Espi Weatherspoon ’24 have been the engine that has kept the Varsity Girls Soccer team running. At the Southwest Preparatory Conference Championship tournament this past weekend, Fink led the team to two solid victories – helping the Spartans close out their season in fifth place.

“Kayla does everything with skill, guts, and a full heart,” remarked Varsity Girls Soccer Head Coach Andy Aceves. “At the end of our 1-0 win against Kinkaid, in her final moments of competitive soccer, Kayla scored one of the best and most important goals I’ve seen in my career at St. Stephen’s. I could not imagine a more fitting ending for one of the most special players who will ever wear a Spartan jersey.”

Donnica Armstrong is a point guard and co-captain of the Varsity Girls Basketball team. She elevated her game when the stakes were highest at the SPC tournament this past weekend, helping her team to a third place finish. Despite her typically reserved nature, Armstrong’s leadership was brightest in the critical moments, inspiring her teammates with words of encouragement and a determined attitude. Her scoring surged in the final three games of the season, with impressive performances of 14, 20, and 27 points, showcasing her ability to deliver when it matters most. She also demonstrated her versatility by excelling on the defensive end of the court.

Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach Dustin Armstrong noted, "D consistently disrupted the opponents' plays, creating scoring opportunities for the entire team. She is a true leader and go-getter and I am proud of her growth this season."

Austin Ross, Levi Skaistis, Tristan McCain and Watt Wilkinson have been working hard all season long to solidify their dominance in the toughest race at the SPC Championship Swim Meet. The longstanding SPC record was previously held by St. Marks School of Texas since 2016. St. Marks is a team who has dominated the SPC for quite some time - particularly in the Boys 200 meter relay race. Each leg of the relay had their personal best times; Ross with the backstroke, Skaistis with the breaststroke, McCain with the butterfly and Wilkinson on the freestyle. They finished in first place with an impressive time of 1:34.21.

Athletic Director Jon McCain was impressed with the relay. “It will be interesting to see if this group will be able to break their SPC record again next year, as they will all be back to race it again next winter.”

— Juliann Johnson, Sports Information Director

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