Spartan Athletes Build Momentum Ahead of the Winter SPC Tournament

The Varsity Swim team delivered a record-breaking performance at the Marist Invitational Meet in Atlanta, Georgia over the winter break, showcasing exceptional talent and teamwork.

Relay Dominance
Swimmers Austin Ross ’26, Levi Skaistis ’26, Tristan McCain ’26 and Watt Wilkinson ’25 set the tone on the boys 200-yard medley relay and smashed the pool record with a time of 1:35.83. The team struck again in the 400-yard freestyle relay, finishing with a record time of 3:09.47, with consistently strong splits under 23 seconds.

The Girls 200-yard medley relay team, including Lucy Middleton ’25, Reena Desireddi ’28, Campbell Walker ’28 and Ashna Ross ’28 raced to third place with a time of 1:53.59. Middleton set a strong start, followed by seamless transitions and an electrifying freestyle anchor from Ross. The Spartans capped the meet with a powerful third place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:47.77.

Individual standouts included:

“There is an impressive level of talent on this year’s team,” said Athletic Director Jon McCain. “The boys are poised to compete as frontrunners for the Southwest Preparatory Conference championship, which can be seen by their performances in Atlanta. On the girls' side, the addition of some exceptionally skilled freshmen has bolstered the roster, setting the stage for a highly competitive run in the 4A division. Both teams have the potential to make a significant impact this season.”

The Boys Varsity Soccer team has kicked off their season in commanding fashion, boasting a perfect 5-0 record. Behind an unrelenting defense and overwhelming scoring, the Spartans have emerged as early frontrunners in SPC conference play.

A highlight of the season so far has been their statement win against Awty International (Houston, TX) 6-0. Henry Shore ’25 proved clinical, finishing the game with a hat trick. The team’s cohesive play was on full display in a performance that showcased both their offensive flair and defensive discipline.

The Spartans’ backline has been nothing short of exceptional, achieving an impressive streak of clean sheets in every match. “We are making steady progress throughout the season. It's great to see the boys trusting the work we are doing in training to implement it in gametime situations. A huge credit to our back five defenders on the season thus far as we have yet to concede a goal,” says Shane Maguire, Boys Varsity Soccer head coach and Soccer Academy program director.

As the Spartans prepare for the challenges of conference play, they remain focused and determined to sustain their momentum. “We are excited to see how the team progresses as we ramp up conference play,” added Maguire.

The Varsity Girls Soccer team has begun the season with six wins, one tie game and just one loss, showcasing depth, talent and teamwork. Key victories include a commanding 5-0 win over St. Michael's Catholic Academy and strong performances against Fort Worth Country Day (Fort Worth, TX) and Regents (Austin, TX).

“We're a young team with a ton of talent and tremendous potential,” stated Head Coach Andy Aceves. “Our only loss so far this season came on a weekend when we were missing a key player, and when we've been at full strength, we have proven ourselves to be very dangerous with the ball and very hard to break down without it. The winter schedule always presents some logistical challenges with the long interruptions of Thanksgiving and winter break, so we are still working hard to cement our identity as a team, but I could not be more excited to see what this group can accomplish together. “

Led by coaches Dustin Armstrong and Ali Khait, the Spartan Girls Varsity Basketball team have proved their talent  this season, boasting an 8-5 record and showing tremendous growth since last year.

Leading scorers Donnica Armstrong ’25, Nadine Benson ’28, and Kennedy Lartigue ’27 have anchored the team with standout performances. Each player has contributed significantly both on defense and offense, showcasing their skills and determination to push the Spartans to new heights. The Spartans have unified, moving in sync and displaying a collective commitment to shutting down opponents.

“From day one, we’ve been so excited to work with this team because of their attitude, dedication and coachability,” said Coach Armstrong and Coach Ali. “We are looking forward to SPC Conference play, Senior Night, the SPC Tournament and championships to come!”

The Boys Varsity Basketball team has shown resilience and determination throughout the winter season. With standout performances from leading scorers Gabe Sahely ’25 (14.7 ppg) and Finnian Neary ’28 (9.6 ppg), the Spartans have secured key victories against The John Cooper School (Houston, TX) and Austin High School), setting the stage for an exciting run as they approach Southwest Preparatory Conference.

A significant transformation for the team this year has been their defensive game. Adopting a new defensive system, the Spartans have displayed flashes of brilliance, demonstrating how effective their strategy can be when executed cohesively.

“I am proud of how this group competes hard, roots for each other, and weathers the storms that inevitably come,” said Head Coach Christian Spencer. “All year, we’ve been building, and now we just have to execute. I’m excited to see them bring this energy into conference play.”

As the season progresses, the Spartans remain focused on their goals and channel their efforts into peaking at the right time. With hard work and a team-first mentality, they are ready to tackle the challenges ahead and make a strong push in the postseason.

The Winter 2024-25 SPC Championships for swimming and basketball take place February 13-15 in Fort Worth, Texas.