Crusaders set state championship bar
Boys tracksters raise goals after back-to-back district titles
The Strake Jesuit boys track and field team has already achieved plenty, capturing back-to-back District 19-6A championships and producing several state qualifiers.
But the Crusaders could take it a step further and possibly contend for a Class 6A state crown this spring.
Head coach Chad Collier is confident in his squad’s chances, especially after victories at Katy ISD’s Bubba Fife Relays, Pearland Relays, Strake Jesuit’s Crusader Relays and La Porte’s Bay Shore Olympics.
“We’ve competed at a high level, even though some of the races we’ve won – 4x800 (meter), distance medley and sprint medley relays aren’t official University Interscholastic League (UIL) events,” Collier said. “But we’re pretty deep this year, especially our half- and quarter-milers.”
In fact, Strake Jesuit athletes are state-ranked in several individual events and relays, which bodes well for the Crusaders’ chances.
Strake Jesuit has three runners listed in the top eight in Texas in the 800. Junior Jason Bugg is third with a time of 1:54.90, followed by closely by junior Jeff Price in fourth (1:54.95) and senior Hugo Gonzalez in eighth (1:55.38).
The Crusaders’ 4x400 relay is ranked third after being clocked in 3:16.52 at Pearland. Senior Andrew Price, a University of Texas signee, and senior Christian McStravick, who inked a football scholarship to Boston College, power the unit along with Bugg and senior Nathan Fisher.
The 4x100 relay, featuring senior Howard Grant, McStravick, Andrew Price and senior Brandon Walwyn, is ranked 11th , but Strake Jesuit’s time (41.58) is the third-fastest in Class 6A-Region III.
Strake Jesuit hasn’t run the 4x200 relay yet, but the Crusaders figure to be competitive in that event, too.
Last year, the Crusaders’ 4x400 relay qualified for state. That won’t satisfy Collier this time.
“We want to take at least two relays,” Collier said.
McStravick hopes to make it back to state again in the 400, although he’s focused mainly on the 4x100 and 4x400 relays so far. Andrew Price also could be a threat, if he doesn’t commit to relays exclusively.
Strake Jesuit also is awaiting the return of senior Joel Trahan and junior Tyler Litton, who have been sidelined with injuries. Trahan is one of the Crusaders’ top sprinters and relay stars, while Litton is another 400 runner.
“It’s a long season and we’re trying to take it slow with our kids,” Collier said. “We want to keep them healthy.”
Strake Jesuit is dangerous in the distance races. Senior Andrew Hebert ranks third in the 1,600 (4:19.55), with Bugg and Jeff Price close behind. The Crusaders also should dowell in the 3,200.
There are a few holes. Strake Jesuit likely won’t put too much emphasis on the 100 and 200, with the relays a higher priority. The Crusaders also are looking for hurdlers with former standout Ilolo Izu now at Texas A&M University.
Strake Jesuit has major point potential in the field events, although the Crusaders must replace thrower Kenneth Sessums (University of Houston).
Fisher, a University of Pennsylvania commit, is ranked 13th in the state in the pole vault after clearing 15 feet. Senior Ryan Duff(14-6) could surprise.
Grant is one to watch in the long and high jumps, while junior Jordan Pride, who led the Strake Jesuit boys basketball team to the playoffs, could score in the triple jump.
To get ready for next month’s District 19-6A meet at Katy Tompkins, Strake Jesuit will participate in Dallas Jesuits She-aner Relays on Saturday, March19.
Boys win sixth UIL district crown
The Strake Jesuit boys soccer team clinched the District 19-6A title – the Crusaders’ sixth league crown since joining the University Interscholastic League 11 years ago.
Strake Jesuit, 13-3-5 overall, was upset by Katy Mayde Creek 2-1 last week, but the Crusaders’ 9-3-2 league mark was sufficient to hold off Katy Cinco Ranch for the No. 1 seed in the Class 6A playoffs, which get underway next week.
“We thought we had to beat Mayde Creek, so we put in another attacking midfielder to try to score,” said Strake Jesuit head boys soccer coach Bill McDonald. “We were disappointed to lose, but Cinco Ranch lost to Katy and we took first place anyway.”
McDonald is proud of his squad, which bounced back after missing the postseason the last two years.
“I feel really good about the season. Our team had to come through a very difficult district schedule,” McDonald said.
“Cinco Ranch represented our district at state last year and returned a lot of players. To beat them and win district is pretty special.”
Strake Jesuit, which will face Reagan in a Class 6A-Region III bi-district game next week, should be battle-tested for a long playoff run.
“We beat Cinco Ranch and tied Coppell, which are both state-ranked teams,” McDonald said. “We should be ready.”
The Crusaders are led by senior goalkeeper Philip Raven, who has posted 11 shutouts this season (including seven in league play), and a stingy defense featuring seniors Diego Henning, Philipp Seitz and Sam Zabaneh and junior Harrison Vickers.
Strake Jesuit’s top scorers have been junior Angel Cueva and senior Michael Ruck in the midfield, as well as junior forward Jared Rice.
Eagles in flight
St. Thomas has been one of the standard-bearers for high school rugby in Texas under headcoach Jim Wolfinger, with six state championships and four national tournament appearances to the Eagles’ credit.
But the past few seasons have been slightly down for St. Thomas, which placed seventh at state a year ago.
“We’ve been in rebuilding mode, but we’re starting to come around,” Wolfinger said.
A 4119 rout against Kingwood i mproved St. Thomas’ record to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in Rugby Texas’ South Division I standings.
Wolfinger noted that the Eagles are striving for more balance, but the athleticism and skill is there to make a run at another state title.
“The big guys are playing well up front, but our backs need to be more consistent,” Wolfinger said.
“When we get a total team effort, we’re tough to beat.”
Senior prop Robert Gonzales sets the tone for St. Thomas with his physical style of play.
“Robert is just a powerful man,” Wolfinger said. “It’s hard to slow him down.”
St. Thomas’ primary strength is its versatility, with players capable of handling multiple positions.
Other veterans include senior hooker George Michael, senior flanker/lock Seamus Sullivan, junior prop/lock Sam Yeboah, junior flanker/inside center Griffin Maat and senior captain Josh Pane, who has been a dominant force at the number 8 spot. Maat and Pane have been the Eagles’ top two scorers.
St. Thomas returns to division play at home against Katy at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March31.