CROSS COUNTRY NEWS
Ladies punch their ticket to the State Championship!
Junior Alexis Pitts led the Lady Falcons posting a personal best time and senior Jacob Mullis lead the STA boys team with a season best time of 16:49.

HAMMOND LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls and boys cross country teams competed in the 2023 LHSAA Division 4 -Region 3 Cross Country Championships held at the Sievers Air Field Course in Duson, Louisiana on Thursday. The STA girls punched their ticket to the State Meet to be held in Natchitoches on November 13th, while the boys team just missed out running with just five runners due to injuries. The top eight teams and the top twenty-five individuals qualify for the State Meet.
    The Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy captured the girls team title with (56), while the STA girls scored (86), followed by; Metairie Park Country Day (96), Ascension Episcopal (107), Louise McGehee (115), Episcopal School of Acadiana (130), St. Martin's (176), Houma Christian (204), Dunham (213) and Slaughter Community Charter (227). STA Junior Alexis Pitts led the Lady Falcons posting a personal best time of (18:35), while Bella Theriot was twelfth (19:41), Ava Mistretta was eighteenth (19:50), Amelia Mistretta was nineteenth(19:53), Sophia Castillo (35th-21:37), Betsy Geisler (37th-21:51) and Knsley McCrory (57th-24:20) in a field of 77 runners.
    The Metairie Park Country Day boys team captured the team title with (61), ARCA was second(68), ESA third(76), LCA fourth (126), Houma Christian fifth (149), St. Martin's sixth (160), Ascension Episcopal seventh (183), Dunham eighth (201), STA ninth (216), PJP tenth (247) and Slaughter Community Charter eleventh (272). Senior Jacob Mullis lead the STA boys team with a season best time of (16:49), which qualifies him individually to compete in the State Meet. Mullis joined Malachi Russell Lizarraga (40th-18:36), Daniel Parkinson (47th-19:31), Daniel Wittie (60th-20:43) and Parker Street (65th-21:00) in a field of 79 runners.
    
AGAIN and AGAIN! Lady Falcons win the team title to claim District Championship!
STA Boys earn runner-up honors.

HAMMOND< LA—The St. Thomas Aquinas girls posted a first place team finish, while the boys team was first in Tuesday's 7-2A cross country championships held on the STA campus course. The Lady Falcons scored (17) to runner-up Northlake Christian with (40). The STA girls put six runners in the top nine positions, senior Alexis Pitts was the individual winner in (19:29), Ava Mistretta was second (20:14), Bella Theriot third (20:18), Amelia Mistretta fourth (20:54), Betsy Geisler seventh (23:15), Sophia Castillo ninth(23:50) and Kinsley McCrory was fourteenth (27:51).
    The Northlake Christian boys captured the team title with (33), STA was second with (40) and Pope John Paul was third with (48). PJP's Adam Merkle was the individual winner with (16:26), while STA senior Jacob Mullis was second(17:44). Mullis led the STA boys while teammates Daniel Parkinson (5th-18:55), Malachi Russell-Lizarraga (6th-19:06), Parker Street (13th-22:06), Daniel Wittie (14th-22:14) and Hayden Guidry (15th-22:35).
    The STA teams will join Academy of Sacred Heart-NO, Archbishop Hannan, Archbishop Shaw, Belle Chasse, Holden, Lakeshore, Loranger, Country Day, Northlake Christian, Pearl River, Pope John Paul, St. Martin's, St. Scholastica and Jewel Sumner in the 2023 Perfectly Fit-Northshore Metro Championships to be held next Thursday on the STA campus course.

AGAIN! Lady Falcons win the team title!
STA girls finish first in the annual STA-Bruce Okrepki Memorial Cross Country Invitational.

HAMMOND< LA—The St. Thomas Aquinas Lady Falcons captured the team title in todays 2023 STA-Bruce Okrepki Memorial Cross Country Invitational held on the STA campus course in Hammond. The STA girls scored (61) over runner-up Academy of Sacred Heart-New Orleans (68), Metairie Park Country Day was third (78), Mandeville fourth (120), Slidell fifth (121), Central Private sixth (141), Ponchatoula seventh (145), Central-BR eighth (180), Northshore ninth (220) and Mt. Hermon (315).
    Parkview Baptist freshman Lucy Cramer captured the individual title with a winning time of (17:43), while Leah Varisco(ASH-NO) was second (18:55), followed by teammate Courtney Habetz(19:06). STA’s Ava Mistretta led the Lady Falcons with a fifth place finish (19:21), Alexis PItts was (eighth-19:21), Amelia Mistretta (tenth-20:34), Bella Theriot(13th-20:43), Betsy Geisler (31st-22:20), Sophia Castillo (35th-22:52), Anna Jackson (64th-25:54) and Kinsley McCrory (67th-26:23). Ponchatoula’s Kensey Cuti posted a twelfth place finish (20:41).
    he Central-BR boys team captured the boys division with (71), Metairie Park Country Day was second (76), Ponchatoula third(86), Slidell fourth (89), Archbishop Shaw fifth (110), Mandeville sixth (173), Hammond seventh (188), Saint Paul’s eighth (205), Northshore ninth (264), STA tenth (282), Lakeshore eleventh (290), Pearl River twelfth (294), Central Private thirteenth (345) and Mt. Hermon was fourteenth(365). Ponchatoula junior Matthew Norman was the individual winner in (15:38), while Christian Myers (County Day) was second (16:02) and Enrico Tapia (Shaw) was third (16:08). PHS’ Bryce Johnson was (7th-16:20) and HHS’ Levi Carson was (12th-16:57). STA Senior Jacob Mullis placed 19th(17:22) to lead the Falcons, while teammates Malachi Russell-Lizarraga was (51st-19:12), Hayden Guidry (75th-21:15), Daniel Parkinson (80th-21:42), Daniel Wittie (76th-21:21) and Parker Street (90th-23:57).
    The STA teams will compete Tuesday at STA as they host the District meet.
    
Lady Falcons win the title!
STA girls finish first and boys seventh in the STA Southland Steel Meet.

HAMMOND< LA—The STA girls captured the team title , while the STA boys posted a seventh place finish in the STA Southland Steel Meet.
    The STA girls scored (69) to take the. varsity division with (69), St. Michael the Archangel was second with (77), St. scholastica Academy third (91), Archbishop Hannan fourth (98), Ponchatoula fifth(121), Christ Epsicopal sixth (130), Fontainebleau seventh (144), The Willow School (174) and Chalmette was ninth with (190). Junior Alexis PItts led the way for the Lady Falcons capturing the individual three mile title with a time of (19:12), which put her thirty seconds ahead of the runner-up Christ Episcopal’s Noah Watson at (19:42), while STA sophomore Ava Mistretta was third at(19:53). Bella Theriot was sixth (20:39), Betsy Geisler (22nd- 22:31), Sophia Castillo (43rd-24:10), Anna Jackson (52nd-25:42) and Kinsley McCrory (58th-26:12). PHS was led by Callie Arthur (7th-20:50) and Kensey Cuti (8th-20:54).
    On the boys side , Ponchatoula captured the team title with (41), St. Paul’s was second (72), The Willow School third (86), Hammond High fourth(105), Christ Epsicopal fifth(108), Archbishop Hannan sixth(192), STA seventh (205), Lakeshore eighth (206), Chalmette ninth (229), Pearl River tenth(244) and Covington was eleventh (249). Fontainebleau’s Benjamin Lewis captured the individual title with a time of (15:49), PHS’s Matthew Norman was second (16:00) and PHS’s Bryce Johnson was third (16:46). Senior Jacob Mullis led the STA boys with a twelfth place finish (17:41), Malachi Russell-Lizarraga (52nd-20:09), Hayden Guidry (59th-20:29), Daniel Parkinson (64th-20:52), Daniel Wittie (68th-21:00) and Parker Street was (89th-24:30) for the Falcons. Levi Carson led the HHS boys with a fourth place finish (16:58), while Conner Franks was 22nd (18:17).
     The STA teams will be competing in next weeks St. Joseph’s Invitational in Baton Rouge at the Highland Road Park Course.
    
Lady Falcons post fifth place finish in annual Gulf Coast Stampede.
Alexis PItts led the lady falcons with a thirteen place finish in field of 227 runners.

PENSACOLA, FL—The St. Thomas Aquinas Cross Country team competed in Saturday’s Gulf Coast Stampede held at the Escambia Equestrian Center in Pensacola, Florida. The lady falcons posted a fifth place team finish in a field of twenty-five teams. Pensacola Christian Academy won with (38), Niceville was second(80), Scottsboro third (103), Fort Walton Beach fourth (159), STA fifth (228), followed by South Walton (240), Alpharetta(256), St. Andrews Episcopal (273), Saraland (277), Pell City (296), Davidson(305), Peachtree Ridge (326), Gulf Breeze (335), Pace (371), Navarre (378), Cottage Hill Christian Academy (435), Lincoln (447), St. Augustine (478), North Bay Haven (487), Pensacola HS (493), Episcopal School of Acadiana (564), Pascagoula (578), Austin(596), Tate (720) and Escambia (722). Junior Alexis PItts led the lady falcons with a thirteen place finish in (20:10), while Sophomore Ava Mistretta was fourteenth (20:24), Amelia Mistretta was 28th (22:04), Bella Theriot 69th (22:49), Sophia Castillo 146th(25:56), Kinsley McCrory 196th (28:06) and Ana Jackson was 199th (28:20) in the field of 227 runners in the 5000 meter course.
    The STA boys posted a thirty-fourth place team finish (986) in the field of 36 teams, Niceville captured the team title (52), while Scottsboro was second (89). Sophomore Malachi Russell-Lizarraga led the STA boys with a 221st place finish (21:27), while Junior Andrew Parkinson was 246th (21:45), Stamm Adams (257th-22:11), Hayden Guidry (262nd-22:17), Daniel Wittie (309th-24:31) and Parker Street was 327th (26:04) in the field of 336 competitors in the 5000 meter race. The STA boys will compete in next weeks STA-BSN Sports Invitational on their home course , while the STA girls travel to Duson to compete in the Lafayette Christian Invitational on Saturday.
    
Lady Falcons fifth in prestigious Mobile Challenge of Champions.
Junior Alexis Pitts posted a top ten finish. Senior Jake Mullis led the STA boys in the St. Michael's Bayou Boogie Classic.

MOBILE, AL—The Saint Thomas Aquinas High School Cross Country team opened up the season this past weekend in Mobile, Alabama and Baton Rouge. The lady falcons posted a fifth place team finish in Saturday's Mobile Challenge of Champions held at Langan Park. The Mount Carmel Academy girls captured the team title with (49), McGill-Toolen Catholic was second (73), St. Paul's Episcopal third(74), UMS-Wright fourth(82), STA fifth (93), Spanish Fort sixth (137), St. Luke's Episcopal seventh (167) and Ursuline Academy eighth (195) in the Invite race. Junior Alexis Pitts posted a top ten finish, she captured the tenth position in (20:46), Sophomore Ava Mistretta was twelfth (21:16), Bella Theriot (27th-23:09), Amelia Mistretta (29th-23:25), Betsy Geisle r(37th-25:20) and Sophia Castillo (42nd-27:05) in the 5000 meter challenging course.
    The STA boys competed in Saturday’s St. Michael's Bayou Boogie Classic held on Baton Rouge’s Highland Road Park Cross Country Course. The Catholic boys captured the team title (49), Central BR was second (125), Parkview Baptist third (143), the STA boys posted a 23rd place team finish with (599). Senior Jake Mullis led the STA boys with a 48th place finish (18:26), Hayden Guidry (127th-20:39), Stamm Adams (175th-22:33), Malachi Russell-Lizarraga (185th-23:17) and Daniel Parkinson (198th-24:20). The STA teams will be competing in next weeks Gulf Coast Stampede in Pensacola, Florida.
    
Lady Falcons win STATE!!!
Saint Thomas Ladies run their way to the LHSAA Division IV 2022 State Title.

Natchitoches, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas High School girls cross country team captured the Division IV title with (93) points, while runner-up Country Day was a close (99), ARCA was third (105), St. Martin's Episcopal fourth (153), Ascension Episcopal fifth (177), followed by Hathaway (186), Cedar Creek (205), Louis McGehee (206), Episcopal of Acadiana (237), Houma Christian (248), Converse (321), Avoyolles Public Charter (350), Anacoco (356), Holy Savior Menard (361), Choudrant(364), Rosepine (369), Quachita Christian (373), D'Arbonne Woods Charter (437), Sacred Heart Ville Platte (538), Lacassine (581) and Rapides HS (638). Houma Christian senior and UNO signee captured the individual title in (17:57), while Hathaway junior was second in (19:07) and junior Sara Godley (Ascension Episcopal) was third(19:12). STA freshman Ava Mistretta led the lady falcons with a fourth place finish in (19:28), Alexis Pitts was fifteenth (20:33), Bella Theriot eighteenth (20:42), Amelia Mistretta twenty-third (21:01), Emilia Lombardo thirty-eighth (21:33), Shannen Alack forty-second (21:44) and Betsy Geisler was sixtieth (22:22) in the field of 152 runners.
    “It's been six years since we won a Cross Country title, so this was a very much needed championship for our program,” said STA head coach Miguel Becerra. “We set goals from the beginning of the summer to make a run at this title since it was the first year that the LHSAA split the schools into Divisions, so we knew that if we worked hard we could finish close to the top of this group of teams. This group of girls really bonded and came together to fight for this championship, we had to run in very cold temperatures, wind, mud and rain to make it happen, and they did it.”
    The Episcopal of Acadiana boys captured the team title with (77), while D'Arbonne Woods Charter was second (111) in the Division boys team race. The STA boys did not qualify a team this year, however Senior Caden Haidet posted a thirty-fifth place finish in (18:19) in the pouring rain and extremely muddy course in the last race of the day. Haidet had 165 competitors in his race. Rosepine's Sullivan Hannah captured the individual title in (16:41), while Menard senior Noah Gad was second (16:46) and ESA's William Brown was third(16:51) in the field of 165 runners.
    
Lady Falcons are the Regional Champions!
Freshman Ava Mistretta was third over-all.

DUSON, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls captured the team title in Saturdays Division 4-Region 3 Cross Country Championships held at Sievers Airfield in Duson, Louisiana on a rain soaked course. The top eight teams and the top twenty-five individuals earned a spot to compete in the 2022 LHSAA Cross Country Championships to be held at Northwestern State University In Natchitoches on Monday, November 14th.
    The Lady Falcons scored (61) to runner-up ARCA with (74), St. Martins was third (88), Country Day fourth (96), Ascension Episcopal fifth (112), Houma Christian sixth (136), McGehee seventh (151), Episcopal School of Acadiana eighth (172), Catholic High New Iberia (189) and Dunham was tenth (195). Houma Christian’s Emma Bourg captured the individual title in (18:09), Ascension Episcopal’s Sara Godley was second (18:35) and STA freshman Ava Mistretta was third (19:10). Amelia Mistretta was ninth (19:57), Alexis PItts was eleventh (20:09), Bela Theriot thirteenth (20:30), Emilia Lombardo twenty-fifth(21:06), Shannen Alack thirty-third (21:41) and Betsy Geisler was thirty-seventh (21:59) to lead the lady falcons to a regional championship title.
    The Episcopal School of Acadiana captured the boys title with (54), Country Day was second with (81), St. Martins Episcopal third (88), Dunham fourth (104), Lafayette Christian fifth(111), Houma Christian sixth(123), ARCA seventh (143), Pope John Paul eighth (169), STA ninth (189), Slaughter Community Charter tenth (223), Delca eleventh (270) and Vermilion Catholic was twelfth (275). ESA’s William Brown captured the individual title with a time of (16:28), Dunham’s Reese Davis was second (16:30) and Houma’s Brady Sins was third (16:30). STA senior Caiden Haidet led the boys with a twenty-third place finish in (17:44), Jacob Mullis was thirty-seventh (18:36), Daniel Parkinson (62nd-20:21), Evan Jump (64th-20:31), Stamm Adams (66th-20:35), Hayden Guidry (72nd-21:27) and Daniel Wittie (75th-21:44) for the falcons .
    
Lady Falcons are the District Champions!
Boys earn Runner-up honors.

HAMMOND, LA—The STA girls put all nine runners in the top fifteen positions to capture the 7-2A District Cross Country Championships team title with a perfect score of (15) over runner-up Northlake Christian at the second position with (47). STA freshman Ava Mistretta won the individual title in (19:07), while sophomore Alexis PItts was second in (19:46), Bella Theriot was third (20:24), Amelia Mistretta fourth (20:50) and Emilia Lombardo fifth (21:00) for the perfect team score. Shannen Alack was seventh (21:14), followed Betsy Geisler (9th-22:07), Sophia Castillo (13th-23:38) and Kinsley McCrory (14th-24:53).
    Pope John Paul edged the STA boys (23-32) for the title, while PJP’s earned the individual title in (17:28), STA’s Caden Haidet was second (18:02) and Jacob Mullis was third (18:22). Also joining Haidet and Mullis on the STA team were Andrew Parkinson (9th-19:26), Evan Jump(10th-20:31), Hayden Guidry (11th-20:37), Stamm Adams(14th-20:59), Daniel Wittie (16th-22:18) and Robert Hampton (19th-24:48). The local Cross Country teams will continue competition next Thursday in the 2022 Perfectly Fit-Northshore Metro Championships held on the STA campus.
    
Lady Falcons take the team title in the STA-Bruce O'Krepki Memorial Cross Country Invitational!
Freshman Ava Mistretta wins the individual title. Senior Caden Haidet top boys finisher.

HAMMOND, LA—The St. Thomas Aquinas girls captured the team title, while the boys placed eighth in Saturday’s 2022 STA-Bruce O’Krepki Memorial Cross Country Invitational held on the STA cross country course in Hammond. STA Freshman Ava Mistretta captured the individual title with a winning time of (18:34), while Sacred Heart freshman Leah Varisco was second in (18:50) and Albany's Cayden Boudreaux was third (19:26). The STA girls scored (27) to runner-up Sacred Heart-New Orleans (62) at second, Mandeville was third (95), Slidell fourth (103), Ponchatoula fifth (121), Denham Springs sixth (131), Fontainebleau seventh (176) and Mount Hermon was eighth (240). Albany, Hammond, Salmen, Springfield, Pearl River, Loranger, Doyle and Bogalusa did not have enough runners for team scoring. Ava Mistretta joined sister Amelia Mistretta (4th-19:44), Bella Theriot (6th-20:01), Alexis Pitts (8th-20:21), Emilia Lombardo (12th-20:53), Shannen Alack (21:04), Betsy Geisler (22nd-21:55), Sophia Castillo (44th-23:47) and Kinsley McCrory (56th-25:20) on the victorious Lady Falcon team. Jadyn Brettel led the PHS girls with a seventh place finish in (20:09), while Diamond Shorty led the HHS girls with a 31st place finish in (22:15).
    The Ponchatoula boys captured the team title with (70), St. Paul’s was second (73), Mandeville third (74), Slidell fourth (102), Archbishop Shaw fifth (110), Fontainebleau sixth (202), Hammond seventh(216), STA eighth (219), Denham Springs tenth (227), Albany eleventh (238), Lakeshore eleventh (253) and Mount Hermon was twelfth (364). Fontainebleau junior Benjamin Lewis captured the individual title in (15:33), while Mandeville’s Max Jacketti was second (16:09) and St.Paul’s Dominic Muguira was third (16:21). PHS was led by Matthew Norman (6th-16:47), Preston Bergeron (7th-16:51), Glenn Hanna (18th-17:33), Bryce Johnson (20th-17:50) and Trent Perrin (22nd-17:55). Caden Haidet led the STA boys team with a twenty-first place finish in (17:52), followed by Jacob Mullis (27th-18:08), Daniel Parkinson (59th-19:41), Daniel Wittie (77th-21:03), Stamm Adams (86th-21:52), Evan Jump (89th-22:06) and Hayden Guidry (90th-22:19). Levi Carson led the HHS boys with a seventeenth place finish in (17:31).
    
Lady Falcons compete in an elite field.
Saint Thomas Ladies finish thirteenth in St. Joseph’s Invitational.

HAMMOND, LA—The St. Joseph’s girls captured the team title in Saturdays , SJS CC invitational held at Highland Road Park in Baton Rouge. SJS scored (42), while Episcopal BR was second (87), Mount Carmel third (128), ED White fourth(159), Vanderbilt Catholic fifth(203), Domincan sixth (215), St. Thomas Aquinas seventh (263), St. Martins eighth (293), Academy of Sacred Heart NO ninth(303) and Lafayette High tenth (303) in the field of twenty-eight scoring teams. Houma Cristians Emma Bourg captured the individual title in (17:21) in a field of 216 runners. Freshman Ava Mistretta led the lady falcons with a thirteenth place finish in (18:49), while twin sister Amelia Mistretta was twenty-sixth (19:34), Alexis PItts (46th-20:21), Shannen Alack (100th-11:40), Emilia Lombardo (109th-21:51), Betsy Geisler (134th-22:27) and Madison Hogan (140th-22:35). Jadyn Brettel led the Ponchatoula girls with a 53rd place finish in (20:34).
    The Brother Martin boys won their respective division with (30), Catholic BR was second (107), while Ponchatoula was twenty-first (541) and STA was 33rd (944) in a field of thirty-eight teams . Brother Martins Gabriel Metoyer was the individual champion in (15:11) in the race of 255 runners. Senior Caden Haidet led the STA boys with a 107th place finish in (17:29), Jacob Mullis(163rd-18:24), Daniel Parkinson (230th-21:13), Evan Jump (236th- 21:53), Daniel Wittie (239th-22:11) and Stamm Adams (250th-23:21). Preston Bergeron led the PHS boys with a 72nd place finish in (16:56), while Matthew Norman was (82nd-17:07) and Glenn Hanna (113th-17:32). Local teams will be competing in next weeks Catholic High Invitational at Highland Road Park in Baton Rouge.
    
Freshman Ava Mistretta wins STA-Southland Steel Invitational title.
Country Day edges out Lady Falcons.

HAMMOND, LA—The Country Day girls edged-out the STA girls (58-61) to capture the 2022 Varsity Girls team title in Saturday’s STA-Southland Steel Invitational held on the STA campus course. St. Scholastica Academy was third(70), Parkview Baptist fourth (106), Christ Epsicopal fifth (133), Fontainebleau sixth(145), St. Michael seventh (149) and Northshore (152) eighth. STA freshman Ava Mistretta led the team capturing the individual title with a time of (19:04) to runner-up Marygrace De La Cruz (Country Day) at (19:55), while Christ Episcopal’s Noah Watson was third in (20:00). STA’s Amelia Mistretta was fourth (20:21), Alexis PItts eighth (20:39), Betsy Geisler (23rd-22:35), Shannen Alack (27th-22:52), Ashley Graziano (63rd-26:57) and Kinsley McCrory (65th-27:10)
     “ I thought the girls toughed it out today and nearly won without our number four and five runners sitting out to nurse minor injuries,” said STA head coach Miguel Becerra “We should be ready to go next week in Baton Rouge in the St. Joseph’s Invitational.”
    The St. Michael’s boys won the Varsity division with (33), Parkview Baptist was second (53), St. Paul’s third (82), Ponchatoula fourth (108), Country Day fifth (158), The Willow School sixth (201), Dunham seventh (213), Fontainebleau eighth (229), Hammond ninth (236), STA tenth(251), Lakeshore eleventh (271) and Franklinton was twelfth (306).
    Fontainebleau’s Benjamin Lewis captured the individual title in (15:48), while St. Michael’s Cooper Bankston was second (16:20) and William Nizzo third (16:29). Leading the STA boys was junior Jacob Mullis (30th-18:21), Caden Haidet (35th-18:32), Andrew Parkinson (69th-20:57), Stamm Adams(88th-23:05), Evan Jump(93rd-24:21) and Daniel Wittie (94th-24:21). Sophomore Matthew Norman led the PHS boys with a twelfth place finish (17:28), while Junior Levi Carson led the HHS boys with a twentieth place finish in (17:56).
    
STA Girls are the CHAMPS!
Boys finish sixth.

LAFAYETTE, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas Girls Cross Country team won the Laffayette Christian meet Saturday in Duson at the Sievers Airfield Cross Country Course, which is the site of the upcoming Regionals to be held In November. The lady falcons scored (63) to runner-up Lafayette High with (115), ARCA was third (118), St. Thomas More fourth(123), Ascencion Episcopal fifth (136), Hathaway sixth (160), Teurlings Catholic seventh (175), Louis McGehee eighth (179), Episcopal of Acadiana ninth (193), Erath tenth (196), Southside eleventh (254), Holy Savior Menard twelfth(260), Lacassine thirteenth (329), Cecilia fourteenth (390) and Gueydan fifteenth (449). Freshman twins Ava Mistretta and Amelia Mistretta led the Lady Falcons, Ava was third with a three mile time of (18:44), while Amelia was sixth at (19:47). Sophomore Alexis PItts was eighth at (20:16), freshman Bella Theriot was thirteenth (20:56), Sophomore Betsy Geisler( 22:32-33rd), while freshman Madison Hogan (25:14-64th) and Kinsley McCrory (27:43-74th).
    The Saint Thomas Aquinas boys competed on their home course on Friday hosting the STA-BSN Sports Invitational. Parkview Baptist captured the team title with (23), Ponchatoula was second (55), Country Day third (73), St. Paul’s fourth (77), Pope John Paul fifth (144) and STA was sixth (152). Leading the falcons was junior Jacob Mullis (19:10-23rd), senior Caden Haidet (20:01-27th) followed by Andrew Parkinson (21:23-43rd), Daniel Wittie (23:07-49th), Stamm Adams (23:58-53rd) and Evan Jump (24:31-54th).
    STA will be hosting the STA-Southland Steel Invitational on Saturday on the school campus course with a total of twenty one schools competing.
    
STA Girls post a third place finish at the prestigious 30th Annual Mobile Challenge of Champions.
Boys finish sixteenth.

MOBILE, AL—The STA girls competed in Saturday’s 2022 30th Annual Mobile Challenge of Champions held at Langan Park in Mobile, Alabama. The lady falcons posted a third place team finish with (98), behind champion St. Joseph’s Academy with (38) and runner-up McGill Toolen (77). St. Paul’s Episcopal was fourth (128), followed by Mount Carmel Academy (141), Fairhope (181), Spanish Fort(190), Saraland(197), Baker(219), Faith Academy (250), Davidson(256), Robertsdale(261) and Ursuline Academy (329).
    Leading the STA girls was a trio of freshman, lady falcon twins Ava Mistretta was eighth (20:40) while Amelia Mistretta was twentieth (21:39) and Bella Theriot was twenty-seventh (22:04) for the 5000 meter hilly and challenging course. Sophomore Alexis PItts was (30th-22:14), Senior Emilia Lombardo (31st-22:22) and Shannen Alack (52nd-24:06) and sophomore Betsy Geisler (67th-25:35) in a field of 92 girls. Freshman Madison Hogan was twenty-third (24:54), while senior Ashley Graziano was ninety-third (29:39) in the Open Race.
    The STA boys competed in the St. Michael’s Bayou Boogie in Baton Rouge held at the Highland Road Park Course. The Falcons posted a sixteenth place team finish in a field of twenty-four teams and a field of 124 runners. Senior Caden Haidet led the team with a fifty-third place finish (19:02), Jacob Mullis followed (73rd-19:26), Daniel Parkinson (145th-21:53), Evan Jump(189th-24:58), Stamm Adams(190th-24:59), Daniel Wittie(194th-25:50) and Hayden Guidry (213th-28:56).
    
STA Girls finish third at State.
Boys finish sixth.

HAMMOND, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls Cross County team posted a third place team finish in Monday’s 2021 LHSAA Class 2-A Cross Country State Championships held on the Northwestern State University’s Cross County course in Natchitoches. The Epsicopal girls claimed the team title with (32), Newman was second (63), STA third (126), followed by Louis McGee (146), Menard (168), Rospine (173), Ascencion Episcopal (195), Houma Christan (214), Dunham (221), Acadiana Renaissance Charter (233), Avoyelles Public Charter (261), Catholic New Iberia (310), St. Charles Catholic (370), Kinder (377), Red River (441) and Pickering (459). Junior Emilia Lombardo led the lady Falcons with a sixteenth place finish in (21:09), freshman Alexis Pitts was nineteenth (21:23), while senior Breanna Becerra was twentieth (21:33). Marissa Callejas was 38th (23:01), Betsy Geisler (40th-23:09), Sophia Castillo (71st-25:51) and Lauren Coats (86th-27:44).
    The Dunham boys edged-out the Episcopal boys (53-54), which was the Epsicopal boys first loss at the state meet since the STA boys beat them in 1995. Newman was third (75), Menard fourth (109), D’Arbonne Woods Charter fifth (109), STA sixth (186), followed by Acadiana Renaissance Charter (213), Houma Christian (246), Morris Jeff Community School(247), Pope John Paul (294), Rosepine (323), St. Charles Catholic (329), Avoyelles Public Charter (352), Lakeside (399), Red River (436), Ascension Epsicopal(467) and Rapides(494). Senior Gavin Bankston led the Falcons with a twenty-second place finish in (18:45), while senior Landen Schillage was 32nd(19:14), Jonathan Bickford (44th-19:56), Jacob Mullis (45th-20:00), Bryce Beard (46th-20:04), Brody Doan (51st-20:45) and Daniel Parkinson (75th-22:10).

STA Boys earn Runner-Up honors in the Metro Meet.
Bankston paces boys finish.

HAMMOND, LA—Local teams competed in the last regular season meet of the season Monday at St. Thomas Aquinas in Hammond. The Sacred Heart-New Orleans girls captured the team title in the 2021 PF-Northshore CC Championships with (39), while the St. Scholastica girls were second(44), the STA girls were third (79), Belle Chasse fourth(108), Patrick Taylor fifth (137) and Archbishop Hannan was sixth with(139). Patrick Taylor’s Saige Christen captured the individual title in (19:13) and SSA’s Chloe Chehardy was second (19:17). STA senior Breanna Becerra led the lady Falcons with a fourth place finish (20:14), while Alexis Pitts was eighth (20:43), Emilia Lombardo was seventeenth at (21:20), Betsy Geisler (36th -23:25), Marissa Callejas (37th- 23:27), Sophia Castillo (54th-27:12) and Lauren Coats (57th-27:59). Sumner’s Madison Parfait was 59th(25:53).
    The Belle Chasse boys captured the team title with a perfect score of (15), followed by the STA boys at the second position with (62), Pope John Paul was third (97), Archbishop Hannan was fourth(99), Lakeshore fifth (113) and Patrick Taylor was sixth (146). Belle Chasse’ Jace Luckoski was the individual winner in (16:04), while teammate Jack Howell was second with a (16:04). STA senior Gavin Bankston led the Falcons to a second place team finish as he posted an eighth place finish I. (17:54), while Jonathan Bickford was ninth (17:57), Landen Schillage was thirteenth (18:40), Bryce Beatd was twentieth (19:06), Jacob Mullis(22nd- 19:25), Daniel Parkinson (28th-20:05), Brody Doan (32nd-20:29), Jose Dunnington (41st-21:11) and Damien Wootan(42nd-21:33). Sumners Silas Childress was fifteenth (18:49).

STA Thinclads dominate District Championships.
Becerra and Beard pace league wins.

HAMMOND, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls scored a perfect team score of (15) to capture the girls team title in Wednesday’s 2021 LHSAA District 10-2A Cross Country Championships held on the STA Campus. Senior Breanna Becerra captured the individual title for the fourth year in a row with a winning time of (20:29), while freshman Alexis Pitts was second (20:43), junior Emilia Lombardo was third (20:58), Besty Geisler seventh (23:11), Lauren Coats ninth (26:19), Sophia Castillo tenth (26:24) and Jourdan St. Romain was eleventh (26:54). Lilian Cooper led the Northlake Christian girls with a fourth place finish (21:00), while Brooke Becker was sixth (21:38) for the Pope John Paul girls.
    The STA boys team captured the team title with (16), while the Pope John Paul boys scored (41). STA Junior Bryce Beard led the boys team capturing the individual title in (18:21), while sophomore Jonathan Bickford was second (18:25), senior Landen Schillage was third (18:25), senior Gavin Bankston was fourth (18:25), Jacob Mullis seventh (19:14), Jose Dunnington eleventh (20:27), Daniel Parkinson twelfth (20:27) and Brody Doan was fourteenth (20:58). Adam Merkle led the Pope John Paul boys with a fifth place finish (18:47), while Caden Galloway led Northlake Christian boys with a sixth place finish (19:00).
    Local teams will compete next Monday in the 2021 Perfectly Fit - Northshore Metro Championships before traveling to the LHSAA State Championships on November 15th in Natchitoches.

STA Bruce O’Krepki Meet ... Alexis Pitts top finisher for the Lady Falcons.
Gavin Bankston led the Falcons with a thirty-first place finish.

HAMMOND, LA—The Vandebilt Catholic girls captured the team title in Saturday’s 2021 STA Bruce O’Krepki JR. Memorial CC Invitational with (37) points, while Christ Epsicopal was second (70), Episcopal School of Acadiana was third(94), St. Scholastica Academy fourth (98), Academy of Sacred Heart-Néw Orleans fifth (115), St. Thomas Aquinas sixth (125), St. Louis Catholic seventh (154) and Northshore was eighth (219), other schools competing but did not have enough for team scores were; Albany,Country Day, Archbishop Hannan, First Baptist, St. Charles Catholic, Jewel Sumner, Doyle and Covington. Vandebilt senior Ella Chestnut captured the individual three mile title with a winning time of (18:17), while Christ Epsicopal senior Svenya Stoyanoff was second at (18:36) on a muddy course. Freshman Alexis Pitts led the lady Falcons with a tenth place finish in (20:06), while junior Emilia Lombardo was seventeenth (20:32) and senior Breanna Becerra was twentieth (21:07). Betsy Geisler (51st- 22:42), Marisa Callejas (54th-23:11) and Lauren Coats (72nd-26:17) ran for the STA girls in the field of 81 runners.
    The Episcopal of Acadiana boys captured the team title with (45), Vandebilt Catholic was second (51), Christ Epsicopal third (67), Metairie Park Country Day fourth(104), St. Louis Catholic fifth (144), Archbishop Hannan sixth (157), St. Thomas Aquinas seventh (168), Lakeshore eighth (228), St. Charles Catholic ninth (250) and New Orleans Military and Maritime was tenth(250). Incomplete teams from the following schools that competed were; Northshore, Covington, Albany, Jewel Sumner and Sophie B. Wright. Christ Episcopal senior Jake Tournillion was the individual winner in (15:41), while Country Day senior Jonathan Zinc was second in (16:36). Senior Gavin Bankston led the Falcons with a thirty-first place finish in (18:32), followed by Bryce Beard (33rd-18:37), Jonathan Bickford (40th- 19:33), Landen Schillage (47th- 19:50), Jacob Mullis(48th- 19:56), Jose Dunnington (61st-20:50), Damien Wootan (63rd-21:11) and Daniel Parkinson (66th-21:36) competed in a field of 90 runners.
    The STA teams will compete on campus this Wednesday as they host the 10-2A and the 9-4A District Championship, followed by the Northshore Metro Championships on Monday, November 8, 2021.

Becerra top finisher for the Lady Falcons.
2021 STA-Rollette Invitational

HAMMOND, LA—The Mandeville High girls team captured Saturday's 2021 STA-Rollette Invitational team title with (45),Fontainebleau was second (82), St. Scholastica Academy was third(108), Dutchtown fourth (119), the STA girls were fifth (125),followed by Denham Springs (132), Ponchatoula (171), Belle Chasse (175), Slidell (238), Northshore (256), Archbishop Hannan (297) and Chalmette (311). Fontainebleau's Brooke Spalitta took home the individual title with a winning time of (18:50), followed by twin sister Caroline Spalitta at the second position(19:09). The top local finisher was Ponchatoula's Jadyn Richard at the fifth position (19:52), while STA senior Breanna Becerra led the lady falcons at the twelfth position (20:10), Alexis Pitts was fourteenth (20:26), Emila Lombardo sixteenth(20:45), Betsy Geisler (45th-22:29), Marisa Callejas (66th-24:15) and Sophia Castillo (96th-26:24) in the field of 111 runners.
    The Mandeville High boys team captured the Varsity team title (44), Belle Chasse was second (62), St.Paul's third (78), Fontainebleau fourth (100), Ascension Catholic fifth (165), Slidell sixth (166), Dutchtown seventh (192), Metairie Park Country Day eighth(197), Ponchatoula ninth(258), Denham Springs tenth (269), STA eleventh (274), Archbishop Hannan twelfth(347), Lakeshore thirteenth(388), Pope John Paul fourteenth(389), Albany fifteenth (390) and Chalmette was sixteenth(447). Mandeville's Nathan Fontan was the individual winner in (15:19), while Fontainebleau's Ty Frazier was second at (15:28). STA senior Gavin Bankston was the top local finisher at the thirty-fourth position (17:57), while teammate Landen Schillage was 64th (19:08), followed by Jonathan Bickford (65th-19:09), Bryce Beard(70th-19:16), Brody Doan (80th-19:38), Jacob Mullis (81st-19:38), Daniel Parkinson (102nd-20:43), Damien Wootan (105th-21:05) and Jose Dunnington was (106th-21:10).
    The STA teams will compete on October 30th in the STA-Bruce O'Krepki Jr. Memorial Invitational in there next competition.

STA hosts 2020 AAU Area 11 Southern Cross Country National qualifier.
The Southeast Louisiana Roadrunners 15-18 year old girls high school division team won the team title with a perfect score of 15.

HAMMOND, LA—Local athletes competed in Saturday’s 2020 AAU Area 11 Southern Cross Country National qualifier held at St. Thomas Aquinas High School Cross Country Course in Hammond. Athletes qualified for the 2020 AAU National Cross Country Championships to be held at Apalachee Regional Park Cross Country Course in Tallahassee, Florida on December 5, 2020. Sixteen hundred athletes from forty-one different states are already entered for the event, which may attract up to two thousand athletes total.
    The Southeast Louisiana Roadrunners 15-18 year old girls high school division team won the team title with a perfect score of (15). Brynn Kelso (16) was the individual 5000 meter champion in (20:25), Svenya Stoyanoff (17) was second (20:30), Ava Pitarro (15) third (20:48), Ashlyn Anderson (17) fourth (20:58) and Emilia Lombardo was fifth (21:42). The Roadrunner 17-18 boys high school team also captured the team title with a perfect team score of (15). Ian Tablan (17) was the individual 5000 meter champion in (18:23), Bryce Beard (15) was second (18:44), Gavin Banskton (16) third (19:13), Landen Schillage (16) fourth (19:58), Payton Walker (18) fifth (21:57) and Jose’ Dunnington (14) was sixth (22:4)
    Roadrunner Alexis Pitts (14) was the 13-14 girls 4000 meter individual winner in (16:56), while teammate Alaina Pitzer (14) was second(18:41). The Acadiana Youth boys scored a perfect score of (15) to win the 13-14 boys team title. Tyler Blissett (14) was the individual 4000 meter winner in (14:21), while Roadrunner Antoine Taylor (13) was eighth (16:24).
    The Roadrunner girls 11-12 team scored a perfect team score of (15) to win the team title. Ava Mistretta (12) was the individual 3000 meter winner in (11:38), Amelia Mistretta (12) was second (11:59), Malia Petitto (11) was third (13:45), Amiah Walker fourth (13:50) and Alona Ballard was sixth (16:03). The Acadiana Youth boys won the 11-12 division with a score of (15). U.S. Express William Decuir was the individual 3000 meter winner in (11:19), while Oscar Frith (Acadiana) was second (11:21).
    Roadrunner Chelsea Clasen (10) was the 9-10 girls individual 3000 meter champion in (13:47), while Lilly Milton (US Express) was second (13:50), Roadrunner Ceila Adams (9) was third (14:22) and teammate Heartlie Morgan (10) was sixth (16:47). Roadrunner Hudson Cormier (9) was a big winner in the 9-10 boys 3000 meter race with a time of (11:48), while runner-up Joshua Johnson (Mississippi) was second (12:50) and Roadrunner Tyler Watts (9) was fourth (13:35
    Northshore Track and Trail’s Julianna Creel was the 7-8 girls 2000 meter champion in (8:35), while Roadrunner Pippa Clark (8) was second (9:20), followed by teammate Allie DeMouy (7) at the third position (9:55). Roadrunner Bentley Ballard (8) was the 7-8 boys 2000 meter individual winner in (8:29), while teammate Ty Silewicz (8) was second (8:59).
    Roadrunner Giselle Smith(6) captured the individual 5-6 girls 1000 meter title in (4:38).
    
Falcons earn runner-up honors in Perfectly Fit Metro!
Lady Falcon finish fourth.

HAMMOND, LA—The Christ Episcopal girls edged-out Isadore Newman girls (59-60) to take the Varsity Girls Silver Division team title in Monday’s 2020 Northshore-Perfectly Fit Cross Country Championships held on the St. Thomas Aquinas Cross Country Course. The top (15) finishers earned Northshore All-Metro St. Martin’s Episcopal was third (78), while the St. Thomas Aquinas girls were a close fourth (80), Northlake Christian fifth (119), Parkview Baptist sixth (129), Patrick Taylor seventh (175) and St. Scholastica Academy “B” team was eighth (194). Christ Episcopal’s Svenya Stoyanoff captured the individual title with a three mile time of (18:42), while Ava Hartman (Isadore Newman) was third (19:52) and Addie Lee (Christ Episcopal) was third (20:15). St. Thomas Aquinas Junior Breanna Becerra was the top local finisher with a fourth place finish in (20:25), Saige Christen (Patrick Taylor) was fifth (20:26), Isabella Bartholomew (St. Martin) sixth (20:29), Kenzie Touchet (St. Louis) seventh (20:34), Noah Watson (CES) eighth (20:46), Maggie Smith (Newman) ninth (20:53), Ivy Hunt (CES) tenth (21:05), Juliet Whitaker (St. Martin) eleventh (21:10), Kayley West (Northlake) twelfth (21:13), Kaitlyn Hall(St. Martin) thirteenth (21:17), Addie Lemann (Newman) fourteenth (21:18) and Emilia Lombardo (St. Thomas) fifteenth (21:20). Joining STA’s Becerra and Lombardo on the fourth place team were; Emma Littell (16th-21:22), Alaina Pitzer (25th-22:51), Madelyn Nicaud (30th-23:26), Sophia Geisler(38th-24:06), Jourdan St. Romain (39th-24:06) and Hanna Bankston(49th-27:09).
    Metarie Park Country Day captured the boys Silver Division team title with (32), while the St. Thomas Aquinas boys edged-out the Newman boys for the runner-up trophy with scores of (74-75). Christ Episcopal was fourth (89), St. Martin’s fifth (141), Pope John Paul sixth (141) and Patrick Taylor was seventh with (164). Christ Episcopal’s Jake Tournillion captured the individual three mile race title with a winning time of (16:18), while Peyton Chaisson (PJP) was second (16:23) and Wilbert Odem (CD) was third (16:45). John Caplan (CD) was fourth (17:18), while STA Junior Gavin Bankston was the top local male runner at the fifth position with a time of (17:25), Ryan Cooper (CD) was sixth (17:42), Joe Carey(Newman) seventh(17:43), Jonathan Zink (CD) eighth (17:44), Bryce Beard (St. Thomas) ninth (17:48), Marcus Moses (CES) tenth(17:56), Cameron Jennings (First Baptist) eleventh (17:58), Brandon Uberawa (NCS) twelfth (18:00), Charles Michaud (CD) thirteenth(18:08), Phillip Antis (CD) fourteenth (18:16) and Randolph Dunkin (St. Martin) was fifteenth (18:20). Joining STA’s Bankston and Beard to the runner-up team finish were; Jonathan Bickford(18th-18:30), Landen Schillage (22nd-18:39), Ethan Foster (27th-19:01), Payton Walker (44th-20:33), Jose’ Dunnington (57th-21:23) and Damien Wootan (68th-25:04).
    
Girls and Boys thinclads earn the District sweep!
Saint Thomas Aqinas wins the girls and boys league championships.

HAMMOND, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas Girls and Boys Cross Country teams captured the 10-2A District Championships on Wednesday on the STA Campus Cross Country Course. The Lady Falcons put seven runners in the top nine positions to dominate the District Championship race with a score of (18) over runner-up Northlake Christian with (43), while Pope John Paul didn’t have enough finishers for a team score. Junior Lady Falcon Breanna Becerra was the individual champion with a personal best time for the season of (20:05) for the three mile race. Sophomore Emilia Lombardo was second (20:39), Senior Madelyn Nicaud was third with her best time of the season (21:02) for the STA girls. Kayley West (Northlake) was fourth (21:10), Emma Littell (STA) fifth (21:19), Frances Hatley (Northlake) sixth(22:39), Sophia Geisler(STA) seventh(22:48), Alaina Pitzer(STA) eighth (23:01), Jourdan St. Romain (STA) ninth (23:11), DaNIna Sorapuru (Northlake) tenth (23:12), Brooke Becker (PJP) eleventh (23:32), Serenity Stroud (Northlake) twelfth (23:33), Julia Calamari (PJP) thirteenth (24:05), Sarah Amacker(Northlake) fourteenth (24:07) and Hanna Bankston (STA) was fifteenth (27:13).
    The STA boys scored (20), to runner-up Pope John Paul’s (36) to capture the 10-2A team title. The STA boys put five runners in the top seven positions to dominate the boys race. Pope John Paul’s Senior Peyton Chiasson was the individual champion in (16:19), while STA Junior Gavin Bankston was second (17:29) and STA Sophomore Bryce Beard was third (17:46). Brandon Uberawa (NCS) was fourth (18:07), Landen Schillage (STA) fifth (18:33), Ethan Foster (STA) sixth (18:36), Jonathan Bickford (STA) seventh (18:46), Zachary Osborn (PJP) eighth (19:34), Matthew Cognevich (PJP) ninth (20:01), Daniel Calamari (PJP) tenth (20:19), Jose’ Dunnington (STA) eleventh (20:30), Joseph Whitehouse (PJP) twelfth (20:34), Maxwell Skidmore (PJP) thirteenth (20:35), Andrew Falgout (PJP) fourteenth (20:45) and Peyton Walke r(STA) was fifteenth (20:50).
    STA will be hosting the Perfectly Fit Northshore Metro Cross Country Championships on the STA Campus on Monday and Tuesday next week. Junior Teams will run at 3:30 pm on Monday with Roseland Motessori, Albany Middle, Trafton Academy, St. Scholastica Academy, Mandeville JH, Parkview Baptist, Maurepas and Taylor Academy. The HS Girls Silver Division Race will be at 4:00 pm on Monday with Christ Episcopal, Grand Isle, Maurepas, Country Day, Newman, Northlake, Parkview Baptist, Pope John Paul, St. Martin’s, Salmen, St. Louis Catholic, St. Thomas Aquinas, SSA and Patrick Taylor competing, while the same teams will run in the boys along with First Baptist boys at 4:45 pm. The Gold Division for the girls will host Sacred Heart-New Orleans, Albany, Hannan, Lusher, Belle Chasse and St. Scholastica Academy at 3:40 pm, while the Gold Division boys race at 4:20 pm will have Hannan, Parkview, Lusher, and Belle Chasse.

Beard paces a third place team finish in STA-Bruce O’Krepki Memorial Cross Country Invitational.
Breanna Becerra finished twelfth as the Ladies finished fifth in the team standings.

HAMMOND, LA—The Christ Episcopal girls and the Vandebilt Catholic boys captured the team varsity titles in Saturday’s 2020 STA-Bruce O’Krepki Memorial Cross Country Invitational held on the STA campus in Hammond. The Trafton Academy girls and the Parkview Baptist boys won the JH divisions.
    Christ Episcopal put three runners in the top ten positions to capture the Varsity girls team title with (53), Sacred Heart-New Orleans was second (58), St. Scholastica Academy was third (75), Vandebilt Catholic was fourth (76), St. Thomas Aquinas fifth (99) and Archbishop Hannan was sixth (135). Vandebilt’s Brynn Kelso was the individual champion in (18:28) for the three mile race, just ahead of runner-up Olivia McGoey (Sacred Heart) at the second position (18:34). Svenya Stoyanoff (CES) was third (18:40), Chloe Chehardy (SSA) fourth (19:29), Olivia Hayes (Hannan) fifth (19:32), Addie Lee (CES) sixth (19:36), Logan Hamilton (VC) seventh (19:37), Noah Watson (CES) eighth (19:58), Leah Varsico (SH) ninth (20:00), Sarah Kate Hendry (SSA) tenth (20:01), Margaret Oggs (SH) eleventh (20:04), the top local finisher was Breanna Becerra (STA) at the twelfth position(20:23), Gracean Schexnayde r(VC) thirteenth (20:30), Caroline Nusloch (SH) fourtenth (20:44) and CC Johnson (SH) was fifteenth (20:45) to make the podium in Saturday’s competition. STA got some good performances from freshman Alaina Pitzer (17th-20:50), sophomore Emilia Lombardo (19th-20:57), senior Emma Littell (21st-21:28), senior Madelyn Nicaud (30th-22:39), senior Madison Robinson (34-22:49) and sophomore Sophia Geisler (39th-23:36). Jourdan St. Romain (41st-24:03) and Hanna Bankston (51st-29:25) also competed for the lady falcons.
    The Vandebilt boys put six runners in the ten positions to capture the Varsity division with (29), while Christ Episcopal scored (40), St. Thomas Aquinas was third (81), Archbishop Hannan fourth (101) and Lakeshore was fifth with (117). CES’s Luke Tournillion was the individual three mile champion in (16:27), while Thomas Thompson (Vandebilt) was second in (17:00). Wyatt Bonvillain (VC) was third (17:16), Marcus Moses (CES) fourth (17:29), STA’s Bryce Beard was the top local finisher at the fifth position (17:40), Callum Newberry (CES) sixth (18:08), Robert Galinsky (VC) seventh (18:15), Blake Foret (VC) eighth (18:22), Jaiden LeBlanc (VC) ninth (18:38), Joseph Savoie (VC) tenth (18:40), Mason Lyons (CES) eleventh (18:40), Kurt Richoux (VC) twelfth (18:44), Maximus Meyer (AH) thirteenth (18:46), Peyton Thibodeaux (VC) fourteenth (18:56) and Andres Jacob(AH) was fifteenth (19:03). Beard led the STA boys to a third place finish, while Ethan Foster was sixteenth (19:06), Landen Schillage seventeenth (19:23), Jonathan Bickford (21st-19:38), Payton Walker (28th-20:39) and Jose Dunnington was 31st (21:31) for the falcons.
    
Falcons place fourth in SSA-Perfectly Fit Cross Country Invitational.
Bryce Beard led the Falcons with a fifth place finish and Lady Falcons led with a sixth place finish by Emilia Lombardo.

LORANGER, LA—The Christ Episcopal girls captured the 2020 SSA-Perfectly Fit Cross Country Invitational Varsity girls team title with (27), while the St. Scholastica Academy girls finished a very close second with (28). The meet was held at the Solomon Episcopal Center in Loranger. CES’s Svenya Stoyanoff was the individual winner with a 5000 meter time of (20:17), while SSA’s Chloe Chehardy was second (21:05). The St. Thomas Aquinas girls put three girls in the top twelve positions, Sophomore Emilia Lombardo led the Lady Falcons with a sixth place finish (21:50), Breanna Becerra was eighth (22:05) , Emma Littell was twelfth (23:20) and Jourdan St. Romain was sixteenth (25:53). The Christ Episcopal boys captured the Varsity boys division with (39), while the St. Paul’s “B” team was second (48), Pope John Paul was third (63), St. Thomas Aquinas fourth (73) and Archbishop Hannan “B” team was fifth (139). CES’s Jake Tournillion was the individual 5000 meter champion in (17:22), while PJP’s Peyton Chaisson was second (17:35). STA’s Bryce Beard led the Falcons with a fifth place finish (19:05), Gavin Bankston was eighth (19:35), while Landen Schillage was eighteenth (20:31).
    
Lady Falcons earn runner-up honors in the Sliver Division Race.
2020 STA-Rollette Chiropractic High School Cross Country Invitational held at Ponchatoula High School.

PONCHATOULA, LA—Four hundred and six athletes competed in Saturday’s 2020 STA-Rollette Chiropractic High School Cross Country Invitational held at Ponchatoula High School. Fontainebleau’s girls captured the team title in the Gold Division with (60), Vandebilt Catholic was second with (61), St. Louis Catholic was third (119), Academy of Sacred Heart-New Orleans fourth (120), Christ Episcopal fifth (143), St. Scholastica Academy sixth (153), Mandeville seventh (161), Ponchatoula eighth (178), Walker ninth (216), Archbishop Hannan tenth (244) and Dominican eleventh (271). Fontainebleau senior Ashlyn Anderson was the individual winner in (18:52), Olivia McGoey (SH) was second (18:57), Brynn Kelso (VC) third (19:00), Cayden Boudreaux (Alb) fourth (19:04), Svenya Stoyanoff (CES) fifth (19:13), Marley Richard (PHS) sixth (19:17), Ava Pitarro (Walk) seventh (19:27), Caroline Lindsay (VC) eighth (19:34), Caroline Spalitta (Font) ninth (20:01), Addie Lee (CES) tenth (20:01), Margaret Oggs (SSA) eleventh (20:02), Logan Hamilton (VC) twelfth (20:06), Olivia Hayes (Han) thirteenth (20:08), Ashleigh Tassin (SLC) fourteenth (20:10) and Brooke Spalitta (Font) was fifteenth (20:11).
    The Metairie Park Country Day girls captured the team title in the Silver Division with (40), while the St. Thomas Aquinas girls were second (68), Slidell third (71), Northshore fourth (94), Dutchtown fifth (113), Vandebilt Catholic “B” team sixth (135) and Northlake Christian was seventh (155). Slidell High Senior Brooke Legendre was the individual champion in (19:44), while Janelle Powers (CD) was second (20:15), Meghan Martin (NS) third (20:40), Emilia Lombardo (STA) fourth (21:16), Emma Morton (CD) fifth (21:44), Emma Littell (STA) sixth (21:45), Zoie Harrison (Sli) seventh (21:47), Emmeline Moore (CD) eighth (21:50), Kayley West (NCS) ninth (22:06), Madelyn Nicaud(STA) tenth(22:14), Mason Poole (CD) eleventh (22:20), Bailey Rollins (NS) twelfth (22:23), Phoebe Dunham (Dut) thirteenth (22:24), CecileO’Byrne (CD) fourteenth (22:43) and Margo Thionville (CD) was fifteenth (22:44). The Dominican girls won the JV division with (27), while St. Scholastica Academy was second (32). SSA’s Sophie Pool was the individual winner in (24:31), while Camille Truxillo (Dom) was second (24:41), Elizabeth King (SSA) third (24:41), Victoria Cambre (Dom) fourth (24:51) and Isabella Desormeaux (NS) was fifth (24:58).
    The Mandeville boys put five runners in the top fourteen positions to capture the team title in the Gold division with (38), St. Paul’s was second (57), Metairie Park Country Day third (121), Fontainebleau fourth (139), Archbishop Rummel fifth (139), St. Stanislaus sixth (168), Walker seventh (179), Vandebilt Catholic eighth(189), Ponchatoula ninth (211) and Northshore was tenth (213). St. Paul Senior Evan Pardo was the individual winner in (15:36), Keegan Leverett (SSC) was second (15:54), Owen Jensen (FB) third (15:55), Mitchell Domangue (MHS) fourth (16:03), Matthew Kinler (MHS) fifth (16:15), Adam Aldahir(BF) sixth (16:20), Nathan Fontan (MHS) seventh (16:24), Harrison Weisinger (SP) eighth (16:28), Jacob Kennedy (Walk) ninth (16:31), Wilbert Odem (CD) tenth (16:31), Benjamin Domangue (MHS) eleventh (16:32), Miguel Thomas (PHS) twelfth (16:32), Kaden McLaughlin (Rum) thirteenth (16:45), Kota Henry(MHS) fourteenth (16:56) and Gage Graham (SP) fifteenth (16:58).
    The Slidell boys captured the team title in the Silver division with (69), while Dutchtown (73) edged-out Christ Episcopal (74) for the runner-up trophy. Ascension Catholic was fourth (89), St. Paul’s “B” team fifth (106), Pope John Paul sixth (139), St. Thaoms Aquinas seventh (167), Archbishop Hannan eighth (231), Lakeshore ninth (232) and Walker “B” was tenth (249). PJP’s Senior Payton Chaisson was the individual champion in (16:16), while CES’s Jake Tournillion was second (16:31), Chase Walker (AC) third (16:59), Rylan Coe (DHS) fourth (17:25), Will Bellina (AC) fifth (17:34), Reese Kirby (Sli) sixth (17:40), Andrew Bright (AC) seventh (17:41), Joshua Boos (Sli) eighth (17:42), Marcus Moses (CES) ninth (17:51), Harrison Virdigets (DHS) tenth (17:57), Dominic Muguira (SP) eleventh (18:02), Daniel Calamari (PJP) twelfth (18:06), Cameron Jennings (FB) thirteenth (18:14), Conrad Ontimara (Sli) fourteenth (18:17) and Liam Sykes (MHS) was fifteenth (18:20).
    
    
STA hosts Southland Steel Cross Country Invitational.
Gavin Bankston led the STA boys at the fourteenth position.

HAMMOND, LA—The St. Louis Catholic girls captured the Varsity girls team title in Friday's 2020 STA-Southland Steel Cross Country Invitational held on the St. Thomas Aquinas High School Cross Country Course in Hammond. The St. Louis girls scored (47) to runner-up University Lab’s (70), Denham Springs was third (76), Slidell fourth (110), Walker fift h(121), St. Martin's Episcopal sixth (130), Northlake Christian seventh (138) and Chalmette was eighth (198). Donham's Riley Ries was the individual three mile winner in (19:35), while Walker's Ava Pitarro was second (20:39). The St. Louis girls put five runners in the top eighteen positions to capture the team title. Ashleigh Tassin led the St. Louis girls with a fourth place finish (21:01), Kenzie Touchet was seventh (21:28), Ella Segura was eleventh (21:53), Kendal Touchet twelfth (21:53) and Emma Karam was eighteenth (22:59).
    The Dunham boys captured the team title in the Varsity Boys Gold Division with (38), Denham Springs was second (50), Walker third (71), Ascension Catholic fourth (80) and St. Thomas Aquinas was fifth (106). St. Louis Catholic’s Ivan Appelton was the individual three mile winner in (15:50), while Dunham's John Walker McDonald was second(16:04) and Ascension Catholic's Chase`Walker was third(16:43). The Dunham boys put six runner in the top nineteen positions to capture the team victory. McDonald led the Dunham boys followed by; Miles Pelton (6th-17:03), Tyler Thibodeaux (8th-17:34), Parker King (9th-17:34), Ethan Courter (18th-18:56) and Reese Davis (19th-18:58). Gavin Bankston led the STA boys at the fourteenth position (18:32), while Bryce Beard was 20th (19:01), Ethan Foster (22nd-19:04) and Landen Schillage (26th-19:40).
    The University Lab boys team captured the Varsity Boys Silver Division with (38), Archbishop Shaw was second (52), Slidell third (60), St. Martin's Episcopal fourth(113), Pope John Paul fifth (127), Denham Springs "B" sixth (145) and Chalmette was seventh (196). University's John Hall Hayes was the individual winner in the Silver division with a winning time of (16:37), PJP's Peyton Chaisson was second (16:44) and Shaw's Thomas Monier was third (17:13). The U-high boys put five runners in the top fifteen positions to take the victory. Hayes led the U-high boys, while Blayton Bernard was fourth (17:29), Daniel Lee was eighth (18:00), Nick Edmonson tenth (18:11) and Christopher Herman was fifteenth (18:22).
    
Lombardo paces team win in Ponchatoula Elite Meet.
Bankston lead boys in fourth place finish.

PONCHATOULA, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls out scored the Christ Episcopal girls (32-33) to capture the Varsity girls Silver Division, while Archbishop Hannan was third (73), St. Charles Catholic fourth (90), while the John Curtis and Mandeville “B” team didn’t have enough finishers to team score. The STA girls put six runners in the top twelve positions to edge-out CES. CES’ Svenya Stoyanoff was the individual champion in (21:13), Addie Lee (CES) was second (21:18), Sophomore Emilia Lombardo led the lady falcons with a third place finish (21:20), Breanna Becerra (STA) was fourth (21:41), Ivy Hunt (CES) fifth (22:08), Noah Watson(CES), sixth (22:33), Alaina Pitzer (STA) seventh (23:09), Emma Littell (STA) eighth (23:11), Isabelle Breaux (Han) ninth (23:20) and Leah Oddo (Curtis) tenth (23:53). STA’s Sophia Geisler was eleventh (24:00), Madison Robertson twelfth (24:11) and Hanna Bankston was twety-eighth(28:55) for the winning STA girls team. The St. Joseph’s “B” team easily won the Varsity girls Bronze Division with(18), while Slidell was second(54) and Dominican’s “B” team was third (56), PHS, SH and SSA did not have enough girls for a team score. St. Jo’s Grace Rennhoff was the individual winner in (21:03), Claire Bayer (SJ) was second (21:10), Macy Howard (SJ) third (21:14), Brooke Legendre fourth (21:36), Catherine Saunders (Slid) fifth (21:49), Sophie Dauterive(Dom) sixth(22:34), Kathryn Ritchie(SJ) seventh (22:52), Mariella Congeni (SH) eighth (23:16), Kathryn Casey (SJ) ninth (23:21) and Annie Carr (Dom) was tenth (24:43).
    The Mandeville High boys team captured the Varsity Boys Gold Division team title with (21), while Christ Episcopal was second (69), Ponchatoula third(69), St. Thomas Aquinas fourth (74) and Archbishop Hannan fifth (122) and First Baptist didn’t team score. The Mandeville boys put six runners in the top eight positions to win the team title. Mandeville’s Mithell Domangue was the individual winner in (16:35), Matthew Kinler (MHS) was second (16:43), Jake Tournillion (CES) third (17:01.7), Miguel Thomas (PHS) fourth (17:01.8), Benjamin Domangue (MHS) fifth (17:35), Nathan Fontan (MHS) sixth (17:40), Oliver Rosenau (MHS) seventh (18:09), Nathan Hooter(MHS) eighth(18:37), Gavin Bankston (STA) ninth (19:08.1), Christopher Norman (PHS) tenth (19:08.8) and Bryce Beard (STA) was eleventh (19:26), Jonathan Bickford (STA) thirteenth (19:51) and Ethan Foster (STA) was fifteenth (20:02). The Ascension Catholic boys captured the Varsity Boys Silver division team title with (27), Slidell was second (40), Mandeville “B” third (59), while St. Charles Catholic, Hannan “B” and John Curtis didn’t team score. The Ascension Catholic boys put six runners in the top thirteen positions to win the team title. AC’s Chase Walker was the individual champion in (17:55), Will Bellins(AC) was second(18:34), Andrew Bright (AC) third(18:46), Joshua Dolese(MHS) fourth(18:59), Joby Wahl(Slid) fifth(19:06), Reese Kirby (Slid) sixth (19:16), Landry Graves (Curtis) seventh (19:24), Joshua Boos (Slid) eighth (19:31), Dillion Sanchez (Slid) ninth (19:39) and Maxville Rousseau (MHS) tenth (19:50).
    
    
STA Invitational..
Becerra and Bankston pace a pair of third place finishes for the ladies and the boys.

HAMMOND, LA—The Mandeville girls captured the Pink Division team title on Friday with (35), St. Scholastica Academy was second (50), St. Thomas Aquinas third (64), St. Louis Catholic (80) and Archbishop Hannan was fifth (116). SSA's Brooke Naccari was the individual winner in (20:01), Albany’s Cayden Boudreaux was second (20:05), Aiden
Sonnier (Man) third (20:08), Christen Chehardy (Mand) fourth (20:10), Riley Ries (Dunham) fifth (20:11), Olivia Hayes (Hannan) sixth (20:21), Phoebe Endriss(Mand) seventh (20:30), Breanna Becerra (STA) eighth (21:05), Emilia Lombardo (STA) ninth (21:19), Ashley Tassin (St. Louis) was tenth(21:23). Other STA runners were: Emma Littell (18th-22:07), Madelyn Nicaud (19th-22:47), Alaina Pitzer (20th-23:11), Sophia Geisler (30th-24:32), Madison Robertson (31st-24:40) and Hanna Bankston (46th-30:14).
    Country Day captured the Varsity White division team title with(18), Mandeville's C Team was second( 44), Chalmette High third (65) and SSA's "C" team was fourth (87). Country Day's Ellie Powers was the individual winner in (21:59).
    The Mandeville boys captured the Silver Division with (44), Dunham was second (67), St. Louis Catholic third (67), Chalmette fourth (118) and Albany was fifth with (141). St. Louis's Ivan Appleton was the individual winner in (16:06), Mitchell Domangue(Mand) was second (16:28), John Walker McDonald (Dunham) was third (16:54), Nathan Fontan (Mand) fourth (16:57), Miles Pelton (Dunham) fifth (17:12), Benjamin Domangue (Mand) sixth (17:14), Troy Gonzalez (Mand) seventh (17:30), Ethan Hooter (Mand) eighth (17:33), Kota Henr (Mand) ninth (17:57) and Oliver Rosenau (Mand) was tenth(17:49).
    Country Day captured the team title in the boys Maroon division with (31), Ascension Catholic was second (58), St. Thomas Aquinas third (65), John Curtis Fourth (81) and Archbishop Hannan was fifth (117). Country Day's Willie Odem was the individual winner in (17:28), Chase Walker(Ascension) was second (17:40) and Dylan Simon (Curtis) was third (18:03). STA's Gavin Bankston posted a seventh place finish in (18:46), while teammate Bryce Beard was tenth (19:10) and Jonathan Bickford was fifteenth (20:22), Ethan Foster was sixteenth (20:40) and Payton Walker was seventeenth (20:46). Damien Wootan (STA) was thirty-seventh(27:40).
    
Falcon cross country in STA-BSN Cross Country Invitational..
Saint Thomas Boys capture runner-up honors, ladies finish third.

HAMMOND, LA—St. Thomas Aquinas High School hosted the 2020 STA-BSN Cross Country Invitational Saturday on the STA campus. With new COVID-19 rules, the races were set-up in groups of 25 or less runners that competed from 7:30 am until the last race at 11:45 a.m.
    The Mandeville boys scored a perfect score of (15) to win the Varsity 1 race. St. Thomas Aquinas was second (63), Vandebilt Catholic third (64) and Ponchatoula was fourth(85). Mandeville’s Mitchell Domangue was the individual winner in (16:28), while Nathan Fontan (Mand) was second (17:27), Benjamin Domangue (Mand) third (17:41), Oliver Rosenau (Man) fourth (17:57), Troy Gonzales (Mand) fifth (18:03), Gavin Bankston (STA) sixth (18:16), Ethan Hooter (Mand) seventh (18:21), Wyatt Bonvillian (Vande) eighth (18:44), Robert Galinsky (Vande) ninth (18:46) and Christopher Norman (Ponch) was tenth (19:11). The Ascension Catholic boys out-scored John Curtis (25-30) to win the Varsity 2 boys race. Ascension’s Chase Walker was the individual winner in (17:27), while Dylan Simon (Curtis) was second (18:16) and Will Bellina(Ascension) was third (18:44). Vandebilt’s second team captured the Varsity 3 boys race with (17), while Albany was second (41). Mandeville’s Maxville Rousseau was the individual winnerin (20:47), followed by Mason Ryan (Mand) at the second position (21:26) and Liam Sykes (Mand) was third (21:53). Archbishop Rummel won the Varsity 4 boys race with (21), while Archbishop Shaw was second(35). Rummel’s Nathan Theriot was the individual winner in (17:17), Kaden McLaughlin(Rummel) was second (17:33) and Thomas Monier (Shaw) was third (17:50)
    The Vandebilt girls captured the team title in the Varsity 1 girls race with (27), Mandeville was second (56), St. Thomas Aquinas third (62) and Ponchatoula was fourth (73). Vandebilt’s Ella Chestnut was the individual winner in (19:53) for the three mile race, while teammates Caroline Lindsay was second (20:12) and Logan Hamilton third (20:20). Ponchatoula’s Marley Richard was fourth (20:33), STA’s Emilia Lombardo fifth (20:38), Alden Sonier(Mand) sixth (20:45), Jadyn Richard seventh (20:47), Christen Chehardy (Mand) eighth (20:52), Breanna Becerra (STA) ninth (21:13) and Madison Richoux (Vand) was tenth (21:32). The St. Charles Catholic girls won the Varsity 2 girls race with (27), while Albany was second with (28). Albany’s Cayden Boudreaux was the individual winner in (20:51), while teammate Amaya Taylor was second (23:22). The Vandebilt second team captured the Varsity 3 girls race with a perfect score of (15). Riley Hamilton (Vande) won in (24:33), while teammates Natalie Arnette was second(24:33) and Madelene Sonnier was third(25:04).
    
Falcon cross country gets up early to get in the work..
Senior all-stater Madelyn Nicaud and junior all-stater Gavin Bankston will return this season.

HAMMOND, LA—The 2020 STA Cross Country team has been working hard through all of the Spring and Summer since they closed schools down in March. Athletes trained on their own or met up with a teammate or two off of campus to try and stay in shape. The STA boys and girls have been practicing at 6:30 am on campus or on the SLU campus.
    Senior all-stater Madelyn Nicaud returns with Junior's Breanna Becerra, Jourdan St. Romain and Hanna Bankston, Sophomores Emilia Lombardo and Sophie Geisler, Senior's Emma Littell and Madison Robertson and Freshman Alaina Pitzer joins the Lady Falcons this year. “We have three well-seasoned Seniors returning along with Breanna and Emilia who have been working really hard and adding Sophie and Alaina, who have also been working really hard, puts the girls team right back in the hunt for a State Championship or Runner-up run this season”, said head coach Miguel Becerra.
    On the boys side, junior all-stater Gavin Bankston returns with a good summer under his belt, while Junior Landen Schillage and Sophomore Bryce Beard have been training really hard. Seniors Ethan Foster and Patton Walker return along with the addition of Freshman Jonathan Bickford, Jose Dunnington and Jake Mullis on the falcon boy’s team. “The STA boys will be much stronger this year just adding Bryce and Jonathan to the mix, we should post a much high finish at the state meet with this group of boys,” continued Beccera.
    
Falcon cross country runners collect post season honors..
Saint Thomas Aquinas Sophomore Gavin Bankston and Junior Madelyn Nicaud headline 2019 Tangipahoa All-Parish Team.

HAMMOND, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas Cross Country team was well represented on the 2019 Tangipahoa All-Parish Team with eight total selections. Sophomore Gavin Bankston and junior Madelyn Nicaud both All-State runners led the cast of selections for the Falcons. Sopohomore Breanna Becerra and freshman Emilia Lombardo were first team selections on the ladies team while juniors Emma Littell and Madison Robertson and sophomore Jourdan St. Romain earned second team honors for the Lady Falcons. Sophomore Landen Schillage joined teammate Bankston as a first team selection for the Falcons.
    
Falcon Cross Country in State Meet ...
Saint Thomas Aquinas Sophomore Gavin Bankston and Junior Madelyn Nicaud earn all-state honors in LHSAA State Cross Country Meet.

Natchitoches, LA—The Episcopal boys captured the Class 2A team title in the boys division with (35), Holy Savior Menard was second (87), Newman third (119), Dunham fourth (166), Houma Christian fifth (196), Rosepine sixth (226), D’Arbonne Charter School seventh (237), Avoyelles Public Charter eighth (249), Pope John Paul II ninth (256), St. Charles Catholic tenth (268), Lafayette Christian Academy eleventh (286), St. Thomas Aquinas twelfth (299), Many thirteenth (313), Delcambre fourteenth (335), Northlake Christian fifteenth (337), Catholic High New Iberia sixteenth (379), Morris Jeff Community School seventeenth (406), Rapides eighteenth (468) and Ascension Episcopal was nineteenth (528). Episcopal’s James Christian was the individual champion in (16:19), while Dunham’s John Walker McDonald was second (16:20). STA’s Gavin Bankston earned all-state honors by placing ninth in (17:26), Landen Schillage was twenty-sixth (18:27), Ethan Foster was sixty-third (20:07), Alec Dufriend was 106th (22:20) and Payton Walker was 124th (23:20).
    The Episcopal girls captured the Class 2A team title with (35), Newman was second (98), Louise S. McGehee third (110), Holy Savior Menard fourth (111), Avoyelles Public Charter fifth (163), Northlake Christian sixth (177), Rosepine seventh (190), St. Thomas Aquinas eighth (193), Dunham ninth (241), St. Charles Catholic tenth (243), Lake Arthur eleventh (268), Catholic New Iberia twelfth (290), Delhi Charter thirteenth (373) and Delcambre was fourteenth (380). Newman’s Ava Hartman was the individual champion in (19:28), while Episcopal’s Scarlett Spender was second (19:58). STA’s Madelyn Nicaud earned all-state honors by placing tenth in (20:57), while Breanna Becerra was eighteenth (21:17), Madison Robertson was 51st(23:22), Jourdan St. Romain was 62nd (24:16) and Hanna Bankston was 85th (27:11).
    
Runners battle cold weather in 2019 Perfectly Fit-Northshore Metro.
STA’s Breanna Becerra and Gavin Bankston paced the Falcons efforts.

HAMMOND, LA—Cross Country athletes finished the regular season today as they converged at the 2019 Perfectly Fit-Northshore Metro Cross Country Championships held at the St. Thomas Aquinas High School Cross Country Course in Hammond. Local athletes weathered some of the coldest temperatures of the season, but still managed to post lots of personal best times for the season.
    St. Scholastica Academy’s Brooke Naccari captured the Varsity girls individual three mile title with a winning time of (18:30), while Christ Episcopal’s Svenya Stoyanoff was second in (18:42) and Sacred Heart-New Orleans Olivia McGoey was third in (18:48). Local athletes posting top fifteen finishes which puts them on the Northshore All-Metro Team were; Jayden Richard(Ponchatoula HS) fourth(19:33), Breanna Becerra (St. Thomas Aquinas) ninth (19:55) and Madelyn Nicaud (St. Thomas Aquinas) twelfth (20:11). The St. Scholastica Academy girls captured the Varsity girls team title with (54), Sacred Heart-New Orleans was second (55), Christ Episcopal was third (76), Belle Chasse fourth (128), Northlake Christian fifth (130), St. Thomas Aquinas sixth (156), Ponchatoula High seventh (201), Arshbishop Hannan eighth (208), Patrick Taylor Academy ninth (245), Lakeshore tenth (253), St. Amant eleventh (258) and Salmen was twelfth (315). Joining Naccari on the winning lady doves team were; Chloe Chehardy (5th-19:33), Sarah-Kate Hendry (11th-20:09), Maggie Oggs (16th-20:47) and Claire Berrigan (26th-21:37). Joining McGoey on the Sacred Heart team were; Olivia Gaines (6th-19:38), CC Johnson(13th-20:33), Cali Jane Leutkemeier (17th-20:47) and Audrey Lehmann (21st-21:14). Becerra and Nicaud were joined by Madison Rosbertson (39th-22:26), Jourdan St. Romain (43rd-22:33) and Hanna Bankston(108th-30:24) on the lady falcon team. Madison Parfait led the Sumner girls with a thirtieth place finish in (22:02), while Ponchatoula’s Richard was joined by Ruby Williams (51st-22:56), Bella Badeau (69th- 24:38), Naiya Hunter (71st-25:00) and Kallie Barrow (74th-25:07), while A’Mya Taylor(Albany) was 63rd (23:54).
    Belle Chasse’s Louden Boudreaux won the Varsity boys individual title with a winning time of (15:19), while Christ Episcopal’s Jake Tournillon was second (16:25) and Belle Chasse’s Brady Palmer was third (16:49). Local athletes earning All-Metro honors were; Andrew Falcon (Ponchatoula) fourth (16:50), Gavin Bankston (St. Thomas Aquinas) sixth(16:59), Nick Story (Sumner) ninth (17:05) and Landen Schillage (St. Thomas Aquinas) was thirteenth (17:24). The Belle Chasse Varsity boys captured the team title with (33), Christ Episcopal was second (99), Ponchatoula was third (122), Country Day was fourth (123), Pope John Paul fifth (149), Sumner sixth (156), St. Amant seventh (200), St. Thomas Aquinas eighth (224), Lakeshore ninth (225), Northlake Christian tenth (225), Archbishop Hannan eleventh (246), Patrick Taylor Academy twelfth (264) and Maurepas was thirteenth (393). Joining Boudreaux and Palmer on the winning Belle Chasse team were; Landin Madere (7th-17:01), Kyle Andrews (10th-17:07) and Ethan Vogel (12th-17:17). CES’s Tournillon was joined by Luke Acosta (14th-17:27), Mason Lyons (20th-17:59), Diego Davie (28th-18:23) and Marcus Moses (40th-18:47). Falcon led the PHS boys along with Christopher Norman (16th-17:32), Jacob Quesada (17th-17:33), JD McKinney (38th-17:40) and Carson Thibodeaux (55th-19:30). Sumner’s Story led the way along with Ashton Blades (30th-18:29), Trinity Parfait (36th-18:38), Andres Moreno (37th-18:40) and Silas Childr
    
Girls and Boys teams earn runner-up honors in District Championship Meet.
STA’s Breanna Becerra and Madelyn Nicaud finished first and second in the girl's three-mile, while Gavin Bankston and Landen Schillage finished third and fourth respectively in the boys race.

HAMMOND, LA—The Northlake Christian girls captured the 10-2A District girls Cross Country Championship with (28), while the St. Thomas Aquinas girls took them to the wire also scoring (28) for the runner-up trophy. The NCS girls won the tie-breaker, which goes to the team with the six best runner, NCS had a sixth runner, while the STA girls only had five runners. STA Sophomore Breanna Becerra captured the individual 10-2A title with a winning three mile time of (20:35), while STA Junior Madelyn Nicaud followed at the second position (20:46), Jourdan St. Romain was sixth (22:45), Madison Robertson tenth (23:28) and Hanna Bankston was twelfth (27:45). NCS was led by Sophomore Kayley West at the third position (21:51), Emma Hatley was fourth (21:51), Elisa Avila seventh (23:00), Sarah Amaker ninth (23:24) and Serenity Stroud was eleventh (24:38). Pope John Paul was led by Madison Lin at the fifth position (22:42) and Brooke Becker was thirteenth (29:19).
    The Pope John Paul boys captured the boys 10-2A District Championship with (32), the St. Thomas Aquinas boys were second (48), while Northlake Christian was third (48). PJP’s Payton Chaisson captured the individual title with a winning three mile time of (16:58), followed by Northlake’s Dallas West at the second position (17:14). STA’s Gavin Bankston placed third (17:44), while Landen Schillage was fourth (17:48). Also competing for STA was Ethan Foster at the eighth position (19:36), Damien Wootan (21st-22:34), Alec Dufriend (22nd-22:55) and Payton Walker (27th- 24:24). Joining PJP’s Chaisson were; Lincoln Oertling (5th-18:35), Ridge Chautin (6th- 18:39), Daniel Calamari (9th-19:37), Joshua Gulczynski (11th- 19:46), Jack Everard (12th- 20:01) and Grayson Hogard (13th- 20:06). Joining NCS’s West were; Jaylen Brumfield (7th- 19:06), Brandon Uberawa (10th- 19:39), Cole Hodge (17th – 21:50), and Carlos Avila (19th- 21:54).
    The local Cross Country teams will finish the regular season next Tuesday at the Perfectly Fit-Northshore Invitational to be held at St. Thomas Aquinas, followed by the LHSAA State Championships to be held on November 18-19 at the Northwestern State University Cross Country Course in Natchitoches.

Thinclads compete in Saint Thomas Aquinas-Bruce O’Krepki Jr. Memorial Cross Country Invitational.
STA’s Gavin Bankston earned runner-up honors in boy's three-mile race. Madelyn Nicaud led the Lady Falcons with a sixth place finish.

HAMMOND, LA—Runners from sixteen different schools competed at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School on Saturday, on a muddy course and on a very cold morning that started off at forty one degrees for the first race of the morning. The Jewel Sumner boys captured the Varsity Boys team title, while the Sacred Heart New Orleans girls won the Varsity Girls division Saturday at the Saint Thomas Aquinas-Bruce O’Krepki Jr. Memorial Cross Country Invitational held on the STA campus.
    The Sumner boys scored (36), the St. Thomas Aquinas boys were second (52), Archbishop Hannan was third (58), Lakeshore fourth (76) and Maurepas HS was fifth (122). Northlake Christian’s Dallas West was the individual boys champion (17:03), while STA’s Gavin Bankston was second (17:18) to out-muscle CES’s Jake Tournillion at third (17:23). Nick Story led the Sumner boys with a second place finish in (17:36), Andres Moreno was eleventh (18:50), Tanner Blades was fifteenth (19:05), Ashton Blades was sixteenth (19:45) and Trinity Parfait was twenty-first (20:37) for the Cowboys. Bankston led the STA boys to second place team finish, while Landen Schillage was sixth (17:54), Ethan Foster was seventeenth (20:03), Alec Dufriend was twenty-fourth (21:39) and Payten Walker was thirty-third (24:32) for the Falcons. Other local finishers were; Drew Thompson (Albany) seventh (18:07) and Jackson Cornett (Maurepas) 27th (22:20).
    The Sacred Heart of New Orleans girls team captured the Varsity Girls division with (25), Christ Episcopal was second (67), St. Thomas Aquinas was third (76), Northlake Christian fourth (79) and Archbishop Hannan was fifth (108). Sacred Heart’s Olivia McGoey was the Varsity girls individual champion in (19:08), while Christ Episcopal’s Svenya Stoyanoff was second (19:50) and SHNO’s Olivia Gaines was third (20:10). STA’s Madelyn Nicaud led the Lady Falcons with a sixth place finish in (21:02), Breanna Becerra was tenth (21:41), Jourdan St. Romain was seventeenth (22:35), Madison Robertson was twenty-fifth (23:41) and Hanna Bankston was 40th (29:38) for the STA girls. Local finishers were; Madsion Parfait(Sumner) thirteenth (22:01), Am’ya Taylor (Albany) 16th (22:22)and Madelyn Aime (Maurepas) was 38th (27:28).
     The Junior High athletes ran the same distance that the high school athletes run, which is three miles on Saturday. The longer distance didn’t stop some of our local runners though, Trafton’s seventh grader Alexis Pitts covered the course in (19:55) to capture the individual Junior High girls title, just ahead of sixth grade teammate Ava Misretta at the second position (20:00) and her twin sister Amelia Mistretta was third (20:16). Other local finishers were; Amiah Holmes (Roseland) was fourth (22:23), Kolbie Danna (Roseland) was seventh(24:57) and Chelsea Clasen (Trafton) was eighth (26:28).
    Heritage Christian’s Dallas Stricker captured the individual JH boys title with a winning time of (18:07), while Albany Middle’s Antoine Taylor was second (19:40) and Arrow’s In Flight Home School team’s Anthony Ives was third (20:27) and Trafton’s Jose’ Dunnington was fourth (21:49). The Roseland Montessori boys captured the Junior High boys team title with a perfect score of (15). Eli Neyland led the Roseland boys team with a sixth place finish (22:20), Max Neyland was seventh (22:26), Ivan Donjuan was eighth (24:11), Hunter Blades ninth (24:50) and Cade Husser was twelfth (33:35).
    
One thousand runners competed in the annual STA-Rollette Chiropractic Cross Country Invitational.
STA boys finished ninth and girls finish nineteenth.

HAMMOND, LA—Over one thousand athletes competed at St. Thomas Aquinas High School for the two day 2019 STA-Rollette Chiropractic Cross Country Invitational held on the school campus. “We had athletes from forty-nine different schools compete on our campus for a two day meet sponsored by Rollette Chiropractic and it was an awesome two days of competition,” said STA Coach Miguel Becerra.
    Christ Episcopal’s Svenya Stoyanoff captured the varsity girls three mile title with a time of (19:12), while Country Day’s Elle Powers was second (19:24) and Dutchtown’s Madison Norcross was third(19:51). Local medalist were; Jayden Richard (Ponchatoula) tenth (20:23), Jadyn Brettel (Ponchatoula) eleventh (20:24) and Madeline Nicaud (St. Thomas Aquinas) thirteenth (20:48). STA’s Madison Robertson (30th-22:20), Jourdan St. Romain (33rd-22:29), while Albany’s Amya Taylor (39th-22:54) and Sumner’s Madison Parfait (41st-23:02). The Lusher girls captured the team title with (65), Sacred Heart-New Orleans was second (74), Dutchtown third (94), Country Day fourth (95), Northlake Christian fifth (145), Christ Episcopal sixth (162), Ponchatoula seventh (183), Denham Springs eighth (196), Walker ninth (216), Hannan tenth (222), Lakeshore eleventh (299) and Salmen twelfth (330).
    Dunham’s John Walker McDonald captured the Varsity boys three mile title with a time of (15:59), while Christ Episcopal’s Jake Tournillon was second(16:38) and Dutchtown’s George Donaldson was third (16:59). Local medalist were; Christopher Norman (PHS) ninth (17:36), Andrew Falcon (PHS) tenth (17:37), Gavin Bankston (STA) fourteenth(17:44) and Landen Schillage (STA) fifteenth (17:48). STA’s Ethan Foster (50th-19:12), Alec Dufriend (105th-21:49), Damien Wootan (107th-22:01) and Brody Juneau (108th-22:14). Albany’s Drew Thompson (20th-18:06), PHS’ Jacob Quesada (31st-18:32) and Sumner’s Trinity Parfait (35th-18:37). Archbishop Shaw captured the Varsity boys team title with (71), Country Day was second (87), Dutchtown third(91), Ponchatoula fourth (115), Walker fifth (134), Christ Episcopal sixth (175), Dunham seventh (217), Lusher Charter eighth (229), St. Thomas Aquinas ninth (229), Denham Springs tenth (238), Hannan eleventh (255), Sumner twelfth (268), Lakeshore thirteenth (321) and Salmen was fourteenth (405).
    
Sophomore Gavin Bankston posted an eleventh place finish in the 5000 meter race in field of 143 runners.
Junior Madelyn Nicaud led the STA girls was nineteenth.

CLINTON, MS—The Saint Thomas Aquinas boys posted an eighth place team finish and put one runner on the podium in Saturday's 2019 Mississippi College Ford Watson Cross Country Invitational in Clinton, Mississippi on the Choctaw Trails Cross Country Course.
    Sanatoba won the Division II boys team competition with (56), St. Patrick was second (62), Ouachita Christian third(119), French Camp fourth (136), Hickory Flats fifth (150), Westminster Academy sixth(156), St. Paul's Episcopal seventh (195), St. Thomas Aquinas eighth(207), Sumner ninth (212), St. Andrew's tenth (265), Choudrant eleventh (285), Forest twelfth (300), O'Bannon thirteenth (317), South Pike fourteenth (323) and Clarksdale was fifteenth (366). STA sophomore Gavin Bankston posted an eleventh place finish in the 5000 meter race with a time of (18:49), while teammate Landen Schillage was 22nd(19:32), followed by Ethan Foster(51st-20:55), Alec Dufriend (87th-23:55), Payton Walke r(114th-25:36), Brady Juneau (120th-25:57) and Damien Woota n(137th-29:56) in a field of 143 runners.
    Junior Madelyn Nicaud led the STA girls was nineteenth (23:25), Madison Robertson (28th-24:17), Jourdan St. Romain (36th-25:12) and Hanna Bankston (93rd-30:07) in a field of 119 runners.
    
Falcon thinclads open season with a pair of team wins.
Becerra and Schillage pace team wins.

HAMMOND, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls and boys Cross Country teams captured the Varsity team titles in Saturday’s TA/STA BSN Sports Invitational held on the STA cross country course in Hammond. Four hundred and fifty athletes endured the very high temperatures on Saturday to open up the local Cross Country season at STA, representing nineteen different schools.
    The STA girls scored (25) to runner-up Christ Episcopal with (31), while Sumner and Heritage Christian did not field complete teams. CES sophomore Svenya Stoyanoff was the individual champion in the three mile race with a time of (20:44), while teammate Ivy Hunt was second in (21:15). STA Sophomore Breanna Becerra led the lady falcons to a team victory with a third place finish in (21:49), Madelyn Nicaud was fourth (22:04), Emma Littell fifth (22:15), Jourdan St. Romain seventh (23:55), Madison Robertson eighth (24:06) and Hanna Bankston was fourteenth (30:38) for STA. Kaylee Collier (Heritage Christian) was sixth (23:43), while CES’ Emma Diliberto was ninth(24:36) and Sarah Kate Valiant tenth (25:05) and Sumner’s Madison Parfait was eleventh (26:23), Haley Stevens twelfth (27:58) and Zola Billings thirteenth (29:55). STA freshman Emilia Lombardo was the JV girls three mile champion in (23:15).
    The STA boys edged-out Sumner (27-28) to capture the Varsity boys team title, Ponchatoula, Christ Episcopal and Heritage Christian did not field compete teams. CES sophomore Jake Tournillion captured the individual three mile title in (17:36), while teammate Luke Acosta was second in (17:37). PHS’ Andrew Falcon was third (18:15), while Heritage Christian’s Dallas Stricker was fourth in (18:15). Sophomore’s Landen Schillage was fourth (19:02) and Gavin Bankston fifth (19:09) led the STA boys to a team victory, while Ethan Foster was twelfth (22:22), Alec Dufriend fourteenth (23:51) and Brody Juneau sixteenth(24:29) for STA. Mason Lyons(CES) was seventh (20:13), Andres Moreno(Sum) eighth (20:20), Trinity Parfait(Sum) ninth (20:40), Diego Davie(CES) tenth(21:24), Silas Childress(Sum) eleventh(22:02), Tanner Blades(Sum) thirteenth (23:19) and Ashton Blades(Sum) was fifteenth (24:16)
    
Eleven Saint Thomas thinclads earn selection to the 2018 Tangipahoa High School Girls All-Parish Cross Country Team.
Donnes, Lucas, and Becerra earn first team selection.

HAMMOND, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas Cross Country team posted eleven selections on the 2018 Tangipahoa High School Girls All-Parish Cross Country Team. Heading up the Falcon squad were first team selections freshman Breanna Becerra, and seniors John Ross Donnes and Logan Lucas.
    Earning Second Team selection were Emma Littell, Abby Bates, Jourdan St. Romain, Brynleigh Berthelot, and Douglas Robinson. Madison Robertson, Madelyn Nicaud, and Gavin Bankston received Honorable Mention honors.
    
Donnes earns All-State honors finishing sixth overall a Class 2A State Meet.
Young Falcons led by seniors Donnes and Lucas claim fourth place finish. Ladies finish fifth.

Natchitoches, LA—Local Cross Country teams competed in Monday and Tuesda’'s 2018 LHSAA State Cross Country Championships on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. The course was muddiest seen in the last thirty years as reported by coaches! It was wet, cold, windy and muddy on Monday and on Tuesday, the course was even worse, and the temperature were cooler.
    The Saint Thomas Aquinas boys posted a fourth place team finish in Class 2A, while the STA girls finished fifth on Monday. The Sumner girls were ninth in Class 3A, while the Sumner boys were twelfth on Tuesday. The Ponchatoula girls were ninth in Class 5A, while the PHS boys placed fourteenth in Tuesday’s races.
    The Episcopal boys captured the Class 2A team championship with (39), Menard was second (82), Country Day third (118), Saint Thomas Aquinas fourth (142), Lakeside fifth (148), Newman sixth (160), Rosepine seventh (253), Winnfield eighth (256), Delcambre ninth (282) and Avoyelles tenth (328) in the field of twenty-three teams. STA senior John Ross Donnes was the only local male Cross Country athlete to earn All-State honors at the sixth position (18:59), Logan Lucas was sixteenth (20:01), Gavin Bankston (35th-21:17), Douglas Robinson (41st-21:39), Brody Juneau (47th-21:59), Landen Schillage (66th-23:18) and Ethan Foster was 94th(24:51) for the Falcons.
    The Episcopal girls upset the Menard girls (44-50) to capture the Class 2A girls state title, while Louis McGehee was third (75), Newman was fourth (95), STA ffith (100), Country day sixth (202), Avoyolles seventh (215), Rosepine eighth (242), Dunham ninth (275) and Catholic-New Iberia was tenth (284) in the field of thirteen teams. Senior Abby Bates was the only local female Cross Country athlete to earn All- State honors at the ninth position (24:25). Madelyn Nicaud was sixteenth (24:56), Emma Littell was seventeenth (24:57), Breanna Becerra(24th-25:17), Madison Robertson (37th-26:37), Jourdan St. Romain (38th-26:44) and Brynleigh Berthelot was 39th (26:51).
    The Sacred Heart-New Orleans girls captured the 3-A girls state title with (26), University Lad was second (67), while the Jewel Sumner girls were ninth (253) in the field of nineteen teams. McKayla Lee led the Sumner girls with a twenty-eighth place finish (27:09), Madison Parfait was (38th-27:49), Abby Hodges (44th-28:40), Haley Stevens (50th-29:07), Madison Wood (104th-34:07), Karli Addison (118th-37:29) and Aiden Harrelson was 123rd (38:46).
    The Erath boys captured the 3-A boys team title with (67), while University Lab was second with (87) and the Jewel Sumner boys were twelfth (307) in the field of twenty-five teams. Ashton Blades led the Sumner boys with a 38th place finish (22:04), Andres Moreno was 50th (22:29), Colby Sloan (65th-23:25), Brayden Blalock (71st-23:53), Trinity Parfait (92nd-25:04) and Tanner Blades was 105th (25:31).
    The St. Joseph’s Academy girls captured the 5-A girls team title with (23) points, while the Mandeville girls were second (83) and the Ponchatoula girls were ninth (300) in the field of twenty-four teams. PHS senior Blair Vignes led the team with a twenty-second place finish in (24:12), Jayden Richard was 44th (25:06), Belle Vignes (65th-26:36), Paige Donaldson (86th-28:09), Jordan Louiviere (91st-28:38), Jayden Leblanc (106th-29:36) and Nora Biro was 107th (29:41).
    The Catholic-Baton Rouge boys team captured the 5-A team title with (47), Brother Martin was second (70) and PHS was fourteenth (385) in the field of twenty-four teams. Senior Beau Hodges led the PHS boys team with a 33rd place finish (19:46), Shawn Farmer was 66th (20:46), Andrew Falcon (90th-21:29), Jacob Quesada (102nd-21:44), Colin Thibodeaux (108th-21:59), Breysen Dettwiller (121st-22:25) and Zak Beard was 140th (23:20).
    
Donnes and Becerra pace Saint Thomas in Metro Championships.
Senior John Donnes earn runner-up honors in field of over 180 runners.

HAMMOND, LA—The annual Metro Cross Country Championships featuring 13 ladies teams and 16 men’s teams produced several top fifteen performances by Tangi squads. Belle Vignes and Blair Vignes of Ponchatoula finished fourth and fifth individually pacing a sixth place team finish by the Lady Wave. Breanna Becerra finished fourteenth to lead Saint Thomas. Sacred Heart Senior Mary Nusloch captured the individual title.
    Country Day won the JH boys team title with (30), while the Trafton Academy boys followed closely at second (38) led by a second place finish by Connor Franks.
    On the men’s side, John Donnes captured runner-up honors as Belle Chase’s Louden Boudreaux captured the individual title. Beau Hodges led the Ponchatoula with a sixth place finish in while Shawn Farmer followed closely at the seventh position.
    The Sacred Heart-New Orleans captured the Varsity girls division of the 2018 Northshore Metro Championships with a score of (32), Cabrini was second (87), Isadore Newman third (95), St. Thomas Aquinas fourth (124), Christ Episcopal fifth (150), Ponchatoula sixth (157), Metairie Park Country Day seventh (201), Belle Chasse eighth (244), Jewel Sumner ninth (253), Northlake Christian tenth (283), Archbishop Hannan eleventh (289), Lakeshore twelfth (298) and St. Amant was thirteenth (344).
    Sacred Heart Senior Mary Nusloch captured the individual title with a winning time of (18:04) on a very slow and muddy course, well ahead of teammate Olivia Boyd at the second position (19:21), while Svenya Stoyanoff (CES) was third (19:24). Locals making the podium were; Belle Vignes (PHS) 4th (19:52), Blair Vignes (PHS) 5th (20:01) and Breanna Becerra (STA) was 14th (20:52) in a field of 124 runners. Becerra led the STA girls, while Emma Littell was (21st-21:34), Abby Bates (24th-21:45), Madelyn Nicaud (34th-22:33), Jourdan St. Romain (50th-23:09), Madison Robertson (54th- 23:24), Brynleigh Berthelot (55th-23:26) and Chalah Rock (99th-27:43). The Vignes twins led the PHS girls, while Jordan Louivere was (51st-23:15), Paige Donaldson (67th-24:21), Jayden Leblanc (68th-24:25), Nora Biro (78th-25:19), Abigail Lesaichere (86th-26:00) and Bella Badeau was (95th-27:00). Abby Hodges led the Sumner girls (28th-22:02), McKayla Lee (46th-22:58), Madison Parfait (59th-23:44), Haley Stevens (70th-24:42) and Karli Addison was (126th-35:29).
    Belle Chasse captured the Varsity boys team title with (41), Ponchatoula was second (85), Isadore Newman third (110), Metairie Park Country Day fourth (111), Christ Episcopal fifth (124), St. Thomas Aquinas sixth (182), Lakeshore seventh (190), Pope John Paul eighth (235), St. Amant ninth (251), Ridgewood Prep tenth (270), Patrick Taylor eleventh (300), Jewel Sumner twelfth (315), Salmen thirteenth (343), Archbishop Hannan fourteenth (364), Bogalusa fifteenth (413) and Northlake Christian was sixteenth (456).
    Belle Chase Sophomore Louden Boudreaux captured the individual title with a winning time of (15:54), while STA senior John Ross Donnes was second (16:16) and CES freshman Jake Tournillion was third (16:31). Beau Hodges led the PHS boys with a sixth place finish in (16:50), while Shawn Farmer followed closely at the seventh position (16:59), Andrew Falcon was (21st-18:06), Jacob Quesada (23rd-18:08), Collin Thibodeaux (31st-18:18), Cooper Caldwell (34th-18:23) and Zack Beard was (37th-18:26). Donnes led the STA boys, while Douglas Robinson was (16th-17:49), Gavin Bankston (36th-18:24), Landen Schillage (65th-19:38), Ethan Foster (89th-20:41), Andrew Dawson (139th-23:37) and Brody Juneau was (148th-24:40). Albany’s Drew Thompson posted a podium finish at the tenth position (17:22), while Colby Sloan led the Sumner boys team (59th-19:13).
    
Saint Thomas girls and boys capture Halloween Run titles.
Freshman Breanna Becerra amd senior John Ross Donnes win individual titles.

HAMMOND, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls Cross Country team captured the Varsity Girls team title in Thursday’s 2018 STA Halloween Run with (17), while the Jewel Sumner girls were second with (43). STA freshman Breanna Bceerra captured the individual two mile title on a rain-soaked and very muddy course with a winning time of (13:00). Sophomore Madelyn Nicaud was second (13:09), Abby Bates was third (13:25), Emma Littell fifth (13:55), Brynleigh Berthelot sixth (14:06), Jourdan St. Romain eighth (14:26), Madison Robertson tenth (14:53) and Chalah Rock was twelfth (16:22) for the lady falcons. Junior Abby Hodges led the Sumner girls team with a fourth place finish (13:38), McKayla Lee was seventh (14:08), Madison Parfait placed ninth (14:26), Haley Stevens eleventh (15:04) and Karli Addison was thirteenth (19:15).
    The STA boys edged-out the Jewel Sumner boys (30-33) to capture the Varsity boys team title, while Bogalusa was third (73). Senior John Ross Donnes was the individual champion in (10:50), while Logan Lucas was second (11:02), Douglas Robinson placed fifth (11:43), Landen Schillage eleventh (12:21), Ethan Foster fourteenth (13:39), Brody Juneau fifteenth (13:45), Andrew Dawson eighteenth (14:25) and Alec Dufriend was nineteenth (14:34) for the champion falcon team. Sumner’s Nick Story was third (11:26), Ashton Blades was seventh (12:04), Tanner Blades was eighth (12:07), Brayden Blalock ninth (12:12) and Colby Sloan was tenth (12:14). Albany’s Drew Thompson posted a fourth place finish (11:34), while Bogalusa’s Dustin Wagner was sixth (12:02).
    
Saint Thomas ladies post Runner-Up finish in MC-Watson Ford Cross Country Invitational.
Freshman Breanna Becerra led the way for the Lady Falcons with a seventh place finish.

CLINTON, MS—The Saint Thomas Aquinas, Jewel Sumner high school teams and the Trafton Middle school teams competed in Saturday’s 2018 MC-Watson Ford Cross Country Invitational, which was held at the Choctaw Trails CC Course in Clinton, Mississippi. The STA girls posted a second place team finish in the Division II Varsity girls with (92) points, Kossuth was the champion with (79). St. Andrew's Episcopal was third (94), Hickory Flat fourth (154), Tupelo Christian Prep fifth (158), Jewel Sumner sixth (164), followed by; Choctaw Central (177), St. Patrick (199), New Site (208), Madison St. Joseph (229), Sterlington (236), Benton Academy (271), Claiborne Christian (308), Enterprise (382) and MS Palmer HS (428). The STA girls put four runners in the top thirty positions to earn the runner-up team award. Freshman Breanna Becerra led the way for the lady falcons with a seventh place finish in (21:50) for the 5000 meter hilly course. Senior Abby Bates was eleventh (22:07), Emma Littell was seventeenth (23:02), Brynleigh Berthelot placed 30th (24:05), Madison Robertson (38th-25:19), Jourdan St. Romain (41st-25:29) and Paige Bankston was 111th (32:34). Sumner Senior McKayla Lee led the cowgirls with a twenty-first place finish in (23:12.1), followed closely by teammate Abby Hodges at the 22nd position(23:12.6), Madison Parfait(31st-24:11), Haley Stevens (46th-25:53) and Madison Wood (72nd-27:50).
    Tupelo Christian captured the team title in the Division II race with (47), Kossuth was second (117), Choctaw Central third (133), West Lincoln fourth (152), Hickory Flat fifth (241), STA sixth (246), Lakeside seventh (255), St. Andrews eighth (263), Jewel Sumner ninth (274), followed by; Westminster Academy (283), St. Patricks (296), Sterlington (322), New Site(328), St. Fredrick (346), French Camp (387), Clarksdale (389), Madison St. Joseph (450), Loyd Star (461), JZ George (477), Vidalia (541), S.E. Lauderdale (550), MS Palmer (551), Claiborne Christian (554), Benton Academy (627) and Enterprise (726). STA Senior John Ross Donnes led the Falcons with a second place individual finish in (17:24), Logan Lucas was eleventh (18:35), Douglas Robinson (40th-20:28), Landen Schillage (77th-22:01), Ethan Foster (131st-424), Alec Dufriend (138th-24:51) and Andrew Dawson (146th-25:27). Sumner Senior Nick Story led the cowboys with a fourteenth place finish in (18:45), followed by; Brayden Blalock (47th-20:47), Trinity Parfait (61st-21:24), Colby Sloan (72nd-21:47), Tanner Blades (91st-22:40) and Andres Moreno (103rd-23:11).
    
Saint Thomas competes in Gulf Coast XC Stampede.
Senior John Ross Donnes led the team with a thirty-fourth place finish in (18:08).

Pensacola, FL—The Saint Thomas Aquinas Cross Country teams competed in Saturday’s 2018 Gulf Coast XC Stampede held at the Escambia Equestrian Center in Pensacola, Florida. The St. Joseph Academy (BR) team captured the Varsity girls team title with (44), Harrison HS (Georgia) was second (138), Baker (Georgia) third (165), Mandeville fourth (174), Live Oak fourteenth (409), Cabrini seventeenth (463), St. Thomas Aquinas was twenty-second (593), Lafayette High twenty-third (612) and Parkview Baptist thirty-first (885) in the field of thirty-nine teams. Freshman Breanna Becerra led the lady falcons with a 88th place finish in a time of (22:59) for the 5000 meter race. Emma Littell was 106th (23:34), Brynleigh Bertelot (138th-24:26), Abby Bates (139th-24:28), Jourdan St. Romain (187th-25:32) and Madison Robertson was 193rd (25:37) in the field of 307 runners.
    The Harrison HS boys captured the Varsity boys team title with (63), Niceville was second (85), Beech HS (Tennessee) was third, Mandeville seventh (235), Jesuit eighth (264), Live Oak seventeenth (562), Saint Thomas Aquinas twenty-fifth (699) and Lafayette High was twenty-ninth(769) in a field of thirty nine teams. Senior John Ross Donnes led the team with a thirty-fourth place finish in (18:08) for the 5000 meters. Donnes was STA’s only medalist this weekend. Logan Lucas was 49th (18:24), Gavin Bankston (181st-20:18), Douglas Robinson (232nd-21:01), Landen Schillage (311th-23:42), Ethan Foster (337th-25:41), Alec Dufriend (339th-25:54) and Andrew Dawson was 350th (27:21) in a field of 360 runners. The STA team will be competing in next weeks St. Joseph Academy Invitational in Baton Rouge.
    
Saint Thomas collects a pair of top finishes!
Falcons in 2018 Saint Stanislaus Forester Commagere Hoka One Classic in Mississppi.

Bay St. Louis, MS—The Saint Thomas Aquinas boys cross country team posted a second place team finish, while the girls team placed third in Saturday’s 2018 St. Stanislaus Forester Commagere Hoka One Classic held in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi at the St. Stanislaus Football Stadium.
    The St. Stanislaus boys captured the varsity team title with (44), STA was second (59), Lakeside third (62), Purvis fourth(93), Picayune fifth (115) and Sacred Heart-Hattiesburg was sixth (142). STA senior John Ross Donnes posted a second place individual finish in the two mile race with a time of (10:27), while senior teammate Logan Lucas was third in (10:30). Douglas Robinson was twelfth (11:48), Gavin Bankston placed sixteenth (12:12), Brody Juneau (28th-13:04), Landen Schillage (13:17), Ethan Foster (33rd-13:46), Andrew Dawson (35th-14:07) and Alec Dufriend was 39th (15:27). Picayunes Mason Wtson captured the individual tiel with a time of (10:22).
    The Sacred Heart-New Orleans girls captured the team title with (18), Cabrini was second (59), STA third (63), Sacred Heart-Hattiesburg fourth (117) and Our Lady Academy-MS was fifth (129). STA freshman Breanna Becerra led the lady falcons with a third place sprint to the finish with a time of (12:45.8) to runner-up Olivia Boyd(Sacred Heart-NO) ran (12:45.4) for the two mile varsity girls race.Senior Abby Bates was eleventh (13:50), Emma Littell was fourteenth (14:13), Brynleigh Berthelot was sixteenth (14:30), Madison Robertson (22nd-15:27) and Jourdan St. Romain (24th-15:38). Sacred Heart-N.O. senior Mary Nusloch was the individual varsity girls champion in (11:45).
    
Falcons dominate dual meet with Ponchatoula.
John Donnes takes first place followed by Logan Lucus in second and Douglas Robinson in fifth place.

HAMMOND, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls edged-out the Ponchatoula girls (28-29), while the PHS boys edged-out the STA boys (28-29). The Varsity division of the BSN Sports Invitational was held on Friday with just STA and PHS competing in a duel meet.PHS freshman Jadyn Richard captured the varsity girls three mile race with a time of (20:45) on the extremely muddy course. Richard was followed by senior Blair Vignes at the second position (21:20). Senior Abby Bates led the way for the lady falcons with a third place finish (21:42), while freshman Breanna Becerra (STA) was fourth (21:56), Belle Vignes(PHS) was fifth (22:06), Emma Littell(STA) sixth (23:44), Brynleigh Berthelot (STA) seventh (24:05), Jourdan St. Romain (STA) eighth (24:49), Madison Robertson (STA) ninth (24:54) and Paige Donaldson (PHS) was tenth (25:29).
    STA’s senior John Ross Donnes was the Varsity boys champion in (17:10), while senior teammate Logan Lucas was second (17:20). Shawn Farmer (PHS) was third (17:28), Beau Hodges (PHS) fourth (18:49), Douglas Robinson (STA) fifth (19:24), Nicholas Drell (PHS) sixth (20:25), Cooper Coldwell (PHS) seventh (20:27), Collin Thibodeaux (PHS) eighth (20:45), Gavin Bankston (STA) ninth (20:46) and Breysen Dettwiller(PHS) was tenth (20:54).
    
Freshman Breanna Becerra and senior John Ross Donnes pace Falcons in Memphis Twilight.
Meet featured 344 females runners and 402 males.

MEMPHIS, TN—The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls team posted a twenty-fifth place team finish in a field of forty-three teams in Saturday’s Memphis Twilight Cross Country Classic Invitational held at the Mike Ryan Soccer Complex in Memphis, Tennessee. Freshman Breanna Becerra led the lady falcons with a 97th place finish in (21:46) for the 5000 meter race that totaled 344 runners. Senior Abby Bates was 149th (22:45), Madelyn Nicaud was 170th (23:08), Emma Littell was 212th (24:00), Brynleigh Berthelot was 225th(24:30), Madison Robertson placed 277th (26:18) and Jourdan St. Romain placed 312th (28:37).
     Senior John Ross Donnes led the Saint Thomas Aquina boys team to a 36th place team finish in a field of 402 runners and 52 teams. Donnes posted a time of (17:59) for the 5000 meter race at the 97th position. Senior Logan Lucas was 126th (18:17), Douglas Robinson was 260th (20:20), Gavin Bankston was 295th (21:01), Brody Juneau was 327th (21:49), Landen Schillage was 369th (23:13), Ethan Foster was 395th (23:15) and Alec Defriend placed 395th (25:0
     The boys and girls teams will compete at STA on Friday night this week in a duel meet with Ponchatoula HS. The girls race will be at 4:00 pm, while the boys will run at 4:45pm.
    
Saint Thomas dominates All-Tangipahoa Parish Cross Country Team.
Sixteen Falcons earn parish honors.

HAMMOND—Fresh off collecting a pair of LHSAA State Runner-Up trophies the Saint Thomas Cross Country dominated Tangipahoa All-Parish Team placing six thin clads on the first team and eight on the second team. Senior David Anthon, junior John Donnes, and junior Logan Lucas earned first team selection, while senior Nicole Francois, junior Abby Bates, and freshman Emma Littell collected first team honors for the Lady Falcons.
    Saint Thomas placed eight on the All-Parish Second Team along with two Honorable Mention selections. Tristan Robertson, Jude Vitrano, Dawson Gildig, Douglas Robertson, Brynleigh Berthelot, Yvette Miller, Maggie Crawford, and Madelyn Nicaud earned second team honors, while Madison Robertson and Chalah Rock collected Honorable Mention honors.
    
Girls and Boys bring home the hardware!
Falcon Cross Country collects a pair of LHSAA Class 2A State Runner-up trophies.

NATCHITOCHES, LA—The St. Thomas Aquinas girls and boys cross country teams each captured runner-up state trophies in Monday’s 2017 LHSAA State Cross Country Championships held on the Northwestern Louisiana University Cross Country Course in Natchitoches.
    The Episcopal boys captured the Class 2A team title with (21), STA was second (59), Holy Savior Menard was third (76), Isadore Newman was fourth (163) and Lakeside was fifth (203) in the field of twenty-three teams. The STA boys had a pair of runners earn all-state honors, Senior David Anthon posted a fifth place finish in (16:41), while Junior John Ross Donnes posted a ninth place finish in (17:05). Dawson Gildig was fourteenth (17:31), Tristan Robertson was fifteenth (17:32), Logan Lucas placed sixteenth (17:36), Jude Vitrano was twenty-third (17:53) and Douglas Robinson placed thirty-third (18:41) for the falcons in a field of 169 runners. Vitrano was also honored as a 2017 LHSAA Composite All-State Academic athlete with a 4.0 GPA throughout his four years competing in cross country at STA.
    The Holy Savior Menard girls captured the Class 2-A title with (21), STA was second with (89), Louise McGehee was third (110), Episcopal fourth (118) and Isadore Newman was fifth (124) in the field of fifteen teams. Senior Nicole Francois led the lady falcons with a ninth place all-state finish in (19:43) for the three mile race. Abby Bates place twelfth (20:11), Emma Littell was twenty-first (20:54), Brynleigh Berthelot (25th-21:03), Yvette Miller (26th-21:11), Maggie Crawford (35th-21:57) and Madison Robertson was (58th-22:54) for the STA girls in a field of 135 runners. Miller was also honored as a 2017 LHSAA Composite All-State Academic athlete with a 4.0 GPA throughout her four years competing in cross country at STA.

    
Anthon takes the Metro Title!
Senior David Anthon finishes first in the annual 2017 Perfectly Fit Northshore Cross Country Championships. Abby Bates led the STA girls to the runner-up team title with a sixth place individual finish.

HAMMOND—The Sacred Heart-New Orleans girls Cross Country team and the Belle Chasse High School boys captured the Varsity girls and boys team titles respectively in Tuesday’s 2017 Perfectly Fit Northshore Cross Country Championships held on the STA campus in Hammond. Sacred Heart junior Mary Nusloch captured the individual three mile varsity girls title in a winning time of 17:59 and Saint Thomas Aquinas senior, David Anthon, captured the individual three mile boys title.
    Nusloch captured the individual three mile Varsity girl’s title in a winning time of 17:59, which was 45 seconds faster than runner-up Molly McHale from St. Scholastica Academy at 18:44. Sacred Heart scored (34) to win the team title, while the Saint Thomas Aquinas girls were second (60), St. Scholastica Academy was third (74), Belle Chasse High School fourth (113), Cabrini fifth (120), Archbishop Hannan sixth (184), Ponchatoula seventh (209), Lakeshore eighth (214), Saint Katherine Drexel ninth (227), St. Amant tenth (294) and Franklinton was eleventh (342).
    Saint Thomas Aquinas junior Abby Bates led the STA girls to second place team finish with a sixth place individually at (19:50), Senior Nicole Francois(recent SLU commit) posted an eighth place finish in (20:01), Emma Littel was 18th (21:00.33), Yvette Miller was 19th (21:00.65), Brynleigh Berthelot was 20th (21:00.90), Maggie Crawford (32nd-21:37), Madison Robertson (51st-22:56) and Chalah Rock was (54th-23:15) in a field of 143 runners. Ponchatoula Junior Blair Vignes led the local finishers with a fourth place finish in (19:44) and Sumner Sophomore Abby Hodges was 29th (21:39). Also earning All-Metro Honors were; Svenya Stoyanoff (Christ Episcopal) 3rd (19:28), Jade Talazac (Belle Chasse) 5th(19:46), Cali Jane Luekemeier (Sacred Heart) 7th(19:55), Ivy Hunt(Christ Episcopal) 9th (20:12), Olivia Gaines (Sacred Heart) 10th (20:18), Madeline Kling (Sacred Heart) 11th (20:22), Olivia Boyd (Sacred Heart) 12th (20:30), Madisyn Acosta (Cabrini) 13th (20:46), Katie Callura (SSA) 14th (20:47) and Emily Leblanc (Sacred Heart) 15th (20:48).
    The Belle Chasse High School boys captured the Varsity boys team title with a score of 26, Saint Thomas Aquinas was second (44), Ponchatoula third (107), Lakeshore fourth (126), Sumner fifth (159), Christ Episcopal sixth (166), Archbishop Hannan seventh (206), Northlake Christian eighth (211), Pope John Paul ninth (215), St. Amant tenth (218), Salmen eleventh (310) and Franklinton was twelfth (368). St. Thomas Aquinas senior David Anthon captured the individual three mile title in (16:15), just three seconds ahead of Belle Chasse senior Alex Melcer in (16:18).
    Anthon led the STA boys with his victory to a second place team finish, Logan Lucas was fifth (16:33), John Ross Donnes was sixth (16:36), Jude Vitrano was thirteenth(17:21)Tristan Robertson placed nineteenth (17:45), Dawson Gildig was 20th (17:46) and Douglas Robinson was 24th (18:21). Sumner’s Nick Story was ninth (16:46), Ponchatoula’s Beau Hodges was twelfth(17:11) to lead local teams finishers in a field of 141 runners. Also earning All-Metro honors were; Paul Mantzel (Belle Chasse) 3rd(16:23), Alex Sucato (Belle Chasse) fourth (16:32), Louden Boudreaux (Belle Chasse) seventh (16:37), Brandon Shows (Lakeshore) eighth (16:39), Kyle Merchant (Belle Chasse) tenth (16:50), Jake Tournillion (Christ Episcopal) eleventh (17:09), Luke Acosta (Christ Episcopal) fourteenth (17:29) and Shawn Farmer (Ponchatoula) was fifteenth (17:31).
    The Trafton Academy girls captured the Junior High girls team title with (20), St. Peter was second (74), Roseland third (79), Heritage Academy fourth (101), St. Scholastica Academy fifth (109) and Archbishop Hannan was sixth (131). Trafton Academy eighth grader Breanna Becerra captured the individual two mile race in (12:53), while teammate Amelia Mistretta was second (13:39). Also joining Becerra and Mistretta on the winning team were; Alexis Pitts sixth (14:40), Jourdan St. Romain eighth (14:56), Presley Walls ninth (15:18), Ava Mistretta fourteenth (15:54) and Reese White was thirty-second (18:00). Local top runners were; Madison Parfait (Sumner) fifth (14:29), Aidan Harrelson(Roseland) sixteenth (16:02) and Trinity Adams (St. Helena) forty-first(19:13) in a field of 53 runners. Also earning JH All-Metro honors were; Sophia Dominguez (Christ Episcopal) third (14:07), Peyton Baker (St. Peter) fourth (14:12), Madi Berger (SSA) seventh (14:43), Macey Strickland (Christ Episcopal) tenth (15:30), Kaylee Collier(Heritage Christian) eleventh (15:34), Bethany Rayborn (Heritage Christian) twelfth (15:38), Addison Lee (St. Peter) thirteenth (15:49) and Lucia Englehardt (St. Peter) was fifteenth (16:02).
    St. Peter won the Junior High boys team title with (57), Roseland Montessori was second (76), Archbishop Hannan third (85), Sumner fourth (105), Bogalusa fifth (119), Maurepas sixth (142), St. Helena seventh (166) and Heritage Christian was eighth (170). Sumner eighth grader Andres Moreno was the individual winner in (12:20), he was eighteen seconds ahead of runner-up Stephen Miller (Bogalusa) at the second position in (12:38). Also earning JH All-Metro honors were; Keegan O’donnell (Hannan) third (12:41), Dallas Stricker (Heritage) fourth(13:06), Chad Hillstrom (Roseland) fifth (13:11), Trevor Landrew (Roseland) sixth (13:12), Henry Englehardt (St. Peter) seventh (13:13), Haiken Thompson (Bogalusa) eighth(13:20), Ben Wilson (Hannan) ninth (13:21), Dell Mokry-Montelaro (Hannan) tenth (13:22), Everett Enk (St. Peter) eleventh(13:42), Conlin Enk (St. Peter) twelfth (13:53), William Charles (St. Peter) thirteenth (14:26), William Kitchen (St. Peter) fourteenth (14:37) and Joshua Hanna (Maurepas) was fifteenth (14:39) in a field of 54 runners.
    
Short-handed ladies earn top finish in STA-Dutchtown Cross Country Invitational.
Nicole Francois led Lady Falcons with runner-up finish.

HAMMOND—The Saint Thomas Aquinas captured the team title in Saturday’s 2017 STA-Dutchtown Cross Country Invitational held on the STA Cross Country Course. A total of 117 runners from seven different schools competed in the eighth annual event and endured the cold, windy and muddy course. Most of the STA boys were out this week taking the ACT, while two of the top STA girls were also taking the ACT. STA scored (18) for the team win, while runner-up Dutchtown had (49) and Archbishop Hannan was third with (65). Christ Episcopal seventh grader Ivy Hunt captured the individual two mile title in (13:00). STA senior Nicole Francois led the team with a second place finish in (13:11), freshman Emma Littell was third (13:22), senior Yvette Miller was fourth (13:31), junior Brynleigh Berthelot was fifth (13:39), sophomore Chalah Rock was twelfth (14:26) and freshman Madison Robertson was fourteenth (14:31). Sumner junior McKayla Lee posted a sixth place finish in (13:48), while sophomore teammate Abby Hodges was ninth (13:54).
    Dutchtown captured the Varsity boys team title with (25), Jewel Sumner was second (57), Christ Episcopal was third (69) and Archbishop Hannan was fourth (80). Dutchtown senior captured the individual two mile title in (10:41), just edging out STA junior John Ross Donnes at the second position (10:42). Sumner sophomore Nick Story was fourth (11:02), STA sophomore Douglas Robinson was tenth (11:53) and Sumner sophomore Ashton Blades was thirteenth (12:03).
    
Cross County teams collect a pair of runner-up finishes.
Boys and Girls Cross Country squads place second in annual 2017 STA-Rollette Chiropractic Cross Country Invitational.

HAMMOND—The Belle Chasse boys captured the Varsity boy’s team title in this weeks 2017 STA-Rollette Chiropractic Cross Country Invitational held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Cross Country Course in Hammond. BCHS scored (23), while the host STA boys were runner-up with (52), Isadore Newman was third (86), Ponchatoula fourth (91), Christ Episcopal fifth (160), Pope John Paul sixth (187), Northlake Christian seventh (190), Sumner eighth (220), St. Amant ninth (220) and Maurepas was tenth (324). Belle Chasse senior Alex Melcer was the individual champion at (16:14) for the three mile race. STA senior David Anthon led the Falcons with a third place finish (16:35), John Ross Donnes was fifth (16:39), Tristan Robertson placed thirteenth (17:23), Logan Lucas was fifteenth (17:31), Douglas Robinson sixteenth (17:44), Jude Vitrano (21st-18:23) and Dawson Gildig was (40th-19:23) in the field of 118 runners. Nick Story led the Sumner boys with an eleventh place finish (17:07), while Beau Hodges led the Ponchatoula boys with a twelfth place finish in (17:11).
    Sacred Heart-New Orleans captured the Varsity girls team title with (40), STA was second (70), Belle Chasse third (107), Newman fourth (114), Cabrini fifth (122), Christ Episcopal sixth (128), Ponchatoula seventh (134) and St. Amant was eighth (222). Sacred Heart junior Mary Nusloch captured the individual victory with a time of (18:14). Ponchatoula’s Blair Vignes was the top local finisher with a seventh place finish in (20:01). STA senior Nicole Francois led the Lady Falcon attack with an eighth place finish in (20:10), Abby Bates followed closely at the ninth position (20:12), Brynleigh Berthelot was nineteenth (21:16), Maggie Crawford was 21st (21:23), Yvette Miller 26th(21:37), Madison Robertson 48th (23:25), Lilly Maggio 49th (23:48) and Chalah Rock was 54th (24:23) in the field of 98 runners.
    
Cross County teams post top ten finishes.
Senior David Anthon led the STA boys with an eleventh place finish and senior Nicole Francois led the STA girls with a 36th place finish.

HAMMOND—The Saint Thomas Aquinas High School boys Varsity cross country team posted a fourth place team finish in Saturday’s 2017 St. Joseph Academy Cross Country Invitational held in Baton Rouge at the Highland Road Park Cross Country Course. The STA girls posted a seventh place team finish in the Varsity girls division.
    Episcopal captured the Varsity boys team title with a score of (48), Catholic High was second (50), Jesuit third (141), STA fourth (172), Fontainebleau fifth (178), St. Paul's sixth (197), Mandeville seventh (232), Live Oak eighth (257), ED White ninth (268) and St. Thomas More was tenth (294) in the field of 37 teams. Ponchatoula High posted a 19th place team finish (517). Senior David Anthon led the STA boys with an eleventh place finish in (16:11), Logan Lucas was 18th (16:29), John Ross Donnes 26th (16:49), Tristan Robertson 37th (16:58), Douglas Robinson 82nd(17:58), Dawson Gildig was 115th (18:43), the PHS boys team was led by Beau Hodges at 51st position (17:19), 276 runners competed.
    Saint Joseph’s Academy captured the Varsity girls team title with (61), Mandeville was second (90), Menard third (90), St. Michael's fourth (130), Academy of Sacred Heart-New Orleans fifth (191), Lafayette sixth (238), STA seventh (259), Mount Carmel eighth (261), St. Scholastica Academy ninth (284), Covenant Christian tenth (326) and PHS was 18th (458) in the field of 24 teams. Senior Nicole Francois led the STA girls with a 36th place finish (20:12), Abby Bates was 47th(20:26), Brynleigh Berthelot 53rd(20:43), Emma Littell 54th(20:43), Madelyn Nicaud 74th(21:33), Yvette Miller 86th(22:02) and Maggie Crawford was 94th(22:08) in the field of 202 runners. PHS Junior Blair Vignes posted a 22nd place finish (19:33), in the field of 202 runners.

Saint Thomas Aquinas Dominates Tangipahoa All-Parish Cross Country Teams
Juniors Nicole Francois and David Anthon earn MVP honors.

HAMMOND— The Saint Thomas Aquinas thin-clads dominated the Tangipahoa All-Parish Cross Country Teams with the boys placing four on the first team and the girls three with first team honors. Junior David Anthon was named the Boys MVP and was joined by juniors Tristan Robertson and Jude Vitrano, and sophomore Logan Lucas.
    Junior Nicole Francois was named Girls MVP and also earned LHSAA Class 2A All-State honors. Sophomore Abby Bates and senior Patricia Todd also collect first team honors.
    Saint Thomas Aquinas grabbed six of the ten second team spots as seniors Jordyn Neal, Meghan Becerra, Clayton Ourso, junior Yvette Miller, sophomores Brynleigh Berthelot, and John Ross Donnes earned second team honors.
    Senior Ellen Gambel, juniors Maggie Crawford and Dawson Gildig earned Honorable Mention.

Falcon thinclads earn runner-up honors at State Meet.
Saint Thomas boys bring home hardware with second place team finish in Class 2A.

NATCHITOCHES, LA— The Saint Thomas Aquinas boys Cross Country team posted a second place team finish in the 2016 LHSAA Class 2A Cross Country Championships held Monday at the Northwestern State University Cross Country Course in Natchitoches, while the Lay Falcons posted a fourth place team finish. The Episcopal boys captured their 21st team title to win with (19), STA was second with (72), Holy Savior Menard was third (95), Newman fourth (132), Runnels fifth (138), Lakeside sixth (195), Country Day seventh (247), Haynes Academy eighth (253), Thomas Jefferson ninth (330), and David Thibodeaux tenth (335) in the field of twenty-eight full teams. Episcopal’s Graham Frazier was the individual winner in (16:00), while Lakeside’s Cody Robinson was second (16:10). STA Junior Tristan Robertson led the team with an eleventh place finish (17:11), David Anthon was twelfth (17:17), Jude Vitrano thirteenth (17:28), John Ross Donnes seventeenth (17:37), Dawson Gildig nineteenth (17:41), Clayton Ourso was twenty-fourth (18:00) and Logan Lucas placed thirtieth (18:14) for the Falcon runner-up team.
    The Menard girls captured the girls team title with (42), Episcopal was second (62), Newman was third (122), STA fourth (125), McGehee fifth (131), Runnels sixth (154), Lakeside seventh (168), Country Day eighth (179), Rosepine ninth (262) and Hannan was tenth (276) in the field of twenty-one teams. Lakeside’s Alissa Lander was the individual winner in (18:15), while Episcopal’s Alicia Stamey was second (19:00). STA Junior Nicole Francois earned Class 2A All-State honors by placing eighth (20:03), a seasonal best for her and the only STA girl to post a top ten finish this year at the state meet. Jordyn Neal was twenty-fifth (21:12), Patricia Todd (31st-21:37), Abby Bates (32nd-21:37), Yvette Miller (35th-21:54), Ellen Gambel (39th-22:00) and Brynleigh Berthelot was 41st (22:06).

Falcon captures 2016 Northshore Metro Cross Country Championships team title!
Saint Thomas junior David Anthon captured the individual title with a time of 16:37.

HAMMOND—The Saint Thomas Aquinas boys Varsity Cross Country team captured Tuesday’s 2016 Northshore Metro Cross Country Championships team title with (37) points. Runner-up Belle Chasse High School also scored (37), so the scoring had to go to the six runner, STA’s sixth runner was fourteenth, while Belle Chasse’ sixth runner was twentieth to break the tie for the championship trophy. Ponchatoula High was third (108), Lakeshore fourth (112), Archbishop Hannan fifth (174), Dutchtown sixth (181), Holy Rosary seventh (189), Jewel Sumner eighth (192), Pope John Paul ninth (235), Salmen tenth (262), Mandeville eleventh (262), St. Amant twelfth (355) and Franklinton thirteenth (387).
    Falcon junior David Anthon captured the individual title with a time of (16:37), while runner-up Alex Lewis from Holy Rosary was second in (16:38) for the three mile race. Anthon led a STA boys who placed all eight runners in the top twenty-five positions to capture the team title. Tristan Robertson was fifth (16:57), Jude Vitrano ninth (17:24), John Ross Donnes tenth (17:29), Logan Lucas twelfth (17:36), Clayton Ourso fourteenth (17:40), Dawson Gildig twenty-fourth (18:39) and Douglas Robinson was twenty-fifth (18:39) for the Falcons. Ponchatoula’s Lucas Coleman was seventh (17:04) and Beau Hodges was fifteenth (17:52), while Jewel Sumner’s Nick Story was thirteenth (17:40) to earn All-Metro honors.
    “We are proud of the STA boys team, they competed hard considering that the Cross Country course was 8-10 inches under water in some spots and still pulled-off the team victory,” said Saint Thomas Aquinas head coach Miguel Becerra. “This was a good test before next Monday’s LHSAA State meet to be held at NSU in Natchitoches.”
    The Academy of Sacred Heart captured the Varsity girls team title with (35), St. Scholastica Academy was second (61), Mandeville High third (76), St. Thomas Aquinas fourth (85), Cabrini fifth (149), Ponchatoula sixth (170), Lakeshore seventh (197), Archbishop Hannan eighth (219), Jewel Sumner ninth (236) and Dutchtown was tenth (301).
    Sacred Heart’s Mary Nusloch was the individual winner in (18:52), while teammate Madeline Kling was second (19:15). STA sophomore Abby Bates led the team with a tenth place finish (20:31), while Nicole Francois was eleventh (20:38), Patricia Todd was fourteenth (20:46), Yvette Miller (23rd-21:16), Brynleigh Berthelot (27th- 21:39), Jordyn Neal (28th- 21:46), Ellen Gambel (29th – 21:52), Maggie Crawford (31st – 21:54) and Chalah Rock (52nd- 23:21) for the lady falcons. Ponchatoula’s Blair Vignes led the team with a twentieth place finish (21:01), while Jewel Sumner’s Abby Hodges was thirty-fourth (22:14).
    
SWEEP! Girls and Boys capture team title in STA-Dutchtown Invitational!
Abby Bates and David Anthon pace wins.

HAMMOND—The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls and boys won the Varsity division in Saturday’s STA-Dutchtown Invitational held on the STA Campus in Hammond.
    The Lady Falcons scored (31) to get the team victory over runner-up Dutchtown (37), while Jewel Sumner was third (66). Dutchtown’s Tara Stuntz was the individual winner in (12:05), while Lakeshore’s Haley Dean was second (12:59). STA’s Abby Bates led the team with a third place finish in (13:14), Brynleigh Berthelot was fifth (13:32), Ellen Gambel was eighth (14:01), Nicole Francois was ninth (14:06), Yvette Miller eleventh (14:08), Maggie Crawford twelfth (14:15), Jordyn Neal thirteenth (14:16), Chalah Roch seventeenth (15:20) and Laken Neal (32nd-18:04). Jewel Sumner’s Abby Hodges was seventh(13:53) and Alayna Herrington was tenth (14:06).
    The Saint Thomas boys captured the team title with (35), Lakeshore was second (45), Dutchtown third (50), Jewel Sumner fourth (105) and Franklinton was fifth (152). Lakeshores Brandon Shows was the individual winner in (10:50). David Anthon led the STA boys team to a team victory with a second place finish in (10:57), Tristan Robertson was third (10:58), Logan Lucas fifth (11:07), John Ross Donnes was ninth (11:13), Jude Vitrano was sixteenth (11:40), Clayton Ourso seventeenth (11:43), Douglas Robinson (23rd-12:05), Dawson Gildig (25th-12:09) and Mason Thompson (31st-12:39). Jewel Sumner’s Nick Story posted a twelfth place finish in (11:23).
    
Falcons take second in Rollette Chiropractic Cross Country Invitational
Saint Thomas Ladies finish third.

HAMMOND—The Belle Chasse High School boys captured the Varsity boys team title in the 2016 STA-Rollette Chiropractic Cross Country Invitational held in Hammond with (29) points, while the St. Thomas Aquinas boys were second with (75), Ascension Catholic was third (98), Lakeshore fourth (106), Ponchatoula fifth (144), Fontainebleau sixth (152), Westminster Christian seventh (201), Walker eighth (218), Northlake Christian ninth (242), Jewel Sumner tenth (248), Hammond High Magnet eleventh (307) and Pope John Paul was twelfth (332). Holy Rosary Senior Alex Lewis was the individual winner in (16:45), followed closely by Ascension Catholic Junior Thomas Daigle at the second position in (16:48). STA Sophomore Logan Lucas led the team with a ninth place finish in (17:34), David Anthon was tenth (17:36), John Ross Donnes was fifteenth (17:55), Jude Vitrano (22nd-18:17), Clayton Ourso (24th-18:18), Tristan Robertson (33rd-18:52), Dawson Gildig (36th-19:05) and Caleb Stuart was 60th (20:24). Senior Lucas Coleman led the Ponchatoula boys with an eighth place finish (17:25), while Brandon Doucette (Hammond High) was 18th (18:01) and Nick Story led the Sumner boys with a 28th place finish in (18:30).
    The Academy of Sacred Heart-New Orleans girls captured the Varsity girls team title with (22), St. Scholastica Academy placed second (85), St. Thomas Aquinas was third (85), Ascension Catholic was fourth (143), Cabrini fifth (154), Ponchatoula sixth (155), Westminster Christian seventh (175), Belle Chasse eighth (180), Fontainebleau ninth (206), Lakeshore tenth (269) and St. Katherine Drexel Prep was eleventh (277). Sacred Heart Sophomore Mary Nusloch was the individual winner in (19:10), while Ascension Catholic senior Sophie Daigle was second (19:25). Sophmore Abby Bates led the STA girls with a twelfth place finish (21:12), Patricia Todd was twenty-first (21:55), Nicole Francois (24th-22:07), Brynleigh Berthelot (31st-22:26), Jordyn Neal (32nd – 22:27), Ellen Gambel (33rd- 22:30), Maggie Crawford (47th – 24:12) and Jourdan Cheek (93rd- 27:29). Blair Vignes led the Ponchatoula girls with a twenty-second place finish (21:56), while Abby Hodges led the Jewel Sumner girls at the 29th position (22:17).    
    
Cross Country competes in Catholic High Invitational.
Walker Shootout set for October 15.

BATON ROUGE —The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls and boys posted thirteenth and seventeenth place finishes repsectively in the annual Catholic High Invitational on Saturday.
    Lady Falcon Chalah Rock was (74th-15:11) and Laken Neal (176th- 17:02) in a field of 266 runners. Saint Thomas junior David Anthon led the team with a fifty-sixth place finish in (16:48), while sophomore Logan Lucas was sixth-sixth (16:58).
    The St. Joseph’s (BR) girls captured the Varsity girls team title with (87), Mandeville was second (113), Vanderbilt Catholic third (139), Menard fourth (145), Episcopal fifth (204), Sacred Heart-NO sixth (242), St. Michaels seventh (252), Dominican eighth (260), E.D. White ninth (310), Dutchtown tenth (326), Lusher Charter eleventh (341), Mount Carmel twelfth (379), St. Thomas Aquinas thirteenth (392), Parkview Baptist fourteenth (408), St. Thomas More fifteenth (448), followed by; McGehee (16th-480), St. Martin’s (17th-487), Ursuline Academy (19th-522), Cabrini (20th – 560), Newman (21st-565), Ascension Catholic (22nd-566), Ponchatoula (23rd- 577), Cedar Creek (24th-620), Assumption (25th-662), West Feliciana (26th – 699), University Lab (27th- 706), East Ascension (28th – 728), Hahnville (29th- 733), Hannan (30th -799), Zachary (31st – 833), South Terrebonne (32nd – 929), Central BR (33rd – 964), Woodlawn (34th- 967), Claiborne Christian (35th- 1003), Westgate (36th- 1070), St. Katherine (37th- 1078) and Broadmoor (38th – 1151). Junior Nicole Francois led the STA girls with a sixty-second place finish in (20:36), Abby Bates followed (70th- 20:47), Yvette Miller (86th – 21:05), Patricia Todd (87th – 21:06), Brynleigh Berthelot (111th – 21:38), Jordyn Neal (127th – 22:07) and Ellen Gambel (159th- 22:44). PHS was led by Blair Vignes (75th – 20:52), Lydia Pevey (89th- 21:09), Belle Vignes (121st- 21:52), Taylor Perrilloux (160th- 22:44) and de’Ette Mcabe (182nd- 23:16) in a field of 291 runners.
    The Brother Martin boys captured the Varsity boys team title with (73), Episcopal was second (93), Catholic High third (106), Holy Cross fourth (123), St. Michael fifth (162), ED White sixth (223), Mandeville seventh (327), St. Martins eighth (342), St. Thomas More ninth (356), Zachary tenth (392), John Curtis eleventh (398), Belle Chasse twelfth (417), Rummel Thirteenth (457), Menard fourteenth (470), Dutchtown fifteenth (506), Newman sixteenth (510), St. Thomas Aquinas seventeenth (513), they were followed by Cedar Creek (543), Ponchatoula (551), St. Louis (585), Slidell (586), Shaw (588), S.Terrebonne (605), Erath (605), Ascension Catholic (629), Hahnville (645), Vanderbilt Catholic (682), Pineville (694), Assumption (703), Westgate (785), Lafayette Christian (816), Woodlawm (882), Hannan (917), Holy Rosary (933), Carencro (958), E.Ascension (992), Covington (1021), Broadmoor(1051), University Lab(1121), Salmen(1125), Plaquemine(1147), False River(1147), White Castel(1183), Dunham(1225), Chalmette(1234) and Destrahan(1257). STA Junior David Anthon led the team with a fifty-sixth place finish in (16:48), while Sophomore Logan Lucas was sixth-sixth (16:58). Also joining the Falcons were; Jude Vitrano (17:22-91st), John Ross Donnes (18:08-131st), Clayton Ourso (19:13-192nd) and Dawson Gildig (20:07-246th). Ponchatoula was led by Senior Lucas Coleman (60th-16:53), Shawn Singh (90th-17:21), Beau Hodges (129th-18:06), Ian Waller (141st-18:19) and Jonathan Montz (153rd-18:33) in the field of 365 runners. Saint THomas freshman Douglas Robinson posted a forty-third place finish in the JH Boys race (12:28), while Courtney Christian’s Aidan Franks was forty-second (12:28) and Conner Franks was sixty-ninth (12:51).

Cross Country competes in annual Gulf Coast Stampede.
Abby Bates led the Lady Falcons and won the dance competition held for the runners after the race.

PENSACOLA, FL—The St. Thomas Aquinas girls and boys Cross Country teams posted fifteenth place finishes in Saturday’s 2016 Gulf Coast Stampede held at the Escambia Country Equestrian Center in Pensacola, Florida. Niceville High School dominated the Varsity girls race with a team score of (26), while Harrison was second (110), Mandeville High third (129), Ocean Springs fourth (129), St. Paul’s Episcopal fifth (204), Darlington sixth (219), Scottsboro seventh (255), Spanish Fort eighth (270), Academy of Sacred Heart-New Orleans ninth (287), Grayson tenth (322), TR Miller eleventh (358), South Walton twelfth (371), Gulf Breeze thirteenth (373), Tate fourteenth (373), St. Thomas Aquinas fifteenth (390), Crestview sixteenth (404), Pace seventeenth (427), Roswell eighteenth (440), Ursuline nineteenth (464), Baker twentith (464), Bob Jones (21st-490), Choctawatchee (22nd-522), Country Day (23rd-559), Windmere Prep (24th-592), Arnold (25th-703), Davidson (26th-719), Foley (27th-721), Milton (28th-827) and Pine Forest was twenty-ninth (831). Sophomore Abby Bates led the Saint Thomas girls with a seventith place finish in (22:27) for 5000 meters. Nicole Francois was 81st (22:47), Yvette Miller (87th-22:56), Brynleigh Berthelot (88th-22:58), Patricia Todd (90th-23:00), Maggie Crawford (118th-23:48), Jordyn Neal (123rd-23:54), Ellen Gambel (130th-24:15), Jourdan Cheek (224th-28:44) and Laken Neal (226th-29:13). Trafton’s Breanna Becerra posted an eighth place finish in (22:30) in the JH/JV girls race.
    In the Varsity boys division Grayson High won with (77), Harrison was second (93), Jesuit third (167), Niceville fourth (172), Roswell fifth (175), South Walton sixth (180), Scottsboro seventh (181), Ocean Springs eighth (269), Gulf Breeze ninth (285), Mandeville tenth (288), Choctawatchee eleventh (295), Episcopal of Acadiana twelfth (346), Pace thirteenth (369), Bob Jones fourteenth (381), St. Thomas Aquinas fifteenth, followed by ; Spanish Fort (16th-478), Windmere Prep (17th-494), Darlington (18th-529), Pine Forest (19th-568), St. Paul’s Episcopal (20th-622), TR Miller (21st-630), Milton (22nd-660), Arnold (23rd-704), Crestview(24th-726), Davidson (25th-743), Holy Rosary (26th-743), Alma Bryant (27th-810), Paxton (28th-814), Escambia (29th-817), Country Day (30th-859), Foley(31st-893), Tate(32nd-897), Pensacola Booker T. Washington (33rd-905), D’Iberville (34th-947), Baker (35th-971) and Pensacola High was thirty-sixth (978). Sophomore Logan Lucas led the STA boys with a forty-ninth place finish in (17:55) for the 5000 meter race. Tristan Robertson was sixty-first (18:09), David Anthon (74th-18:23), John Ross Donnes (114th-19:04), Jude Vitrano (139th-19:27), Clayton Ourso (150th-19:40) and Douglas Robinson was 256th (22:43).

Falcons take seventh in Saint Paul’s Christian Brothers Invitational
Junior Tristan Robertson led the Saint Thomas.

ABITA SPRINGS, LA—The Saint Thomas Aquinas boys placed seventh in the Varsity boys division in the 2016 St. Paul’s Christian Brothers Invitational. St. Paul’s boys captured the team title with (48), edging-out the Brother Martin team (50), Catholic High was third (73), St. Martin’s fourth (171), Mandeville fifth (178), Fonatainebleau sixth (183), STA seventh (221), Belle Chasse eighth (255), Zachary ninth (250), Newman tenth (264), Lakeshore (279), Archbishop Shaw (325) , Slidell High (339), Live Oak (409), Ponchatoula fifteenth (442), University Lab (504), Hannan (513), Covington High (515), Sumner (522), Albany (528), East Ascension (580), Northlake Christian (590) and Pearl River (604).
    The Lady Falcons posted a tenth place team finish. The Mandeville girls captured the team title with (26), St. Joseph was second (53), Dominican was third (128), Mount Carmel fourth (184), Fontainebleau fifth (186), Sacred Heart sixth (188), St, Scholastica seventh (190), Newman eighth (217), St. Martin’s ninth (261), STA tenth (264), Cabrini (11th-305), Belle Chasse (12th-310), Ponchatoula (13th-338), University Lab (14th-363), East Ascension (15th-421), Lake Shore (16th- 427), Live Oak (17th- 475), Hannan (18th – 525), Northshore (19th – 549), Slidell (20th -552) and Zachary (21st -563).
    Junior Tristan Robertson led the STA boys with a 30th place finish in (17:21), while Sophomore Logan Lucas followed closely at the 32nd position (17:23). David Anthon was 43rd (17:38), John Ross Donnes (55th -17:54), Jude Vitrano (80th – 18:35), Clayton Ourso (102nd- 19:32), Mason Thompson (129th- 20:26), Dawson Gildig (131st – 20:28), Douglas Robinson (133rd- 20:31) and Caleb Stewart (175th- 23:55).
    Sophomore Abigail Bates continues to lead the lady falcons, she posted a thirty-third place finish in (21:51) for the three mile sloppy course. Yvette Miller was 48th(22:21), Maggie Crawford (60th – 22:44), Patricia Todd (66th – 23:09), Brynleigh Berthelot (72nd – 23:14), Jordyn Neal (80th – 23:32), Chalah Rock (160th – 27:51), Jourdan Cheek (167th – 28:22) and Laken Neal (168th – 28:25).

Sacred Heart of New Orleans and Lady Falcons finish in a thriller.
Sacred Heart edges out Saint Thomas by one point in S & S Sports Center Cross Country Invitational.

HAMMOND—The Sacred Heart of New Orleans girls edged-out the St. Thomas Aquinas Lady Falcons (28-29) in Thursday’s 2016 S & S Sports Center Cross Country Invitational held at the STA Campus in Hammond. Sophomore Abigail Bates led the STA girls with a third place finish in (13:40), while Yvette Miller was fifth (14:07), Brynleigh Berthelot sixth (14:08), Ellen Gambel seventh (14:15), Maggie Crawford eighth (14:17), Nicole Francois ninth (14:20), Chalah Rock (12th – 17:20) and Lakyn Neal (13th – 17:46).
    
Boys take the title!
The Falcons Cross Country team captured the team title in Saturday’s Cabrini High School 6 Mile Relay Meet in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS—The Saint Thomas Aquinas boys Cross Country team captured the team title in Saturday’s Cabrini High School 6 Mile Relay Meet in New Orleans. The foursome of Tristan Robertson, John Ross Donnes, David Anthon and Jude Vitrano captured the team title with a winning time of (33:35), they were followed by Belle Chasse HS (33:45), Newman (34:11) was third, Archbishop Shaw (34:41) fourth and the STA team of: Dawson Gildig, Logan Lucas, Mason Thompson and Clayton Ourso placed fifth (35:14).
    The Saint Thomas Aquinas girls Cross Country team posted a nineteenth place team finish in the Memphis Twilight Classis run under the lights at 8:00 pm in Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday. Daviess County (101) captured the team title in a field of thirty seven teams. Brookwood (118) was second, followed by Hoover (154), Francis Howell (182), Houston HS (198), Notre Dame HS (210), Jackson (218), Homewood (227), Festus (277), Parkway Central (279), St. Joseph’s Academy (285), Arlington (291), Franklin (327), Starkville (353), Madison Ridgeland Academy (427), Pearl (466), Farmington (472), Dyer Country (538), STA (585), Dresden (601), Collierville(609), Oxford (647), Bartlett (693), St. Benedict (701), Briarcrest Christian (711), Blackman (759), Germantown(759), Har-Ber HS (772), McLeod (774), St. Clair (789), St. George(828), Harding Academy(886), Greenville (1020), Bolton (1022), University (1033), MRA Red (1055) and Hutchinson School (1055). Leading the STA girls was senior Meghan Becerra with an 85th place finish in (21:23) for 5000 meters. Abby Bates(102nd - 21:41), Brynleigh Berthelot (149th- 22:45), Yvette Miller (157th- 22:59), Nicole Francois (152nd-23:07), Maggie Crawford (165th-23:16), Jordyn Neal (170th-23:26) and Patricia Todd(192nd-24:05). There were 298 runners in the Varsity race. Jordyn Cheek posted a 197th place finish in the JV girls race (29:17), while Chalah Rock was 100th (9:10) and Lakyn Neal was 120th (9:27) in the JH girls 2000 meter race.
    
Annual Cross Country Camp set for August 8-12.
Kindergarten through eighth are invited to sign-up today.

HAMMOND—The annual Saint Thomas/Trafton Cross Country Camp is set for August 8-12 on the grounds of Saint Thomas. There will be games, relays, light weight training for older campers, guest speakers, camp t-shirt, a little bit of running, awards and a race on the last day of camp and swimming on Wednesday of camp. Daily schedule Monday through Wednesday is 8:30 am until 12:30 pm and on Thursday 3:30 pm-6:30 pm. Friday Race at 3:30 pm awards to follow.

Becerra, Williams, and Todd headline All-State Teams.
Ten Lady Falcons named to the Tangipahoa Area All-Parish Cross Country Girls Cross Country Team.

BATON ROUGE—Fresh off a Class 2A State Championship the Saint Thomas Ladies Cross Country team received an array of individual honors as the LHSAA Composite, Class 2A All-State and Tangipahoa Area All-Parish Cross Country Girls Cross Country Teams were announced this week. Junior Meghan Becerra and senior Destiny Williams headlined the individual honors with each being named to the LHSAA Composite All-State Team. Becerra finished fifth at the State Meet with a time of 19:48.59, while Williams was seventh with a mark of 20:16.19. Junior Patricia Todd earned selection to the LHSAA Class 2A All-State team finishing ninth at State with a time of 20:25.43.
    Becerra was named MVP of the Tangipahoa Area All-Parish Cross Country Girls Cross Country Team and was joined on the first team by Williams, Todd, and freshman Abby Bates. The Lady Falcons dominated the second team as well as sophomores Yvette Miller, Maggie Crawford, Ellen Gambel and freshman Brynleigh Berthelot earned spots.
    Rounding out the Tangipahoa Area All-Parish Team were junior Jordyn Neal and freshman Taylor Cardaronella who earned Honorable Mention.

Seven Falcons named to 2015 Tangipahoa Area All-Parish Boys Cross Country Team.
Dawson Gildig earns first team honors.

HAMMOMND—The Saint Thomas Cross Country Teams dominated the selections to the 2015 Tangipahoa Area All-Parish Cross Country Boys Cross Country Team. Sophomore Dawson Gildig headed up the selections earning First Team honors while senior Hunter Dupre, sophomore David Anthon, and freshmen Logan Lucas and John Ross Donnes were named to the Second Team. Seniors Chris Freese and Alberto Valenzuela along with sophomore Jude Vitrano earned Honorable Mention.
    
LADIES are the CHAMPS!!!
Lady Falcons capture Class 2A LHSAA State Championship! Boys place third in field of 27.

HAMMOMND—The Saint Thomas Lady Falcons put five runners in the top twenty-five finishers as Meghan Becerra finished fifth to pace a Class 2A State LHSAA Championship at the annual State Meet hosted on the campus of Northwestern State University on Monday. David Anthon and John Ross Donnes finished twentieth and twenty-second respectively in the Boys Class 2A three-mile race to pace a third place finish for the Falcons in a field of 27 teams. Episcopal placed first with a score of 22, followed by Newman with 107, and the Falcons at 115. The Lady Falcons posted a score of 52 followed by runner-up Holy Savior Menard with 69 and Episcopal with 80.
    Becerra led the Ladies finishing with a time of 19:48.6 followed by four more Saint Thomas Ladies in the top twenty-five including Destiny Williams seventh (20:16.2), Patricia Todd ninth (20:25.5), Abby Bates fourteenth (20:44.3), and Yvette Miller twenty-first (20:57.4).
    Anthon led the Falcons with a twentieth place finish in a time of 17:37.8 followed by John Ross Donnes who clocked in at 17:42.8 finishing twenty-second. Logan Lucus was twenty-fourth (17:47.4), Chris Freeze twenty-sixth (17:51.3), Hunter Dupre twenty-eight (17:55.4), Jude Vitrano thirtieth (18:04.0), and Dawson Gildig thirty-second (18:05.07).
    
Becerra and Gildig pace Saint Thomas in Metro Championships.
Lady Falcons place third and Falcons finish fourth in eleven team field.

HAMMOMND—The Mandeville High Varsity girl’s team captured the team title in Tuesday’s 2015 Northshore Metro Cross Country Championships held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Cross Country Course in Hammond. MHS scored (30) to edge-out Sacred Heart-New Orleans (39), St. Thomas Aquinas was third (79), Dominican fourth (133), Fontainebleau fifth (134), St. Scholastica Academy sixth (172), John Curtis seventh(183), Ponchatoula eighth (208), Slidell ninth (268), Northshore tenth (312) and Patrick Taylor Academy was eleventh (349). First Baptist senior Gabrielle Jennings a Furman University commitment captured the individual three mile title in (17:48) over Mandeville senior Olivia Murphy a University of Southern Illinois in Carbindale commitment at the second position (17:58). Meghan Becerra led the St. Thomas Aquinas girls team with a seventh place finish (19:36), while Destiny Williams was eleventh (20:04). Also competing for the Lady Falcons were Patricia Todd (17th-20:18), Abby Bates (24th-20:57), Yvette Miller (25th-20:58), Maggie Crawford (36th-21:22), Jordyn Neal(38th-21:29), Ellen Gambel (41st-21:41), Brynleigh Berthelot (44th-21:46) and Leighanne O’dowd (79th-23:39). Lydia Pevey led the Ponchatoula girls with a twenty-second place finish (20:49), followed by Blair Vignes (42nd-21:44), de’Ette McCabe (51st-21:59), Haleigh Habisreitinger (67th-23:04) and Annie Walls (74th-23:26).
    John Curtis Christian captured the boys Varsity team title with (31), Mandeville was second (62), Fontainebleau third (75), St. Thomas Aquinas fourth (97), Ponchatoula fifth (117), Slidell sixth (154), Northshore seventh (219), Northlake Cristian eighth (250), Salmen ninth (272), Patrick Taylor tenth (281) and Holden was eleventh (344). John Curtis senior Devyn Keith was the individual winner in (15:11), while Fonatinebleau’s Adam Wise was second (15:36). Sumner’s Austin Ballow was third (15:43), while teammate Austin James was ninth (16:20). STA’s Dawson Gildig led the team with a seventeenth place finish (17:01), Logan Lucas (21st-17:20), Hunter Dupre (22nd-17:23), Jude Vitrano (23rd-17:24), David Anthon (24th-17:39), John Ross Donnes (25th-17:41), Chris Freese (31st-17:53) and Alberto Valenzuela was 46th (18:26). Nicholas Randazzo led the Ponchatoula boys with a fourteenth place finish (16:37), Lucas Coleman was fifteenth (16:41), Bailey Usey (30th-17:51), Cody Chen (34th-17:56) and Ian Waller (37th-18:02).
    
Ladies take first in Halloween Cross Country Invitational.
Junior Meghan Becerra earns individual honors with a time of 12:37.

HAMMOMND—The St. Thomas Aquinas Girls captured the Varsity team title in Saturday’s 2015 STA-Dutchtown Halloween Cross Country Invitational held on the Saint Thomas Campus. The Dutchtown boys captured the Varsity boy’s title, while the STA boys placed second. The Trafton Academy girls won the JH division, while the Jewel Sumner boys won the JH Boys team title. Athletes endured a muddy and windy course that was still wet from last week’s downpours.
    The Saint Thomas girls scored (22) to win over Dutchtown (39) and St. Katherine Drexel was third (85). Lady Falcon Junior Meghan Becerra was the individual winner in (12:37) in the two mile race, while Dutchtown’s Tara Stuntz was second in (12:50). The lady falcons put eleven runners in the top sixteen positions to claim the team trophy. Becerra led the way followed by Destiny Williams (3rd-13:06), Abby Bates (5th-13:15), Yvette Miller (6th-13:17), Patricia Todd (7th-13:20), Maggie Crawford (8th-13:34), Brynleigh Berthelot (9th-13:40), Ellen Gambel (10th-13:49), Jordyn Neal (11th-14:02), Taylor Cardaronella (12th-14:07) and Leighanne O’Dowd (16th-15:10) for the winning lady falcons squad.
    The Dutchtown boys claimed the Varsity boys title with (28), the Falcons second (35) and Runnels was third (68). Jewel Sumner’s Austin Ballow was the individual champion in (10:07), while Dutchtown’s Ben Vasterling was second in (10:19). Leading the Saint Thomas boys to second place finish was Sophomore Jude Vitrano at (11:13), followed by Logan Lucas (6th-11:15), Hunter Dupre (8th-11:21), David Anthon (9th-11:22), John Ross Donnes (12th-11:23), Chris Freese (15th-11:36) and Dawson Gildig was 24th (12:22) for the Falcons.
    





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