Lions Bring Home SPC Gold
St. Mark's traveled to Houston over Valentine's Day weekend to compete in the winter SPC Championship.
The swim team had an incredible meet on Saturday at the SPC Championships. Their hard work throughout the season was rewarded with the best show in our School’s swimming history. The Lion swimmers had over 77% best times in a Championship meet. The team won all 3 relays, placed 2nd in 200 IM (Richard Jiang ’15), 1st and 2nd in 50 Free (Eric Li ’16 and Jack Pigott ’14), 1st and 2nd in 100 fly (Richard Jiang ’15 and Alex Kim ’15), 2nd and 3rd in 100 Free (Jack Pigott ’14 and Kevin Kim ’16), 2nd and 3rd in 100 Back (Timothy Simenc ’15 and Nathan Ondracek ’15), and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in 100 Breast (Eric Li ’16, Jacob Hum ’17, and Johnathan Kim ’14). Our 200 Free Relay team (Jack Pigott ’14, Richard Jiang ’15, Kevin Kim ’16, and Eric Li ’16) broke the SPC record, and our SCHOOL record. Our 400 Free Relay team (Jack Pigott ’14, Mason Smith ’15, Kevin Kim ’16, and Eric Li ’16) also broke the SPC record, and our School record which was standing since 1987 (Musslewhite, Gallagher, Lengyel, and Herbert). Our 200 Medley Relay (Nathan Ondracek ’15, Johnathan Kim ’14, Richard Jiang ’15, and Mason Smith ’15) won the event in 1:40.15. The team amassed an amazing amount of points (187.5), the most of any Championship so far.
The Wrestling team also had a great SPC tournament. The team finished 2nd overall and had 6 wrestlers in the finals. Jake Holder ’15 (126 lbs), Blake Spangler ’15 (132), Winston Brewer ’14 (138), Daniel Wechsler ’15 (152), and Justin Jones ’15 (160) all won their finals matches and were crowned SPC individual champions.
The Soccer team played 3 matches over the course of 3 days at the SPC Tournament, which was hosted by Episcopal High School in Houston. In the first game, we matched up against the host school, EHS. Episcopal was the #1 seed from the south zone after counter season play and took advantage of playing on their home field by scoring an early goal in the 15th minute of play. This goal would be enough to win the game, as the Lions were unable to break through their defense. In the second game on Friday, the Lions matched up against St. Mary’s Hall (San Antonio). This game would prove to be more high-powered as 6 goals were scored. The Lions opened the scoring with a Jack Fojtasek ’15 goal early in the first half. Then Will Diamond ’16 headed in a goal on a corner kick to give the Lions a 2-0 lead. SMH was able to score before half time, making the score 2-1 at the break. The Lions controlled the entire second half, adding two more goals en route to a 4-2 victory. In the 3rd game which was for 5th place, the Lions played St. John’s (Houston). Jack Dayton ’15 started the scoring with a goal in 2nd minute of the game to give the Lions an early lead. However, just five minutes later, St. John’s answered on a penalty kick. The game would remain tied at 1-1 for the rest of regulation and, with only 3 minutes remaining in overtime, Jack Dayton ’15 scored his second goal of the game giving the Lions a 2-1 victory.
The Basketball team went into the SPC tournament as the #3 seed from the North zone. They matched up against St. John’s School who featured the returning Texas High School Player of the Year, #9 recruit in the country, and future Duke Blue Devil Justise Winslow. Playing for the first time ever in the Houston Christian Gymnasium, it took a while for the Lions to get started offensively shooting only 3 of 20 from the floor in the first half. Luckily, the team’s defense kept them in the game, only down 5 points at halftime. The team started playing better on offense, but unfortunately, so did St. John’s. A close game through 3 quarters, St. John’s was able to pull away by hitting their free throws late and taking advantage of some easy break away baskets as they broke the St. Mark’s press in our attempt to come back. Final score: 36-62. In the second game, the Lions took on St. Andrew’s (Austin), in a matchup of two very similar teams. Finally adjusted to the new venue, the Lions started to hit the shots that wouldn’t fall in the previous game. The Lions led at the end of each quarter, although never able to fully shake the pesky St. Andrew’s team. Final score: 49-46. In the 5th place game of the SPC Tournament, the Lions matched up against Episcopal High School. The Lions played well early, leading 17-15 at the half in a tough defensive game. EHS regained the lead at the end of 3 quarters, but the Lions would not give up. Some hot shooting by Jack Gordon ’15 and Aidan Dewar ’14 helped the Lions regain the lead midway through the 4th quarter, but some very tough breaks made it tough for the Lions to hold the lead and EHS eventually emerged as the winner by a score of 45-43.
St. Mark’s School of Texas
10600 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
About Us
St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
