A season to cheer
It’s been a great season for supporting Principia’s student-athletes. While all the teams deserve recognition, three warrant special commendation.
After more than three months and hundreds of hours of practice, the football team wrapped up a stunning season. For the first time in Principia football history, the team won eight regular season games and beat Priory, John Burroughs, and Lutheran North in the same year. Principia’s defense was ranked first in the ABC League, and the offense was ranked second. Additionally, Larry Patterson was named MVP for the entire League. The team advanced all the way to the regional playoff level, losing to Maplewood 14-12. Reflecting on the season, Head Football Coach Brad Warrick said, “I can’t speak highly enough of what these players accomplished this year. They played as a unified team that consistently expressed humility, courage, toughness, unselfishness, purity, joy, and leadership. From being outmanned in almost every game to refusing to quit late in the fourth quarter in several games to responding with courage and intensity against Maplewood, this is a team of incredible character and one that has won a great amount.”
On the pitch, the boys’ varsity soccer team qualified to play at the district level, winning two games before losing to Whitfield, 4-1 in the district finals. The team concluded their season with a record of 9 wins and 11 losses, but as Travis Brantingham, soccer coach and School athletic director explains, “The team’s record doesn’t reflect the amount of work and time the players poured into this season. We played a very competitive schedule in a very difficult league. The team ended the regular season and the first two rounds of district on a high note by winning their last four games and giving up zero goals. Throughout the season, the team remained focused on its primary purpose—to grow spiritually.”
When it comes to cross country, the girls’ and boys’ teams have showed exceptional teamwork and determination all season long. And this weekend, both teams are competing against the best high school runners in Missouri at the State Championship. Leading up to this, the girls’ team finished with a decisive victory, placing first in districts. For individual finishes, senior Stephanie Romero came in first and was followed in second place by junior Sarah Winterroth. The boys’ team took second place in districts after some exciting race moments highlighting the strength of the team. Senior Aean McMullin’s first place finish set a course record under very muddy conditions, and two other School runners—senior Nathan Boyer-Rechlin and sophomore Ben Austin—joined Aean among the top 15 finishers. Initially, the team was tied for second place, leaving competition at the state level uncertain, but the finishes by senior Garrett Fielding and sophomore Sam Harlan broke the tie and guaranteed the team a trip to state! Once at the State Championship, the girls placed 6th overall as a team and the boys 13th. Aean McMullin placed 11th overall, earning All-State status.
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