Panthers Sports Update: Winter Season
March 17th, 2022
Panthers Sports Update: WINTER SEASON
Junior Captain Nina B. takes the ball down the court
The Lady Panthers Varsity Basketball team of seven student-athletes, led by junior captains Nina B. and Grace K., had a successful season as basketball play returned to the ILH after a year off due to COVID-19. Four of the basketball players were even named ILH Varsity Volleyball Division III All-Stars!
With only three of the seven players having varsity experience, it was a season of learning, growing, working hard, and having fun for the young team. The team showed great improvement in their strength, conditioning, and skills throughout the season, but came up just short in the ILH championship game finishing in second place in the ILH Division III competition. The team was coached by Yon Smith (former head coach), Barry Brice (LP Parent), and Athletics Director Ross Kinsler.
The La Pietra JV Precision Air Riflery team took aim and made a strong statement this past season which culminated in the ILH Precision Air Riflery Individual Championships. Junior Ava E. not only qualified to compete as one of the top 20 ILH competitors in the JV division (coed), but also scored a 378/400 which made her the 2022 ILH Precision Air Riflery JV champion! Congratulations!
6th grade volleyball team members learned fundamental skills this season
The 6th grade volleyball team was made up of 16 students, and it was their first experience on a Lady Panthers team. The students, coached by La Pietra faculty member Dennys Salazar, learned fundamental skills and teamwork while learning the game of volleyball. Sophomore Hannah H. (varsity team member and 1st team ILH Division III All-Star) served as a student assistant for the 6th-grade team in order to give back to the athletic program that helped her develop her own volleyball skills. The season ended on November 23, 2021 with two very competitive officiated matches against Sacred Hearts Academy.
Competing in this year's ILH wrestling season were Pac-5 Wolfpack wrestlers freshman Ayla P. and sophomore Veda G. Ayla won the ILH championship in her weight class at the intermediate level, helping her Pac-5 Intermediate Girls Wrestling team win the ILH team title before moving up and joining Veda on the varsity team for the second half of her season. Veda and Ayla both also qualified for the HHSAA State Wrestling tournament that took place on March 4 and 5 at the Blaisdell Arena.
Sophomores Madala F. and Grace L. joined the Pac-5 Varsity Canoe Paddling team as first year paddlers and earned a spot in the mixed crew canoe. Both student-athletes enjoyed the experience and learned about the commitment required to compete at the varsity level.
Sophomores Madala F. and Grace L. on the Pac-5 Varsity Canoe Paddling team
La Pietra senior Jodi O. completed her high school swimming career this season while diving in and competing in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle events as well as multiple relay events for the Pac-5 Wolfpack swimming team. Congratulations, Jodi, on completing four years of swimming and representing La Pietra on the Pac-5 team!
Elyssa A., Katie C., and Sadie G. took the field for the Pac-5 Wolfpack JV team this past ILH season. As first year team members, the three sophomores sharpened their skills and conditioning over the course of the season on a team that competed and held their own against the best JV teams in the ILH.
Sophomores Elyssa A., Katie C., and Sadie G. on the Pac-5 Wolfpack JV team
UPCOMING SPRINGS SPORTS:
La Pietra spring sports participants will compete in Middle and High School Archery, Intermediate and JV Track & Field, 6th grade Cross Country, 6th grade and Varsity Tennis, 6th grade Basketball, and Intermediate and Varsity Golf. This will be the first time that La Pietra will have a 6th grade Cross Country team and the first time in a while that our school will have a stand-alone track team that will compete as Lady Panthers, as past seasons have been with Pac-5.
This spring, La Pietra faculty Brent Trujillo (archery), Sam Wiseman (6th grade tennis), and Dean of Academics & Faculty Jen Grems (6th grade cross country) will also take on roles as coaches.
Enjoy a well-deserved Spring Break, panthers, and we'll see you back in the spring!
