November 25, 2023, will go down in Saint Thomas Aquinas sports history when the football team became the KSHSAA Kansas 4A State Champs! A victory that was hard fought through the season with a regular record of 6-2. With a loss in the regular season to Bishop Meige and then coming back strong and ready in the playoffs defeating them and every other team that stood in their way. This was Senior, Dillon Marshall’s, final game as a Saint along with 24 other seniors. Dillon said, “The team dynamic this season was great! We all played for each other and worked as a team to win. We started to come together towards the end of the season when it mattered most.” The final state championship game was in Topeka, Kansas, against Andover Central. With a game start of 1:00 p.m., the first snowflake fell and the Saints held the lead the entire game with a win even in a crazy snowstorm: final score 35 Saints, 7 Andover. Dillion reflected, “Something I will take away from being on the team is work ethic. We worked extremely hard to get to the state championship and all the work put in was shown during the state game.” The fans saw all the hard work and celebrate this victory. Congrats Saint Thomas Aquinas State Champs!
Boys Soccer had an excellent hard-fought season finishing fourth in 5A State! Senior Captain Andrew Muckerman said, “The most memorable part of the season was going to Springfield, Missouri, for a tournament.” This helped the team bond and all around was his favorite part of this season. The boy’s final record this season (including playoffs) was 12-8-1, and congrats to Joesph Befort (11), Liam Ryan (12), and John Weinrich (12) for being 1st Team All-EKL.
Girls Tennis: After having practices Monday-Friday and tournaments/matches at least once a week, Saints Girls Tennis had another great season. Senior Marianna Schulte placed 2nd at regionals qualifying her for state where she got 13th place out of 32 players in 5A! Congrats Marianna!
Girls Golf: The team had a successful season qualifying for state and placing 5th overall! Junior, Katherine Adkins, placed 1st at Regionals and 5th at State. She said, “I love the team and how close we all get whenever golf starts and how we motivate each other to always just get better.” With daily practices including playing 9 holes and focusing on their short
game, they were prepped for the season. Coach Best creates competitions where they can win golf balls if they beat his score; this keeps the team ready and engaged when they head out to play. She said, “[My] favorite memory was probably just walking in on day two of state and being happy with how the season went and feeling accomplished, and excited to hear how everyone else played.”
Volleyball: Champions create opportunity… No excuses. This motto is what drives the Saints Volleyball Team to earn their way to the state. The team had another amazing year! With a great team dynamic, they came together to win the Kansas Sub-State and make it to the state finals. With their state runner-up placement, they had everything to celebrate. Junior Alea Goolsby says, “This will push us even more next season. We have unfinished business and I am ready to compete my senior year.” Congrats girls on another amazing season and 2nd at state!
Cross Country: The team ran many, many miles and the hard work showed. After early morning practices for pre-season and working hard all summer and every day after school, the runners showed up and ran hard for this successful season. The girls’ team were Kansas Regional Champions and placed 3rd overall at State. Four senior Saints finished top 20 at State! Congrats to the team and the All-State performances by: Sophia Spinello (10th), Lilly Mauk (19th), Lance Meade (7th), and Carter File (14th). #BAU
Dance Team And Cheer are wrapping up the 2023 athletic season’s first semester. They attended all the home football and soccer games; Cheer also supported on the sidelines at the away games. A highlight was when both teams danced and cheered on STA Football at state when the team brought home the 4A State Championship! For the second year in a row, Cheer brought home another state championship getting 1st at state in 5A! The Dance Team also had a successful time at state making it to finals for the 3rd year in a row and placing 4th overall in 5A! The Dance and Cheer seasons continue during basketball season. With state competitions behind them, you can see both teams at every home basketball game as well as see Cheer at away games. Dance will also participate in a few competitions and their annual Winter Finale Show will take place in February. Continue to keep cheering along with these teams!
