I've also set up a poll on the side here for YOU to vote for what you think should be the number one moment.
And a quick note -- for example. The 6th graders are now 7th graders, but at the time of the event, they were in 6th grade. So please note that.
10. Vivian wins the pentathlon (May 30, 2009)
Vivian Leung kept the St. Mary’s pentathlon streak alive by winning the pentathlon at the annual CYO Track and Field meet. This was the third straight year someone from St. Mary’s had won the event.
Vivian took first in three of the five events, winning the high jump, long jump and 100 meter dash — the first three events of the competition to build a healthy lead. She finished her winning performance placing second in the 400 meters, an entire lap around the track.
9. Baseball wins their first game (April 22, 2009)
In only year two, the 7th and 8th grade baseball team won their first game 12-8, with some timely hitting and pitching.
Trailing 7-3, St. Mary’s put together an inning for the ages. They drew five walks, stole more than 10 bases and strung together some clutch hitting and put an 8 spot on the scoreboard – the maximum amount of runs allowed in an inning due to the mercy rule.
After Derek struck out the final batter of the game, the players sprinted off the field and didn't even know they won. 12-8 was the final.
8. Soccer team gets in the win column (October 10, 2009)
Double ten proved lucky as the 7th and 8th grade boys soccer team decided to join the party with a win of their own. After being shut-out for their entire rookie season, they got on the board quick in their first game of the year and scored two goals.
Even though they lost the season opener, it was a sign of things to come. In their big game, they jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a Derek penalty kick, and then Derek sent a beautiful corner kick that Tommy basically walked into the net.
Up a goal, they played as conservative of a defense as they could and hung on for the 2-1 victory.
7. 6th grade boys win their first game (December 11, 2009)
The 6th grade finally got enough players out for a basketball team and their results came a lot quicker than expected. In game number two on the season, the 6th graders, resilient as ever, matched the other team point for point, before going on an 8-0 run to end the game.
Their 14-6 victory was clutch shot after clutch shot, with Hartman leading the way with 6 points. They iced it when Anthony hit a bank shot for the first points in his career.
6. Olivia wins MVP, plays baseball, basketball and volleyball
Olivia Chan played all three sports in her 8th grade year and had as good of as year as you can hope for. Olivia served the 8th grade girls volleyball team to a win in their first year. She pitched and batted fifth in the lineup for baseball. And she took home the Girls Most Valuable Player Award for basketball, cementing her legacy at St. Mary’s.
5. 6th grade boys playoff run (February 15, 2009)
Down 15-6 in their playoff game, the 6th grade boys made a furious comeback. They went on an 8-0 run and the 6th graders were rolling. The St. Mary's crowd was "jacked up," in one of the most incredible few minutes of St. Mary's basketball I have ever seen in my lifetime. Fans were standing, screaming and chanting defense.
I've watched a good amount of games, basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer and never have I felt the rush I did when the 6th grade went on that run.
Maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but that 8-0 the 6th graders had, storming back to make it a one point game, was as into a basketball game I've been since the Warriors playoff run of 2007.
They ended up losing the game, but that incredible few minutes will be hard to top for years to come.
4. 4th/5th graders volleyball win (October 25, 2009)
They were a point away from winning a set, only to lose on three straight points. But their next game proved that that one set wasn’t a fluke.
They went to Pacifica and won decisively, including a furious comeback in the second set. A dominating first set 25-15 win, and a come from behind 25-23 win for the set and match. They were serving the ball over consistently, returning the ball over, talking to each other.
It was a wonderful scene as all the girls jumped up and down after the game, celebrating their first victory ever. The look on their faces were priceless and an image that they will be able to carry on for the rest of their lives.
3. 8th grade girls go out with a bang
Following their first tournament game, coaches Alex Kawashima, Matt Chung and James Chiu all felt that this year was different.
And so it was, as the 8th grade girls went (7-1) in the regular season, and won a tension filled playoff game where Sophia Nguyen hit free-throws with less than a minute left to send the girls to the championship.
The season featured so many memorable moments with Jessica Wong hitting her three-pointers, Shari Wong and her monster blocks, as well as Vivian Leung making a lay-up with less than 10 seconds left for a win.
The class of 2009 played remarkable in their final year at St. Mary’s and set a standard for years to come.
2. 8th grade girls volleyball championship run
The 8th grade girls had as rough of a rookie season as you could imagine, as they didn’t even hit 20 points a single time in their games last year.
But they had to figure there was nowhere to go but up. But this far up was something that even they had a hard time believing.
Game two of the Flame Tournament set a precedent for the rest of the season. They led in the first set only to give up a huge lead. Yet, they come back and won the second set for their first set victory. They won another set in the third round and kept that momentum into the regular season, winning their first four games to start off the year (4-0).
They struggled in the second half of the regular season and ended with a .500 record, (4-4) backpedaling into the playoffs. In their playoff game, everyone was at their best. Bump, serve, spike – ticket punched to the championship. 25-15, 25-17. The girls dominated.
1. Team of five wins the championship, the 6th grade girls story
Winning a championship with only five players is difficult, so how would you characterize winning it with only four?
Beverlyn had just fouled out of the game and had to watch the final seconds of the game from the bench, hoping her teammates could make the 13-12 St. Mary’s lead stand.
And was the buzzer sounded, the five girls and their coaches celebrating like there was no tomorrow. They were champions.
This team lost three straight to start the year, but got it together and made their run at the right time. They beat the number one team in the division in convincing fashion on their home floor, and saw improvements from each and every girl on the team.
It was an incredible run all season as this team has only 5 girls on the team. They don't have the luxury of rest like most teams, but yet they pulled through.
This wasn’t a championship where one or two players carried the load. Every girl pitched in on the offensive and defensive end and they have a first place trophy to show for it.
2 comments:
hahaha really Bryan. I think the #1 event is the most memorable one of them all. we'll never forget it in a million years
hahahah Really Bryan, I think #1,#2,and #3 is the most memorable on of them all. It'll be remember for a million years
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