Winter Sports Preview

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It’s beginning to look a lot like – winter sports time!  Basketball, soccer and wrestling are underway.

Boys’ basketball
Head Coach Chris Beckman says the team has already had a buzzer beater this season with a 48 to 47 win over Holy Cross.  The Knights were down by five with two minutes left in the game and rallied back to take the win.  He says seniors Cameron Dumas and Brandan Garrido should have a big impact on the team as the entire group looks to improve on ball handling in pressure situations with the hopes of putting up enough victories to make it to a state championship.  Look for these exciting match-ups this season:

• January 9th - Denham Springs
• January 23rd - Jehoveh-Jireh
• February 2nd - The Church Academy
• February 6th - Port Allen
• February 16th - Dunham

Tera Snell

Girls’ basketball
Taylor Mims Walker’s girls squad started the season on a high note when senior forward Tera Snell officially signed a letter of intent to play for the Loyola University Wolfpack in New Orleans next year.  Coach Walker says look for Tera and fellow seniors Shannon Ahmad and Hunter Heaslip to lead the team through a special season this year. Already the girls earned victories in all four games in the Dunham tournament.  Mark your calendar for these exciting match ups:

• December 22nd – Parkview Baptist
• January 13th – Northlake Christian
• January 19th – Dunham

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Boys’ soccer
Coach Kiran Booluck says this year’s team looks to overcome last year’s loss in the finals by working their way back and bringing home the state championship.  The team will be led by seniors Chima Mbagwu, Logan Robertson, Frank Poche and sophomore Tochi Mbagwu, and is already off to an exciting start with a recent tie with Dutchtown.  Key games to watch include:

• January 5th and 6th - Elite Showcase Tournament
• January 15th - Denham Springs
• January 17th - Catholic High Pointe Coupee

Girls’ soccer
What a kick!  The girls team came out big during the home opener against Parkview Baptist as Sarah Whisnant scored a direct free kick from 38 yards.  Coach Brenna Allphin-Smith Perez says it’s exciting to see the seniors taking such a big leadership role while welcoming and mentoring the younger players.  She says look for Sarah and fellow senior Skyler Yegge to have a big impact this year as the team looks to develop the younger players with senior Femke Maassen-Veters bringing valuable competition experience to the pitch.  Exciting games to watch include:

• December 8th – Dunham - First District Match
• January 6th - Catholic High Pointe Coupee (Senior Day)
• January 16th – Runnels

Wrestling
Congratulations to Griffin Dynes, who earned an individual victory at the Central tournament!  Congratulations also to freshman William Guffey who came home with his first two varsity wins!  Coach Phil Bode says look for Griffin and fellow seniors Henry Stater and William Kennedy to fight hard for the team this year.  Key dates include:

• January 12th and 13th - Louisiana Classic Wrestling Tournament
• February 2nd and 3rd – Greater Baton Rouge City Wrestling Championships
• February 15th – 17th – LHSAA Division III State Tournament

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Randy Richard

Randy is in his second year as Athletic Director at Episcopal School of Baton Rouge.  Randy is from Baton Rouge and attended Catholic High School before moving to Ruston to earn a degree in education from Louisiana Tech University.  Since joining Episcopal in 2002, Randy has served in many capacities including Dean of Students, the Physical Education Department Chair, teacher, and coach for a variety of boy’s and girl’s upper school athletic teams.