trailblazers - Westminster Christian Academy

athLetiCs
Baseball has Best year in school history
Senior Pitcher Matt Walker
the Wildcat Varsity Baseball team
earned its first district title this spring
and finished fourth in the state for class
three. the team enjoyed its most successful
season in WCa history with a
20-7 record.
the season ended in the final four
playoffs this June, playing the defending
class 3 state champions Webb City
at the University of missouri-Columbia.
after a defeat by Webb City, the
Wildcats played sullivan (who held a
16-6 record) and lost, finishing fourth.
Webcast internet site PrepCast named
Ben turner (Wildcat catcher) player
of the game for the Westminster game
against sullivan. Ben went 2 for 4 in
that game.
additionally, Wildcat baseball player
drew Benes (11) was Pontiac Game
Changing Performance Athlete for may
2006. drew won this honor by gaining
the most votes through the KmOV
Web site. the season started with drew
hitting two grand slams in a game
against Whitfield. drew was also named
Athlete of the Week by the St. Louis Post-
Dispatch this spring. the team enjoyed
solid pitching from matt Walker (12),
Jeremy Worell (11), Jacob turner (9),
sam robinson (11), and drew Benes.
senior players were matt Walker, shortstop
stephen Bianca, and left fielder
Ben aaberg.
at season’s end Coach rich Van Gilst
said, “it was disappointing to lose in the
semifinals, but awesome to be part of a
final-four experience. this team played
beyond most people’s expectations for
this year and, with most of the team
back next year, they may get another
chance to win the championship.”
Golf Team Finishes with New Records
Out of 11 teams competing in this year’s district golf tournament,
Westminster placed second, losing by a meager six strokes to last year’s
state champion, mICDs. matt Leeker (11) led the way for the Cats with
a two over par. matt also shot the best round for nine holes on his back
nine, with a one under par (35). matt came in second place overall (out of
55 golfers), missing first place by one stroke. Ben Davis (11) helped the
Wildcats to their second-place finish with an 83, which gave Ben a tenthplace
finish followed by Khris stillman (12), Dave Wilkinson (11), and Peter
Boggs (11), who all shot 84 (11th place finishes). From a golf team history
standpoint, this year’s team score for districts (325) was one stroke better
than the lowest score in WCA’s district history. matt Leeker now holds the
record for the lowest district score for a WCA golfer.
Ben Turner at bat in game against
Orchard Farm
Varsity golf team with Coach Burkey. Back
Row: B. Davis, D. Wilkinson, A. Fletcher, H.
Hicks, P. Duffy. Front Row: M. Beck, P. Boggs,
M. Leeker, K. Stillman
Blackwell Wins state
this spring, ryan Blackwell (11) competed in the
state track and Field Championships for the second
year in a row and took first place in the state in
triple jump. ryan’s winning jump was 45 feet, 1 inch.
in the 400 event, ryan ran his best time of 48.81
and came in third place. the first-place runner finished
at 48.0. ryan’s time was the third fastest in the
state for the 400. ryan (pictured left) was named
Athlete of the Week by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Fourth District Win for Tennis
After winning the district tournament for
the fourth year in a row, the Wildcat Tennis
team advanced to the state tournament
this may, finishing fourth in the final four for
Class one. Andy Derousse (12) and Jack
reed (12) gave the school the best result
it has ever had for a doubles team: third
place at the state tournament.
senior varsity tennis player David Conley
(pictured left) signed a letter of intent to
play tennis for the university of missourist.
Louis. David was among the top eight
singles players at the state level this year.
Worrells Build for Wildcats
the Wildcat Baseball team
enjoyed their first season of home
games using newly constructed
dugouts. WCa parent todd Worrell
and grandparent roland Worrell
volunteered much time and energy
to make these dugouts possible. the
Worrells worked hands-on with WCa
facilities personnel, Gary Klein and
mark Jennings, to create these updated
facilities for the Wildcats. On Friday,
may 5, head of school Jim marsh
thanked the Worrells, during a postgame
celebration, for their above-andbeyond
contribution to WCa athletic
facilities and Wildcat team spirit.
Wildcats use their new digs at spring
home game.
athLetiCs
More Sports Highlights
this spring, the WCA football program
was recognized as one of three exemplary
high school football programs by
the st. Louis-tom Lombardo Chapter of
the national Football Foundation and
College hall of Fame. this award is presented
annually to the top high school
football programs that have displayed
a combination of football success,
academic commitment, and community
involvement.
Katie Maurer (11) received honorable
mention for the st. Louis all-metro
girls’ basketball team. the largest varsity
boys’ swim team in Westminster
history finished the season with a 10-3
record, the best record in the team’s
history.
Wildcat diver Gina Cascella (11) finished
in fourth place in mWaa League
diving Finals this spring and Samantha
Bond finished in 13th place.
the girls’ lacrosse team finished its
season with a 9-4 record, the best in the
team’s three-year history. Westminster
girls’ soccer captured the holly Goodman
memorial tournament in may.
two school records were set for girls’
swimming this spring. sarah Bennet
(11) set the new 100 Butterfly record at
:57.99 and also set a new 500 Freestyle
record at 5:17.78.
Jim Marsh thanks Todd and Roland
Worrell for their giving spirits.
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