Athletic News
Former Troubadour Dana Knudsen Living Dream Overseas
LONDON, England – Sitting behind a desk was not for former St. Francis volleyball player Dana Knudsen. Now she is living abroad and has realized her dream of playing volleyball professionally while seeing the world in the process.
“I have always dreamed of coming to play in Europe,” said Knudsen from London where she is working in the offseason. “I absolutely love traveling and it is a huge thing for me. At this point, it is not as much about the volleyball as the experiences I am getting.”
Track and Field Seniors Race to Graduation
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior hurdler Amanda Schnabel had three races Wednesday – two at the Sac-Joaquin Section trials and a third to make it to the school’s graduation in downtown Sacramento at Memorial Auditorium in time to walk with her graduating class.
Schnabel was one of three seniors on the track and field team posed with the dilemma of competing Wednesday in Elk Grove at the Sac-Joaquin Section Trials and rushing to graduation, joining discus throwers Kayla O’Brine and Cherie Murbach.
Soccer Celebrates Section Title, No. 1 Ranking by MaxPreps
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis soccer team earned the No. 1 ranking in the state of California and No. 17 national ranking by MaxPreps following their Sac-Joaquin Section win last weekend. The Troubadours ascended to the No. 1 ranking after finishing a 21-3-5 season with a postseason run that included wins over Armijo (4-2), Enochs (5-4), Granite Bay (1-0) and Oak Ridge (1-0) in the SJS playoffs.
St. Francis won their 13th section title in school history and first since 2010.
Ryleigh Bone Selected to Play for Nor Cal in US Lacrosse National Tournament
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Rising senior Ryleigh Bone was selected to represent Northern California at the 2014 US Lacrosse National Tournament in Bel Air, Md., from May 24-25.
Bone, who hails from Granite Bay, Calif., was selected to the Nor Cal Team 1 after tryouts April 27 in Atherton, Calif. She is among the 40 players chosen to play on one of the two Northern California teams and they represent 23 different high school programs. She will be coached by Amy Harms (St. Ignatius) and Rachael Martinez (Cal High).
Track and Field Advances at Section Trials
10 Individual Qualifiers and Both Relays to Run Friday
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team advanced both relays and a strong contingent across the sprint events to put the team in contention for the finals on Friday. The Troubadours are the defending section champions from 2013.
St. Francis flexed its strength in the 400 meters as sophomore Lillian Enes (57.35), Sydney Hunter (57.71) and Ariane Arndt (59.34) each won their heats to advance to Friday’s finals. Arndt also qualified in the 800 meters in 2:17.02, while Hunter was eighth in the 200 meters in 25.63 to qualify for the final.
Lacrosse Standout Carpenter to Play at Wheeling Jesuit
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A soccer and basketball player growing up, Lyndsay Carpenter knew how to shoot using her feet and hands. But a lacrosse stick was a foreign object to her four years ago. Fast forward to her senior season, Carpenter will be playing lacrosse in college on a scholarship. She has come a long way.
“Lyndsay is an athlete and they make great lacrosse players especially ones that come over from basketball,” said St. Francis Head Coach Kristy Wilson. “They see the game well and make especially good defenders.”
Gregg Named River Cats Girls Soccer Player of the Year
17 Troubadours Named to All-City Teams
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis junior soccer player Anna Gregg was named the River Cats Girls Soccer Player of the Year at the High School Awards Ceremony before Sunday’s game against the Tacoma Rainers.
“It means so much and feels so great,” said Gregg of the Player of the Year honor. “I set a goal to help to the section championship and that was accomplished. I could not be happier.”
Gregg and her St. Francis teammates captured the Sac-Joaquin Section title on Saturday on her goal to defeat Oak Ridge 1-0.
River Cats All-City Awards
St. Francis junior soccer player Anna Gregg was named the River Cats Girls Soccer Player of the Year at the High School Awards Ceremony before Sunday’s game against the Tacoma Rainers.
Swimming Finishes Third at Section Championships
LODI, Calif. – The St. Francis swimming team finished third overall at the Sac-Joaquin Section Championships contested Saturday at Tokay High School, finishing behind champion Granite Bay and Davis.
“Knowing how good Granite Bay and Davis were, the third-place finish as the top school among the rest felt pretty good,” said Head Coach Richard Levin. “We had some great performances in the relays, especially Emily Peters who swam an outstanding 50 leg in the 200 free relay. Katie McIntee led off two relays and was a trouper stepping into the spotlight.”
Soccer Wins Sac-Joaquin Section Championship
ELK GROVE, Calif. – Junior Anna Gregg scored in the 20th minute and No. 4 seed St. Francis held on to defeat No. 3 seed Oak Ridge 1-0 in the championship game of the Les Schwab Tires Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs presented by Farmers Insurance.
St. Francis (21-3-5) won their 13th section title in school history and first since 2010.
Gregg, who scored at least one goal in all four playoff games, connected on a shot from the left side to the right corner that snuck in past the right bar on the ground to put the Troubadours up 1-0 just 20 minutes into the game.
DRL Championship Recap: Seniors Schnabel and LaRocco Lead Title Run
Troubadours Win Title for Sixth Straight Season
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field program had not lost a Delta River League dual or championship meet in six years and were not about to stop the streak in the final running of the championship meet Friday night at Oak Ridge High School.
Senior Amanda Schnabel and Lauren LaRocco each won a pair of events as part of a dominating performance by the Troubadours in the final DRL meet. St. Francis will compete in new Delta League next year.
Section Trials Recap: Johnson Hoping for Memorable Final Swims
LODI, Calif. – St. Francis senior Maddie Johnson will swim the final meet of her high school career on Saturday at the Sac-Joaquin Section Girls finals at Tokay High School.
“It is exciting because it is my senior year,” said Johnson, who reached the championship final in her signature event the 100 butterfly. “I am really looking forward to doing well and leaving my mark and getting some best times.”
St. Francis Soccer to Meet Oak Ridge in Section Finals
Section Finals Broadcast Live on NFHS Network
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The No. 4 seed St. Francis soccer team will play No. 3 seed Oak Ridge in the Sac-Joaquin Section final on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove.
Oak Ridge defeated Franklin in penalty kicks after the game was tied 1-1 Wednesday afternoon.
Lacrosse Drops Section Playoff Game at Granite Bay
GRANITE BAY, Calif. – The St. Francis lacrosse team fell to Granite Bay for the third time this season, eliminating the Troubadours from the first round of the North Coast Section playoffs. The Grizzlies posted a 20-8 victory over St. Francis, advancing to the second round.
“We started off pretty strongly,” said Head Coach Kristi Wilson. “When we got the ball on our attack, we did a great job of spacing it out and our shooting percentage was strong.”
17 Troubadours Named to River Cats All-City Teams
SACRAMENTO, – Calif. – Seventeen St. Francis Troubadours have been named to the 2013-14 River Cats All-City teams and will be recognized on Sunday at the High School Sports Awards Ceremony before the River Cats take on the Tacoma Rainiers at 1:05 p.m. at Raley Field.
The St. Francis All-City fall sports selections include senior golfer Emily Laskin, volleyball seniors Ali Koumelis and Anna Baytosh and cross country runners Lauren LaRocco, Madison Rawson and Miranda Myers.
Soccer Advances to Section Finals with Win over Granite Bay
Troubadours Reach Finals for First Time since 2011
GRANITE BAY, Calif. – Junior Anna Gregg scored with just over three minutes left to help fourth-seeded St. Francis post a 1-0 victory over top seed Granite Bay Tuesday afternoon. The Troubadours will meet the winner of the matchup between No. 2 Franklin and No. 3 Oak Ridge Saturday at a site and time to be announced.
“We got it to her where she needed to be and she did what she does best and found the back of the net,” said Head Coach Rosella Kelly. “She is solid on net.”
Freshmen Soccer Season Recap
Tijerino-Santos and Lopez Combine for 46 Goals
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis freshmen soccer team had an impressive season, showcasing the talent across the program. The Troubadours were led by first-year head coach Lindsey Mair and assistant Gabby Trenton.
Playoff Bracket Change: Lacrosse Now Seeded 11th and Plays at Granite Bay
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis lacrosse team is seeded 11th in the North Coast Section bracket and will play at No. 11 Granite Bay in the latest revision released by the North Coast Section. The game will take place at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14.
St. Francis and Granite Bay will be playing for the third time this season and for the second consecutive game overall. The Troubadours finished with regular season with a 15-9 loss at Granite Bay on May 8 and dropped a home match against the Grizzlies 15-10 on April 1
Track and Field Posts Strong Start at DRL Trials
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team began defense of its Delta River League title at the DRL League Trials on Saturday at Oak Ridge High School.
The Troubadours qualified 14 student-athletes into the finals scheduled for Friday, May 16. St. Francis advanced three runners each in the 200 meters, 400 meters and 800 meters.
Divers Post Top-10 Finishes at Section Finals
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Allison Autrey finished seventh and Patty Sullivan was ninth at the Sac-Joaquin Section Diving Finals contested Saturday at McClatchy High School.
“The girls performed well,” said Head Coach Dede Crayne. “It was a little breezy today but it was an even playing field for everybody.”
Autrey was the top finisher for the Troubadours with an 11-dive score of 325.90 to place seventh.