SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The five St. Francis fall sports programs recently completed a campaign that will be remembered for a long time based on the banners and trophies that will occupy the gym walls and trophy cases. The Troubadours combined to win four Delta League titles, two Sac-Joaquin Section championships and a pair of runner-up trophy finishes in the Section finals. All five programs advanced beyond sections to compete in regional and/or state championship play.

“We’re very proud of our Troubies and their achievements this fall,” said Athletic Director Mark McGreevy. “It’s so inspiring to witness the level of dedication our student-athletes and coaches commit to each other on a daily basis as they practice and compete.  While we stress the value of process over product, it’s nonetheless quite gratifying to see their impressive dedication result in these achievements.”

The Troubadours were Delta League champs in cross, country, golf, tennis and volleyball and finished second in water polo. They qualified for the section playoffs in every sport, recording four top-two finishes and reached the Masters tournament in golf. The cross country team placed sixth at the CIF Division II State Championships, while tennis advanced to the CIF NorCal Semifinals to equal the best finish in school history.

“It is such an awesome opportunity to compete for St. Francis,” said senior tennis standout Marisa Fat. “Not only to we have successful teams that excel in every aspect that we do but our coaches and supporters nurture us through the entire season.”

Volleyball was selected to the prestigious CIF NorCal Open Division for the first time in school history before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual state champion Archbishop Mitty. Water Polo earned a berth in the first CIF NorCal Water Polo regional.

“When we see other teams do really well, it inspires us to do really well,” said volleyball senior Aiyu Aimufua. “We want academic and athletic success across everything we do here. It is great to see your Troubie sisters succeed.”

Three SF coaches were named league coach of the year this season, including golf’s Bert Jones, tennis coach Kristi Spector and volleyball’s Alynn Wright. Overall, 26 Troubadours were selected to All-Delta League teams in their respective sports.

The Troubadours were equally successful in the classroom. The fall sports posted a combined 3.56 grade point average led by the Junior Varsity Volleyball team (3.67). The varsity volleyball unit posted a 3.61 and all five varsity programs team GPA’s were entered in the first ever CIF Sac-Joaquin Academic Championships to be announced at the end of the school year.

“We’re particularly proud that our students did it all while excelling in the classroom as well,” said McGreevy. “I don’t believe that’s a coincidence as it all stems from the same commitment to do your best while embracing God’s grace.  We acknowledge that that grace so often comes in the form of support from teammates, coaches, parents, teachers, and staff.  For that we consider ourselves very blessed and are grateful.”

The combined team success has the Troubadours in the lead for the Delta League All Sports Award heading into the winter season including soccer and basketball.

2017-18 Season in Review

• St. Francis leads the Delta League All Sports Award after Fall competition
• St. Francis won two Sac-Joaquin Section titles and two runner-up finishes
• St. Francis won four Delta League titles
• Combined 3.56 Fall Sports Grade Point Average
• Three SF coaches were named Delta League Coach of the Year
• 26 Troubies were named All-Delta League in the fall

Cross Country

• Finished sixth at CIF State Championships in Division II
• Sac-Joaquin Section Champions
• Delta League Champions
• Sophie DeBenedetti, Haley Silva, Hanna Hekkanen, Emma Hollenbach, Alana Reyna and Sydney Vandegrift earn all-league honors
• Cross Country Varsity GPA: 3.60
• Cross Country Junior Varsity GPA: 3.67

Golf

• Finished fourth at Sac-Joaquin Section Masters
• Delta League Champions
• Bert Jones Named Delta League Coach of the Year
• Patricia Sweeney, Oliva Alcoran, Lauren Allen and Chase Saca earn all-league honors
• Varsity Golf GPA: 3.54

Tennis

• Recorded school-beset finish, reaching the semifinals of the CIF NorCal Championships
• Sac-Joaquin Section Champions
• Delta League Champions
• Kristi Spector Named Delta League Coach of the Year
• Adithi Benush, Myra Anwar, Kyla Jackson, Kiya Jackson, Izzy Asker and Cameron Parra named All-Delta League
• Varsity Tennis GPA: 3.60

Volleyball

• Qualified for the CIF Open Division Northern California Regional Championships
• Sac-Joaquin Section runner-up
• Delta League Champion
• Alynn Wright named Delta League Coach of the Year
• Alex Edwards Named Delta League Most Valuable Player
• All-Delta League: Kathryn Kramer, Mady Schildmeyer, Aiyu Aimufua, Malia Berry, Aubrey Kenny.
• Kenny, Aimufua and Schildmeyer named Optimist All-Stars
• Varsity Volleyball GPA: 3.61
• Junior Varsity Volleyball GPA: 3.67
• Freshman Volleyball GPA: 3.53

Water Polo

• Qualified for the CIF Northern California Regional Championships
• Finished second in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Tournament
• Kobe Carpenter earned All-American honors
• Kobe Carpenter, Kendall Houck and Caroline Wilkins named All-Section
• Carpenter, Houck, Wilkins, Natalie Imboden and Ari Miggins named All-Delta League
• Varsity Water Polo GPA: 3.36
• Junior Varsity Water Polo GPA: 3.38