Saintly Sports

Outstanding Saints
 
By Olivia Babasick
Editor in Chief, SJPII Times Online
 
            The girls basketball teams have had amazing seasons so far during the second quarter! Our sixth-grade Saints have showed tremendous effort and teamwork with a record of 4-1. The JV girls basketball team has been working very hard on their offense, and it showed during their games. Their record is 3-3 so far and they are looking forward to more wins after the new year. The Varsity team has had an outstanding season so far with only one loss and five great wins! They have shown incredible teamwork and positivity during all of their games. We wish all of our outstanding Lady Saints good luck during the rest of their seasons!
 
Practice Makes Perfect
 
By Olivia Babasick
Editor in Chief, StJPII Times Online
 
            WHCSA was in full swing during the second quarter! Sadly, the soccer season came to an end with the final games on November 12. There were 20 soccer teams at our school, and they all had amazing seasons.
            The basketball season began with 19 teams and a total of 176 students involved at StJPII. Each team averaged 10 players, and they practiced up until Christmas break. Their first few games will be played after the break in January, so they will have had a lot of practice before they kick off their seasons. Good luck to all of our athletic Saints!
 




















Middle school P.E. students get ready to get active in a game, as Coach Hertlein gives the countdown.

Powerful P.E.
 
By Emily Colgan
Managing Editor
           
             The P.E. department started off strong in the second quarter! The elementary students worked on throwing, catching, tracking a ball, predicting where the ball would go, force of throw, and target throwing. The middle school students worked on sport-specific skills for each unit, good sportsmanship, intensity, and level of play. Second grader Ryan Nguyen said, “My favorite activity in P.E. is running.”
                The units for the second quarter were badminton, tchoukeball, and softball. Through the units, the students learned about teamwork and how to deal with winning and losing appropriately. Fifth grader Gabi Thomas said, “My favorite unit was basketball, because it was fun to play with my friends.” The students played special games for the holidays. For each holiday they played a themed game. For Halloween and Christmas, they built different characters with various P.E. equipment. They also had a “snowball” fight with dodgeballs. What a great way to end the year!  
 
Playoff Hopefuls
 
By Thomas Whitson
Sports Editor
 
            The boys basketball season has begun. So far, the sixth grade team’s record in district play is 1–4. The JV team’s record in district play is 0–6, and varsity’s district record is 2–4 with a chance to go to the playoffs. While the teams have had some difficult games at the beginning of the season and faced many strong opponents, Coach Hertlein said that all three teams are playing good zone defense and learning to press really well. Coach Hertlein also said that the  teams need to work more on their defense so they cause other teams take tough shots. The boys teams will continue working hard, so that they will continue to see great improvement during the season!