Falcons Cross Country Finishes Second at John Cooper Invitational

The Frassati Falcons Cross Country team finished in second place in the JV race at the John Cooper Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Burroughs Park in Tomball, with three Falcons runners finishing in the top 10.

Freshman Alex de la Maza finished in first place out of 37 finishers in the two-mile race with a time of 11:47. Freshmen Cullen Miller and Pablo Boada also had very strong showings, finishing in second and seventh place overall. All five members of the Falcons team, rounded out by sophomores Blaise Luechtefeld and Christian Lawson, had their best two-mile times of the year. The team continues to improve as it sets its sights on the TAPPS State Championship Meet at the end of October.

"Every member of the Cross Country team brings a mix of individual running talent, including speed, stamina, and work ethic," said Falcons Head Coach, Ralph Maddalena. "What makes me most proud is that by working hard in practice, and performing at their best in competition, they have been able to get the most out of their talents."

Maddalena has stressed four principles for success to all of his runners that have allowed the team to continually improve over the first six weeks of the season. They are: "Representing the values of Frassati Catholic High School in both practice and competition; supporting each other as teammates; setting and achieving goals; and demonstrating continuous improvement over the course of the season."

The Falcons Cross Country team will race next at the St. Thomas Episcopal/Bellaire High School Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Bear Creek Park in Houston.

About Frassati Catholic High School: Founded in 2013, Frassati Catholic High School serves the families and parishes in the north Houston area of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Administered by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation, Frassati Catholic High School prepares students to walk on the path of true happiness through a robust college-preparatory curriculum rooted in the Catholic faith. The school currently serves freshman and sophomore students, and will add a grade in each of the next two years. The school will break ground on a second academic building and a gym/fine arts facility in fall 2014, allowing it to serve up to 400 students. For more information about Frassati Catholic High School, contact Kyle Smith, director of communications, at 832-616-3227, or visit frassaticatholic.org . For Admissions information, contact Dr. Lindsay Medina, director of admissions, at 832-616-3226.

For additional athletics information, visit the Frassati Falcons Athletics Portal: bit.ly/YEqJGb

Photo: Pictured from left to right: sophomore Christian Lawson; freshman Cullen Miller; sophomore Blaise Luechtefeld; freshman Pablo Boada; freshman Alex de la Maza; Head Coach Ralph Maddalena. Photo courtesy of Noreen Luechtefeld, Incarnate Word Invitational.