The Frassati Catholic Cross Country team will kick off its season on August 29 at Houston Amateur Sports Park in Houston. The team, led by Coach Ralph Maddalena, is a mix of new and returning students. “We have four very capable sophomores returning from last year’s Cross Country and Track teams— they all have experience against very competitive runners from area schools,” said Maddalena. “We have several talented incoming freshmen and will look for the “older” runners to provide mentoring and guidance to them as the season progresses.”
The team is expanding its schedule from last year by participating in nine competitions this season. “The Cross Country program continues to grow and improve every year,” said Maddalena. “I am impressed by the quality of our young student-athletes who train very hard, and show great competitive spirit and sportsmanship.”
The Cross Country season runs into mid-October, when the team will set its sights on the TAPPS State Championships in Irving, TX.
Season opener: Incarnate Word Academy Invitational at Houston Amateur Sports Park on August 29.
One to watch: Brenham Invitational at Brenham High School on September 23.
FLAG FOOTBALL
For the first time, Frassati Catholic students will have the opportunity to participate in football. This fall, students will play competitively against other schools in the Houston TCAL flag football league. Participating in the TCAL flag football league is part of the school’s plan to introduce a full-contact JV football team in the fall of 2016.
While the team’s goal is to be competitive in its first season, it will also emphasize growing into virtuous athletes in the mold of the school’s patron, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (a focus of all Frassati Catholic athletic teams).
“Our primary goals for this first season of flag football are to foster and help create an environment where winning is a byproduct of being good and virtuous,” said Coach, Brian Jones. “We are convinced that learning, holiness, and success in sports are not in opposition to each other, but can be integrated and flourish together, so long as they are held together by the truth of the faith. We want to be able to help the students develop their skills on the field as a preparation for being able to play tackle football at Frassati in the future.”
Students have been practicing since the second week of August at the school’s campus in Spring in anticipation of the season opener on August 27. “The players are simply looking forward to just being out and the field and playing the game,” said Jones. “The students love to play football, and now that they have the opportunity to do so, it is clear how much they love being out there.”
Season opener: Thursday, August 27 against Calvary Baptist at McDade Park at 5:30 p.m.
Home opener: Friday, September 4 against The Briarwood School at 5:30 p.m.
One to watch: Friday, October 2 against Westside Baptist Academy. “Frassati Fan Night.” Tailgate at 4 p.m. at Frassati Catholic fields. Game at 5:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
The Frassati Catholic volleyball team kicked off its season with a strong performance in the Baytown Christian tournament August 13-15, finishing third in its pool. The team also won its home opener against Northland Christian on August 18. For the first time, volleyball will play a full district schedule in TAPPS. The school will have a varsity squad and two JV squads, with more than 30 girls participating in the program this year.
After a competitive season last year, the team has its sights on making the playoffs in its first varsity season. “Our primary goal this year is to keep improving on what we have begun to build, and to make it to playoffs in our very first varsity volleyball season,” said Falcons Head Coach, Katie Hoff. “The top four teams in our 7-team district will go to playoffs, and I think we have a great shot at making it to the post-season.”
One of the main focal points for the team this season will be honing its offense. “We did a lot of work last year improving our offense, and we will continue to develop that this year, too,” said Hoff. “As our kids get older and more experienced, our offense will get faster and more advanced. That's where we need to be if we want to be competitive in our district, which happens to be one of the toughest in the state.”
Season opener: August 13, Baytown Christian Tournament
Home opener: (W) Tuesday, August 18 against Northland Christian.
One to watch: Tuesday, Sept. 8 against St. Pius X at Legends Sports Complex at 5:30 p.m.