St. Mary’s Athletics Gets A Boost
Published December 6, 2012
In a year’s time, the St. Mary Booster Club has improved athletics at the Rome Catholic school.
Students used to have to play in various recreational leagues or even on other schools’ teams. But now, the program is unified as St. Mary’s Knights play sports during three seasons.
Additionally, the school competes in a league and tournaments against other independent Christian schools. Parent volunteers run the club.
“Our role is to give every student the opportunity to participate in a team-oriented sport of his or her choice while they are at St. Mary’s,” said the Booster Club president Chuck Shaw. “We want to give every student the opportunity to grow, not only intellectually, but also athletically.”
Middle school girls are now playing volleyball and running cross country in the fall, with basketball in the winter and tennis in the spring. Middle school boys can compete in flag football and cross country in the fall, basketball in the winter and tennis and baseball in the spring.
Thanks to the club, the school can now host athletic events. This fall, the school added home games for two more sports, with volleyball competing in the gym and flag football on a new regulation-size field. Elementary students can join basketball, baseball, tennis and cross country.
Student athletes have shown their enthusiasm on the courts and the fields.
The girls volleyball team turned out 20 athletes and earned a second-place finish in the league. The boys flag football team placed second in their league, and many runners represented the St. Mary’s Knights at the Berry Great Pumpkin Run.
“I’m so impressed by the way our parents, students and school leaders have come together to help create this amazing sports program,” said the school’s athletic director, Justin Merriam.