The 2024-2025 varsity soccer team is off to a hot 6-1-1 start, led by Head Coach Oisin Crean. After a lackluster 23-24 season, where the Falcons finished 4-6-4, the team has already made key improvements.

“Last season was my first season in charge of the varsity soccer  program at Saint Stephen’s,” Coach Crean said.  “Overall it was a challenging season with a young team full of sophomores. This season we will have a lot more juniors and seniors on the team which helps a lot with the maturity and experience in the group.” 

This season the squad welcomes new players David Rogers, Carson Mcbride, and Jackson Mcbride. Rogers is a sophomore defensive or attacking midfielder. Carson, a freshman, an attacking midfielder, has scored three goals in his first two games. Jackson, Carson’s senior older brother, is a physical presence as a strong defender at the back.

“These three boys have already had a big impact on the program and have started the majority of games so far,” Crean said.

On top of the new additions,veterans Austin Varga, Bode Labelle, and lead scorer and captain Gavin Winterhalter will provide some of the key leadership the team needs.  Junior Kieran Cloutier will serve as vice-captain. 

“As I’ve become an upperclassman and been the captain last year and this year, my role on the team has changed,” Winterhalter said.  “It’s not just about playing hard and good anymore, I have to push my teammates mentally and physically. 

With the new personnel in mind, Crean has planned to go with a different shape in both attack and defense. 

“We plan to get more players involved in the buildup, especially in the attacking moment of the game,” Crean said.

The boys have wins against Patel, Bayshore, Classical Prep, BCS, and they will face off against Sarasota tonight on their home turf 12/6 at 6:00 p.m.

The 2024-2025 girls’ weightlifting season is underway, and the squad is off to a strong start, with twelve new lifters joining the team this year.

After coming just a few points shy of a Regional trophy in their 2nd season, Head Coach Erik Schulz has already made improvements to earn a County trophy and possibly their first state championship.

“We’ve created some differences in our training and how we approach how we get stronger,” Schulz said.  “We’ve got a big emphasis on getting the squat numbers up to help with the clean and jerks and snatches.” 

In an effort to extend leadership, the team introduced JV captains to give younger girls the opportunity to step into leadership roles.

“This season we have decided to have JV Captains in order to give the younger girls an opportunity to get a leadership position,” Schulz explained.

This season the Falcons welcomed new lifters Sarah Black, Isabella Boyette, Brooke Cosentino, Hailey Cruz, Julie Harris, Annette Logan, Betsy Neal, Serena Nimer, Yara Nimer, Brianna prendergast, Jackie Rappold, Jordan Schmidt, and Hannah Winters.

“Each one of these girls are bringing exciting numbers to the team,” Schulz said. 

Ashley Black, a member of the weightlifting team since its first formation three seasons ago and team captain, detailed how special the squad is to her. 

“Being a part of the team is like being a part of a cute little family,” Black said. “The biggest role of being team captain has been to make sure that everyone feels encouraged to try their best.”

Make sure to come support the team’s upcoming senior night and last home meet on January 9th!

The varsity boys basketball team kicked off the season with fresh talent, high aspirations, and a focus on building team chemistry. Despite a challenging 1-5 start, the team remains determined to improve and secure more wins as the season progresses.

Head Coach Matt Fletcher is aiming for a fourth consecutive district championship. To prepare, Fletcher implemented a revised preseason training program emphasizing both physical conditioning and team bonding. Players participated in cardio workouts, including running with the cross-country team, and unique activities like boxing lessons and Pilates classes. 

Fletcher believes these efforts build strong off-court relationships.

“Allowing each athlete to have a genuine fun time on the court should result in a better environment on the court and with each other,” Fletcher said.

One standout addition to the team is senior Ava Rogers, who joined the boys varsity squad after the girls team was discontinued this year. Despite the unusual situation, her teammates have embraced her, and she has quickly made an impact as the team’s point guard. Known for her energy and defensive skills, Ava has already become a key contributor.

Ava’s favorite moment so far has been media day, which gave her the chance to bond with her teammates and build camaraderie. As the season unfolds, her goal for the team is clear:

 “I hope we can pick up the pieces and continue to work hard to make it to districts,” Rogers said.

Rogers said she appreciates Coach Fletcher and team captain Jack Horn for encouraging her to join the team and helping her transition smoothly. According to Rogers, Jack is a natural leader and she wasn’t surprised when Fletcher selected him as captain.

Basketball is slated to take on ___ for the next game. 

Returning after a record-breaking season last year, the Girls Varsity Soccer team is ready for game time. With their current 3-1-1 record, both the girls and Head Coach Tyler Cotton have high expectations this year.

With over 10 new faces and first-time players on the roster, Coach Cotton said they’ll face some new challenges this season.

“This has and will be a little bit more of a challenging season for us, but I do think the girls are working really hard and learning quickly,” said Cotton. 

As the team adapts to new dynamics, Coach Cotton emphasized the importance of team chemistry. 

“Team chemistry is really important for us, so we’ve made sure that everyone feels comfortable and understands how we play together,” Cotton said. “Really, it just comes down to daily training and working together over and over again.”

New faces on the team have brought fresh energy and enthusiasm. 

“The new girls have so much team spirit, so much energy, and camaraderie,” senior captain Annabelle Pullen said. “They’ve brought new athletic abilities, and they’re supportive. They really want the best for the team.”

For Annabelle, being a senior captain has meant stepping into a larger leadership role. 

“With so many players leaving last year, I’ve had to step up and try to be more for my team,” Pullen said. “I try to keep a really positive attitude, even though I get frustrated with myself or with others. I know I have to focus on my attitude more than my performance.”

Coach Cotton is also excited about teaching the game to players new to soccer. 

“I’m most excited to be able to teach girls who have never played before how to play so that they can have some fun playing the sport I grew up loving,” he shared.

The next game will be tonight, 12/6/24, against Bell Creek.