Sentinels in Motion (November 30, 2023)
With the changing of sports seasons, I find myself excited for what is in store for the winter, yet very reflective of what has happened over the fall. Our firsts this fall included these SMA teams:
A JV boys’ soccer team
A JV girls’ soccer team
A JV boys’ cross country team
A JV girls’ cross country team
A JV girls’ tennis team
A JV girls’ swim team
A varsity girls’ swim team
I am thinking of all the parents, students, and coaches who said, “YES! – I will try/support something new at Stella Maris Academy.” You will soon be reading about our first representative at the Minnesota State High School League state competition. It seems like the blessings this fall were countless, and our future - God willing - is limitless.
As we grow, my prayer is that we remember that this is all a remarkable gift. A gift and an opportunity to give back. As we start offering more varsity sports, I pray that our focus does not turn just to winning games or offering more activities. More can be good – and success can be good – but getting another win will not fulfill us. Our happiness will come when we make our activity His activity. When we use this time of activity to sacrifice our desires and give our very best to our coaches, our teammates, and yes – especially our opponents. Our Stella Maris Prayer for competitions says it well:
Stella Maris, our protector, our guiding star,
Lead us to your Son in this, our time of trial.
May He bless this team, our coaches, and these officials.
Hear our earnest desire to bless also our opponent
So that this time and this place may be Holy in His eyes.
May He remind us as Sentinels to lead, love, and to serve - and that in giving of ourselves we receive.
Amen.
Chris Lemke - Stella Maris Academy Jr/Sr High School Principal and Activities Director
Swimming - Historic Season
This year saw us developing our first Stella Maris Academy MSHSL varsity swim team, and they had a fantastic season! Eight athletes qualified for the section meet in Hibbing on November 9th. This team did an incredible job taking on the challenge of competing at a new level, managing busy schedules, and achieving a team average GPA of 3.83 for the first quarter. After an enthusiastic send-off by students, staff, and parents, the students headed off to sections. “The girls are all between 7th and 9th grade, and these Sentinels represented our school with grace and a level of confidence beyond their years,” says High School Principal and Athletic Director, Chris Lemke.
Not only was the section meet a first for our swim team and high school, we also sent swimmers Eleanor Enslin and Ella Stone to SMA's first state competition! Eleanor competed in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 yard Breaststroke. Ella was an alternate.
Coach Brenda Enslin is also Mom to state-qualifier Eleanor. Watching her daughter at state brought back many memories for Coach Enslin who, 25 years ago, competed in the state meet in the same pool with her mom cheering her on. One of the best parts of the trip to state was the procession of athletes. Coach Enslin says, “It was an honor to represent our team and Stella Maris Academy at the State Championships.”
Coach Enslin recounts other season highlights as “Praying together after every practice and praying the Sentinel Prayer for competitions before every meet.” Another highlight: “We competed in a JH meet in International Falls and stayed in a hotel. After the meet, we went to Mass together as a team. I loved hearing the girls pray, respond, and sing together.”
Basketball Begins
Basketball season is upon us! This year Therese Gannucci is coaching 4th grade and junior high (6th-8th) girls’ teams, both of which began practicing on Nov. 14th. Boys’ basketball has five teams, grades 3 & 4 coached by Reier Sjomeling, 5th coached by Eric Watson, 6th coached by Gary Bjorkland, 7 & 8, and 9th, all being led by head coach Matt Gannucci and assistant coaches Adam Long and Therese Gannucci. Boys’ practice started Nov. 13th. Games began on November 28th and will continue into February. Many games are hosted at the Jr./Sr. High School and St. John's campuses. A full schedule can be found on the website.
Martial Arts
Two Sentinels, Simon Merritt and Bella Raj, competed October 8th at the Spirit of the Arts Martial Arts Tournament at Clyde Ironworks in Duluth. In their age and belt divisions, Simon (purple belt) placed 2nd in Sparring and 3rd in Form. Bella (gold belt) placed 3rd in Sparring. Instructor Tony Merritt and other SMA Sentinels were there to support them and cheer them on.
One Act
If you stop by the high school campus after classes are dismissed and hear singing in the halls, it’s sure to be the One Act group! In this second year, Mr. Joseph McLaughlin is directing Sentinels in “The Circus”, which is about a recurring nightmare that a group of friends confront together. The team will perform in the MSHL competition against teams from across the state in January or February.
Eleanor Enslin joined her first swim team at the age of seven, and this season her years of practice brought this Sentinel to State! Going to State was not on her radar when she began the season, but Enslin says, "It was neat to see it all." She was the only 8th grader to compete in the 200 Individual Medley at the state competition where she finished 18th in the preliminaries. Eleanor also competed at the state level in the 100 yard Breaststroke.
Taking it all in stride is how Enslin seems to roll. When asked what her great challenge of the season was, she couldn't recall really having any. She seems to simply enjoy the sport and remains humble in her successes.
Enslin has had fun having her mom as her coach the last two years, saying, "I think she's a good coach." Other highlights of the season were the team dinners at various teammates’ homes prior to their meets and having so many teammates who were already friends. "They like to have fun and have good energy; no negativity." The energy of those teammates was evident as they gathered around a small screen in the school office cheering Enslin on as she competed in the state meet.
Little Flowers
Little Flowers is a Catholic girls’ club that focuses on virtue. Using scripture, stories of saints, and the teachings of the Catholic Church, girls learn the “little way” of virtue like St. Therese. Similar to scouting, girls pursue badges focused on life skills and practicing virtues, all through a Catholic lens.
Emily Patrick is the leader of 48 pre-K - 3rd grade girls in the new Little Flowers club hosted at Holy Rosary campus. In just two meetings so far this year, the girls learned about St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Cecelia, along with the virtues of truthfulness and piety. Jenny Boran, Faith Formation Director for SMA, presents short lessons before they work on a craft and play a game to help the girls understand how the saint and virtue fits into their lives. There will be seven more Little Flower meetings this year leading up to an end-of-year mother/daughter tea party.
Cross-Country Skiing
SMA is offering a cross-country skiing club at the Jr./Sr. high campus this year. Coaches Sarah Murray, Clare Murray, and Patrick Maloney began leading students earlier this week using the brand new, scenic 5K trail located behind the high school. The club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 - 4:45 pm. For more details or to join the team email: sarah.murray@stellamaris.academy.
Photo contributions by: Emily Patrick, Brenda Enslin, Chris Lemke, Annette Merritt