Montgomery Catholic Honors Students at High School Academic Awards Ceremony

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School honored their top high school students at the annual Academic Awards Ceremony held in the Dolly Barranco Activity Center, May 6, 2013. 

Many honors were bestowed including the most outstanding student in each subject area.  These students are Zach Hulcher, Mason Shell, May Janet McLaughlin and Nathan Revor in English, Berkeley Hall, Zach Hulcher, Willie Revelo, Leo Petters, Patrick O’Mara and Nathan Revor in Math, Jarrett Mason, Madelin O’Mara, Leo Petters and Joonhee Kim in Science, Fran Mount, Sara Elizabeth Parker, Jacob Hulcher and Nathan Revor in Social Studies, David Norris, Andrea Hayesm Leo Petters and Marissa Dogan in Theology, Mary Janet McLaughlin, Bryan Rodopoulos and Katherine Terino in Spanish, Derek Kelley, Maddie O’Mara and Megan Karst in French, Richard Kanneh, Mary Reagan Starrett and Lindsey Tynan in Latin. William Russell was named most outstanding student in Band and Dylan Craig most outstanding student in Technology. 

The senior members of the Loretto chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) were recognized during the ceremony, they are:  Megan Karst, president; Jarrett Mason, vice president; Anna Vail Chancey, treasurer; Alexa Wilkinson, secretary; Michaela Armstrong, Hannah Barranco, Dylan Craig, Kenneth Dickerson, Ashtyn DuBois, Berkeley Hall, Zachary Hulcher, Sarah Nolan, David Norris, Conner Preston, Taylor Pitters, Robert Sankey, Giselle Simms, Sarah Talbot and Katherine Terino.

Montgomery Catholic's Key Club members accumulated over 2,000 service hours to the Montgomery community this year.  There were fifteen students who gave over 50 hours of their time during this school year.  They were Michaela Armstrong,  Alex Castanza, Anna Vail Chancey, Dylan Craig, Eric Crenshaw, Andrea Hayes, Zach Hulcher, Derek Kelly, Daniel LoBello, Jihyun Lee, Jarrett Mason, Taylor Pitters, Shelby Taff, Sarah Talbot and Chase Williams.

Students with the highest grade point average for each high school grade level were also recognized.  The most outstanding freshman is Patrick O’Mara.  The most outstanding sophomore is Leo Petters.  The most outstanding junior is Maddie O'Mara.  The most outstanding senior and the Valedictorian for the class of 2013 is Zach Hulcher .  Zach has accepted an Academic Grant from MIT .

Honor roll certificates for both the A and A/B honor rolls were given to those students who attained A or A/B honor roll throughout the school year for each grade level.  The Joe Arban Perfect Attendance Award was given to Stanley Donald Magdon, Maddie O'Mara and Ashley Taylor Sulzby  for their perfect attendance this year.

The evening culminated with two of the highest awards given at Montgomery Catholic: Leader of the Year and the Ideal Graduate.  Mr. Chad Barwick, high school principal, awarded the Montgomery Catholic Leader of the Year award to David Norris.  David has served the school in numerous leadership positions throughout his school career.  

Mrs. Anne Ceasar, president, awarded the Montgomery Catholic Ideal Graduate Award to the student who embodies the overall qualities and talents of an ideal graduate.  This year there were co-recipients named as the Ideal Graduates at Montgomery Catholic, Shelby Taff and Chad DuBois.  

SPRING SIGNING DAY AT MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 15

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School held a signing ceremony for our spring student-athletes inside the Dolly Barranco Center (DBC) on the high school campus at 2:30 pm on Wednesday afternoon, May 15, 2013.  The Knights celebrated the signing of Michael Dallas (Huntingdon), Skip Martin (North Alabama) and Jarrett Mason (Millsaps).

Skip Martin, Michael Dallas and Jarrett Mason
commit to play at the college level on May 15.

Dallas, a two-time All-Metro selection for the Knights, has decided to play college basketball at Huntingdon College, choosing the Hawks over Spring Hill College.  Dallas scored his 1,000th-career point earlier this season, and led the Knights in scoring average the past two seasons including averaging over 20 points per game for nearly all of the 2012-13 basketball season.

Martin, a state champion in track and field, has decided to run at the University of North Alabama, choosing the Lions over Spring Hill College.  Martin won the indoor and outdoor 1600-meter championships during the 2012 track season and finished second in the event at this year's outdoor event.  He has also anchored three 4x800-meter championships (one indoor and two outdoor) for the Knights, while also earning All-State honors in cross country with his top 10 finish at the cross country championships this fall - helping the Knights win the Class 3A state title.

Mason will continue his running career at Millsaps College next fall after finishing second at the AHSAA cross country championships this fall and helping the Knights grab the Class 3A state title along the way.  Mason finished in the top five two consecutive years for the Knights at the cross country championships, and has finished as a state medalist in many events in track and field during his prep career.  He also ran on the last three 4x800-meter championship teams for the Knights (one indoor and two outdoor), including winning the third consecutive outdoor title this spring.

The trio join Katherine Terino (cross country and track at Montevallo), Conner Preston (football at UNC Pembroke) and Kenneth Dickerson (walking on in football at Tuskegee) who will continue their athletic careers in the fall at the college level.

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The MCPS athletes celebrated with family members.Pictured from left to right, seated, Skip Martin, Jarrett Mason and Michel Dallas.  Standing, Dave and Jamie Martin, Tony and Jenny Mason, Michael, Sonja and Gabrielle Dallas

Montgomery Catholic Softball Advances to State

The Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School softball team advanced to the state tournament held at Lagoon Park May 17 - 18.  The Knights had their backs against the wall on Saturday, May 11, at the Regional Tournament held in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Knights had to win three games after a two-hour rain delay and each game an elimination game.

After defeating Slocomb 5-3 on a one-hitter by Sydney O'Connor, the Knights fell to Straughn 8-5 to fall into the losers' bracket for Saturday action.  After a two-hour rain delay, the Knights made short work of T.R. Miller 15-0 in four innings to advance to within two games of a state tournament berth.

That game set the stage for two epic contests for the Knights to get into the round of eight.

The first game, a 1-0 victory over Geneva was a pitchers' dual from the outset.  However, it was one swing of the bat by Lauren Walker in the top of the seventh inning that gave Montgomery Catholic the victory and sent them into a winner take all match up with Opp.

Just 20 minutes after leaving the field against Geneva, the Knights took the field against Opp and played a 12-inning affair scoring two runs in the top of the 12th inning to take the victory and earn the berth in the tournament.

Montgomery Catholic's Varsity Softball team is coached by Coach Britt Taylor and Assistant Coach Abbey Beesley.  The 2013 team is Ali Harper, Lauren Walker, Jessie Clark, Ansley Taylor, Agnes Armstrong, Kristianna Davison, McKinlee Houghland, Callie Wilkinson, Kirstin Wood, Sydney O’Connor, Hadley Taylor, Alex Jolley.

The AHSAA Class 3A State Tournament will be held at Lagoon Park in Montgomery with games starting at 10:30 AM on Friday May 17. The Knights will face Pisgah at 12 noon for their first game.

Congratulations to the Knights for advancing to the State Tournament!

Montgomery Catholic Honors Top Athletes at Varsity Sports Banquet

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School honored their varsity athletes for the 2012-2013 year at their annual Varsity Athletic Banquet held at the RSA Activity Center, Wednesday May 8, 2013. Montgomery Catholic fields 17 varsity team sports throughout the year. Mr. Chad Barwick, High School Principal, recognized the four nominees for the Jimmy Hitchcock Award. They were Zach Hulcher, Jarrett Mason, David Norris and Katherine Terino. Also recognized were Montgomery Catholic's ninth grade nominees, Agnes Armstrong, 

Emily Barranco, Blake Johnson and Patrick O'Mara.

Montgomery Catholic has four awards which honor individual team members 

for their hard work and dedication to their sport. Three of these distinguished awards honor individuals who had tremendous influence on our athletic program: Father Patrick Delahunty, Mr. Joe Fields, and Coach Jack Kresek.

The Father Pat Delahunty Sportsmanship Award, named for the founder of our athletic program, honors the athlete who demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship. The Fr. Delahunty Sportsmanship Award winners were Kyle Berher, Alex Castanza, Cole Dixon, Ashytn Dubois, Zach Hulcher, Taylor Jones, Ashley Kim, Anna McCracken, Timothy McOmber, Michael Moussalli, Sarah Nolen, Megan Revor, Katelyn Stark, Caya Taylor, and Callie Wilkinson.

The Coach Jack Kresek Coaches Award, named for a much-beloved football coach who led the Knights (then the "Saints") from 1956 until 1961, recognizes the athlete who exhibits strong determination, team effort, dependability, and a winning attitude. The Jack Kresek Coaches Award winners were Carrie Belsterling, Kyle Berher, Kylie Frank, Calvin Freeman, John Haynes, Jacob Hulcher, Zach Hulcher, Ashley Kim, Kaleb Libby, Mary Janet McLaughlin, Jenni Morgan, Nathan Revor, Nate Smith, Natalie Sullivan, Emily Tolar and Lindsey Tynan.

The Joe Fields Leadership Award, named for an outstanding student-athlete from the 1970s who displayed outstanding leadership while attending Montgomery Catholic, honors the athlete who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills to their teammates. The Joe Fields Leadership Award winners were Chase Forshey, Claire Galluzzi, Zach Hulcher, Samantha Kocan, Jordan Lacey,  Dylan Martin, Jarrett Mason,  Fran Mount, David Norris, James Sherman, Katherine Terino, Michael Tyner and Kirstin Wood.

Each varsity sport names one Most Valuable Player. Montgomery Catholic's MVPs were Emily Barranco, Michael Dallas, Ashtyn DuBois, Kylie Frank, Zack Jones, Katie Lafreniere, Alex Manning, Skip Martin, Jarrett Mason, Ryan Norris, Sydney O'Connor, Sarabeth Parker, Greg Rickels, Dean Rodopoulos, Katherine Terino, Zach Van Alst Lauren Walker and Kirstin Wood.

The top athletes from each sport are nominated for the Knights of the Round Table Award, which recognizes the top male and female athlete of the year. The Knights of the Round Table nominees were Zach Hulcher, Jarrett Mason, David Norris, Natalie Sullivan, Katherine Terino, Callie Wilkinson. The Montgomery Catholic Knights of the Round Table Winners are Jarrett Mason and Katherine Terino.

To close the banquet, Deacon Jim Labadie, of Our Lady Queen of Mercy Catholic Church and Montgomery Catholic's Senior Religion Teacher, led the parents and guests in a final blessing for all of the senior athletes.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Knights of the Round Table Athletes of the Year Jarrett Mason and Katherine Terino.

The Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School inducts new members.

The Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School inducted nineteen new members into their society during an Induction Ceremony Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Dolly Barranco Activity Center.

The National Honor Society (NHS), established in 1921, is a national recognition program for students who show achievement in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. High School students are selected for membership through an application process and are selected by the faculty council. Candidates must meet the chapter's requirement for scholarship, service, leadership and character in order to be selected for membership. Continued participation in service projects and upholding the ideals of the school are required to retain membership. Members must also maintain the chapter's required cumulative grade point average. 

A reception hosted by the 2013 National Honor Society members for the new members and their families immediately followed the ceremony.

The newly inducted members of the Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School are: Madeleine O'Mara (President), Sara Elizabeth Parker (Vice President), Anne Marie Dean (Treasurer), Ashley Barranco (Secretary), Tara Bourke, Coleman Dixon, Mallory Ellis, Andrea Hayes, Migyn Kim, Samantha Kocan, Daniel LoBello, Alexandra Micher, Anna Mills, Michael Moussalli, Ryan Norris, Sydney O'Connor, Guillermo Ravelo, Abigail Rohde and James Sherman.

Jack Galassini Named Harbin Distinguished Service Award Winner

Anne Ceasar, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School president along with Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's 2013 Charlie Harbin Distinguished Service Award winner Jack Galassini, his wife Patricia.

Jack Galassini was honored by Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School on May 6, as the 2013 Charlie Harbin Distinguished Service Award winner for his volunteerism to the school.  The Charlie Harbin Distinguished Service Award was established by the Harbin family and awarded by the school to recognize those selfless individuals who have significantly served Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School and exemplified its values in their lives.  

Jack's support of Montgomery Catholic spans three decades, beginning in the mid 1980’s and through the mid 1990’s while his three children were students at the school. He continued into the new millennium where he served as the emcee for several school events including our annual school spring fundraiser and filled in wherever and whenever he was asked.

Many activities kept Jack volunteering at Montgomery Catholic over the years. He was involved with Back to School nights, picnics, rummage sales, and hosted school Halloween parties at his home. He was a School Board member and a Booster Club member who was instrumental in getting the club started. He created Booster Buddies which helped increase attendance at Booster Club meetings, helped with Legislative Conventions, SACS Accreditation, and provided the school with extensive knowledge and ideas for the “Faith in Education” Capital Campaign which enabled the school to expand adding the Belke Lab, Middle School, and Athletic Fields. Supportive of the students and staff, Jack was always there whether it was to write recommendation letters for students or allowing the school to use his office for meetings or serving on a search committee. He was invaluable in the planning and success of the annual Seafood Dinner held for years as a school fundraiser.  He never said no to committee work; he was active in the PTC and both girls and boys athletics.

An active member of St. Bede Parish for more than 40 years, Jack serves as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. He has served on the Parish Council and as Deanery Chair for the Catholic Charities Campaign. He has been a President of the Montgomery United Way. Currently, Jack serves on numerous civic boards, and he is a TV host.

With service many times behind the scenes, Jack has been involved with the school in almost every area. He worked all the fun activities but also took on major leadership responsibilities on committees and in the often difficult job of fundraising. He did it out of love for the school, its students, and the entire Montgomery Catholic community.

Montgomery Catholic Students Nominated for Volunteers of the Year

Congratulations to the students of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School for being honored as nominees at the Hands On River Region Volunteer of the Year Awards Ceremony held on April 25. MCPS Student Council and Student Government Officers represented the student body as they were nominated for volunteer youth group of the year.

Daniel Lobello and Andrea Hayes were nominated as individuals for their extraordinary volunteerism in the River Region.

Pictured are MCPS High School SGA President Shelby Taff, eleventh grade nominees Daniel LoBello and Andrea Hayes and Holy Spirit Campus Student Council President Thomas McLaughlin with Mayor Todd Strange.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Track & Field Team Captures Three State Titles

Kylie Frank

Three State Titles for Knights on Day One

The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) state championship track and field meet begin with a bang for the Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Knights in Selma on Friday.

Eighth-grader Kylie Frank, highlighted in AL.com earlier this week as a distance specialist, won her first state championship as she claimed the 1600-meter run on Friday.  She crossed the line in front of defending state champion, Karisa Nelson of T.R. Miller, and beat the state record set last year by Nelson by finishing with a time of 5.11.11 - one full second ahead of Nelson who finished second.

Frank followed that up with her second state championship, in her second event of the day, finishing first in the 400-meter dash.  She crossed the line in a time of 1:00.51; a full second ahead of second-place Patriece Blackmon of Barbour County.  Marissa Craig finished 12th overall in the race with a time of 1:05.91.

The third state title of the day for the Knights came in the 4x800-meter relay, in which the boys captured their third consecutive state title.  The team of Nathan Revor, Timothy McOmber, Jarrett Mason and Skip Martin crossed the line in a time of 8:30.75; finishing 11 seconds ahead of Winfield and 13 seconds ahead of third-place Trinity.

In the same 1600-meter race, senior Katherine Terino finished 11th overall with a time of 5:44.49; while seventh-grader Katelyn Stark finished 20th overall with a time of 6:26.98.

On the boys side in the 1600-meter race, Martin finished second with a time of 4:31.41; finishing six seconds behind Wesley Curles of Trinity who finished with a state record time of 4:25.29.  Mason and McOmber crossed the line fourth and fifth overall with times of 4:38.12 and 4:40.75.

Freshman Jennifer Westendorf competed in her first event of the state meet, finishing 11th overall in the long jump with a distance of 4.25 meters.  She also competed in the high jump for the Knights, finishing ninth overall with a jump of 1.42 meters.  After two field events, Westendorf took to the track and competed in the 100-meter hurdles and finished 13th overall in the prelims with a time of 18.89 seconds.

RACING KNIGHTS TEAM UP FOR FIRST EVER SECTIONAL HONORS

(Opelika, 27 April 2013) -The Montgomery Catholic Track and Field Teams took home their first trophies from Sectional Competition on Saturday at Beauregard High School. Competing in the AHSAA 3A Section 2 Championships, the Racing Knights placed second in both the boys and girls team events.

The girls scored in 12 of the 18 contested events, but it was the blue wave of distance dominance that washed over the track. The Lady Knights swept (finished 1-2-3) in all three distance events, the 800, 1600, and 3200 meter runs. Kylie Frank led the charge by winning the 400 meter dash, the 800, and the 1600. Katherine Terino won the 3200, placed second in the 1600, and was third in the 800. Jenni Morgan took third in the 800 and scored in the 400 by placing 8th. Katelyn Stark earned bronze in the 1600 while Annabel Starrett and Megan Revor finished second and third in the 3200. The Knights set a new school record in the 4x400 meter relay as Sarah Beth Littrell, Jenni Morgan, Marissa Craig, and Kylie Frank teamed up to run 4:26.01. Marissa Craig also ran her best 400 time of the season en route to finishing fourth in that open event. Annabel, Sarah Beth, Jenni, and Katherine also brought home gold for the Lady Knights in the 4x800 meter relay. Sarah Murry also scored in the 100m hurdles by placing 8th. Emily Tolar, in her first Sectional Meet, placed fourth in the Triple Jump. Finally, Jennifer Westendorf dominated the jumps by winning the High Jump and earning bronze in the Long Jump. She also finished third in the 100m hurdles and fourth in the 300m hurdles. The 4x100 relay of Sarah Beth Littrell, Lauren Oates, Sarah Murry, and Anna Stokes also scored by finishing 8th.

For the boys, they were narrowly beaten by Trinity for team accolades, 106 to 101.50. The team scored in 11 out of 18 events, but could not match Trinity’s middle distance firepower. Highlights of the meet included the performance of seniors Jarrett Mason, Skip Martin, Timothy McOmber, and Zach Hulcher. Mason finished second in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs, third in the 800, and was on the champion 4x800 meter relay. Jarrett set a new school record of 10:09.96 in the 3200. Timothy set a new school record of 45.04 by placing 4th in the 300m hurdles and was fifth in the 800, 3rd in the 1600, and part of the 4x800 team. Skip was third in the 3200, 4th in the 800, 3rd in the 1600, and anchored the 4x800. Zach took bronze in both the Javelin and Discus competition.

Other scorers for the Knights included Nathan Revor in the 3200 (4th), Winston Wright in the 300 hurdles (6th), the 4x100 relay (Dylan Craig, Jarrett Chesnutt, De’Voski Boyd, and Conner Preston) (3rd), the 4x400 relay (Jarrett Chesnutt, Miguel Barragan, Dylan Craig, and Winston Wright) finished 7th, Dylan Craig tied for 8th in the Long Jump, De’Voski Boyd took 5th in the Triple Jump, John Haynes 8th in the Shot Put, and Stefan Perritano and Justin Cotter were 6th and 7th in the Javelin.

The Racing Knights qualified 21 athletes for the State Meet to be held in Selma on May 3rd and 4th.

submitted by: Coach John Terino

Montgomery Catholic's Girls Track & Field Team place second at the AHSAA 3A Sectional Championships!