Montgomery Catholic's O'Connor Signs with The University of Mobile

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory held a signing ceremony for senior softball pitcher, Sydney O'Connor on Thursday, September 26 at 2:45 in the Dolly Barranco Center at Montgomery Catholic's Middle & High School campus. O'Connor signed her letter of intent to play softball with the University of Mobile for the next four years. Her parents, MCPS Varsity Softball Coach Britt Taylor, former softball coaches; Bill Barranco and Marty Britt, along with fellow MCPS students and school administration were all in attendance for the ceremony.

O'Connor, a four year MCPS Varsity player, was instrumental in getting the Knights to the state tournament this season on the mound, and will look to take that success to Mobile, who finished second at the 2008 NAIA National Tournament and had appearances in 2011 and 2012. Sydney thanked her family and all of her past coaches for their support, and God for surrounding her with amazing people during her speech.

Sydney is the daughter of Katie and Mike O'Connor of Montgomery, Ala. Montgomery Catholic is proud to have Sydney as part of the MCPS family, and we look forward to seeing her accomplishments at the University of Mobile.

Montgomery Catholic Middle School Knights Win First Three Games

Montgomery Catholic vs Trinity Wildcats

Under first year Catholic Middle School Head Football Coach Doug Givens, the Knights proved they were ready, and fully prepared to start the 2013 season beating the Trinity Wildcats 6-0.  Even though the game was shortened due to lightening, the Knights proved they were in complete control in the second half when they marched down the length of the field to the 4 yard line primed for their second touchdown when the referees suspended the game.  After a 30 minute delay and with lightening covering the area, the officials decided to call the game giving the Knights the victory.

On Trinity’s first possession, the Wildcats picked up 3 first downs, but the hard nosed defense led by Defensive Coordinator Don Howell rose to the occasion.  On second down and 6 to go, the Wildcats attempted to run left, but Luke Craig snuffed it out forcing a fumble that was recovered by William Hooper at the Trinity 40.

On the Knights opening drive, Catholic Running Back, Parker Dennis picked up several tough yards, and Thomas Lynch caught an 8 yard pass from Quarterback, Landon Pritchett, but a holding penalty negated the drive. 

On Trinity’s second possession, William Hooper pressured the Wildcat quarterback forcing an errant pass that was intercepted by Trey Wilkinson at 50 yard line.

With the help of an outstanding line retooled by Coach David Griffin, the Knights grinded out an impressive drive that helped set the tone for the evening.  Running Backs Parker Dennis and Kamryn Jackson picked up 12 yards apiece, Fullback, William Hooper and Landon Pritchett added 6 yards each, but it was Parker Dennis who busted 5 yards up the middle behind Garrett McGinn, Stevie Price and Thomas McGlaughlin for Catholic’s first touchdown of the season.   The 2 point conversion pass play from Landon Pritchett to Thomas Lynch fell incomplete.

On Trinity’s next possession, the Knights defense put pressure on the Wildcat Quarterback forcing an interception by Parker Dennis.   With two minutes to go in the half, the Knights mounted another consistent drive down to the Wildcats 20 yard line, but on fourth down the pass from Landon Pritchett to Thomas Lynch fell incomplete on the goal line. 

We are grateful for the commitment to excellence by our Middle School football coaching staff, Head Coach Doug Givens, and Assistant Coaches Don Howell, Jonathan Wright, David Griffin and Bill Pendleton

Montgomery Catholic Knights vs Montgomery Academy Eagles

The Montgomery Catholic Knights won their second game of the 2013 season defeating Montgomery Academy handily 34-13.

Montgomery Catholic got off to a fast start when Parker Dennis and William Hooper pressured the Eagles quarterback causing his errant pass to be picked off by Hunter Ferrell who sprinted sixty yards for the first score.  Trey Wilkinson took a hand off running off tackle for the 2 point conversion making the score 8-0 early in the first quarter.

With the exceptional play by Garrett McGinn, Stevie Price, Luke Craig, Tate Holifield and Thomas McGlaughlin, Thomas Lynch, and Hunter Ferrell on the offensive line, the Knights managed to move the ball consistently all night.  With fourth down and 3, Parker Dennis took a hand off from Landon Pritchett before breaking a tackle and racing sixty five yards down the left sideline for the Knights second touchdown of the evening.  Trey Wilkinson ran off tackle for the two point conversion giving Montgomery Catholic a 16-0 lead.

Late in the third quarter, Montgomery Academy drove down to the Knights 5 yard line, but a ten yard Quarterback sack by Parker Dennis, a 9 yard QB sack by William Hooper and Donovahn Wyatt’s pressure on fourth down, the Eagles hopes of a score ended.  With fifty seconds remaining in the period, Kamryn Jackson took a hand off from Quarterback, Landon Pritchett and sprinted seventy six yards around left end for the fourth Catholic touchdown. 

With six minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Braxton Rogers intercepted a Montgomery Academy pass and ran sixty yards for the last Montgomery Catholic touchdown of the evening giving the Knights a 37-6 lead. 

Montgomery Catholic Knights vs Alabama Christian Eagles

The Montgomery Catholic Knights Middle School won their third game in a row crushing Alabama Christian Academy 41-6.  The Knights set the tone early in the game on the first play from scrimmage when William Hooper broke through the line forcing an ACA fumble.  Two plays later, Quarterback Landon Pritchett connected with Thomas Lynch on a thirty five yard pass play to put the Knights up 7-0.

After the Knights forced ACA to punt on their second possession, Catholic Running Back, Parker Dennis took a hand off, picked up several key blocks and ran seventy yards down the sideline for another touchdown. Rocky Philippou connected on his second extra point making the score 14-0 with 6 minutes to go in the first period.

On the next series ACA mounted a serious drive, but the tenacious defense by Luke Craig, Stevie Price, Donovahn Wyatt, Thomas Lynch, Parker Dennis, William Hooper, Trey Wilkinson, Braxton Rogers, Daniel Reeves, Hunter Ferrall and Kamryn Jackson stopped ACA on fourth down on the Catholic 1 yard line. 

With time running out in the first quarter, Parker Dennis picked up several key blocks and sprinted eighty two yards around right end for another Knight touchdown. With the help of special teams Coach Jonathan Wright, Rocky Philipou made his third extra point giving the Catholic Knights a 21-0 lead . 

ACA managed a couple first downs, but the Knights tightened up and forced an ACA punt.  One play later, William Hooper took a hand off from Landon Pritchett breaking one tackle in the back field and sprinted eighty two yards for another Catholic touchdown giving the Knights a 28-0 lead.  With 2 minutes before halftime, the stingy Catholic Knights defense forced a fumble on their own 5 yard line.  On the ensuing play Kamryn Jackson took a hand off from Landon Pritchett and sped around right end for a ninety two yard touchdown.

Midway through the fourth quarter Trey Wilkinson took a hand off and sprinted sixty two yards for the last Catholic touchdown and a final score of 41-6.

Submitted by  Conwell Hooper

Montgomery Catholic's O'Mara Earns Girl Scout Gold Award

Montgomery Catholic senior Maddie O'Mara was presented with the Girl Scout Gold Award on Saturday, September 14 at the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama Lead Out Loud! (LOL)  event at Woodland United Methodist Church in Pike Road. 

Maddie has been a Girl Scout for twelve years. She earned both Bronze and Silver Awards in previous years, and earned the Gold Award for beginning a recycling program at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School last year.  This "Take Action" service program helped her school community, and helped earn her this high honor.

Only 5.4% of all eligible  Girl Scouts earn a Gold Award. It is the highest award a Girl Scout can achieve. Those who receive the Gold Award and enlist in the military, receive a advanced rank as a result of their achievement.  Many colleges offer scholarship money to recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Maddie O'Mara  is the daughter of Col. and Mrs. Ray O'Mara of Montgomery, Alabama.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic's  Maddie O'Mara, at her Girl Scout Gold Award ceremony September 14, 2013.

Knights Shine in the Rain!

Both the Montgomery Catholic Termite and Pee Wee football teams claimed titles Saturday, September 21 at the Hooper Academy Jamboree. The Termite Knights started the rainy day with a 28-0 defeat over hosting team Hooper Academy.  In the game, Chase Ford recorded 3 touchdowns.  Also scoring was Ethan Binns on a QB keeper up the middle for a 7- yard touchdown run and Will Belsterling scored on a 2-point conversion.

In the second game, the rain did not let up but neither did the Knights.  As the Pee Wee football team beat Hooper Academy by the same score 28-0!  Grant Smith scored on two touchdowns as did Christian “Cat” Ivey for the Knights in the win.

Those two wins propelled both the Montgomery Catholic Pee Wee & Termite teams into the Championship games.  Both teams would face Fort Dale Academy Eagles out of Greenville.  The Termite Championship game was an exciting defensive struggle. The Termite Knights won the game 6-0. The game seemed to be in hand late in the 4^th but the Knights fumbled the ball and Fort Dale Academy recovered it in Knight Territory.  However, the defense stepped up and stopped the Eagles on the next 4 plays giving up only 5 yards on the series.  That forced Fort Dale Academy to turn the ball over on downs with only 19 seconds left in the game. Chase Ford took the snap and kneeled down to secure the championship win for the Termite Catholic Knight Football team.  Chase ford led the Knights with the only touchdown of the game. 

Following the Termite championship game was the Pee Wee Championship game.  And like the Termites the Pee Wee Knights claimed a victory to win the Hooper Academy Jamboree Championship.  Christian “Cat” Ivey led the Knights with two touchdown runs.  Pee Wee Catholic Knight football team won 12-0 over Fort Dale Academy. 

The boys are improving each week and the defense was dominate on Saturday as no team scored any points in the 4 Catholic Games we played!  The Knights combined outscored their opponents 74-0. Catholic returns to action for their final home game of the season on Tuesday September 24^th v. Hooper Academy.  Termites kick-off at 5:00 PM followed by the Pee Wee team.

Thanks to all those who came out in the rain to support our team especially the Cheerleaders who cheered their hearts out in 4 games of pouring down rain!

GO KNIGHTS!

Submitted by Ken Klinger

MCPS Middle and High School Campuses Start the Year with a Blessing

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory is thankful for the involvement and gifts that our Parish clergy bring to campus. The 2013-2014 school year at MCPS received a gift on August 29 when Father Patrick Arensberg blessed all of the classrooms at our Middle and High School campus. With the assistance of 7-12 principal Chad Barwick, Father Arensberg visited each room and asked God to bless the room and all those who use it. Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is an integral part of the Catholic Church's mission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, while preparing students for college and beyond, helping them grow to become persons of faith, virtue, and wisdom. The school is proud to be celebrating 140 years of education in Montgomery, and with the gift of dedication from area Priests and Deacons the school looks forward to continuing its mission for another 140 years. 

Father Arensberg is Associate Pastor at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church, he is also a regular visitor and guest speaker in MCPS K4 - 12 classrooms on a regular basis.

Montgomery Catholic's Holy Spirit Campus Welcomes Grandparents

Holy Spirit Campus Kindergarten Student Barrett Beesley welcomed his Nana (Jackie Tatum), Grand-dad, Granny (Roger and Linda McKean)and Grandma (Cecilia Beesley) to Grandparents day on September 5. He is a second generation Knight and the son of Amy and Reid Beesley of Montgomery.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Holy Spirit Campus welcomed Grandparents to campus on Thursday, September 5, 2013. The day began with MCPS students celebrating Mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with their Grandparents. Father Patrick Driscoll and Father Phillip McKenna were the celebrants. Afterwards, students and their guests were invited to the Parish Hall for a visit and enjoyed donuts, coffee and juice provided by the MCPS Holy Spirit Campus Parent Teacher Council.  Grandparents had an opportunity to have their picture made with their students by The Studio at Eastchase before they were invited back to the classrooms.  The lower grades entertained their grandparents with a program while the older students worked on an assignment with their Grandparents or introduced them to their classmates. Having generations of families on campus is a continued tradition at Montgomery Catholic, and will continue to be as MCPS celebrates 140 years of continuous education in Montgomery.

Montgomery Catholic Puts Science in Action

Mr. Barwick helps Chase Stewart & Seullee Baek with the fifth step in 

the Science Olympiad Rube Goldberg machine.

The Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Science in Action/Science Olympiad team works on creating a Rube Goldberg machine.  They were tasked with using complex steps to perform a simple task.  In this case, the students used 12 steps to turn on music to play during a pizza party at lunch on September 6. MCPS Principal Chad Barwick made the pizza delivery which popped a balloon and started the Rube Goldberg machine. Mrs. Elizabeth Harbin is the MCPS High School Science Olympiad sponsor. 

Pictured are freshmen David Bender with Adam Bristol (standing),
working on the final step in the project.

MCPS Kindergarten Students Merge Science & Literature

The Kindergarten classes at Montgomery Catholic’s St. Bede campus read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. As a culmination project, the students merged science and literature to make "hairy" caterpillars out of pantyhose, soil, and grass seed. Pictured is Mrs. Wilson's Kindergarten class with their very "hairy" caterpillars. From left to right: Kiersten Webb, Anderson Byrd, Elishia Farmer, Brandon Bell, Anna Marie Hill, Bowen Smith, Kyle Frank, Ethan Harbin, Anya Montelara, Ashlee Gollakner. (Photo credit: Mrs. Sara Wilson)

Montgomery Catholic Key Club Members Serve the Community

Fifty Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Key Club members did over 600 hours of community service over the summer. With a focus on giving back, the MCPS High School Students did everything from working at the Friendship Mission, sports camps for elementary students, volunteering to work for the city's Dragon Boat Race, Bible School, helping in the school office and classrooms of teachers, volunteering at the Art Museum and Baptist Hospital, and even teaching English to students in Naples, Italy!  They will continue to serve the community throughout the year, living the school mission, and becoming persons of Faith, Virtue and Wisdom.

Montgomery Catholic Students attend Boys and Girls State at the University of Alabama

Two Montgomery Catholic Preparatory Seniors attended the 2013 American Legion Alabama Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State conventions at The University of Alabama. The convention was held June 9 -15, and enabled more than 1,000 students to try their hands at politics and community service. This was the first time that both conventions were held at the same time.

MCPS Senior Alex Castanza with  Judge Pete Johnson,
Director of Boys State Alabama

Alabama Boys State and Girls State are leadership and government training programs. They are among the highest honors granted to high-school senior boys and girls. Students from around the state are chosen based on their demonstration of leadership, hard work, strong morals and motivation in school and community activities. MCPS students chosen to attend were Alex Castanza and Maddie O'Mara.

During the week, students conducted mock elections and learned about civic processes. Guest speakers included former Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox.

Alex enjoyed the week. He was chosen as Chief Justice for Boys State, Alabama, and as an alternate for Boys Nation. He also attended a National Competition for Youth & Government in North Carolina. Alex is the son of Diane and Michael Castanza of Montgomery.

MCPS Senior Maddie O'Mara attended
Girls State this summer.

Maddie O'Mara said, "It was an interesting week filled with learning about the electoral process, from the local level all the way up to the state level offices.  We heard from many inspirational speakers throughout the week, including Alabama Governor, Robert Bentley, and Lt. Governor, Kay Ivey.  They encouraged us to be active in our communities and to register to vote when we turn 18."  While at Girls' State, Maddie was appointed to the University of Alabama Board of Trustees by the newly elected Girls' State Governor, Ashley Archer.  Maddie is the daughter of Michelle and Col. Ray O'Mara of Montgomery.