September 24, 2020 in the 800m and became the second athlete in the university’s history to qualify individually for the Wildcat sports are alive and well on the SMA NCAA cross country championships. Overall, she campus. Although participation and competition look had the honor of competing in three NCAA different this fall, watching our students engage in championships and received all-conference, active, healthy, and fun activities brings such joy and all-region, and academic all-conference honors. After happiness to our school and community. Several new college, she received her Juris Doctor degree. Now coaches have joined our coaching staff this year, that law school is over, she is excited to have the along with a couple of “baby” Wildcats. A big opportunity to rejoin the running community and welcome and congratulations to all! coach the sport she loves.
New SMA Coaches Katie Wheeler - High School Cross Country
John Cusick - High School Cross Country Katie works in the SMA Advancement Office and is John Cusick grew up in Southwest Colorado and so glad to have the opportunity to join the SMA cross attended Bayfield High School. He was part of four country coaching staff this year and get to know state-qualifying cross-country teams and qualified for some of our high school students on a more personal the state track meet four times. He graduated in 2011 level. She ran the Chicago Marathon twice, first and attended Colorado Mesa University. He fundraising for Girls on the Run and then for the competed for Colorado Mesa for six years (a long Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, which had great time, I know) and qualified for four NCAA personal meaning to Katie and her family. In championships, becoming an All-American in 2017 addition, she is on the board of Kidney Donor in the 1500m race. John is excited to add to the Athletes, a non-profit whose mission is to educate positive culture of SMA and looks forward to being others on living kidney donation through sharing part of our continued success. athlete’s stories and connecting potential donors with mentors in their area. Katie hopes each young woman Christy Statema - High School JV Volleyball develops a lifelong passion for running and its many Christy played volleyball throughout her high school benefits beyond the competition aspect. and college years as well as on a club team for two years in Portugal. Throughout her playing career she Chris Leavens - Middle School Volleyball has held positions as a defensive specialist, middle Chris has coached youth basketball, cross country, hitter and outside hitter. She has also coached volleyball, and baseball, intermittently for the past multiple JV and C level teams and simply loves the ten years. His experience in coaching has led to a game. She is passionate about working alongside high school students, which is what she does on a growth in understanding of the sports as well as daily basis in her role as an Associate Director of wonderful memories with student-athletes. Chris is Admission at the University of Denver. Christy is excited to get to know more of our students as a extremely excited to be working with the SMA coach and be a part of the Saint Mary's Academy volleyball community. athletic community.
Alexia Chapman - High School and Middle School Hailey Rhine - Middle School Field Hockey Cross Country Hailey graduated From St. Mary’s Academy in the Lexi grew up in Denver and attended Jefferson spring of 2020. She is currently a freshman on the Academy as a three-sport high school athlete. She Gettysburg field hockey team. Her love for the sport joined the cross country and track teams as a junior began in middle school and being a part of the SMA and broke the cross-country school record and team was one of the highlights of her high school qualified for the state championships every season. experience. Hailey wanted to come back and coach She then attended Colorado Mesa University and so she could help grow the sport in the state of competed for CMU’s cross country and track teams Colorado. for four years. At Mesa, she broke the school record
Darian Smith - Middle School Field Hockey Darian is an SMA 2020 graduate, who competed on the Varsity Field Hockey, Dive, and Soccer teams while in high school. She is majoring in Neuroscience and playing field hockey at Rhodes College. Darian has been coaching for three years between gymnastics and field hockey and enjoys teaching dedication, hard work, and love for sports, all of which lend valuable lessons on and off the field. Field hockey in Colorado is at its most competitive level ever and Darian wants this to continue with the love of the sport as an outlet and passion for the SMA Middle School. Darian can't High School Fall Sports Participation wait for the rest of the season.
The Colorado High School Activities Association Welcome “Baby” Wildcats (CHSAA), in conjunction with the Governor’s office, has created a four-season sports calendar this year; In August, two coaches welcomed adorable baby most sports will compete January 2021 - June 2021. Wildcats into our SMA family!
Sara Kneteman - HS Field Hockey Coach, MS Field This fall, CHSAA has allowed softball and cross Hockey and Lacrosse Coach, and MS Athletics country to compete. Our softball athletes compete at Director Sara Kneteman, and her husband Michael, Englewood each day, while the cross country team welcomed Acadia Eline Knetemann into the world on runs trails, hills, and paths in neighborhoods August 16, at a weight of 7 lbs. 7 oz. and a height of surrounding SMA. 20 inches. Our softball athletes are huge contributors to the Englewood softball team and greatly impact the success of the team each year.
Our cross country team has competed in several races this season and recently finished in second place in the Adams City Invite, with five athletes running personal bests!
Although HS field hockey and volleyball are now competing in March, the coaches and athletes have participated in voluntary workouts each week.
Erik Born - HS Assistant Cross Country Coach, HS For updates regarding the CHSAA sports schedule, Physics/Math Teacher, and Technology Guru Erik calendar, and Covid regulations, visit chsaanow.com. Born, and his wife Sarah, welcomed Daniella “Dani” Reingold Born into the world at 1:20 p.m. on August
30, at a weight of 8 lbs. 2 oz. and a height of 20 inches.
You can contact our Athletic staff directly at [email protected] with any questions or concerns. Middle School Fall Sports Participation
Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday the Middle School empties, and our campus is filled with energetic students outside playing various sports.
With social distancing in place, students are able to get some needed fresh air, sunshine, and physical activity each afternoon.
In the MS, we have two HS alumni leading our girls field hockey team in defensive, offensive, and shooting drills. Our volleyball coaches are teaching our athletes proper positioning, how to serve, pass, set, and effectively hit the ball over our outdoor volleyball nets. Our boys soccer coaches are teaching proper spacing, teamwork, positioning, and shooting technique. Our cross country coaches lead the coed runners on trails and hills around campus as they work on stamina and endurance.
Off campus, our tennis coach is teaching our coed group the fundamentals of tennis at Dekoevend courts. Our golf team heads to Broken Tee each afternoon and our coach focuses on proper swing and patience during each shot. Overall, MS sports are engaging, fun, and growth-oriented. Good health abounds!
You can contact our Athletic staff directly at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.