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THE TIME IS NOW: Top teams and contenders competing in the TAPPS Regional Meet
It's almost that time of year again.
As teams and competitors prepare to contend in this week's TAPPS Regional Meet, it's becoming more and more evident who could claim gold in May.
With the likes of Fort Bend Christian Academy, Rosehill Christian, Concordia Lutheran, TWCA, Cypress Christian, Second Baptist, Lutheran South Academy, St. Thomas, and St. John XXIII well within the mix of the upcoming events, the time to show up is now.
Check out some of the headlines and athletes that need to be on everyone's radar with a trip to TAPPS State on the line.
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FBCA in hot pursuit of yet another TAPPS State Title
Some of the stars of 2023-24 FBCA Girls Track & Field
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
It's no secret that Fort Bend Christian Academy has become the gold-standard of private school track & field in recent memory.
Under the direction of coach Deon Minor, the Eagles claimed their second-straight TAPPS championship on the girls' side in 2023, with the boys also taking home gold.
Now, it doesn't appear that anything stands to change.
Following an exemplary showing at the the TAPPS-5A District 5 Meet, which saw them win nearly every event, FBCA looks to maintain their hot-streak at Regionals.
The Eagles continue to be propelled by the likes of well-known super-stars such as Bayleigh Minor, Brooke Perry, Max Granville, Kristen Shell, Tyrone "TJ" Smith, Naomi Jones, Luke Cummings, Kennesha Nabors, Charles Malloy, Gabbie Washington, and Ivan Jimmy-Ducksworth, among others.
Don't be surprised if Fort Bend Christian makes it a three-peat come May.
FBCA's Max Granville
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Rosehill Christian on the path towards Title reclamation
2023-24 Rosehill Christian School Girls Track & Field
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Rosehill Christian was a mere seven points behind first place in last year's TAPPS-3A State Meet, and that memory certainly has this team fired up for this Spring, considering they are typically perennial favorites.
Had it not been for an early injury to star Mercy Freeman, the Eagles would, in all likelihood, have become repeat champions in 2023.
However, Freeman is back in the fold and alongside the likes of fellow key contributors -- namely Kaleigh Frazier (Kansas-signee), Kaydence Frazier, Lily Fisher, Xia Tabanou, Thea Buntrock, and Briley Potts -- this should be the season where coach David Saye and company take back the title.
Don't sleep on the boys, either.
RCS finished in the top-5 of last year's state meet and they bring the talents of Jonathan Whitmire, Luke Smith, Blake Rippy, and Graham Freeman with them this year.
After their exemplary performance in the recent Concordia Lutheran Crusader Relays, Rosehill Christian is in prime position to reclaim their championship-status.
2023-24 Rosehill Christian School Boys Track & Field
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Cypress Christian T&F is back at it!
The stars of 2023-24 Cypress Christian Girls Track & Field
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Cypress Christian has surged in recent years to become one of the most successful private school programs in the state, which is clearly evidenced by their three-consecutive TAPPS championships on the girls' side.
Similarly, the boys' program has won it all twice in the last three seasons, which bodes well for the group moving forward.
In his first year as head coach for the track team, Ben Dixon has certainly inherited plenty of talent to work with, and has had no trouble in optimizing it.
Said talent for the Warriors includes Sophia Swanton, Parker Hirth, Mariana Van Dyk, Owen Witschonke, Nicole Santos, John Kelly, Skylar Davis, and Andrew Owen, who each excelled in the various events of the Concordia Lutheran Crusader Relays earlier this month.
Several of the athletes on this team already have three championship rings. Who's to say they won't go four-for-four?
2023-24 Cypress Christian Boys Track & Field
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES IN RECENT MEETS
Max Granville, FBCA -- 1st in 110m Hurdles (15.48 s), 1st in 300m Hurdles (39.54 s), 1st in High Jump (6-02.00) at District
Sarah Chappelle, TWCA -- 1st in 100m Hurdles (14.75 s), 1st in 300m Hurdles (45.22 s) at District
Bayleigh Minor, FCBA -- 1st in 200m Dash (24.71 s), 1st in 400m Dash (55.44 s), 1st in Long Jump (17-11.25), 1st in Triple Jump (36-02.25) at District
Kaleigh Frazier, Rosehill Christian -- 1st in 100m Dash (12.53 s), 1st in High Jump (5-02.00), 1st in 4x200m Relays (1:44.54) at CLCR
Hudson McCulley, Second Baptist -- 1st in 100m Dash (11.01 s) at District, 1st in 200m Dash (22.32 s) at CLCR
Parker Hirth, Cypress Christian -- 1st in 110m Hurdles (16.76 s), 1st in 300m Hurdles (42.84 s) at CLCR
Edward Bocock, St. Thomas -- 1st in 110m Hurdles (14.96 s), 1st in 300m Hurdles (40.80 s) at the Cooper Dragon Invitational
Cara Shirley, Concordia Lutheran -- 1st in 1600m (5:53.06), 2nd in 3200m (13:00.86) at CLCR
Ben Hughes, Lutheran South Academy -- 1st in Triple Jump (42-02.75), 2nd in Long Jump (21-06.00) at District
FBCA Girls Relay Team -- 1st in 4x100m (49.36 s), 1st in 4x200m (1:45.14), 1st in 4x400m (3:55.86) at District
FBCA Boys Relay Team -- 1st in 4x100m (42.81 s), 1st in 4x200m (1:28.42 s), 3rd in 4x400m (3:32.25) at District
Sophia Swanton, Cypress Christian -- 1st in 200m Dash (26.62 s), 1st in Pole Vault (10-00.00), 2nd in 100m Dash (12.95 s) at CLCR
Avery Eaves, Concordia Lutheran -- 1st in 400m Dash (52.23 s) at CLCR
Mercy Freeman, Rosehill Christian -- 1st in Long Jump (18-04.00), 1st in 4x200m Relays (1:44.54), 2nd in Triple Jump (34-08.50) at CLCR
Zoe Calimani, TWCA -- 2nd in 800m (2:20.63), 3rd in 400m Dash (58.11 s) at District
Mariana Van Dyk, Cypress Christian -- 1st in Discus (126-05.25), 1st in Shot Put (35-10.00) at CLCR
Sophia Bellard, St. Agnes Academy -- 1st in High Jump (5-03.00), 1st in Long Jump (16-09.25) at Cooper Dragon Invitational
Annabelle Lanik, St. John XXIII -- 2nd in Long Jump (17-10.00), 2nd in Triple Jump (35-03.75), 3rd in 200m Dash (25.40 s) at District
Matthew Gaitan, Lutheran South Academy -- 1st in 800m (1:59.24), 1st in 1600m (4:24.57) at District
Marcus Gaitan, Lutheran South Academy -- 2nd in 800m (1:59.27), 2nd in 400m Dash (49.76 s) at District
Noah Williams, St. Pius X -- 1st in 3200m at Cooper Dragon Invitational
Andrew Owen, Cypress Christian -- 1st in Discus (145-08.25), 1st in Shot Put (47-08.75) at CLCR
Kai Griffe, Concordia Lutheran -- 1st in 100m Dash (11.37 s) at CLCR
RUN IT BACK: Freeman's Recovery Will Reignite Rosehill Christian To State Contention
DESPITE THEIR RELATIVELY SMALL CLASS-SIZES, IT’S NO SECRET WHO ROSEHILL CHRISTIAN’S “IT-GIRL” IS.
Whether she’s lighting up the scoreboard on the basketball court or re-writing the record books on the track, Mercy Freeman has helped to establish RCS as a brand on the TAPPS-3A scene.
Considering all the success she has seen, it might come as a shock that Freeman nearly never joined track and field.
“In fifth and sixth grade, I actually didn’t have that much of an interest in joining the track team,” she said. “I had just finished with basketball each of those years, so my thought process was, ‘I’m tired of running’. But, Kaleigh (Frazier) kept encouraging me to join, so seventh grade is when I ultimately decided to give it a shot.
“Since Kaleigh did hurdles, I figured I could try some events other than sprints as well. Eventually, I fell in love with jumping and the sport itself, and the work that’s needed to consistently improve yourself.”
It’s a good thing she was ultimately swayed to join, since she’s been the definitive catalyst towards Rosehill Christian’s two state titles over the past three seasons.
But, that’s not the only reason the senior has to appreciate the time she’s put in.
“Having played most sports at Rosehill Christian, I feel like track would be my favorite ‘team vibe’ for lack of a better word,” said Freeman. “Everyone is always super close, and after our meets we all go out to eat – whether it be at Canes, Chick-fil-a or Whataburger. At the end of the day, I feel that we’re more of a family, rather than a team.”
According to head coach David Saye, Freeman contributes 45 points to the family, on average. Given that insane statistic, the Eagles would have handily won the TAPPS-3A State Championship for the third-consecutive time in 2023, had it not been for Freeman suffering a high-ankle sprain in the opening event.
Rest assured, Freeman has been doing her utmost to ensure that Rosehill Christian can flip the script in 2024.
“It was definitely hard to come back from that, especially since I wasn’t able to walk initially,” she said. “I had to start from square one – re-learning how to walk, run and jump – which is crazy to think about the little things we do on a daily basis.
“The biggest thing for me was getting my strength back and having to work extra hard in order to catch up. Because we were supposed to win last year, I think that we’re all more determined than ever to get back to our State Title form.”
They may have their game-face on now, but it should be a safe assessment that Freeman and company will be all smiles in the coming months.