Winter sports finish strongly, celebrate teamwork

As the 2016-2017 winter sports season comes to a close at St. Martin’s Episcopal School, teams celebrate with pride as they reflect on their successes and setbacks over the course of their seasons.

Men's basketball was off to a great start in their season until Junior Captain Brett Pfefferle tragically broke his leg, according to Junior Captain John Hurley.

“It was awful that he got injured, but it helped benefit the team in that it required everyone else to get better, to elevate their game,” Hurley said.

Regardless of the setback, the basketball players stepped up to the challenge, making their teammates proud, according to Hurley.

“Things especially changed for Junior Garrett Kalogiratos," Hurley said. “He came off the bench to a starting position for the first time in his career, which was really important for the team.”

Hurley believes that the turning point of the season lay in the success and improvement of his teammate, Kaligratos.

“I’d say the best thing of the season, the shocking thing, was the play of Garrett Kalogiratos

Hurley said. “This really impressed the entire team, and his play is the reason we were winning those games.”

Hurley believes that the turning point of the season lay in the success of his teammate, Kalogiratos.

“I’d say the best thing of the season, the shocking thing, was the play of Garrett Kalogiratos,” Hurley said. “This really impressed the entire team and his play is the reason we were winning those games.”

However, the fun and improvement did not end at Men’s Basketball.

Regardless of the setbacks in losses during the Women’s Basketball season, they too enjoyed their time together working as a team.

“Fun isn’t measured by our wins and losses, but instead, in how much we enjoy playing together,” said Senior Captain Savannah Watermeier.

Women’s soccer had a similar experience with a fairly brand new team and a new coach, according to Senior Captain Julia Reggio.

“This year was more of a learning experience for our team because it was composed of mostly freshmen and 8th graders who didn't have much experience working as a team with all the girls,” Reggio said. “We still managed to push to finish our season and I really think we all enjoyed doing it.”

Men’s Soccer had a successful season, especially with a deserving win against Metairie Park Country Day School, their well-known rival.

Leading up to that, however, the team did have some minor setbacks.

“Compared to last season, statistically we didn’t do as well, but individually, superior,” said Senior Captain River Relan.

When the time came, however, the whole team was really excited to just go out and beat Country Day, according to Senior Hakeem Blackstone.

“It was a pretty exciting moment. We did something that was set as a goal since the beginning of the season,” Blackstone said.

St. Martin’s also thrived during indoor track this year, a fairly new sport introduced to the athletic program.

It first started in 2007 when a couple of St. Martin’s male athletes were on the indoor track team as a continuation of cross country and a bridge to outdoor track, according to Sophomore Ben Bone.

“Then, it disappeared until a few years ago when Antonio Imbornone, and some other guys like Bryce Monier, Rico Coleman, and Samuel Kellum wanted to start the indoor team again,” Bone said.

It was exciting not just to the runners but also to Head Coach Warren Lind.

“Recently, about three years ago, after I had taken over the cross country program, some of my distance runners wanted to continue training between cross country and the outdoor track season, and I said ‘Well there’s an indoor track season, did you know that?’” Lind said. “ They said ‘no’, and I said ‘Well, let’s give it a shot.’”