Tartan Athletics is Back! Competition Resumes for St. Margaret’s Student-Athletes

Play ball, Tartans!

St. Margaret’s student-athletes have returned to competition after nearly a year, under new state health and CIF-SS safety guidance, with cross country starting last month, boys soccer and girls tennis playing their first contests this week and all other outdoor sports cleared to start in the weeks ahead.

“Our athletes are prepared, our coaches are prepared,” said Chris Nordstrom, St. Margaret’s interim athletic director. “We have worked this entire school year to be ready for this moment and we have resumed competition for every St. Margaret’s sports that was cleared to play. From expanding and moving our weight room outdoors to our coaches finding ways for student-athletes to conduct practice and training to develop and keep skills sharp in a manner consistent with protocols, our Tartan student-athletes have prepared to be ready to play once the time came. And now the time has come.”

Many outdoor contact sports were cleared to resume competition on February 23 according to CIF-SS and the California Department of Public Health guidance. All eligible Tartan sports teams immediately implemented a condensed season and game schedule against other eligible teams within the school’s leagues and within various required safety provisions, including St. Margaret’s cross country, football, baseball, swim, cheer, track and field, soccer, tennis, lacrosse and golf. Indoor sports like basketball and volleyball are awaiting the final go-ahead from the CIF after state guidelines were updated this week.

There will be various new safety provisions in place, include testing for certain sports, symptom screening, temperature checks, a ban on sharing of personal items such as water, and physical-distancing when possible.

“Our ongoing surveillance testing program has put us in a great position to implement athletics testing, we have a great hold on our general infection rate numbers from the school, and we’ve had a comprehensive conditioning program all along where our students have been working out three to five times a week,” said Patrick Bendzick, director of student wellness. “We’re ready to play and prepared to play.”

The Tartan Athletics department is also working with student-athletes, including supporting the unique challenges for multi-sport athletes, to monitor the workload, recovery and nutritional needs in what will be a shortened season with all teams playing simultaneously.

In addition to Upper School student-athletes returning to play, the athletic department also is moving forward with Middle School athletics, beginning with intramural competition by student choice.

The Tartans were first in play this year on February when St. Margaret’s cross country team participated in a meet at Crean Lutheran. Now, they are joined by all Tartan athletes in returning to competition and the value it brings to student life.

“It was such a remarkable experience,” said Mr. Bendzick, also the head cross country coach. “The most enjoyable part of it as a coach was that it was pure. Student-athletes enjoying the camaraderie of sports, enjoying each other, working hard for something together. It was all those lessons that we hope students learn from participating in scholastic athletics.”

 

St. Margaret's athletes reveled in the opportunity to get back to their respective sports this week, with girls tennis and boys soccer kicking things off after a long hiatus.

 

St. Margaret's tennis program faced off against Newport Harbor on Thursday afternoon, falling to the Sailors 13-5. Although not the result the Tartans were hoping for, St. Margaret's was lead by Seychelle Balog's three-set sweep and Grace Nolet's two-win outing. The Tartans return to action next week with two crucial league battles against The Webb School and Tarbut V'Torah.

 

"It was great to get back out on the court and compete after such a long time off," said head coach Scott Lipsky. "I think all the girls were happy to be out there, and we will use this match to learn about how to improve."

 

The Tartan boys soccer team started the abbreviated 2021 campaign matching up against Capistrano Valley High School on Tuesday and against Laguna Hills High School on Thursday. The Tartans held their own against a tough Capo Valley squad, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead on a Hugh Eaton goal. The Cougars equalized it and went ahead 3-1 before Matt Groeninger inched the Tartans closer to make it 3-2 in the middle of the second half. Hayden Mann scored the third goal for the tartans before the final whistle and a score of 4-3 Cougars. 

 

Against Laguna Hills, St. Margaret's dominated through the first ten minutes of the first half, creating chances and pressuring the Hawks from every angle. A few key injuries and a late red card limited the Tartans' ability to close the two-goal gap enjoyed by Laguna Hills. Overall, St. Margaret's competed well against two larger programs in early season play.

 

"Despite two recent losses, our efforts on the pitch proved that the bigger schools respect us, but it also shows how much it meant for them to beat us. Once again, proving that we belong on the pitch with the big boys," said head coach Peter Carey.

 

 

3/9 Girls Soccer vs. Crean Lutheran

3/10 Boys Tennis vs. Laguna Hills

3/13 Cross Country vs. Sage Hill

3/16 Girls Lacrosse vs. Edison

3/19 Football vs. Estancia

3/19 Cheerleading vs. Estancia

3/23 Baseball vs. Orange

4/9 Track & Field @ Invitational

4/13 Girls Golf vs. JSerra

4/16 Swimming & Diving vs. SMCHS

4/20 Boys Golf vs. CVCS