Crusader 2013 Football

By Kierstyn Overhalser

After the first game against West Florida High School in early November, Catholic came out on top again later in the month in a highly anticipated rematch game. This game was so intensely anticipated that tickets were only sold to Catholic and West Florida students, faculty, and close friends and sold quickly. The stands were packed early at Gorecki-LeBeau stadium, with students and Cat High family ready to cheer on the Crusaders.

While the Jags held the lead in most of the first half, shocking Crusaders with a 0-20 score, Catholic scored at the end of the first half with a pass from Cody Henry to wide receiver, Quan Moorer, filling the stands with relief. In the second half Catholic’s defense shut out the Jags and prevented them from scoring for the rest of the game, enabling our offense to quickly regain the ground lost in the first half. The game finally came to a tie with a pass from quarterback Cody Henry to wide receiver Daniel Byrd with eight minutes left in regulation. Fans were on edge as the Jags had a chance to take the game with a 47-yard field goal attempt that ultimately sailed to the left and sent the game into overtime.

The Jaguars got the ball first in overtime and made three attempts as they inched closer and closer to scoring. On fourth-and-goal, West Florida’s Joey Baker scrambled to the left trying to hit Chris Mitchell on an inside slant, but Daishon Johnson was there to break up the pass. For this, Johnson was flagged for interference on the play and the Jags were back to fourth and inches for another attempt. With Catholic on edge, Baker tried to follow a line of blockers down the middle and met an impenetrable Catholic defense on the line of scrimmage. It was now Cat High’s chance to score. On Catholic’s second attempt, Henry threw a 12 yard pass to Quan Moorer finishing with a 26-20 final score and sending our boys to the Region1-5A Finals.

A week later, the Crusaders traveled to Green Cove Springs, FL to face off against the Clay High Blue Devils. With 4.9 seconds left in the game, Crusaders were in the lead, but Clay was at first-and-10 at the Catholic 14-yard line. The Clay quarterback heaved the ball towards the end zone to JT Turner who reached high grabbing the ball with his fingertips and landing on his back. The horn sounded, Clay’s fans rushed the field, and heartbreakingly, it was the end of the road for Catholic High’s 2013 football season.

While Cat High’s aspirations for a State Title were cut short, we cannot help but look back at this year’s Crusader Football Team with admiration and joy. On behalf of Catholic High, we, the Crusader Chronicles would like to offer our congratulations to Coach Seibert and his team for one of the most thrilling seasons we’ve seen. We eagerly look forward to next year when the Crusaders finally take the State Title they deserve.

Ooo, ahhh, CAT HIGH!

Full Game Recaps Below:

http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013311300014&nclick_check=1

http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013311230024

What is Diving?

 By Maggie Olcott

Created by CruaderChronicles

Catholic High has a Swim Team that is well-known to all, but rarely do we hear anything about the Dive Team.   Is the Dive Team just as important as the Swim Team? The answer is definitely yes. Without the Dive Team, the Swim Team’s score percentage would not be as high because diver’s scores add points to the team. This is because diving scores help the Swim Team achieve a better placing.   For instance, if the Team is in second place and one of our divers place first and one of the other team’s divers places third, our swim team will move up to first place. Divers help the swim team a lot even though they dive independently and not as a team.

Divers, like swimmers, need to practice. Divers usually practice every day for about two hours or more. Speaking as a former diver, the hardest part of diving is the meets. Competitive meets are difficult for our divers because there are many who continue to practice on deck while others are diving. This, as well as the noisy showers splashing on the deck, can interfere with the focus of the divers.  Divers need constant focus in order to perform, which is why dive meets are not as loud and energetic as swim meets. The slightest noise can interfere with a diver’s focus and the diver can easily miss a very critical stunt.

Now what goes on in the diver’s head?  Divers have three procedures they need to do.  Those procedures are practice, visualize, and perform.  For example, let’s say the diver is doing a front dive in the tuck position.  First, they practice the steps to the dive on the deck. Second, the diver visualizes what the dive looks like in their head.  Then they mentally recite the steps, which are four steps, hurdle, tuck, and then straighten out. Lastly, once the diver is done mentally reciting the steps they perform their dive.

Like all competitive athletes, divers have a specific diet. Divers usually try to eat a light meal before a dive meet. For instance, divers eat a small lunch at school or eat a small healthy meal before they leave to go to the meet. During the meet divers eat energy bars like Cliff Bars or Nature Valley and have some form of an energy drink, like Gatorade or Powerade.

Diving is not all that different from swimming. They both include water, practice, dedication, and fun.   Swimming and diving are equally important because without a Swim Team, the divers would not have a team to dive for and without a Dive Team the swimmers would not get the extra points to help them move up in scores.  After all, swimming and diving are both an Olympic sport; therefore, they should be equally important.

Still not convinced? Then check out this video from the Olympics that chronicles some of the best divers in Recent History

Related articles

• Diving Safety (swimmingpoolsigns.com)

Crusaders Push Forward for Wins

Yesterday, Tuesday, April 16, the CHS Girls Tennis Team tied for third in the State of Florida in the State Finals in the Orlando area, following three wins in Class 1A doubles and two in singles.

Also yesterday, the country’s No. 1-Ranked Crusader Baseball Team held onto its winning streak against Pace.

Listen! Streaming Live Catholic Sports on CatholicCrusaderLIVE.NET

All remaining games Baseball Varsity-JV double-headers during the week of April 15, will be webcast on CatholicCrusadersLive.NET.  The District Championship Game, scheduled for Thursday, April 25, in Marianna, will also be webcast, as well as all regional level play-off games.  We look forward to seeing which games will also be simulcast by Catholic Crusaders Sports Network partners, including 1230 AM and 103.3 FM in Pensacola.

CHS Student Nominees to Pensacola Sports Association

Congratulations to the following students who are nominees to the Pensacola Sports Association (PSA) Scholar-Athlete Award.
PSA criteria includes a 3.0 cumulative unweighted GPA in 1st semester of senior year and a letter earned in the sport in which they were nominated:

Avery Geyer – Baseball

Clarke Berry – Boy’s Basketball

Britton Sanders – Cheerleading

Samuel “Sam” Peterson – Boy’s Cross Country

Rebecca Farr – Girl’s Cross Country

Jacob Sullivan – Football

Joseph “Joey” Stills – Boy’s Golf

Alexis Hazard – Girl’s Golf

Maurice Inkel – Boy’s Soccer

Katherine “Katie” Richmond – Girl’s Soccer

Dominick Meyers – Boy’s Swimming

Jayde Ferguson – Girl’s Swimming

Phillip “Phil” Masterson – Boy’s Tennis

Kallie Erickson – Girl’s Tennis

John Paul “J.P.” Whibbs – Boy’sTrack

Courtney Deason – Volleyball

Jared Cuevas – Weightlifting

Words from the Athletic Director

Interviewed by Ben Akerman

What have been the accomplishments of sports so far this semester?
We have had a great winter sports season. Our Girls’ Soccer Team made it to the Final Four.  On their journey, they gave fans a thrill of a lifetime. Our Boys Soccer Team is currently in their own playoff run as they are currently in the regional semi finals. Our boys basketball team is regular season District Champions and will pursue whiff dreams of their own starting next week. Our Girls’ Basketball Team lost in the district semi finals, but they are a young team and the future looks bright.

What does the spring hold in store for CHS Sports? 
I think all the sports teams are very excited about getting their regular season started. Softball looks to go further in the playoffs than last year. Track, as usual, will send numerous athletes to the State Finals. Baseball has a lot of returning starters from last year’s State Championship Team and looks to repeat. Weightlifting has a lot of kids out, and they hope to have a lot of athletes qualify for sectionals and state.  Tennis, as usual, has a very strong team coming back, and I feel both girls and boys have an opportunity to bring home a State Championship.

Do you see yet another State Championship for the Baseball Team this year?
We certainly are excited about the chance of repeating as State Champions.  We have seven starters coming back and almost all of our pitching returns.  If the ball bounces our way in the playoffs, there is no reason why we can’t go back to back and win another State Championship.

When I was 17… Coach Adams

What high school did you attend when you were 17 and what year did you graduate?

Coach Adams’ senior yearbook photo.

I graduated from Pensacola Catholic High School in 2000.

What were your favorite subjects?
My favorite subjects were math and science. I have always enjoyed numbers and trying to figure things out. I always enjoyed the Cecil B labs in Mr. Meier’s class.

Do you have special memories of a certain teacher (or teachers) who inspired you?
Catholic High School has always been blessed with wonderful teachers and coaches. I was taught by current teachers Mrs. Day, Mr. Dodson, Mrs. Garner, Mrs. Kaczor, Mrs. Moore, Coach Nelson, and Mrs. Staples, all of whom played a major role in my development.   The most memorable class was Mrs. Maruin who is not here anymore.  She taught me in Spanish and spent so much time trying to get me to learn, but I still struggled. I guess you could say that Spanish was not my strong point, but somehow we made it through.

What type of clubs or sports were you involved in?
I played football and baseball here.

What did you do on the weekends?
We fished, and played cards and pick-up basketball games.

What was your favorite music, movie at the time?
I would have to say that Slyvester Stallone was great in all movies. My favorite is the Rocky series. They cover all aspects of life: adversity, success, and failure.

How did your high school experience influence the college/university you attended?
I felt that Catholic High really prepared me for my college ambitions, academically and athletically.  I really wanted to play college football and was given the opportunity by Catholic and then by the University of Memphis.

New Catholic High Athletic App!

by Will Spencer

Game time, weather, rosters, and directions in the palm of your hand?  Yep!   CHS is happy to announce that you can stay abreast of Crusader games on the free MYTime Schools app. The app also shows your friends who will be at the game and provides alerts of upcoming games, as well as changed or canceled games and other important ggnotifications. And, if having trouble with directions, use the navigation feature, which will take you right to the spot, without having to know the address. Post to Twitter and Facebook to share the fun and your school spirit.

When hearing of the new app, Bryan Priefer
said, “This app will be great for all sports. I’m pumped!” Athletic Director Richard Labounty said, “MyTime will raise the level of CHS athletics, giving fans the opportunity to keep up with all events and give them a better opportunity to attend and support the teams.”

This app is FREE. Find “MyTime Schools” in your device’s App Store and become a true fan of the Crusaders!

Words from the Athletic Director

“As we wind down the fall season in athletics, all of our teams are competing in the post season. At the time I am writing this, we have the Volleyball Team traveling to Tallahassee to participate in the regional quarterfinal. After winning their regional matches, the boys and girls Golf Teams are competing in the State Tournament in Ocala. The boys and girls Cross Country teams are gearing up for the District Meet in Panama City and making another run to the State Meet in South Florida. The Swim Team is preparing to take some members of the team to Jacksonville for the Regional Meet. And, lastly, the football team and cheerleaders are finishing up preparations to complete in the Regional Semifinals in Jacksonville on November 16.

I am so proud of what our athletes and coaches have accomplished in working toward a common goal. The combination of their hard work, dedication, and good decision-making, on and off the field, is difficult to beat.

I look forward to seeing our teams complete in the post season, and I am proud to call myself a CRUSADER!”

Coach LaBounty

CHS Women’s Soccer: Eyes on State Title

By Will Spencer

Experience is the advantage this year’s women’s Soccer Team has over other area teams. This year’s team consists of nine seniors, five of whom have played varsity all four years.

The CHS women’s Soccer Team is the most feared in the area. Manager Natalie Thompson explained, “We are very confident that we have a good shot at a state title this year.”   The team, school, and city agree that the goal is state for the Crusaders.

It is safe to say that the bar is set high this year, but rightfully so. Senior Sarah Boles, who leads the defense for the fourth year in a row, said, “Besides having experienced seniors, the team has great chemistry on and off the field, and that’s what separates us.”  Most of the seniors on the team have also played club soccer together for many years.

Being a state contender is nothing new for this team, as they were a tournament threat the past three years. Because of previous powerful seasons, the expectations are high.  Seeing how the team deals with this change will be exciting to watch.

The girls Soccer Team is 3-0, coming from wins over PHS and West Florida Tech.  Tuesday, November 6, they will square up against Panama City Bay at Catholic at 5 pm. Senior Katie Richmond, who has verbally committed to the University of Florida, leads the team.