May 17, 2012 Sports 15

Classes begin June 4th for high school students only.

$99 for 8 weeks.

Monday-Friday 10:30-11:30 and bonus day is Saturday!

Call 423-1143 to sign up!

The girls’ softball team began their season last week as they prepare for their first game under head coach Brian Erbe. The team has no shortage of returning players this year, including seniors Lindsay Ireland and Kelsey Kuba-Tresnak.

The girls ended with a record of 29-13 last season and were ranked no. 16 in class 4A. The Saints have started their practices off with the same chemistry and hard work they had last year. This year they are stepping it up even more with tougher practices.

“We really want to come out strong this year. We also want to work together as a team and accomplish as much as we can in the season,” Kuba-Tresnak said.

The Saints have the ultimate goal of getting as far as they can in the state tournament this year and possibly having the chance to take the championship.

The Saints have their first game of the season against the Washington Warriors in a double header at Xavier. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

The boys’ baseball team began their regular season with practices two weeks ago with returning coach, Dave Schemmel. The team also has many varsity players returning this year including seniors Mack Mattke, Tyler Hines, Josh Tipton, and junior Corbin Woods.

Last year, the boys ended with a record of 26-11 and were ranked 11th in class 4A. The Saints are working hard at practice and looking forward to their games this year. They hope to get to the state tournament this year so that

they can end the season right.“We have been preparing for the

season with spring games and we are hoping that we come out strong. We have started off with some tough practices in order to get us ready for our games this season,” Mattke said.

The Saints’ first game is in the Metro Tournament against the Mt. Vernon Majors on Monday, May 21 at Marion. Game time is at 5 p.m.

Softball kicks off season

Baseball season in full swing

Lucy MartinSports Writer

Lucy MartinSports Writer

Stevenson wins National ChampionshipXavier High School junior

Chase Stevenson made the journey to Las Vegas on May 2 along with his family to compete in the 2012 AMA Arena Cross(motocross) National Championship. These races feature some of the best arena cross riders from around the U.S. Stevenson has been practicing three days a week and competing in races around the Midwest to prepare for Nationals. Stevenson raced in Des Moines, Madison, and in Minneapolis to qualify for Nationals. Stevenson qualified in three different classes, AX Lites Intermediate, Schoolboy Jr., and Schoolboy Sr.

Stevenson raced May 5. He placed 4th in AX Lites Intermediate, and placed 11th in Schoolboy after crashing. In the Schoolboy Jr. Class, Stevenson pulled the hole shot, and led the whole race. Stevenson crossed the line first to become a national champion. Stevenson beat out a factory rider who had already picked up two wins earlier in the day. “It’s always been a dream of mine to win a number one plate, and now that I’ve finally done it, it’s crazy,” Stevenson said.

Now that Stevenson has finished Arena Cross for the season, he will begin his outdoor season. Along with Motocross,

Stevenson is also a very skilled BMX rider, unicycler, and freestyler scooterist. “I want to thank my family and friends, especially Thomas Steinberg, and all of my sponsors for the support and dedication to my racing,” Stevenson also added.

Stevenson plans on qualifying within the next couple of months for the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Championship. If you are interested in watching Stevenson race, he competes at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, on June 9 and 18, July 7 and 21, August 4 and 18, and September 1 and 15.

Junior Chase Stevenson poses with his number one plate in Las Vegas. Kristy Hingten Photo

Alex FoxSprots Writer

Track sends events to state meetThe Xavier Boy’s and Girl’s

track teams competed at districts at Iowa City West on May 10 in hopes to qualify several runners for state. The boys’ team qualified 11 events and the girls’ team qualified eight.

The boys’ team finished 4th in the team race with 83 points behind Iowa City West who won the meet with 161 points. Seniors Alec Clasen and Nick Ball both qualified in an individual event for the state meet as Clasen won the high jump after clearing 6’3” and Ball ran the 200 meter dash in 22.70 which earned him a second place finish. Juniors Nick Steingreaber and Craig Murtha also qualified for state. Steingreaber ran a personal best 10.88 to finish second in the 100 meter dash. Murtha finished second in both the shot put and discus. Murtha threw the shot put 48’10” and threw the discus 149’10”. Freshman Noah Clasen ran the 400 hurdles in 56.26 to qualify him for the state meet as well. The Saints also qualified in the 4x100(Ball, Steingreaber, Cal Stovie Jordan Weber), 4x200(Ball, Steingreaber, Stovie, Weber), 4x800(Patrick Mullin, Ben Valentine, Ben Schueler, Brandon Gradoville), distance medley(Ball, Weber, Zach Stovie, Gradoville), and the

shuttle hurdle relay. (Noah Clasen, Josh Nelson, David Kirpes, Carter Valentine) “The entire team worked hard the whole season leading up to the district meet and performed great to get a lot of events qualified,” Steingraber said.

The girls’ team finished 6th in the team standing with 51 points after Iowa City High tallied 184.5 points to win the meet. Sophomore Molly Breitbach won the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.60 to qualify for state. Senior Alex Bartz jumped 4-10 to qualify her for the state meet once again after a 3rd place finish last year. The teams 4x100(Audrey Richards, Hannah Rochford, Allison Schwach, Molly Breitbach), 4x200(Richards, Rochford, Schwach, Breitbach), 4x400(Carlie Jurgens, Taylor Skala, Richards, Kayla Torson), 4x800(Rachel Sigmon, Jurgens, Allison Pitz, Torson), sprint medley (Schwach, Rochford, Richards, Torson), and distance medley(Skala, Jenna Fenske, Jurgens, Torson) also qualified.

The State meet begins May 17 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Alex Fox Sports Writer